Minutes Five Flags 7 16 01Five Flags Commission Meeting
July 16, 2001
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
STAFFPRESENT:
Rod Bakke, Mike Brannon, Gary Dolphin, Cynthia Fuller
Steve Sesterhenn
Jodi Lukens, Gil Spence, Paula Wolfe
The Five Flags Commission meeting convened at 10:03 a.m. in the Manager's office at Five Flags
Center. Chairperson Mike Brannon presided.
Minutes of May 21 and June 18, 2001 meetings were approved.
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
Election of officers resulted in Cynthia Fuller nominated and approved unanimously as Chairperson;
Gary Dolphin nominated and approved unanimously as Vice-Chairperson; and Steve Sesterhenn
nominated and approved unanimously as Secretary.
Gil Spence bdefly outlined the Thunderbirds contract to the Commission members. He explained that
the contract has already been approved by Council and signed by the Thunderbirds but corrections can
still be made to it. The Commissioners asked some questions and Gil answered all their questions to
their satisfaction. Gil said that he would check on some issues in the contract that were brought to his
attention regarding security for the tunnel leading to the Holiday Inn and the dollar amount indicated in
the contract regarding the cost of staff. Rod Bakke motioned to ratify the agreement with the
Thunderbirds as presented, Gary Dolphin seconded the motion and all approved.
Dudng information shadng Manager Wolfe told the Commissioners about some of the upcoming events
that she has been working on. The Amedcan Classic Women Pageant would like to hold their elderly
beauty pageant in the theater in September, 2002. An estimate has been provided to them. Also,
NCAA Division 111 Wrestling Tournament would like to bdng their event to the Five Flags arena in
March, 2004. Working together with the Chamber of Commerce and the Holiday Inn Five Flags an
estimate has also been provided to this group.
Two new ads have been placed in the magazine Tour Guide. One ad for the arena and the other for
the theater. Because this was our first time advertising in their theater section, they offered the Center
the chance to do a promotional ad. This ad will have some pictures of the facility and an interview with
Manager Wolfe.
Five Flags Commission Meeting
July 16, 2001
Page Two
Also dudng information sharing Cindy Fuller mentioned her concerns regarding concessions sales.
She was wondering if we have considered putting the operation out for bid for an outside contractor to
take over. Gil Spence explained that the last time the concessions was put out for bid, no bids were
received. Cindy commented that she feels that our concessions is lacking compared to other markets
she has been in and thinks that there would be some things we could do to improve this. Paula
explained that she has been talking to John Snider, Concessions Manager, regarding some
suggestions that were made from some personnel of the Thunderbirds organization. We are going to
move the beer bar away from the upstairs concession stand and put it in the elevator alcove. This
should spread out the crowds better and hopefully make a modest increase in concession sales. Gil
Spence also mentioned that there is money in the 2006 budget for remodeling the concession stands.
Rod Bakke agreed with Cindy that the concessions area could be enhanced and would ask that Paula
and John Snider come to the Commissioners with any new ideas that they would have.
Paula mentioned some upcoming events that are scheduled in the next few months. The Dragon Boat
Festival and NICC Graduation is scheduled in August and the Masons will be returning in October.
The theater should be ready to open up the season in October with a Library show on October 8t~ and
the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra will start up their season on October 20t~. Past events consisted of
Gallagher on June 30t~ and Downtown Revitalization had their meeting on Saturday which went very
well.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m. and Paula took the
Commissioners over to the theater for a tour to view progress of the renovation.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Brannon
Chairperson