10-14-2024 MFACMINMembers Present:
Members Absent:
Regular Meeting of the
Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission
Held at Furniture and Things Community Event Center
Monday, October 14, 2024
Chair Mike Westgaard, Vice Chair Jeb Kotzian, Commissioners Jim Hecker,
Kara Walker, Jennifer Wagner, Tonya Henderson
Commissioners Mike Zeman and Mike Cunningham
Staff Present: Assistant City Administrator/Business Services Director Joe Stremcha,
Furniture and Things Community Event Center Manager Katie Harstad, Furniture
and Things Community Event Center Assistant Manager Jen Katke, Administrative
Assistant Laura Estby
Public Present: None
I . Call Meeting to Order
The October 14, 2024, meeting of the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission was called to order
by Chair Westgaard at 6:39 p.m.
2. Consider Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Vice Chair Kotzian to approve
the October 14, 2024, Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission agenda as presented.
Motion carried 6-0.
3.1. Consider Minutes
Motion by Vice Chair Kotzian and seconded by Commissioner Walker to approve the August
12, 2024 special meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 6-0.
4. Open Forum
No one present.
S. Presentation
None.
6.1. Financial Report
Mr. Stremcha presented the report.
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Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Minutes
October 14, 2024
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Ms. Harstad added she is researching options for having large scale events in the fieldhouse instead of
melting the ice off one of the rinks -noting cost of off supplies and labor, as well as the loss of ice
revenue with more to come at the December MFAC meeting.
Mr. Kotzian inquires about the best guess as to where the facility win end budget wise at the end of
2024.
Mr. Stremcha replied the facility won't be in the positive, but we are trending in the right direction,
adding there were $70,000 in "one time expenses" due to the payouts of staff that were laid off.
6.2. Community Event Center Manager's Report
Ms. Harstad presented the report, noting she is exploring several options for increasing revenue
including renting a space in the Overlook for pull -tabs. (No dissents noted)
Chair Mike Westgaard offered to facilitate the discussion between Ms. Harstad and the Youth Hockey
Board.
7.1. Live Barn Agreement
Ms. Harstad presented.
7.2. FT Center MOU with ISD 728
Ms. Harstad presented.
Motion by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Henderson to recommend
council approve the MOU as presented. Motion carried 6-0.
8.1 Policies and Procedures
Ms. Harstad presented.
Mr. Hecker inquired after the council meeting, if the FT Center is moving to a fast come
first served format for ice sales that would allow an outside group to bump youth hockey?
Mr. Stremcha replied the FT Center will prioritize ice sales according to their policy and procedures.
Ms. Wagner addressed confusion about contracts and what they mean in regard to ice
sales, adding if ERYHA wanted a contract, they could commit to a certain number of hours.
Mr. Westgaard replied he didn't believe Elk River Youth Hockey understood their contract was
extended until the end of 2024.
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Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Mmutes
October 14, 2024
Page 3
Mr. Stremcha added there have been issues with not knowing which hours offered to Youth Hockey
were going to be used until it is too late to try to sell them to someone else.
Mr. Westgaard replied it isn't that simple. They can't schedule ice until they know how many teams
they have.
Ms. Wagner emphasized the importance of having open lines of communications with user groups.
8.2. 2025 Budget
Mr. Stremcha presented the report, inquiring if the commission had any further metrics they would
like included regarding performance measures and goals.
Ms. Wagner replied she would like to see increasing communication with user groups and suggested a
quarterly check in.
Mr. Westgaard followed up suggesting starting with individual meetings with the users, and possibly
moving to group meetings in the future, and requested a full-sized copy of the budget document.
Mr. Stremcha noted Ms. Hatstad could mail it to him tomorrow, and asked Ms. Estbyto research ice
billing thru FinnlySport.
Mr. Westgaard inquired if the MFAC would need a special meeting to discuss the budget prior to the
next scheduled meeting on December 9, 2024.
Consensus was to not schedule a special meeting as the next 30 days will provide more
information to make educated decisions about the budget.
9. Motion to Adjourn
Motion by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Henderson to adjourn the
meeting of the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission. Motion carried 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Laura Estby.
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