3.1 DRAFT MINUTES (1 SET) 12-11-23
Meeting of the Elk River
Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission
Held at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center
Monday, October 9, 2023
Members Present: Vice Chair Greg Loidolt, Commissioners Betsy Gulden, Mike Westgaard,
Mike Cunningham, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: Chair Dave Williams, Commissioner Jim Hecker
Staff Present: Assistant City Administrator/Business Services Director Joe Stremcha,
Facility Superintendent Tim Dalton, Assistant Facility Supervisor Jeff Shelby and
Customer Service Associate Laura Estby
Public Present: Kara Walker
1. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Multipurpose Facility Advisory
Commission was called to order at 6:35p.m. by Vice Chair Loidolt.
2. Consider Agenda
Commissioner Cunningham requested item 7.2 be removed from the agenda as the High School
negotiations are not complete yet.
Mr. Stremcha noted in lieu of a signed contract, the High School would pay the standard rates already
established by the MFAC.
Motion by Commissioner Cunningham and seconded by Commissioner Westgaard to
approve the October 9, 2023 Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission agenda after the
removal of item 7.2. Motion carried 4-1. (Commissioner Wagner was the dissenting vote)
3.1. Consider Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Gulden to approve the
August 14, 2023, minutes. Motion carried 5-0.
4.1 FT Center Energy Audit
Mr. Dalton presented the staff report.
5. Open Forum
No one appeared for open forum.
6. Reports
Mr. Dalton’s staff report (emailed previously) was provided for the commission. Commissioner
Wagner requested the staff report and the commission packet to be sent farther in advance.
Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Minutes Page 2
October 9, 2023
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7.1 Year End Presentation to City Council
Mr. Dalton presented the staff report.
Mr. Stremcha noted projections could also be added to the report, and Commissioner Wagner agreed
that would be helpful.
Vice Chair Loidolt inquired as to when the presentation would go to the City Council. Mr. Stremcha
replied before the end of the year, but no date had been set.
8.1. Approve 2023-2024 FT Center Budget
Mr. Dalton presented the staff report and provided an overview of the budget.
Commissioner Wagner felt $49,920 is an inaccurate figure to represent the savings in eliminating
daytime front desk staff. She also added we must be careful how we present figures of costs
associated with the Senior Activity Center (Unrealized opportunity cost, etc). In the past, there was a
line item in the general fund budget to cover the physical costs of the Senior Activity Center building,
however after it moved into the FT Center, the general fund support for the Senior Center was
removed.
Mr. Dalton noted he will create an alternative method of analysis regarding maintenance fees from a
square footage perspective.
Mr. Stremcha commented staff needs the commission to give their opinion on how important it is for
the FT Center to continue to subsidize high school hockey games.
Commissioner Cunningham asked about the revenue in the concession stand on high school game
nights vs non-game nights, and added the FT Center is only providing two ticket takers/sellers.
Commissioner Westgaard expressed concern that the commission is opening a can of worms
regarding the cost allocation of high school games.
Commissioner Wagner asks if the concessions budget can separate the paper supplies from the food
purchased to sell.
Commissioner Westgaard inquired how on target the FT Center was with it’s 2023 projections.
Mr. Dalton replied he will get updated information.
Commissioner Wagner noted if an inter departmental transfer was to be considered, it wouldn’t affect
the 2024 budget, it would have to go through Council and be put into place for 2025.
Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Minutes Page 3
October 9, 2023
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Motion by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Cunningham to approve
all budget balancing adjustments presented by staff with the exception of the $10,000 high
school games subsidy. Motion carried 5-0. (Brings total adjustment to $266,656).
9. Motion to Adjourn Regular Meeting
Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Wagner to adjourn the
meeting of the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Laura Estby.
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Dave Williams, Chair
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Tina Allard, City Clerk