Minutes_Five Flags Civic Center Advisory Commission 04.25.22Copyrighted
May 16, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 01.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 5/2; Airport Commission of 4/26; Civil
Service Commission of 5/3; Five Flags Civic CenterAdvisory
Commission of 4/25; Library Board of Trustees Update of 4/28; Parks
and Recreation Commission of 3/8 and 4/12; Resilient Community
Advisory Commission of 5/5; Zoning Advisory Commission of 5/4;
Zoning Board of Adjustment of 4/28; Proof of publication for City Council
Proceedings of 4/18; Proof of publication for List of Claims and
Summary of Revenues for Month Ended 3/31.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 5/2/22 Supporting Documentation
Airport Commission Minutes of 4/26/22 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 5/3/22 Supporting Documentation
Five Flags Civic Center Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
4/25/22
Library Board of Trustees Update of 4/28/22 Supporting Documentation
Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
5/5/22
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of 3/8/22 Supporting Documentation
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of 4/12/22 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 5/4/22 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 4/28/22 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
4/18/22
Proof of Publication for List of Claims / Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for Month Ended 3/31/22
FIVE FLAGS �� n
Five Flags Civic Center Advisory Commission Meeting
April 25, 2022
COMMISSIONERS All Commission members present.
PRESENT:
COMMISSIONERS None
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: HR Cook, Jesse Gavin, Julie Husemann, Aaron Rainey
OTHERS PRESENT: Several members of the public and media.
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Daugherty called the meeting to order, and requested a motion to amend
the agenda to move the Public Input period to earlier in the meeting. Motion by
Bakke, seconded by Parks. Motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES APPROVED: Commissioner Parks motioned and Commissioner Blau seconded, to approve
the minutes of January 2022 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC INPUT: Chair Daugherty opened the floor for public input. Dubuque resident Tim Hitzler
reiterated comments he had previously made to the City Council at its meeting
on April 18. Dubuque resident John Pregler urged the Commission take caution
with their decision and asked for consideration of refurbishing the facility, rather
than rebuilding. Doug Donald of Fly -By -Night Productions expressed support for
expansion project, noting Five Flags Center is the only entertainment facility in
Dubuque primarily committed to the local community. He noted the economic
impact created by Five Flags Center. Mark Wahlert of the Dubuque Symphony
Orchestra also expressed support for the project, but asked that additional
funding sources be sought.
FIVE FLAGS CIVIC Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware updated the progress of potential
CENTER EXPANSION expansion since January's Commission meeting. The city has received an
PROJECT: updated study from Convention, Sports, and Leisure (CSL) that estimated the
cost of the expansion at $89.7 million dollars, but also adjusted the expected
subsidy from the city at approximately $200,000, which is lower than previously
estimated. At its meeting on April 18, the City Council referred the matter back
to the Commission, asking for their recommendation on next steps.
Commissioner Bakke pointed to other city programs that cost tax money but
don't "turn a profit" while noting the economic impact of Five Flags Center that
benefits local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. Commissioner Parks
praised CSL's work on the updated estimate, noting that they are an industry
leader and "experts" in their field whose guidance should be followed. He
outlined previous examples of Dubuque having the vision to take on large
projects that would benefit the future of the city. Commissioner Christner
stressed that the cost to maintain the current Five Flags Civic Center will only
continue to build up and addressed the structural issues with the current facility.
Commissioner Blau agreed, saying the city cannot continue to "put a Band-Aid"
on the issues at Five Flags. She supported putting the issue to a referendum,
rather than any additional study or discussion. Commission Chair Daugherty
urged "starting the clock" on the expansion process, noting the facility's
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connection to job creation, quality of life, and economic development for
Dubuque. Said the new facility could compete regionally to host state and
national sporting events.
Chair Daugherty moved to send recommendation to City Council to more
forward with a referendum in March of 2023 for not to exceed $89.7 million in
bonds, while also allowing ASM Global and other stakeholders to pursue
outside funding options to help reduce overall cost to taxpayers. Seconded by
Bakke. Motion passed unanimously.
CIVIC CENTER Leisure Services Manager Ware requested that the Commission take the
COMMISSION opportunity to provide feedback to the City Council ahead of its annual goal-
WORKSHEET FOR setting process in the form of a worksheet that identifies successes of the past
GOAL SETTING: year and identifies goals or initiatives for the coming fiscal year. Ware noted that
the Council greatly values input from the Five Flags Civic Center Commission.
Successes noted by the Commission include: meeting the subsidy benchmark,
developing a high -quality staff, successful event bookings, increased
attendance, and successful acquisition of grant funding. Initiatives for the
upcoming fiscal year include: Continuing the expansion process, again meeting
the funding benchmark, pursuing capital improvements not necessarily related
to expansion, securing a naming rights agreement, and maintaining the current
facility leadership while working toward a new contract with ASM Global.
UPDATE BY HR COOK Five Flags General Manager H.R. Cook detailed the process of upgrading the
ON CAPITAL facility's current HVAC system to a more modern, computerized system. Noted
IMPROVEMENT that in considering new projects, he is keeping an eye toward things that could
PROJECTS AND carry over to a new facility. New basketball goals debuted during the Harlem
BOOKINGS: Globetrotters event in March. New folding chairs have also been installed, and
are "very comfortable" according to Commissioner Parks. On the bookings side,
Cook noted that Five Flags has been both incredibly busy and successful during
the early part of 2022. The Globetrotters event and the El Kahir Shrine Circus
earlier this month both had historic attendance. Events are getting more diverse
and he is striving to find events that attract "under -served" communities within
Dubuque's populace. He also noted that updated Ticketmaster systems are
expected to be installed over the summer.
STAFF REPORTS: Director of Finance Julie Husemann explained that Five Flags Center had its
second consecutive month of net income in March 2022. Cook noted that there
have only been three months that the venue had net income since ASM Global
took over management of Five Flags Center in 2004, and two of the three have
been so far in 2022. The year-to-date financial forecast predicts the facility to
again beat the city's funding subsidy.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn was made by Parks, seconded by Christner. The motion
passed unanimously.
NEXT MEETING: Tentatively scheduled for Monday, July 25, 2022.
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