Minutes_Five Flags Civic Center Advsory Commission 7 27 15 (i Five Flags Civic Center Advisory Commission MeetingCub
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Monday July 27, 2015
unapproved by commission
PRESENT: McKenzie Hill, Bryce Parks Rod Bakke, Tyler Daugherty
STAFF PRESENT: Joyce White, Shaun Rice, Kelly Spreitzer, Ali Levasseur
OTHERS PRESENT:
MINUTES Commissioner Parks motioned and Commissioner Bakke seconded to approve the
APPORVED; minutes ofthe April 272015meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
VOTE:
OLD BUSINESS: SKI Joyce would gave follovang report from Marie Ware on old business
• Marie is finalizing the request for proposal (RFP) for capital Improvement
projects (CIP) including the tuckpointng of the Five Flags Theater and arena
lighting package.
• Marie is holding off on issuing the RFP on the structural and feasibility study
of Five Flags Center Qty of Dubuque is o,ventyworking with consultants
on the long range master plan forArtsand Culture and Marie would like to
wait to see the information from this project before crafting the RFP.
NEW BUSINESS: Commission Chair Hill conducted the Oath of Office for commissioner Parks and
Daugherty. Both will serve on the commission through June 28, 2918.
Originals sell be returned to City Clerks Office, hard and digital copiesvdll be kept at
Five Flags Center.
MARKETING Marketing Coordinator, Kelly Spreitzer, delivered following report
PROMTIONSSr Pnnwry predicting activities during the /ourth quarter Aer FY15 included the
EVENTS REPORT logical
Past Quarter "Initiatives":
Booking Initiatives
Five Flagsfinalized contracts with the following eventsforfisal year 2018'.
• The Gala of the Royal Horses to be held July 2, 2915
• Pinnacle Combat MM4 to be held August 21 , 2915
• Ride Across Wisconsin to be held August 28, 2915
• Sesame Streetto be held November 24 & 25, 2915
• Cirque Dreams Holidaze to be held December 8, 2915
General Marketing initiatives
Five Flags has been Implementing the follovang to beUerserve our potential / existing
patrons
• Developing a mobilefriendly website, as mobile usage aceountsfor 50% of
Internet access
• Promoting the theater, promenade and arena to be utilized as wedding
ceremony and reception venue
Past Quarter Event "highlights":
National touring showsthis pass quarter included
George Cooled's Circus Spectacular returned to Dubuque May 28, 2915.
They typically realm annually, and the Five Flags Center has established a
strong relationship with the pmtluction.
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Local and Regional Shows this past quarter included:
Five Flags Theater was used heavily in the fourth quarter:
• Heartland Financial hosted their second annual movie night in the theater.
We expect to host them in FY 2016.
• Dubuque Symphony Orchestra has been an anchor tenant at the Five Flags
Theater for multiple years. Their performance of Best of Opera was on April
28, 2015.
• The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival was held for the fourth time
at the Five Flags Center from April 23-26, 2015. They held three of their
"anchor events" in both the theater and ballroom space. The festival is
gaining international popularity, as over 400 films were submitted to JDIFF
for consideration. The Five Flags Center has confirmed dates for their next
festival.
• Wahlert Catholic High School performed Phantom of the Opera May 1-3,
2015. Wahlert has been performing their spring performances in the theater
since the mid-1980s.
• Two local dance groups based out of Farley and Monticello, Almost Famous
(May 9) and Studio 5678 (May 29-31, 2015) performed in the theater. Both
groups had a fantastic turn-out.
• Dubuque Chamber of Commerce hosted their sixth annual Dancing with
the Stars: Dubuque Style to raise funds for local charities on June 6, 2015.
DWTS has raised almost a million dollars since its inception.
The Five Flags Arena hosted local organizations including:
• Multicultural Family Center hosted the Taste of the World event on April 28
to promote diversity in the City of Dubuque. They had a great community
response, and are very happy with the turnout.
• Northeast Iowa Community College had both the Nurse pinning and
Graduation Ceremony on May 15.
• Dubuque Community School District held high school graduations for
Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School on May 24.
• On June 20, Rumble by the River hosted a Wrestling Tournament in the
Arena.
Commissioners also reviewed the quarterly event listing for FY15 and the upcoming
FY16 event listing.
Commissioner Bakke asked how the Circus performance did. GM Joyce White
stated that it did poorly in attendance compared to past years. The circus told the
building that lower attendance had been true at most performances.
While reviewing FY16 event listing, GM Joyce White pointed out that a number of
events in the first quarter had not been included in the FY16 budget and that could
result in a positive first quarter.
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OPERATIONS Director of Events and Operations, Shaun Rice, delivered following report:
REPORT: Upgrades and improvements during the fourth quarter of FY15 included the
following efforts:
Safety Committee
• Safety meetings have included the following topics- "Bloodborne Pathogens",
"Electrical Safety", and "First Aid".
• Continually updated our preventative maintenance program, Altum, to ensure
all our written safety programs were completed and uploaded into the
system. Uploaded all documentation regarding training and trained
personnel.
• Fourth quarter committee inspections included the basement storage rooms
and building exterior. Notes were compiled and entered into the preventative
maintenance program, Altum. Work orders were sent to appropriate staff to
correct any potential safety issues.
Routine Maintenance
• Included the set up and tear down of events and equipment
• Maintained the Altum preventative maintenance program
• Cleaned coils and performed maintenance on 15 roof top and three interior
air conditioning units.
• Replaced worn out belts and clean/ replace filters
• Scheduled inspections included:
• Ladders, Fire Alarms, Elevator, Fire Extinguishers (Monthly), Backflow
• Repairs and upgrades to Five Flags equipment and facility included:
• Installation of two expansion tanks in domestic water lines
• Resurfaced divots and chips on arena floor
Technical Operations
• Hoist and rigging inspections are scheduled for July 2015.
• Equipment designed to safely allow the use of the theater orchestra pit as a
house entrance to the stage has been approved. Required materials have
been identified and purchases have begun.
• Tested audio system in Theater and Arena
CIP Information
• Materials for break room renovations were finalized and purchasing has
begun.
• Theater lobby air conditioning is currently being installed
• City of Dubuque included Five Flags Center in their energy audit
Special Recognition
• During the company-wide operations meeting for SMG, Five Flags Center
was recognized for being the first facility to achieve 100% compliance for
safety programs in Altum. It was also noted that Five Flags did so with one
of the smallest full-time staffs of any SMG building.
FINANCIAL General Manager, Joyce White, delivered following report:
REPORT Quarter:
• We beat June's budgeted net loss by$6,717.
• Over all Expenses were up $2,202.
• Revenue was up $8,919 due to timing of events
o Dancing with the Stars — Dubuque Style was held in June but
budgeted in April
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Year-To Date:
• Actual YTD Adjusted Gross Income was less than the YTD budgeted
income by$9,232.
• Actual YTD Total Indirect Expenses was less than the YTD budgeted
expenses by$20,931.
• Actual YTD net loss was less than the YTD budgeted net loss by
$11,699.
o Labor was lower than budgeted.
o Utilities were higher than budgeted.
o Ticket rebates were greater than budgeted.
• We are projected to beat our budget at years end by $11,699.
End of year net loss is $852,198 (could change with Period 13 reporting at
the beginning of August)
Benchmark:
• We ended the year under the Benchmark by $17,793.
CORPORATE General Manager, Joyce White, delivered following report:
INITIATIVES SMG Corporate initiatives during the fourth quarter of FY15 included the
following efforts:
• Third Marketing Summit was held in Long Beach, CA with more than 50
SMG Executives attending and featured speakers from Live Nation Marketing,
AEG Marketing, Ticketmaster, Venues Today Magazine and Amplify Media.
• As a result of our relationships, three SMG venues were featured as case
studies in a recent Billboard Magazine's "Arena Marketing Report".
• SMG will run the "World is Our Stage"ad as well as a thank you to the band
Florida Georgia Line in the mid-year addition of PollstarMagazine.
• SMG has agreed to purchase a $2,500 sponsorship to become the Presenting
Sponsor of Dubuque Chamber of Commerce's "Young Entrepreneur's
Academy" (YEA!) for FY16. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a
groundbreaking year-long program that literally transforms local middle and
high school students into real, entrepreneurial success stories through an
exciting, proven projects-based approach. With both a credit bearing in-school
elective as well as an afterschool enrichment format, the powerful YEA!
Curriculum is helping students all across the country learn how to make a
job, and not just take a job.
• Congratulations to SMG Tulsa Assistant General Manager Kerry Painter
as 2015 Venues Today Women of Influence award winner.
• Congratulations to INTRUST Bank Arena for receiving Venues Today#1
Social Media Ranking in the United States for mid-sized venues.
STAFF General Manager, Joyce White, delivered following report:
DEVELOPMENT Staff updates and activity occurring during the fourth quarter of FY15 included
REPORT the following:
Staff Activity
• Joyce White, a long-time Chamber Ambassador, assumed the role as Chair
of Dubuque Chamber of Commerce as of July 1. She will also continue to
serve as past chair on the Board of Dubuque Convention and Visitor's
Bureau. Most recently, Joyce was elected to serve on the board for Greater
Dubuque Development Corporation. Other board commitments included
Dubuque Main Street Board and Executive Board.
• Asa member of the Advisory Board for Dubuque Convention and Visitor's
Center, a twenty-member board, Don Howes has attended the bi-monthly
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board meetings.
• Alyson worked beer sales at Dubuque Main Street All that Jazz events and
as the Jaycees 2015 Fireworks Chair, continued work and meeting in
preparation for the Fireworks on the River with partner Radio Dubuque.
• As 2015 President ofDCFAS, Ali Levasseur, lead monthly board meetings.
When DubuqueFest Director was not able to continue due to an accident, Ali
stepped in as the DubuqueFest Art Fair Director. Ali continues on the Voices
team, this year she will be the Chair of Licenses and Permits for the month
long event.
SMG Corporate Conference Calls
• Kelly Spreitzer participated in monthly regional conference calls to discuss
marketing initiatives.
• Alyson Tasker, Bob Richardson, and Shaun Rice participated in monthly
regional conference calls to discuss operational initiatives.
• Joyce White and Shaun Rice participated in twice-monthly national and
regional conference calls to discuss theater and arena routings.
• Don Howes participated in SMG Corporate webinars covering Affirmative
Action and the Affordable Care Act.
OTHER BUSINESS: Commissioner Bakke asked how the Gala or Royal Horses performance had gone.
GM Joyce White responded that the performance went well and had around 700 in
attendance.
Commissioner Bakke and all commissioners congratulated Joyce White on working
to become the Chair of Dubuque Chamber's Board of Directors.
Commissioner Bakke stated that at the following meeting in October, he will have a
decision of whether to stay on the commission for and additional term.
ADJURN; It was moved by Commissioner Bakke, seconded by Commissioner Parks, that the
VOTE: meeting be adjourned. The motion passed unanimously.
NEXT MEETING: Next quarterly meeting held in the General Manager's Office on Monday October 26.
2015 at 3:30PM. Five Flags staff will place an email "Thursday before"to remind
commissioners of the meeting.
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