The Osage Beach Citizens Advisory Committee narrowed down a list of more than 35 short-term, long-term and other ideas to increase traffic to the city's west end business district.
At its third meeting Tuesday, the committee reviewed each of the project ideas from business owners and Lake Area residents, to determine final recommendations to the Osage Beach Board of Aldermen before the city's annual preparation of its 2015 budget in September.
Once the list was pared down, Osage Beach Citizens Advisory Committee Chair Geniece Tyler said she would draft a letter with the ideas chosen to move forward, and allow the committee to make their comments and suggestions before finalizing their recommendations to board.
"It was so exciting to have so many people come and give us their thoughts," Tyler said in the meeting about the recent public forum, which saw more than 30 participants from the community. "We will submit everything, but as far as our recommendations, we will limit them down unless it is something we feel strongly about."
Ideas given and ones the committee will review to include as recommendations to the city are: an economic developer or community developer position; widening Nichols Road; opening Osage Beach Parkway/extension to connect with Camdenton/Highway 54; promotion of the district on social media outlets; a promotion video and other advertising of the area to use for economic development; landscape and beautification of the Osage Beach Parkway and expressway exits; a lighted sign to Osage Beach (which is already scheduled for installation Aug. 5); color coding exits for entrance into the west end business district; creation of a scenic bypass; business district promotion; and verifying traffic numbers and promoting traffic counts currently received from the Missouri Department of Transportation or additional ones for city.
Members of the committee said there were many ideas that involved holding events, festivals and other activities they felt were important. Tyler said they expanded one suggestion in streamlining the event application process to include a standard checklist for those wanting to put on an event in the draft letter for review and possible recommendation to the city, as well. In addition, Tyler said the committee could publicize the list of event ideas for people to see if someone would like to lead one of the events to fruition. However, as one committee member said, it is not necessarily the city's financial place to fund those events, but rather offer support.
"Just like the group with the Passport (to the Parkway) program, they stepped up to the plate, got the idea, started on it and went with it," Tyler said. "If we have a streamlined application process, it could provide a checklist for someone wanting to have an event that would help them with items such as if it requires a permit, contacts for police or traffic assistance, road closures, transportation, parking, etc.
"This way, if someone came up with a great idea, they don't have to spin their wheels each time. If they know some of these things that the city is willing to do, somebody may say, "oh I have that and they would start the process to put that event on.'"
Osage Beach Assistant City Administrator Jeana Woods said the city currently requires event permits for those who want a gathering of 100 or more people, which are free, and it does cover many of those recommendations such as traffic needs, closest parking, property details, etc. However, Tyler and members of the committee feel making people aware of that process may be a good recommendation.
Members of the Passport to the Parkway committee were present at Tuesday's meeting and gave an update on how one idea that stemmed from their recent meeting could help in event planning on the west end business district, as well.
With the objective to increase traffic, the Passport to the Parkway is a shopping event that includes a passport for each shopper to Osage Beach's west end business district. Joni Walden, lead organizer of the event and committee, said everyone is eligible to win a significant prize such as an iPad, gasoline gift card, etc. The passport is given out at Walden's business Blinds & More along with a tote bag filled with coupons at participating businesses. The passport is then taken to each participating business, with the hopes of winning the overall prize. They are looking at a possible October time frame for the program.
Phyllis Marose, Osage Beach alderman, west end business owner of Putt N Stuff and Passport to the Parkway committee member, said at Tuesday's meeting one of the criteria to pursue the Passport program is forming a legal, non-profit merchant's association.
"We need to form a non-profit organization because we need our own bank account so monies collected can go into that account. It wouldn't go to the city and it won't go to individual business owners," she said. "That is the first thing on the agenda, and we want to get it done quickly. We are thinking of merchants on the west end and this is where our problem lies. If businesses can jump on the bandwagon and become a part of this association, there are all kinds of committees that can be created ... to do whatever they want from the short-term ideas (events, promotion, marketing, etc.). Then, they can ask the city for assistance in any way possible to make it all come together."
After the Osage Beach Citizens Advisory Committee reviews and makes another other suggestions to the draft letter of idea recommendations, Tyler said they can discuss if they want to meet again for discussion or simply finalize their list before presenting it to the Board of Aldermen in September.