City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council

City Hall

Conference Room

1A/1B

Monday, March 3, 2025

5:00 PM

Pre-Council - Amended

701 E. Broadway

Columbia, MO

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:01 p.m.

5 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, and Carroll

Present:

Absent:

2 - Lovelady, and Meyer

This item is open to the public: Convention Center Feasibility Study

Discussion

Attachments: Convention Center Feasibility Study

Amy Schneider, Convention and Visitors Bureau Director gave an introduction as to why

they did the feasibility study.

Schneider explained that they conducted this study in response to Columbia’s ongoing

growth and increasing interest in bringing business to the community. This study was

designed as a tool for developers and stakeholders and others interested in investing in

Columbia. Schneider stressed the importance that the City is not interested in building a

convention center that would directly compete with hotels. The focus is on identifying

opportunities that identify resources.

She then introduced Tyler, the project manager with Conventions, Sports & Leisure

International (CSL).

Conventions, Sports & Leisure International (CSL), with the participation of architect Don

Grinberg, was retained to conduct a feasibility study for the potential development of a

Convention Center in Columbia, Missouri. The purpose of the analysis is to assist in

evaluating key market, program, financial, economic, and funding aspects.

Tyler noted the Columbia market has experienced notable residential and economic

growth in recent years, with its population growing at nearly four times the rate of the

state of Missouri.

Tyler noted the report outlines the findings associated with the analysis. The study

results consisted of extensive research and analysis, including a comprehensive set of

market-specific information derived from the following:

- PROJECT EXPERIENCE: Experience garnered through more than 1,000 convention,

hotel, exposition, sports, and other event and hospitality facility planning and

benchmarking projects in communities of all sizes throughout the country.

- EXISTING CONDITIONS: Review of the current and evolving conditions of the

Columbia area and surrounding regional marketplaces, including analysis of 26

competitive conference and event facilities in the state and nearby region.

- COMPARABLE ANALYSIS: Benchmarking analysis of 27 comparable facilities and

markets throughout the country, with a focus on event space square footage, supporting

hotel inventories, and surrounding destination amenities.

- INDUSTRY TRENDS: Detailed evaluation of macroeconomic trends in the convention

and exhibition industries, as well as survey results provided by national meeting planners

regarding changing event space and destination preferences.

- SITE VISIT, INTERVIEWS & OUTREACH: Completed a multi-day site visit for tours

and meetings with key stakeholders. Detailed telephone surveys were completed with

representatives of potential user groups, including state/association tradeshows and

conventions, corporate events, public/consumer shows and other such groups/events.

Completed more than 50 surveys of event planners representing over 200 total events.

This item is open to the public: Motion for the City Council to go into

closed session in Conference Room 1A/1B to discuss:

- Legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public

governmental body and confidential or privileged communications between

a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys

pursuant to Section 610.021(1) RSMo.

At approximately 6:09 p.m., Mayor Buffaloe made a motion for the City Council of

the City of Columbia, Missouri, to immediately go into a closed meeting in

Conference Room 1A/1B of City Hall to discuss legal actions, causes of action or

litigation involving a public governmental body and confidential or privileged

communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and

its attorneys pursuant to Section 610.021(1) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

The motion was seconded by Council Member Foster.

This item is closed to the public: Closed Meeting in Conference Room

1A/1B

At approximately 6:12 p.m., the City Council went into closed session in Conference

Room 1A/1B pursuant to RSMo Section 610.021(1).

II. ANY OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS

None.

III. ADJOURNMENT

The closed meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m.