Minutes_Civil Center Advisory Commission 10 29 13Five Flags Commission Meeting Monday October 29, 2012
Present: Barb Kurt, Rod Bakke, Bryce Parks, Joyce White, Don Howes, and Ali Levasseur
Absent:
Commissioner Parks called meeting to order.
Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Parks motions to approve minutes from July 23, 2012 meeting.
Commissioner Bakke seconded, all approved.
Old Business:
• General Manager reminded the Commission of quarterly meeting schedule with next meeting January 28,
2013.
• General Manager reported on following events discussed at July 23, 2013 meeting
o Have not heard from Ron White's management for movement on spring 2013 dates
o The ACO "bean bag" tournament in partnership with Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau is
not being pursed at this time.
o Menopause the Musical has been taken off the calendar, hold was the same weekend as Julien
Dubuque International Film Festival. The building and promoter saw this event as a direct conflict
for demographic.
o Teen Choice Awards touring show is tentative at this time.
New Business:
• Commissioner Bakke asked if George Straight might attainable at this time, it is George's last tour.
General Manager will get back to commission with any information she gathers.
• Cindy Fuller has retired from the Commission. McKenzie Hill, a new Dubuque resident has applied to sit
on commission. She will be in front of City Council November 5, 2012 and council will vote November 19,
2012.
• Discussion was held of Five Flags working to market or promote the community use of the Building. To
make sure the local tax payers understand how the building is used for community events and national
touring entertainment. Commissioner Kurt suggested 365ink do a follow up story of Five Flags still going
strong. Commissioner Bakke suggested getting a "did you know Five Flags is doing this" included in City
Manager's report.
Financial Manager, Don Howes, delivered the following reports:
Financial, Accounting Reports:
• Income Statement: Current Actual Net Income (loss) ($259,718) is $13059 over budgeted ($246,659).
o Income lower based on events that were budgeted did not occur or were moved to different
month.
o Expenses were higher due to supplies and labor for locker room renovation
• Rolling Forecast: Net Income (loss) Projected ($836,527) is $5,270 below budgeted ($841,897) and
$3,700 below benchmark ($840,276).
General Manager, Joyce White, delivered the following reports:
Operations Department:
• Staff cleaned, repaired, and refurbished 32 year old chair platform in arena. A new motor purchased and
installed.
• Building contacted Lightedge, the city's internet phone provider to schedule and install additional
bandwidth to server
• Management submitted a proposal to Marie Ware for renovation of four locker rooms. Funding for project
came through CIP budget residuals. Project included new shower area, shower tile, carpet tiles, and new
coat of paint for all four locker rooms, connecting hallway and Gate B.
• Staff supervised the completion of major structural issues to the theater during this past quarter:
o Repair of stone colonnade on theater fascia - completed
o Spot tuck pointing worst breaches in mortar on theater exterior - completed
Page 1 of 3
o Identified location of collapsed theater roof drain (included digging up and replacing sidewalk) —
completed
o In conjunction with CIP FY13 budget, refurbished and replaced eight exterior theater lights.
• Theater Exterior was inspected by City building inspector, representatives from Planning Department and
Historical Society. Inspection focused on tuck pointing and other general structural issues.
• Building submitted documents to City Sustainability Coordinator for new message center (marquee) and
energy efficient lighting in conjunction with residual federal stimulus funding.
Marketing, Promotions, and Events Interests:
• Rising Star Theatre Company utilized Five Flags theater and Bijou Room for production of two
outstanding shows — Hairspray and Pinocchio.
• Five Flags hosted the North Central Regional USA Roller Derby Tournament in mid - September. Five
Flags was one of five venues across the US to host the Inaugural USARS Regional Roller Derby
Tournament.
• Social Sense, a small marketing and technology company in Dubuque, has been contracted to conduct
an overall assessment of Five Flags marketing plan with particular emphasis on social marketing.
o Social Sense has designed and implemented on on -line survey, approximately 200 surveys were
taken and information is till being compiled and analyzed (see attached survey analysis)
Commissioner Kurt asked how the surveys were sent out. Ali Levasseur explained the surveys
were distributed through our email distribution and announced on Facebook and Twitter.
o Following new social media channels have been introduced: Foursquare, Pinterest, and a Five
Flags YouTube Channel
• Five Flags designed and launched an updated website on August I. Primary improvements included the
addition of a user friendly event calendar as well a slideshow of events.
• Staff is focusing on marketing efforts for the following upcoming events: MPA Pool Tournament, Kenny
Rogers Christmas and Hits, Mannheim Steamroller, Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street, Dock Dogs
World Championships, among many other events.
First Quarter Events
July 2012
Rising Star - "Hairspray"
August 2012
Rising Star - " Pinocchio"
Second Quarter Events
October 2012
DSO Classic I
Don Tjernagel Comedy Monster
City Leadership Meeting
DSO Arts Trek
Outlaws Roller Derby
Grande
DSO Auditions
MPA Pool Tournament
September 2012
DHS — Kinderpalooza
Phi Beta Sigma "Step Dance"
DSO Arts Trek
Holiday Inn Meeting Space
City Human Right Meeting
November 2012
Loras Open Wrestling
DALMC Career & Tech Fair
DSO Classic I I
Outlaws Roller Derby
Girl Scouts Dream Event
Dock Dogs World Championships
Native Spirit Dancer
Sesame Street Live
Colts Drum & Bugle Corp (camp)
Dubuque Dance Studio
Kenny Rogers Christmas and Hits
MMA Pinnacle Combat 11
DSO Auditions
City Leadership Meeting
Regional Roller Derby
Fly -By -Night — "45 Seconds
from Broadway
December 2012
DSO Family Holiday Concert
DSO Holiday Pops
DSO Youth Ensemble
Mannheim Steamroller
Jim McDonough Holiday
Dubuque Soccer Club (camp)
Night Storm Teen Dance
Harlem Globetrotters
Staff Development
• Joyce White attended an SMG customized course entitled K'nekt III: Sales Accountability and Leadership
in Charleston, SC.
• Alyson Tasker and Bob Richardson attended a corporate SMG Operations convention and IAVM's trade
show in July in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
• Don Howes attended the two -day Iowa Human Resource State Conference in Des Moines.
Page 2 of 3
• Heather Haggerty has worked as the Five Flags intern this past quarter. Heather will graduate from
University of Dubuque in December with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in
Marketing and Human Resources.
• Joyce White was appointed to the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She will serve as
Chair, Convention and Business Bureau Division.
Other
• Venue passed inspection and renewed food service licenses by City of Dubuque Health Services Department
• In conjunction with SMG corporate -wide directive to fine -tune the venue's OSHA written requirements, Five
Flags management is updating all written Safety Programs. Management engaged the services of a Certified
Safety Specialists to conduct an audit on in -house safety records.
Adjournment of Monthly Commission Meeting: Commissioner Bakke motioned to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Kurt seconded, all approved.
Next meeting: in the General Manager's Office on Monday January 28, 2013 at 330PM. Five Flags staff
will place an email "Thursday before" to remind commissioners of the meeting.
Page 3 of 3