Five Flags CSL StudyMEMORANDUM
February 25,2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Five Flags Study
A committee was formed to provide a recommendation for hiring a consultant to conduct
a feasibility study to determine what venues the Five Flags Center can best serve and
to survey the community in terms of unmet needs that might fit well into the Five Flags
Center. Eight proposals were received, and after interviewing three firms, the
committee recommends that CSL International be hired to conduct the feasibility study
and community survey of the Five Flags Center.
The committee consisted of Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence, Civic Center
Manager Paula Jo Wolfe, Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser, Finance Director
Ken TeKippe, Civic Center Commissioner Rod Bakke, Amy Link of the Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Platinum Hospitality CEO Jim Rix, and Paula Lange of the Dubuque
Holiday Inn.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C.Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gil D. Spence, Leisure Services Manager
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 25, 2002
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gil D. Spence, Leisure Services Manage/~
SUBJECT: Five Flags Study
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a recommendation on a consultant to
hire for conducting the study of the Five Flags Center.
DISCUSSION
The Fiscal Year 2002 operating budget contains $60,000 to conduct a feasibility study
to determine what venues the Five Flags Center can best serve and to survey the
community in terms of unmet needs that might fit well into the Five Flags Center.
The following individuals served on the committee that developed the Request for
Proposals and reviewed the eight proposals that were submitted:
Gil D. Spence ................................. Leisure Services Manager
Paula Jo Wolfe ............................... Civic Center Manager
Cindy Steinhauser .......................... Assistant City Manager
Ken TeKippe .................................. Finance Director
Rod Bakke ..................................... Civic Center Commission
Amy Link ........................................ Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jim Rix ........................................... Platinum Hospitality
Paula Lange ................................... Holiday Inn Dubuque
Of the eight proposals that were received, the committee selected Conventions. Sports
and Leisure International, C.H Johnson Consulting, Inc., and Strategic Advisory Group,
LLC to come to Dubuque on February 18th for interviews. Narrowing the field from
eight to three was difficult and selecting one of the three firms that were nterviewed was
even more difficult.
continued
Five Flags Study, page two
The committee recommends CSL International be hired to work with the above listed
committee (less Ken TeKippe) to conduct this study and survey. The basic reasons for
selecting this firm include:
· CSL worked with the City of Dubuque and the Chamber of Commerce on the
convention study that lead to the decision to construct the new Education and
Conference Center. This gives them much needed background information on
the Dubuque market and the America's River Project.
· The team that CSL has put together to conduct this study has experience doing
similar studies in markets the same size as ours.
· Their proposal and interview indicated a clear grasp of what we want from our
study and outlined a sound, organized way to conduct the study and survey.
· CSL has experience in conducting different types of community surveys and will
work with the committee to determine the appropriate method (or methods) to
use.
CSL professional fees of $44,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses estimated at
$6,000 leaves $10,000 for additional work. I think it is very likely the study and
survey could lead us in a direction outside the scope of service that would require
additional work. This work may include:
· analysis of financial operations
· architectural costs and design work on modifications recommended to the
building
· analysis of operations, policies, and facility management
I have spoken with people from two buildings where CSL did similar studies and
received very positive recommendations. Both places found CSL very competent and
easy to work with. The findings of both studies were honest indications of the market,
not necessarily what the buildings wanted to hear. The recommendations made as a
result of the studies were accurate as they were put in place.
ACTION STEP
The action requested is that the City Council approve hiring of CSL International to
conduct the feasibility study and community survey of the Five Flags Center.
GDS:et
c All committee members