Minutes Five Flags Civic 11 19Five Flags Commission Meeting
November 19, 2001
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Rod Bakke, Mike Brannon, Cynthia Fuller
Gary Dolphin
STAFF PRESENT:
Jodi Lukens, Gil Spence, Paula Wolfe
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ted Scherr & Tom Lenox, The Dubuque Thunderbirds
The Five Flags Commission meeting convened at 4:32 p.m. in the Manager's office at Five
Flags Center. Chairperson Cynthia Fuller presided.
Minutes of October 15, 2001 meeting were approved.
There was one addition added to the agenda. The Dubuque Thunderbirds would be added to
the agenda before the approval of the FY2003-FY2007 Capitol improvement Budget.
Coach Tom Lennox from the Dubuque Thunderbirds asked the Commissioners to tryto acquire
ice time for Thanksgiving Day. He has been working with staff to get ice time and no one is
available to work. Gil Spence reported that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only two
holidays where we try to not schedule activities and that this day has been shown as a non-ice
day from the beginning. All Zamboni operators and house managers have been contacted to
work and none ara available. Coach Lennox told the Commissioners that the team would be
willing to pay the over-time involved in bringing an employee in on a holiday to open the
building so they could practice. Coach Lennox wanted the employees to be contacted again
and told that they would be paid double time for their time and see if there would be anyone
available. The Commissioners had some questions and comments regarding the situation. All
the questions were answered and Manager Wolfe said that she would get back with the
Thunderbirds the next day regarding the time the ice would be available and if there was an
employee available to open on Thanksgiving Day for practice. ManagerWolfe also questioned
Coach Lennox in regards to the Telegraph Herald's reporting of attendance of their games.
Coach Lennox said that the Thunderbirds do not report numbers to Jim Leitner of the
Telegraph Herald, that he must estimate the number himself for the paper. Manager Wolfe
said that the numbers being reported in the paper is significantly higher than actual counts.
Coach Lenox said that he thinks Jim Leitner does this to try to create enthusiasm with higher
numbers. Manager Wolfe wanted the Commission members to be aware of the high numbers
being reported in the paper so they would not be concerned with concessions revenue not
corresponding with the high attendance numbers. The Commission members all agreed that
they would get the actual count and not go by what the paper had. With no further business,
Coach Lennox and Ted Shen' left the meeting.
All Commission members had a budget packet. Gil Spence explained each item of the
FY2003-FY2007 Capitol Improvement Budget. The Commission members had some bdef
questions and Gil Spence answered ali their questions to their satisfaction. Mike Brannon
motioned to approve the Capitol Improvement Budget, Rod Bakke seconded the motion and all
approved.
Gil Spence then proceeded to explain the items on the FY2003 Operating Budget. He
highlighted some changes being made to both the operating and the revenue budget including
an improvement level item. The Commission members had no questions for Gil. Rod Bakke
motioned to approve the FY2003 Operating Budget, Mike Brannon seconded the motion and all
approved.
Five Flags Commission Meeting
No'~'ember 19, 2001
Page: Two
Dudng information shadng Rod Bakke wanted to suggest for the next meeting to have a work
session with the Commission members on what their role as a Commission member involves.
Rod thought it would be a good idea with a new member coming aboard and also with a new
Manager on board. Gil Spence said that we would send the Commission a copy of the section
out of the code outlining the Commission's duties so the members will have time to look this
over.
Also during information sharing, Manager Wolfe shared that she is working on new bookings.
Dubuque Fest is sponsoring a show called Mark Twain Goes West. That is a possible booking
this summer and also the Boat Show is a possible booking for this spring. In September, 2002
we will be having an Idsh Dance Competition. Also, that the JoDee Messina concert was
canceled in six other locations so it was a problem with the whole tour, not just Dubuque. The
Center did incur some costs and the promoter will be sent a bill.
Mike Brannon asked if Manager Wolfe would be attending the IAAM conferences. Gil Spenca
said that it is in the budget and Manager Wolfe would be looking into the dates of their
upcoming conferences. All Commission members thought it would be a great asset for her to
attend these meetings to meet other managers of other arenas.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Fuller
Chairperson