Fargo Dome Authority - May 25, 2021 Minutes

A regular meeting of the Fargo Dome Authority was held on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. in FARGODOME Meeting Room 203 with President Blake Nelson presiding.

Members present: President Blake Nelson, Troy Goergen, David Suppes, Michael Ellingson, Dan Armbrust, Nancy Jordheim and Rick Steen.

Members absent:

Others present: Ryan Green – City of Fargo; Sarah Dykema, Director of Sales and Marketing – FARGODOME; Amanda Muellenbach, Administrative and Auxiliary Services Manager – FARGODOME; Bernie Larson, Assistant General Manager – FARGODOME; Susan Thompson, Director of Finance – FARGODOME and Rob Sobolik, General Manager – FARGODOME.

Media present: Barry Amundson – The Forum

President Blake Nelson called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m.

Nancy Jordheim made a motion, seconded by David Suppes, to approve the agenda of the May 25, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting as presented. Motion carried.

Mike Ellingson made a motion, seconded by Rick Steen, to approve the minutes from the April 27, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting. Motion carried.

Rob Sobolik presented the General Manager’s report as follows:
• Year-to-Date Net Income through April 2021 is stated at -$464,061 which is a negative variance (to budget) of $606,822.
• Upon review, Rick Steen made a motion, seconded by David Suppes, to approve the April 2021 financial statements as presented.
On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: None
The motion was declared carried.
• Past and Upcoming Events: NDSU Spring Commencement was held on May 15, 2021. Sanford Health Employee Recognition Event was held May 19, 2021. Fargo Public High School Graduations will be held June 6, 2021. Happy Harry’s RibFest will be held June 9-12, 2021. NDSU Football Youth Camp will be held June 15-17, 2021. NDSU Football Individual Camp will be held June 18-20, 2021 and June 25-27, 2021.
• Rob gave an update on the status of the Shuttered Venue Grant.

Rick Steen presented the Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committee report. The Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committees met on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Items discussed included:
• 2022 Budget Presentations:
o Operating Budget – Susan Thompson presented the 2022 Operating Budget. Please see attachments.
The Building and Finance Committees each accepted a motion to approve the 2022 Operating Budget as presented.
o Capital Budget – Rob Sobolik presented the 2022 Capital Budget. Please see attachments.
Rob also reviewed the 2021 Capital Budget including prior year’s carryover. Please see attachments.
The Building and Finance Committees each accepted a motion to approve the 2022 Capital Budget as presented.
• April 2021 Financial Statements: The April 2021 Financial Statements were reviewed by the Finance Committee at the meeting on May 19, 2021.
• Award Computerized Ticketing Contract: Susan provided an overview of the history, updates and responses for the RFP process for the computerized ticketing contract. FARGODOME received responses to the RFP from Paciolan, eTix and Ticketmaster. Based upon RFP responses, subsequent inquiry responses, 2020 presentations and working knowledge of our existing provider, FARGDOME is endorsing Ticketmaster as the best solution for current and future ticking logistics and sales needs. Susan requested a motion to approve Ticketmaster as the computerized ticket provider for FARGODOME effective January 1, 2022 for a five-year term, with opportunities for extensions at mutually agreeable terms and have FARGODOME staff execute a contract with Ticketmaster as per RFP requirements and responses.
The Finance Committee approved a motion to accept the above motion request.
• Project Updates:
o Award Fire Alarm System Bid – Rob reviewed the bids and funding for the full replacement of the Fire Alarm System. Please see attachments. There were three responses to the RFP with the low bid from JDP Electric. The project was originally funded in the 2020 Capital Budget for $155,573. Because of the current bidding climate, as well as some changes in the overall scope of the project, the bids came in around 20% higher than expected. Based on the bids received, the project budget has been updated to $260,470 (Base Bid - $208,700, Alt. Bid 2 - $11,400, Project Contingency - $20,870 and Engineering Fees - $19,500). In order to fund the updated project budget, Rob requested the current project line items (FD1808 & FD2003) totaling $155,573, be combined with the following re-allocations from the current FARGODOME Capital Budget:
FD-2104 – Sound System $3,657 – remaining balance
FD-2108 – Rolling Stage Supports $2,364 – remaining balance
FD-2109 – Spotlights $10,185–remaining balance
FD-2110 – Expo/P & D Replacement $1,747 – remaining balance
FD-2008 – Snow Pusher $3,520 – remaining balance
FD-2009 – Food Service Equipment $583 – remaining balance
FD-2010 – Explosive Detection K-9 $3,898 – remaining balance
FD-2011 – Meeting Room Event Equip. $4,800 – remaining balance
FD-2015 – Crowd Control Stanchions $2,331 – remaining balance
FD-1904 – Steam Room Condenser Piping $30,000 – project balance
FD-1910 – Theatre Rigging Grid Inspection $13,000 – project balance
FD-1915 – Mezz Level Restroom Remodel $15,941–part. rem. balance
FD-1804 – Replace E Lobby Locking Doors $8,194 – remaining balance
FD-1708 – Custodial Equipment $4,677 – remaining balance
This would put the total re-allocation request at $104,897.
Adding the re-allocations above to the current budget of $155,573, would create an updated budget of $260,470.
Rob requested a motion to re-allocate the balances from the project numbers above to FD-2003 Fire Alarm System and accept the base bid, and Alt Bid 2, from JDP Electric to replace the fire alarm system.
The Building and Finance Committees each approved a motion to accept the above motion request.
o Reallocation request – A capital budget re-allocation is being requested to fund the replacement of the VFD unit servicing chiller pump #10. This is one of the two chiller pumps that provide the cooling system to the arena. Rob requested a motion to reallocate $13,000 from FD 2111 – Budgeted/Unallocated to create project FD2115 – Chiller Pump #10 VFD Unit to fund this item. This would leave a remaining balance of $10,000 in FD2111 – Budgeted/Unallocated.
The Building and Finance Committees each approved a motion to accept the above motion request.
• Escrow Balance & Performance Reports: The FARGODOME permanent fund performance, year-to-date, through March 2021 is 16.57%. Please see attachments.

Rick Steen made a motion to approve the Building and Finance Committee report as presented.
On call of the roll, Armbrust, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: None
The motion was declared carried.

The next Fargo Dome Authority meeting will be on June 29, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m.