Tourism Committee

Purpose

The Osawatomie Tourism Committee’s function is to continue to build Osawatomie’s tourism industry and community event calendar, and to recommend to the City Council each year, prior to adoption of the City budget, a budget for tourism and community event-related projects or improvements.

Committee members work to design, develop, and fund tourism initiatives and event-related projects in and around the City of Osawatomie.

Definition of Tourism

For the purposes of the Committee’s studies and recommendations, tourism shall mean and include the four City-sponsored “Signature Events” within the community:

• John Brown Jamboree (June)
• Lights on the Lake (July)
• Freedom Festival (September)
• Border War BBQ (October)

The Committee, consisting of seven voting members (including at least one representative from each of the Signature Events) who each shall be a resident, property owner, or business owner/operator in the 66064 zip code. The Committee’s membership shall also include three ex-officio (non-voting) members: one Council member appointed as a liaison, the City Manager or his or her designee, and the Executive Director of the Osawatomie Chamber of Commerce.

The goal of the Committee is to focus primarily on the development, support, and sustainability of the City’s “Signature Event” series, and to develop policies and procedures that reflect the Committee’s overarching goals for the community.

Description of Committee Duties

The role of the Tourism Committee shall include:

• Provide support to Signature Event Committees
• Make recommendations to the Governing Body on tourism and marketing policies
• Assist in developing a strategic tourism and marketing plan for the City
• Review and make recommendations on the expenditure of transient guest tax revenues collected by the City
• Provide input and review of the City Manager’s submitted budget related to signature events which shall occur annually before July 1st

For more information, review the Resolution regarding the Tourism Committee.

Board Vacancies

When a board member vacates their position, or as a member's term expires, the City of Osawatomie will seek to fill the position immediately. Persons interested in serving are required to submit a completed Public Service Application to be considered for appointment. City Staff and/or current Board members may conduct brief interviews with applicants if necessary or desired.