Fargo Dome Authority - August 31, 2021 Minutes
A regular meeting of the Fargo Dome Authority was held on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. in the FARGODOME Administrative Conference Room with President Blake Nelson presiding.
Members present: President Blake Nelson, David Suppes, Troy Goergen, Michael Ellingson, Nancy Jordheim (via phone) and Rick Steen.
Members absent: Dan Armbrust.
Others present: Ryan Green – City of Fargo; Sarah Dykema, Director of Sales and Marketing – FARGODOME; Amanda Muellenbach, Administrative and Auxiliary Services Manager – FARGODOME; Susan Thompson, Director of Finance – FARGODOME; Bernie Larson, Assistant General Manager – FARGODOME and Rob Sobolik, General Manager – FARGODOME.
Media present: None.
President Blake Nelson called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m.
Mike Ellingson made a motion, seconded by Rick Steen, to approve the agenda of the August 31, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Rick Steen made a motion, seconded by Troy Goergen, to approve the minutes from the July 27, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting. Motion carried.
Rob Sobolik presented the General Manager’s report as follows:
• Year-to-Date Net Income through July 2021 is stated at $942,184 which is a positive variance (to budget) of $1,225,924.
• Upon review, Rick Steen made a motion, seconded by Mike Ellingson, to approve the July 2021 financial statements as presented.
• On call of the roll, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
• Absent and not voting: Armbrust.
• The motion was declared carried.
• Past and Upcoming Events: Guns N Roses was held August 11, 2021. NDSU Football vs. Albany will be held September 4, 2021. NDSU Football vs. Valparaiso will be held September 11, 2021. NDSU Engineering and Tech Expo will be held September 22, 2021. Sanford Fargo Marathon will be held September 23-25, 2021.
Rick Steen presented the Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committee report. The Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committees met on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Items discussed included:
• July 2021 Financial Statements: The July 2021 Financial Statements were approved by the Finance Committee at the meeting on August 25, 2021.
• Website Report and Redesign Request: Sarah reported on the website redesign request. FARGODOME’s current website was implemented in January 2013; administration of the site is complicated and the technology is outdated. FARGODOME issued an RFQ in May 2021 with responses due in June 2021; fourteen responses were received. Sarah included City IS and Communications personnel to identify the key qualifications and features. Following this initial vetting, the top four companies were identified as Carbonhouse, Network Center, Sapphire and Evolve Creative. After a more thorough review of RFQ responses, the top two candidates, Carbonhouse and Network Center, were interviewed. Carbonhouse is identified as an industry leader for venue website design, with 22 years of experience. Along with familiarity of general venue website requirements, they have experience with website integration of national ticketing companies and build sites with user-friendly options for frequent administrator updates and content additions that go along with ever-changing calendars of entertainment venues. Their sites are built to easily allow future add-on modules. Network Center is a good local option, and is responsible for numerous area business websites, including Fargo Park District. The overall costs identified for both companies are very similar. Network Center listed a $40,000 base fee and $300 per month for hosting. This price does not include support (which would be billed out at an hourly rate, as needed) or ADA compliance (available through an add-on provider). Carbonhouse listed a base cost of $24,000 plus add-ons for a total base of $40,000, as well as $750 per month for hosting and support. This price includes ADA compliance. While both companies offered good website options at comparable pricing, Sarah noted that she preferred Carbonhouse, as they are more familiar with venue website needs. Sarah recommended moving forward with Carbonhouse based on their venue experience, cost and website features, and the ability to easily modify the site for future needs. It was noted that this item is not in the 2021 operating budget. FARGODOME staff requested that this expense be paid out of the operating budget, stating that most of the expense will be incurred in 2021. The expense will be recorded as Non-Event Advertising Expense and identified in the financial statement comments. Implementation is anticipated as a 16-week rollout period with a launch date slated for the beginning of February 2022. FARGODOME staff requested a motion to move forward with Carbonhouse for the website redesign and authorize FARGODOME to spend up to $40,000 along with ongoing monthly fees. Upon review and discussion, the Building and Finance Committee accepted motions to approve the above motion request.
Project Updates:
• Dressing Room/Catering Room Remodel – FARGODOME received very positive feedback on the backstage dressing rooms and catering area from the Guns N’ Roses concert. There is still an issue with the wall coverings in the catering room and those will be replaced in the next month.
• Canopy Project – The project is complete and came in under budget.
• Capital Budget Request – Rob reported on the FARGODOME’s cooling tower. The cooling tower has five total cells, and can operate for short durations on a minimum of three cells. The gearbox in one of the cells is no longer operational and needs to be replaced. FARGODOME has received three quotes to replace the gearbox with the low bid coming in at$19,900 from Wrigley Mechanical. The project will be paid out of the Capital Budget. Rob made the following reallocation request: Reallocate $10,000 from FD2111 Budgeted/Unallocated and $10,000 from FD2116 Canopy Project to FD2117 Cooling Tower Gear Box Project. The Building and Finance Committees each accepted a motion to approve the above reallocation request.
• Escrow Balance & Performance Reports: An update on the escrow balance and performance reports was not available as of August 25, 2021.
Rick Steen made a motion to approve the Building and Finance Committee report as presented.
On call of the roll, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye. Absent and not voting: Armbrust.
The motion was declared carried.
The next Fargo Dome Authority meeting will be on September 28, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:44 p.m.