2022-05-23-minutes-event-center-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY EVENT CENTER STUDY SESSION MINUTES BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 108 - ELLENSBURG Regular Meeting MONDAY 1 10:00 AM _ May 23, 2022 Board members present: Commissioner Osiadacz (WebEx), Commissioner Wachsmith, and Commissioner Wright Others: KVEC Director Kady Porterfield, KVEC Program Manager Lacie Dawson (Webex), Fair Board Director Becky Sherly (WebEx) 1. General Event and Rental Updates: There were 77 events held on grounds in May and 82 in April. WSHS Rodeo was back for the first time in several years and was well attended. JWPT Riders decided to bypass and stay in Kittitas this year (they showed up several hours early and decided to keep going). Bares and Broncs had good attendance as well. There will be a circus at the beginning of June, they will not be bringing any large/exotic animals. 2. Self -Promoted Events Business: Patriot Night ticket sales are a bit slow, but radio and newspaper ads will pick up again in the beginning of June locally, down to Yakima, up to Wenatchee, and over to Seattle. We are getting a lot of non -local ticket sales, which is great, and believe that stems from the social media campaigns that we launch a little further out. No new updates on Fair currently. 3. Sponsor Business: Legends signs have been installed on the South Grandstands. The Fair Sponsorship Director expressed some concerns at the last Fair Board meeting about it. Commissioner Wright suggested a meeting with the fair and rodeo boards to discuss the financial needs of year-round operation of the event center. Legends and King Beverage will be the event sponsors for Patriot Night Under the Lights, which is additional funding directed specifically to the event. 4. Special Projects: The Fair Board met last week to discuss the proposed railroad project brought forward from the Kittitas County Fair Railway group. The Board will be sending a report to the Commissioners. Cow Pens: The Rodeo Board would like to add tabs on the panels so they can attach wood to make the location look more rustic. Kady has worked to scale the project down to where the additional tabs will cost only $3500 and the Rodeo Board has agreed to cover that portion for their aesthitic needs. Panel equipment will be purchased after Fair and Rodeo, and installed on the next budget cycle. Kady will go through the budget and discuss further at the next meeting. Rodeo Arena Sound System: Needs repairs, approximately $6,000. Speakers are blown, the new speaker heads do not fit properly. The mixer was also bad. As a work -around the bowling alley system has been setup temporarily. Palouse to Cascades Trail Project: Reaching out to events to give them alternate entry ways as the City conducts the upgrades and construction along Alder. There will be weekly meetings Kady will attend to get project updates. CWU N. Lot: first meeting was cancelled, no news to report at this time. 2022-05-23 MINUTES