Convention Center Committee - February 21, 2025

CONVENTION CENTER COMMITTEE MEETING
February 21, 2025
1:00 p.m.

Present: Charley Johnson, Mallari Ackerman, Clare Hughes, Joe Raso, Kent Kolstad, Emma McIntyre, Taylor Snelling, Denise Kolpack, Tim Mahoney, Dave Piepkorn, Shannon Full.

Absent: Katlyn Balstad, John Strand, Michelle Turnberg.

Others Present: Jim Gilmour, Assistant City Attorney Erik Johnson (via video conference), Michael Redlinger, Susan Thompson, Dan Hurder, Jake Hughes.

Charley Johnson said some of you may be getting phone calls from developers asking about the RFP process. He said those calls can be referred to him. He said he would refrain from engaging in too much conversation as this is very early in the process. He also said he would like to mention that Visit Fargo Moorhead is putting information together that will be added to their website www.fargomoorhead.org, containing comp set renderings of Convention Centers, which will include Bismarck, Dubuque, Rochester and St. Cloud.
Mr. Johnson said much of the discussion today will be around the desired size of the main space in addition to the break out and pre-function spaces, as well as the need for a catering kitchen. He said he is pretty adamant about a 50,000 square foot main room and anything beyond that would be up for debate. He said maybe it isn’t 80,000 square feet of meeting space, but more like 65,000 square feet just as long as there is space for the general session of a conference, exhibit space and break-out rooms.
Mr. Johnson introduced Dan Hurder and Jake Hughes who are caterers in town. He said he brought them in to offer their expertise about what kind of a kitchen this space would need.
Mr. Hurder detailed his three catering brands and four kitchens. He said his estimation of the required kitchen space would be between 9,000-13,000 square feet. He said something to consider is whether the space has a prep kitchen or a catering kitchen.
Mr. Johnson said this might need to be left somewhat open depending on some of the requests that are received.
Mr. Hurder said allowing multiple caterers to service the facility comes with its own unique set of challenges in that one caterer might leave the kitchen in a very different state than the next caterer.
Commissioner Piepkorn said he feels that if a hotel is co-located near the facility, that could change what type of kitchen is needed.
Mallari Ackerman went over what would be included on the website landing page for the Convention Center.
Mr. Johnson said he spoke with his counterpart in Rochester at a recent conference and spoke with him about the week of March 24th as a possibility to tour their event space. He said that week also works for the folks in St. Cloud to tour their facilities.
In response to a question for Mayor Mahoney in regards to permanent structures within the space, Kent Kolstad said it is better not to have permanent structures within the space to allow for more flexibility and multifunctionality.
In response to a question from Commissioner Piepkorn in regards to meeting room sizes, Mr. Johnson said he thinks between 6-12 meeting rooms in varying sizes in the 10-20,000 total square footage range would be sufficient, in addition to the 50,000 square foot room. He said that is not taking into account the catering kitchen, pre-function or storage space.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:59 p.m.