ImOn Ice Center Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation Copyrighted
April 9, 2025
City of Dubuque PUBLIC HEARINGS # 4.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: ImOn Ice Center Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation
SUMMARY:
SUGGUESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 26 Policy Book Volume 4 - ImOn Arena Ice Center
2. Presentation - Uploaded 4.9.25
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ImOn Arena
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IMON ARENA
Budget Highlights
FY 2024
Actual
FY 2025
Budget
FY 2026
Requested
% Change
From FY
2025
Budget
Expenses
Employee Expense $ (1,523) $ — $ — 0.0 %
Supplies and Services $ 402,324 $ 411,929 $ 400,984 -2.7 %
Machinery and Equipment $ — $ 16,100 $ 9,700 -39.8 %
Total Expenses $ 400,801 $ 428,029 $ 410,684 -4.1 %
Debt on Projects paid with Sales Tax Fund
(20%)$ 183,849 $ 372,587 $ 470,837 26.4 %
Property Tax Support $ 400,801 $ 428,029 $ 410,684 -4.1 %
Percent Increase (Decrease) -4.1 %
Significant Line Items
Background
1.The Dubuque Community Ice Center (now known as ImOn Arena), was designed, developed, and
built under a Development Agreement between the Dubuque Community Ice & Recreation, Inc.
(DICE), the City, the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), and Battlefield Dubuque, LLC
commencing October 30, 2009. Opened September 18, 2010, the building is owned by the City and
was leased in a 25-year lease agreement to DICE. DICE, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, raised
all funds to build the Ice Center. DICE managed and operated the Ice Center on a day-to-day basis.
The City of Dubuque received notice from DICE on June 17, 2021, of its intent to relinquish its
leaseholder rights. DICE agreed to continue operating the Ice Center through September 5, 2021.
The Development Agreement outlined the steps to be taken in the event the lease was
terminated. These steps ended with the City taking ownership of all assets and commencing
with full Ice Center operations on September 6, 2021. This was to continue ice operations to
avoid disruption of ice usage for all user groups involved. As the City took over the operations
and focused on the short-term needs of running the facility, they continued to consider what
would be the best management model for the ice center in the long term.
The City and the DRA discussed the opportunity to move the day-to-day operations of the Ice
Center to the DRA. This led to an interim staffing agreement between the City of Dubuque and
the DRA executed on January 1, 2022, in which the DRA would provide interim staffing to
operate the facility. All operating expenses were charged to the City. Only the direct employee
expenses were included in the monthly expenses. Indirect employee costs incurred during the
term of the interim staffing agreement was provided by the DRA and not billed to the City. All
other costs and operations continued to be the responsibility of the City during the term of that
agreement.
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The facility was renamed Dubuque Ice Arena in October of 2022. A Management Agreement
was adopted between Schmitt Island Development Corporation (SID) and the City on October
20, 2022. The agreement provides for a management fee to SID similar to the fee to the
management firm for Five Flags and Grand River Center as well as the City’s reimbursement of
operating loss. A management agreement with SID was established with a term of January 1,
2024 through December 31, 2033, with a potential renewal of an additional 5 years. The facility
was renamed ImOn Arena on August 21, 2023 as part of a naming rights agreement, which
provides $100,000 in revenue to go towards SIDs Ice Arena operating budget with the goal of
reducing the City's property tax support.
Supplies and Services
2.Pay to other Agency decreased from $382,673 in FY 2025 to $355,832 in FY 2026. This line item
represents money paid to Schmitt Island Development Corporation (SID) for the fixed annual
management fee (FY 2026 is estimated to be $104,545) and the operating loss coverage paid to
SID (FY 2026 is estimated to be $251,287).
Fixed Annual Management Fee
The management agreement with SID establishes that the fixed management fee is $100,000 in
the first year (January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025), and adjusted in each subsequent
year according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The management agreement outlines the
January CPI is used to increase the increase the fixed management fee. This results in both the
current fiscal year and proposed budget fiscal year being estimates of the January CPI. Using a
January CPI results in estimates that incorporate two different Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) in
a fiscal year.
•In FY 2024 the fixed management fee was $100,000
•In FY 2025 the fixed management fee is estimated to be $101,500
•In FY2026 the fixed management fee is estimated to be $104,545
Amount to Cover the Operating Loss
The management agreement with SID establishes that the City will cover the operating loss of
ImOn Arena, which is the difference between all revenues and expenses for the ImOn Arena. In
FY 2026, the amount to cover the operating loss is expected to be $251,287.
This number is projected per a budget provided by SID.
•In FY 2025 the operating loss is budgeted at $282,673
•In FY 2026 the operating loss is expected to be $251,287
FY 2024 operating loss is not comparable due to half of the fiscal year being under a
management agreement with different terms and conditions.
3.Building Maintenance increased from $0 in FY 2025 to $15,000 in FY 2026. This expense is
required by the management agreement and represents building additions, alterations, repairs, or
improvements where the cost for the expenditure is greater than $5,000 and the depreciable life of
the applicable item is in excess of one year. This expense was not budgeted in prior years as the
agreement was not finalized at the time of prior budgets.
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Machinery & Equipment
4.Equipment replacement items include ($9,700):
Ice Center Machinery and Equipment
Refrigerator $1,500
Hot Dog Warmer $200
Electric Edger $8,000
Total Equipment $ 9,700
Debt Service
5.FY 2026 Annual debt service is as follows ($470,837):
Amount Debt Series Payment Source Purpose
Final
Payment
Call
Date
$ 374,199 2023A Sales Tax 20%Ice Settling Remediation 2043
$ 96,638 2025B Sales Tax 20%Ice Arena Dehumidification 2045
$ 470,837 Total Ice Center Center Annual Debt Service
For ImOn Ice Arena Performance Measures, see Five Flags Civic Center Outline
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Recommended Operating Revenue Budget - Department Total
28 - ICE CENTER
Fund/Account/Account Title
FY23 Actual
Revenue
FY24 Actual
Revenue
FY25
Adopted
Budget
FY26
Recomm'd
Budget
100 - General
4A - Charges for Services
45021 - Credit Card Tips 0 0 0 0
45032 - Public Skate 0 0 0 0
45033 - Hockey Ice Rent 0 0 0 0
45034 - Ice Rental (25,000) 0 0 0
45037 - Ice Rental (10,693) 0 0 0
45038 - Free Style Ice Rent 0 0 0 0
45039 - Skate Rental 0 0 0 0
45440 - Events 0 0 0 0
45443 - Gift Certificates 0 0 0 0
45450 - Meeting Room Fee 0 0 0 0
45455 - Program Fee 0 0 0 0
45500 - Miscellaneous Chg for Svcs 0 0 0 0
47100 - Reimbursements (15,911) 0 0 0
47500 - Merchandise Sales 0 0 0 0
47510 - Beer 0 0 0 0
47511 - Food 0 0 0 0
47512 - Liquor 0 0 0 0
47513 - Beverage/Ice (647) 0 0 0
47514 - Gift Cards 0 0 0 0
4A - Charges for Services Total (52,252)0 0 0
4O - Eliminated for GW
47115 - Sales Tax Collection 0 0 0 0
4O - Eliminated for GW Total 0 0 0 0
4N - Transfers
49304 - Transfer in Sales Tax 20%0 (183,849)(372,587)(470,836)
4N - Transfers Total 0 (183,849)(372,587)(470,836)
ICE CENTER - Total (52,252)(183,849)(372,587)(470,836)
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6A - Salaries & Wages
100 - General
60100 - Salaries-Regular Full Time 0 0 0 0
60200 - Salaries - Regular Part Time 0 0 0 0
60300 - Hourly Wages - Temp/Seasonal 5,115 (568) 0 0
60400 - Overtime 0 0 0 0
6A - Salaries & Wages Total 5,115 (567)0 0
6B - Employee Benefits
100 - General
61100 - FICA - City Contribution 391 (43) 0 0
61300 - IPERS - City Contribution 0 0 0 0
61510 - Health Insurance 0 0 0 0
61540 - Life Insurance 0 0 0 0
61700 - Unemployment Compensation 912 (912) 0 0
61992 - Physicals 447 0 0 0
6B - Employee Benefits Total 1,750 (955)0 0
6D - Repair/Maint/Util
100 - General
63100 - Building Maintenance 4,683 0 0 15,000
63400 - Equipment Maint/Repair 3,108 0 0 0
63710 - Electricity 45,732 0 0 0
63711 - Natural Gas 2,929 0 0 0
63720 - Refuse 1,632 0 0 0
63730 - Telecommunications 410 0 0 0
63742 - Stormwater 2,349 0 0 0
6D - Repair/Maint/Util Total 60,842 0 0 15,000
6E - Contractual Svcs
100 - General
64020 - Advertising 149 0 0 0
64062 - Refunds 81 0 0 0
64080 - Insurance - Property 0 40,494 29,256 30,152
64083 - Insurance - Other 0 0 0 0
64130 - Payments to Other Agencies 334,693 361,830 382,673 355,832
64150 - Rental - Equipment 387 0 0 0
64180 - Sales Tax Expense (1,611) 0 0 0
64185 - License/Permit/Fees 0 0 0 0
Recommended Operating Expenditure Budget - Department Total
28 - ICE CENTER
Fund/Account/Account Title
FY23
Actual
Expense
FY24
Actual
Expense
FY25
Adopted
Budget
FY26
Recomm'd
Budget
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64190 - Technology Services 2,835 0 0 0
64195 - Credit Card Charge 0 0 0 0
64900 - Other Professional Service 0 0 0 0
64975 - Equip Maint Cont 4,099 0 0 0
6E - Contractual Svcs Total 340,633 402,324 411,929 385,984
6F - Commodities
100 - General
65025 - Program Materials 20 0 0 0
65033 - Food Products 4 0 0 0
65034 - Beer Products 13,395 0 0 0
65035 - Liquor Products 0 0 0 0
65036 - Beverage/Ice 65 0 0 0
65037 - Pro Shop Mechandise 0 0 0 0
65045 - Technology Equipment 0 0 11,000 0
65050 - Other Equipment 0 0 5,100 9,700
65056 - Traffic Security Cameras 0 0 0 0
65060 - Office Supplies 701 0 0 0
65965 - Janitorial 0 0 0 0
65999 - Cash Over and Short 0 0 0 0
6F - Commodities Total 14,185 0 16,100 9,700
6G - Capital Outlay
100 - General
67230 - Heavy Equipment 0 0 0 0
67250 - Office Equipment 0 0 0 0
6G - Capital Outlay Total 0 0 0 0
6H - Debt Service
200 - Debt Service
68010 - Principal Payment 0 0 151,968 187,429
68020 - Interest Payments 0 183,849 220,619 283,408
6H - Debt Service Total 0 183,849 372,587 470,837
ICE CENTER - TOTAL 422,526 584,650 800,616 881,521
Recommended Operating Expenditure Budget - Department Total
28 - ICE CENTER
Fund/Account/Account Title
FY23
Actual
Expense
FY24
Actual
Expense
FY25
Adopted
Budget
FY26
Recomm'd
Budget
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Recommended Expenditure Budget Report by Activity & Funding Source
28 - ICE CENTER
Fund/Activity
FY24
Actual
Expense
FY25
Adopted
Budget
FY26
Recomm'd
Budget
2801 - Ice Center Admin
100 - General
6A - Salaries & Wages -567 ——
6B - Employee Benefits -955 ——
6C - Staff Development ———
6D - Repair/Maint/Util ——15,000
6E - Contractual Svcs 402,324 411,929 385,984
6F - Commodities —16,100 9,700
6G - Capital Outlay ———
2801 - Ice Center Admin Total 400,801 428,029 410,684
2880 - Ice Center Debt Service
200 - Debt Service
6H - Debt Service 183,849 372,587 470,837
2880 - Ice Center Debt Service Total 183,849 372,587 470,837
ICE CENTER TOTAL 584,650 800,616 881,521
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ImOn ARENA
FISCAL YEAR 2026
BUDGET PRESENTATION
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ImOn ARENA
City of Dubuque Schmitt Island Development (SID)
Management contract Day-to-day Operations
Building owned by City
-Building Insurance Staffing
Capital improvement funding
Operating loss
Management fee
Mark Plantery
General Manager Page 940 of 989
LITTLE BLACKHAWKS
YOUTH HOCKEY -
Iowa's Only
Beginner level hockey for ages 4-9 introduces new players
and their families to the sport of hockey
•Run by NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks
•Lessons, full gear, learning, and competition
•Appearances by Chicago Blackhawks alumni
•Ticket to Chicago Blackhawks game
•One of six (6) arenas chosen for offering program
Learn to Play Initiative -Fall 2024
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SKATE FOR ALL
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100 skaters celebrated
with the Easter Bunny!
Easter egg hunt, egg &
spoon races, pin the
nose on the Bunny,
crafts, and photos
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•Men's hockey team tournament to kick-off NCAA
Division III hockey season
•Women's hockey team tournament
•Community events to grow the game, put spotlight
on arena and Schmitt Island
◦Sponsored by Island Social
KEY CITY COLLEGIATE CLASSIC
MISSISSIPPI MATCH-UP
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ICE USER GROUPS
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CURRENT &
FUTURE
INITIATIVES
•Concessions
improvements
completed
•Dehumidification project
•Continued and
increased activation of
arena and island
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IMON ARENA
FY 2026 REQUESTED PROPERTY TAX SUPPORT
$410,684 $6.43
Net Operating
Property Tax Support
Average homeowner’s* property
tax cost for ImOn Arena
(*Avg. home value of $196,508)
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PUBLIC
SAFETY
•Cooling Center
•Emergency Shelter
•Police Department and Sheriff recruiting
sessions for training and performance
testing
•Community Connection: Where
neighbors, friends, and families meet
improves community connections.
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HTTPS://IMONARENA.COM
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