MCC Advisory Board Minutes 04-20-2006Community Center Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Thursday April 20, 2006
4:30 P.M. West Prairie Conference Room
Board Members Present: Harvey Kendall -Chair, Dick Quick -Vice Chair, Sandra Theros, Bob
Grabinski, and Clint Herbst
Staff Members Present: Kitty Baltos-Director
1. Meeting called to order by Harvey Kendall at 4:26p.m.
2. Consideration of adding items to the agenda:
a. Item 8, Easter Bunny Breakfast
b. Item 9, Electronic Sign
c. Item 10, Teen Center
d. Item 11, Ballpark Concessions
3. Consideration of approving the minutes from the February 16, 2006 regular meeting. MOTION by
Dick Quick to approve the minutes as submitted, SECOND by Bob Grabinski, MOTION
PASSED.
4. Update items:
Financial summary through February 2006. Kitty presented the Revenue and Expense
Statement through February 28, 2006. The report showed increased income in every
category. Program fees did appear low but this was due to a timing issue with the Swim
Lesson Registration. Kitty indicated that there had been some problems with the Chapel
rentals. She noted that Mr. Parker had painted a ramp walkway with the children adding
there own faces and renters felt that there should be curtains on the windows facing the
ramp. Randy is doing well with the rentals at the Chapel with a few small issues to be
resolved. There was also a breakdown in communication with the school with Isabella
leaving but that has been worked out with all communications going through Sandy. There
were also problems with the billing to the school but Kitty is getting this rectified. It
appears that the rental income projection from the Chapel may have been low. Kitty noted
that memberships are going very well. Kitty also noted that there will be an intern who will
be working with corporations and the way memberships work with their employees. The
intern will also be working on conventions, rentals, etc. Kitty noted that Line 56 of the
R&E is the cost of renting space for Bridal Expos and Exhibit space at out of town shows
such as Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Kitty noted that there would not be participation at the
St. Cloud Expo this year if the fashion show runs at the same time as the exhibits and that
the organizers have been told this. She said that with the show and the exhibits at the same
time much of the time at the show was down time as attendees were at the fashion show
and not at the exhibit booths. Kitty also noted that the additional party room has been a
"nice option" and has worked well and is paying for itself. Kitty was also questioned on
how the BCBS program was going and she replied that it was great.
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b. Usage summary through March 2006. Kitty noted that staff would start tracking usage of
the climbing wall and the indoor play area. The fitness area has a lot of happy campers
with the addition of new equipment and the rearrangement of the area. Kitty also noted
that Donna is busier and that the Kid Lifting classes are filling up. Kitty said that usage
does appear to up with the increase in memberships and how busy the Fitness area is. It
was suggested that a timeline be posted for user indicating the heavier usage times so that
users could plan accordingly. Kitty said that there have been a lot of positive comments in
the suggestion box. Harvey Kendall said that he would like to see the comments from the
hallway board added to the agenda packet. Kitty said that the number of memberships will
be tracked this year and will be on the Daily Usage Summary Report.
c. Replacing the position vacated by Amy Addy, Program/Operations Coordinator. The
acceptance of applications will close on May 2, 2006. Kitty Baltos, Tricia Menth and 3
board members will do the interviews. Kitty will send a list of the questions to the
members prior to the interviews. Some of the areas that the new Program / Operations
Coordinator will be responsible for are the Ice Skating Arena, special events, swim
programs, monthly payments, BOBS, etc. Kitty noted that she had spoken with the Finance
Department and they cannot take over the BCBS due to time constraints. Kitty was asked
if this person should really be doing the BCBS and with the lessening of programs if this
person would really need to be a full time position. Kitty responded that this really need to
be full time as twice a month the BCBS takes up a 10 to 12 hour block of time. Kitty said
that a major part of the position is supervisory for the front desk, wheel parks, ice arena,
and warehouse.
d. Medica Fitness Discount Program. The tentative date to start is May I". Reason for the
delay was due to servers not talking. This program may add sometime to the Program /
Operations Coordinator position but since it is similar to the BOBS it should not be a
significant amount of time. When questioned on whether we need to participate, Kitty felt
that we need to as every other facility in the area is participating.
5. Discussion on Wheel Park opening and operation for 2006. The wheel park will open the weekend
after prom, April 29th. There was discussion on the fee for the park for this summer. It was felt
that a flat fee of $3 for everyone did not allow for a difference between residents and non-
residents. Harvey Kendall said that he would like to see $2.50 for residents and $3 for non-
residents. Dick Quick would like a monitor of the hours for the summer. Clint Herbst would like
the board to look at what can be done to make the wheel park better. Harvey Kendall agreed
saying he would like so see what we are going to do with the park before closing it. Dick Quick
questioned the amount of money that is being lost on the wheel park. Kitty said that one of the
concerns by the users was that their weren't allowed in the park and that the Community Center
was trying to resolve this by allowing friends in the picnic area next to the wheel parks and they
the friends would need to leave an ID to be in the area. Kitty said that this could always be
changed. There was some discussion on whether an ID was a good idea due to identity theft
issues. Harvey Kendall said he would like to see more done in the parks on River Fest weekend.
The name chosen for the park was "Outer Limit Wheel Park".
6. Review the results of surveys taken of the members for general building information and survey of
the Warehouse Teen Center done at the High School. There were 137 customer surveys passed out
to members that were returned over a 6-week period. Kitty was the most disappointed in the
Childcare feedback. A $20 gift certificate was chosen in a random drawing of the people who
responded to the survey. Kitty was pleased to announce that the 91 compliment was what great
staff we have at the Community Center. The #1 complaint was the number of small children on
the equipment in the Fitness Area. Kitty said that staff is monitoring the area and informing
people in the area with small children that the children are not allowed on the equipment. Kitty
felt that the comments were a very constructive for future use. The comments will be included in
the next packet agenda for the board members to review. Warehouse Teen Center Survey showed
that the Community Center is not doing a good job of marketing. Kitty said that she had contacted
the counselors at the school but that the Middle School did not respond so the survey was only
done in the High School. Clint Herbst said that Jim Johnson would be a good contact for getting
the survey out and done. Clint will also ask Jim Johnson at the next IDC meeting. Kitty will
remind Clint on this. Clint also asked if it was possible to have a band outside by the wheel park.
Kitty said she did not think there would be enough space.
7. Consideration of use for a donation to the Community Center from Mary Mahoney for $120. Kitty
questioned whether Parker should be contacted to do additional painting but the board felt that
individual donations in smaller amounts could be posted on a board of donations with the names
of the donators. It was decided that a policy need to be developed before proceeding forward.
8. Added Item: Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Kitty said that attendance was low in part due to
the fact that the Egg Hunt at the park was changed to 10:15 am this year and that the Community
Center had not been informed until Thursday prior to the event. Also advertising was down from
previous years.
9. Added Item: Electronic Sign. Clint Herbst asked Kitty to set up a meeting to include Joe Hartman,
Glen, Clint and her to meet on this.
10. Added Item: Teen Center. Kitty reported that things are going well in the teen center. The
difficulties of a couple of months ago have been taken care of and they are seeing a good group of
users in the center.
11. Added Item: Ballpark Concessions. Kitty said that there is discussion on going in the matter but
that the Community Center would probably be taking over July Is', 2006. Kitty was questioned on
whether she thought that this would be a problem area. Kitty responded that she felt this would be
a good area to utilize college students returning for the summer plus an adult. Added item: City
Council getting advisory board meeting minutes. Kitty said that the Council is getting the meeting
minutes.
12. Motion by Bob Grabinski and SECONDED by Sandra Theros to adjourn the meeting at 6:10p.m