Good afternoon. Let me call to order the meeting of the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board of June
17th, 2026, 3 p.m. And I will ask Mr. Parrish to take the role. John Weichart. Present. Doug Bruce.
Here. Jim Soberstein. Here. Joyce Pulling. Galen Cassidy. Here. Jay Barrett.
Thank you. Next item on the agenda. Oh, and I want to mention that we've made an amendment to the agenda.
If you did not pick up an amended agenda, there was an item that was added to it. So I think we have
copies of that available if necessary. So we have added one item to the agenda. Also want to mention we have a
rather significant agenda today. So we will try to get through it. Mr. Bruce has a clock that he always
puts on me. And I've mentioned that if he interrupts me with any questions that added the end, and so
I'm not penalized for that. So we will now move to item number two, approval of the consent agenda,
which includes the minutes of the board meeting of May 20th, the minutes of the special meeting of May
30th, claims and financial reports. So is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Is
there a second? Second.
been moved and seconded. Are there any questions, discussion or comments about the consent agenda?
If not, Mr. Paris, will you please take the role? John Weichardt? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Yes. Joyce Polling?
Yes. Gail and Cassidy? Yes. Jay Barrett? Yes. All right, thank you. Number
item number three, a treasurer's report. Mr. Soberstein. Nothing to report, but Mr. Underwood will be
talking to us about budget requests later in this meeting. Item number four, president's report, contingency
authorizations under $25,000. And I think we may have a slide for that. I did send all of those out
to you, which have the detail involved in these as I signed off on them. As you can see, there are
A credit of $12,309. See a total contingency used to date. 1% remaining. There's a notation at the bottom
that there was a correction
reflect the actual contingency use to date, a correction from I think last month when we last looked
at it. I've asked that there be a third column on the far side as to reason for the change orders. And
so you'll see down below that if you look at those codes, there are three conditions for change orders.
They are unforeseen conditions, errors and omissions or owner's request. And you can see that we've
coded. We'll code those for you in the future. So you'll know why we are requesting a change and where
that change is originating from. So are there any questions about those change orders that I've approved
since our last meeting? If not, the next item for me to report is the IMIG proposal.
proposal for design services for our existing building from IMEG. And the purpose of that is so that
we have consistent experience between the new building once it's completed. So I signed off on that
as well since last we met. Any questions about that? All right, thank you. Item number five, construction
update. Weddle and Perry. Thank you, John. Yes, Andrew Sherry, project manager with Weddle Brothers.
share my screen here. Hopefully include a lot of photos for today's presentation for anybody that hasn't
been seeing progress. Again, to talk about today, the construction progress broke out by different activities
and then are also our upcoming activities. So here you'll see from the northeast portion of the building,
the exterior
main entrance. So we've got the brick column wraps going up, we've got glass in, curtain wall frames,
the eyebrow, the canopy, roof, all kinds of things ongoing on the building facade. Start with structural
steel progress. So our structural steel update, our supplemental steel for the partition walls will
be completed at the end of June. Partition walls are in progress with track being installed currently.
So we've talked about the supplemental steel for a couple months now. Here on the right hand side you'll see
all the bracing and everything for the rails and the trolley system for these partition walls. And then
this is actually a track as of this morning being installed for those partition walls. So pretty neat
to see that that all come together. Interior concrete work. So slab on grades also all concrete slab
on great boards are completed. There's a small portion remaining for concrete pump access, which will
be completed by the beginning of July.
and then 100% of the floors will be complete on the project. Elevated decks, the only remaining deck
that we have to be poured is in this photo here. This is the north mechanical room elevated deck. We
will pour this by the end of June, which means again that 100% of elevated deck work will be complete.
Exterior concrete, so here is a photo of the south ramp into the building. This is our loading dock area.
In this picture, it's kind of hard to see, but in front of the blue house there, all of our south feature
walls and foundations are completed. So the ramp, the trash enclosures, things like that. We're currently
working on pouring the south entrance ramp to the building, which will be completed by the end of this
week, 619.
Exterior progress, the building envelope, so exterior column wraps and granite and limestone are in
progress on the east elevation. They will be buttoned up by the beginning of next week. We're looking
at Monday, Tuesday, and then we'll be starting on the north elevations. Curtain wall frames and glass
are installed on the east and north elevations. We have to button up the northeast and the northwest
entrances. There's some odd angles there, so some field measurement, things like that, that we're finalizing. We have
Perimeter canopy is sheathed around the northeast and west elevations. Our south exterior CMU walls
are in progress to dry in our back of house area, so our kitchen, our electrical equipment, things like
that. And then metal panels are in fabrication, so our panels will be started around the building following
the connector closure in July. So again, we'll see a lot of the facade start to button up here.
Here's some exterior photos. So this photo on the left-hand side is the northwest corner. As you can
see right behind this boom, there is a temporary door. So we've placed a lot of temporary walls on the
project. Anywhere there's not curtain walls installed with glass so that we can get temporary climate
control into the building. The top right photo is the east elevation. So you can see that they're about
halfway done as of this morning with the brick column wraps. We've got our swing stage up. So buttoning that up.
I'm sorry, the hydro mobile set up for the masons to button that up. And then in the bottom right, you'll
see the patio area. So you can see the glass here installed on the north elevation, which is a neat
feature. Here are some more photos. So the top right is the granite and limestone. This is on the east
elevation. So here within the next couple of weeks, because these are installed, once we get the scaffolding
down, we're going to start prepping for sidewalks, start button up curves, just button up the perimeter
of the project. We'll start on the east elevations.
go to the north and then final finalize the west. The bottom right hand inside the back of house area.
So again, we've got our hydromobile set up. This will go full course, full elevation above the roof.
And this will dry in our electrical rooms, our kitchen area, things like that. On the bottom in that
bottom right picture, the bottom left hand side, that's our loading dock access. So we have handrails
set up there.
That's where we'll have all the loading dock. The left photo is the southeast portion of the building.
The column wraps up by the registers a lot. We've got glass installed, and then again, prep.
Interior walls, framing drywall continue. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection roughings
are in progress, which are both in-wall and overhead. Here you can see restroom areas on the second
floor in the photo.
In wall blocking is taking place in the offices and the restrooms. And then our back of house interior
measuring walls are in progress. I think this morning we had walls approximately six foot tall and a
lot of the rooms in the back of house. Here's a photo of all the duct work and overhead rough-in currently
in the exhibit hall. So this is the southeast portion of the exhibit hall. Again, a ton of efforts,
a lot of coordination going in here with all these systems. Pretty neat.
More interior photos here. So this left photo is interior back of house. This is near the loading dock.
So again, these interior walls again are around six feet. So now we're walking through door frames and
things like that in the back of house. Top right photo is a restroom on the first floor. So you'll see
electrical rough-in, blocking, toilets, carriers, things like that. And then the bottom photo is the
back of house area too. So this corner right here is where our main electrical gear will sit for the project.
Our goal is to get this topped out past the roof next week, put our roof on within the next two weeks
and drive that in to where at the end of this month, very beginning of July, we're bringing electrical
gear into the building.
Upcoming activities on interior work. So interior walls to be framed by the end of June. There will
be some miscellaneous walls that are not done because we have some around the main exhibit hall where
the partition walls go and stuff in accordion style into the walls. We aren't going to button those
up until those are installed. But for the most part, all interior walls will be framed. Fireproofing
to be completed in the main portion of the building, leaving only the back of house area, which will
be done in the next month.
The elevator shaft will be erected, interior stairs to be installed, equipment, electrical and mechanical
will start moving into the building and setting in the mezzanines, the mechanical space and then the
electrical room. And then drywall hanging will progress. So we are working towards temporary climate
control. Currently, we have fans on site. The building is temporarily dried in the majority of spaces.
Again, just button up so we can get air movement, start seeing really the interior finishes take place.
Upcoming activities for exterior work. So exterior limestone, granite, and masonry work will be on the
north and west elevation. Loading dock area to have masonry work start. Also the trash enclosure,
the ramp, the big privacy wall along College will start to see some masonry work take place. Exterior
site work demolition to start on the east side of the project. So we're going to tear out the curbs,
start prepping for sidewalk, pavers, the ramps to the entrance, things like that.
Roofing system to be completed over the back of house area, talked about that. And then exterior CMU
and brick to be completed on the south portion of the building near the loading dock area. On the right-hand
side here, you will see what's going to be on the next slide, but this is our prep for the connector
closure that will affect College Avenue here on June 30th. We have started setting window frames, parapet
walls are framed. So we're trying to get everything worked towards college so that shut down
and we have the majority of work completed. The upcoming connector work. So the connector closure. The
closure will be June 30th through July 24th, like we've talked about before. The connector work has
started. So curtain wall frames are in progress. Framing and electrical reference are in progress. Metal
panels are in a warehouse. They're ready to be mobilized to the job site. So this photo on the right-hand
side is looking from the east towards the west.
You can see the conduits, we're prepping for the can lights, everything that we can do. Framing, again,
just to get to the edge of the road line so that during that closure, we maximize productivity. Closure
will include the curtain wall systems, the glass, framing and electrical completion, and all metal panels.
The roof will follow after the closure. We've got a couple things to button up. We're doing some coordination
with the artwork for connection points.
which are all things that will keep us on schedule there. So the closure, these items down here, what
we need to do during the closure. So yeah, another big college avenue shut down here. And that's what
I have for the update. Thank you. Thank you, Andrew. Any questions for Andrew? Thank you.
Next item are the working group updates. And the first one is wayfinding. Eddie Layton can give us an
update on bids received and how we're going to move forward with that. Yeah, so we had our bid opening
just before this meeting. We received four bids. So that's great. All within our expected budget range.
So next steps for that are we will review that with the respondents, make sure everything's covered,
and have a recommendation at the July board meeting for approval.
Questions for Mr. Layton? All right, thank you. Next item, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. The data
is held. We have a request to bid certain packages. Yes. Mary, I'll bring it up, and she's going to
give the report today. So it's working? Can you hear me? Great.
So, as you know, we've been working with Reload Strategies to generate all the furniture fixtures and
equipment pieces that need to come into the Convention Center, new and old. Right now, today, they have
been working on getting the major bid packages together, and we're here today to ask approval to go
out to bid for those packages.
You can see here that these are all anticipated to be over 150K, which is why we're bidding them. But
there are four packages, office furniture, pre-function and public space, event and banquet, and equipment
and operational items. The schedule for this we'll review at the last slide, but we also wanted to keep
you aware that we will be continuing to seek procurement
processes for items that can be quoted. Those are items that are between 25K and 149K. You can see them
listed here, so they've been identified at this point in time with an anticipated cost of 550,000 for
those items. We'll be back to you in August and September to
Ask for approval to quote those. The other items will be direct purchase that you can see on the next
slide. These are all items that fall under 25,000 and we will be asking to purchase those in the November,
December timeframe. They are items that we just go online and purchase. And so they arrive very quickly,
which is why that will happen later in the year.
The next slide does show you the schedule that is proposed for the bidding process. So today we're here
to ask for approval to do that. However, we would not be issuing those to bid until July 1st, receiving
those on July 29th, taking the next couple weeks to review those, and then coming back for a recommendation
on those at the August 19th CIB meeting.
After that, the committee will still be involved for color selection and finite material selections.
And then we're doing this at this time so that we can anticipate the lead time and make sure things
are here at the appropriate time for delivery that first week of January. So with that, we request approval
to go out to bid for the four bid packages as noted.
So what we're looking for today is approval to seek bids for the packages as you've described them.
So is there a motion? Is there a second? Second. So it's been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments
for Mary? Seeing none, Mr. Paris? John Weichart? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Jim Silverstein? Yes. Joyce Paulin?
Gail and Cassidy? Yes. Jay Baer? Yes. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mary. Next item, art, art installation,
bead advisory group. I'm going to go ahead and report this information today. The first bullet point
on meetings with design and construction team on installation. I just want to quickly report that Benjamin
Ball was the artist who was selected for the art installation has already been involved in meetings.
with our design and construction team. The reason that's so important that we get moving on that is
obviously because we're looking at construction activity for the bridge itself. We wanna make sure that
all the adaptations have been made as early as possible so we don't have to go in after the fact, open
something up that we've already constructed and then make a change to it. So those meetings have already
been taking place and continue to take place, which will move me into the second bullet point
contract proposals, we need to enter into an agreement with
with a Benjamin Ball to move forward with the project activity, first of all, so that he's confident
that we are sincere in having selected him to do the work and also that he can meet expenses that he's
going to have to address here as he moves forward in working on the construction activity. So what we
have, and I'm going to ask that, let me report on both of these, then we'll see how we want to move
forward with approval on them.
But what we have accomplished so far is Mr. Whitlatch has prepared a preliminary agreement with Benjamin
Ball that allows that work to proceed with an opportunity to begin to submit invoicing for activity
as it's occurring. It also buys us time for Mr. Whitlatch
and Benjamin Ball to work out an actual contract later on. So what we have, and I've circulated it to
you in advance of the meeting, is a preliminary agreement for approval so that we can begin to move
forward with that activity. The second thing that I would like to mention to you is that as we move
forward with the limestone wall on the north side of the building on 3rd Street, and we're preparing
for installation of the limestone wall, and
And within that limestone wall, there were three panels that could be used for art installation, for
some kind of art. Member Pulling and I have approached Amy Breyer, who is a local sculptor, to ask her
if she might begin working with the contractor on the limestone installation of the wall, as well as
the fabrication activities to design for us
what we might install in those three panels as art in those three panels. In order to move that forward
and get that done, we would like to enter into an agreement with Amy Breyer that she submit a proposal
for design for those three panels, working closely with Joyce on what she's going to propose and what
she's going to design. And our charge to Amy, if you will, has been to honor our commitment to Monroe County
that we want to recognize both the history of Monroe County, the legacy of Monroe County, the stewardship
of Monroe County in the building, and what a great opportunity it provides for us in the limestone wall
on 3rd Street on the north side of the building, which will not be limestone as we might see it in an
Indiana University building, which is the kind of flat polished limestone, but instead panels that are
different sizes, shapes, coloring, that really truly reflect
the quarry environment of southern Indiana. So we want to move forward with Amy to allow her to do some
design for what we might insert in those three panels. I forward to tell you some information about
Amy. Amy is a master sculptor. She was one of the co-founders of the Indiana Limestone Symposium. She's
on faculty at Ivy Tech.
quite experienced in terms of working with limestone, with sculpting, and with working with the company
we're using now for fabricating the limestone. So I would like your approval to enter into an agreement
with Amy to come back to us with a proposal for what we might insert into those three panels in the
limestone wall. So what I would ask is if
Unless there's objection, I would ask for a motion to approve both the preliminary agreement with Benjamin
Ball as well as the proposal for Amy Breyer to move forward with some design for us for the limestone
walls. So unless there's objection, if you want to deal with them separately, we can. Otherwise, we
can deal with it in one motion. So moved. OK, so we have a motion. Is there a second? Second. So it's
been seconded. Any discussion or additional comment?
Within the motion, I should have asked for this. I also need your approval for me to execute, to sign
these proposals, to sign the preliminary agreement with Benjamin Ball and to sign the proposal with
Amy Breyer. So if you'd mind amending your motion to include that authority, I'd appreciate that. My
motion is amended. All right. So the motion has been moved and seconded now. So unless there's a discussion
or questions, Mr. Baer.
Just a quick question. Does she have a not to exceed number for this work? I didn't see that in the
paperwork. I just want to make sure that her ultimate vision is aligned with our budgetary reality.
Yeah, the proposal is simply for the design activity. And there were some dollar figures in that proposal
because we've not asked for anything from her yet.
That would be the actual production of the art, or what those costs would be, or what installation would
be. So it's simply for the design. And the proposal that she has asked us to consider does have those
dollar figures in it. Any other questions? OK, Mr. Parrish, would you take the role? John Leichhardt?
Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Jim Silberstein? Yes. Joyce Polling? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes. Jay Barrett?
Yes. All right, thank you. Item number seven, AV and IT procurement requests for approval of QPA purchase
of IT equipment, JS held. Mary's moving back to the microphone. As stated here, we're looking for approval
to procure the IT equipment via the QPA process, which is the qualified purchasing agent process that
the state uses.
All the equipment and material for the IT has been defined by ProBlue, who we've also engaged for the
network engineering for the project, and they have reviewed that as well. Also, that material has been
reviewed by Gene Ratten, our JS-held AVIT expert. There are three packages that we'd like approved.
One is for the new building.
One is for the existing building and the battery backup equipment that serves both facilities. This
allows all the AV equipment, the wireless access panels, et cetera, to work. So you can see the total
price on here. We would ask for approval to proceed with this purchase upon which we would ask contingent upon
Jeff Underwood and Jim with latches review of terms and conditions. But then after that, Jeff would
be creating a purchase order to then make these purchases. One thing to note is that this process, the
quotes are only good for two weeks before they,
expire, so we have been working to get these to fall within this timeframe for approval today. There
is a caveat that, you know, everyone has a caveat these days that, you know, based on tariffs, that
pricing could go up. We're not currently seeing that within the IT realm, but just to be aware that
we could be back with some small
increase but this is as concrete as we can get today to make sure this equipment is here in the fall
for installation. Mariel, this is within the budget we've created for such. Yeah, actually very favorably.
We had $400,000 for both the consultants as well as the equipment and we're falling under $300,000 at
this point in time. Thank you.
So what we're looking for today is approval to procure the IT equipment via the QPA. So is there a motion
to approve procurement of IT equipment via the QPA? So moved. So it's been moved and seconded. Are there
questions? Seeing none, Mr. Paris? John Weichart? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Jim Silberstein? Yes.
Joyce Polling? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes. Jay Barrett?
Yes. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Item number eight, two items, 2027 budget requests that will be presented
by Mr. Underwood.
I want to mention, and Mr. Baer and I have talked about this statutorily, participating in a meeting
remotely, you're not allowed to participate or vote on a budget matter. So as much as we all value Mr.
Baer's opinion and his insight, he's unfortunately not able to give us that when we talk about budget
issues because of his remote attendance. So I will turn this over now to Mr. Underwood. Good afternoon.
Up first is the
The construction side of what we're doing now, then this is the food and beverage money for what we've
traditionally called the soft cost, the non-straight construction costs of the budget. This represents
half a year for the construction that will be completed by July 1st of next year. Obviously, some of
those payments will move through and Jim and I and JSL will close out the projects.
Just as a reminder that this is paid out of food and beverage funds from the city. The process is we
show this to you today. I ask for your approval. Upon that approval, then we will present to the city
in August during their weekly budget hearings. This then gets incorporated into the Comptroller's Office
budget as a part of the overall food and beverage request.
Uh, as a part of that, the city also is paying for the bonds, uh, the annual bond payments out of food
and beverage funds. Uh, I would say that we met, um, Jeff McKim and I met with, uh, Buzz Crone, who
is the financial advisor, uh, for this project, uh, food and beverage collections remain strong and,
and have been at record setting pace so far. Uh, so we're confident that the funds will be available.
Then we will go to the FABTAC, the Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Committee after August to have their
review. And then it goes back to the city for final appropriation in September and October. So this
is the fourth of those budgets. There's also a page that I'll cover the numbers in just a second that
shows you historically what we've asked for. But essentially,
This is not much different than what we've done in the past. We have a thousand dollars in for supplies
that cover such things as checks, you know.
and any other miscellaneous supplies that we would need. There is no personnel, which is wages and salaries,
and there's no capital request included in those for zero. So the majority of the money is in category
three, which is considered and called services. And this follows the format that the city budgets in.
So the total request will be $4,000,538,616.
uh... that breaks down to legal uh... hundred forty four nine uh... controller seventy one five
Owners rep, which is just held for 131,100 insurance for 14,000 website maintenance and design and upkeep
of 2000. And then other, which is the majority of 4,174,116. And then down below, you can see the breakdown
of those other expenses. So we have commissioning communication and AV and IT equipment.
security, graphics and signage, relocation services, furniture, fixtures and equipment and contingencies.
And this pretty much follows the same categories that was requested for the current year budget. Obviously,
this year's budget is the largest and this will wrap this up with that. So I'd be happy to answer any
questions that you might have.
Let's see if we can get a motion to approve this budget request and then we can ask questions or have
discussion. So is there a motion to approve the request for the 2027 budget that we're going to request
to the City Council? So moved. Second. So we have a motion. Mr. Bruce and a second. Mr. Cassidy. So
now we can open the floor for questions of Mr. Underwood or comments about the budget.
Yeah, I don't see any. So if we could, Mr. Parrish, if you would take the role. John Weichart. Yes.
Doug Bruce. Yes. Jim Silberstein. Yes. Joyce Poehling. Yeah. Galen Cassidy. Yes. Jay Baer. Jay is not
voting, so.
Next item. Oh, thank you. So that passes. Next item is the CBC budget request. Again, Mr. Underwood.
Yes. So this is the new one. As we move into the operation phase of the new convention center and existing,
we are required to present for approval a budget to both the fiscal bodies of the city and the county.
So the county council and city council. This will be our first budget for twenty twenty seven. As a reminder,
This represents a full year's worth of operation of the new building and only six months worth of operation
at a minimum levels for the existing building because the new building will come on in January and we
will shut down this facility for renovations. And those are just set to be completed by July one.
Being new, I'll go down through this for you, explain things for you. So the revenues basically come
from three different streams. Space rental revenue, which is estimated to be just under $316,000. And
then services are things as catering, AVIT set up, and those kind of other services that get provided
as a part of these conventions and meetings.
that will be held. That's anticipated to be $1,574,403. And then the remainder of the funds come from
the county's innkeeper's revenue that's collected and is overseen by the CVC, the Convention Visitors
Commission. And we have met with them and requested $1,397,423.
They have tentatively agreed to that amount and they will be taking this up for approval at a meeting
next week to provide those funds to the CIB for the operations of the expanded existing convention center.
That then goes into the operational expenses, the cost of sales, a million 361,
comprehensive insurance. This would cover all of the properties, the board, and things like
theft, cybersecurity, and those types of things of 200,000. Utilities for both buildings, 377. Building
maintenance, 340,000. Office supplies of 58.
And that includes software, membership services, enhancements of $29,000, and then professional services
contracts, $922,447, which is the amount that would go to the convention center management company for
the operations.
of those two buildings and then obviously it's a breakeven anticipated to be a breakeven of $3,287,597.
Cost of sales goes back up to those services revenues, which is catering and providing all of the setups.
And if there's additional equipment needs to be rented and those things. So the cost of sales reflects
back up with the services revenue side of things as well. The interlocal agreement that was signed by
the four parties
requires us, the CIB, to go and get approval of this budget. It does not include an appropriation of
any funds. It's merely an approval of the budgets. So we'll be scheduling times with both the city council
and the county council to get on their schedules as well, pending approval of this board to have those
approved for 2027. Happy to answer any questions you might have.
The only comment I would make to Mr. Underwood's report was,
was when you said it had been tentatively approved by the CVC. They have not met to approve it. We've
simply had discussions with Mike Campbell, who's the president of the CVC, and had a couple of conversations
to make sure that the budget was in alignment with his expectations. And he has agreed that it is, and
he's now willing to take it to his board to actually seek their approval. So we would need to approve
this request.
first, and then we will move it on to Mr. Campbell and the CBC for their consideration and their approval
as well. So if we could have a motion to approve this budget and then we can have discussion about it.
So it's been moved. Second. And seconded. So now we have a motion on the floor. So now we'll open this
up for any questions of Mr. Underwood or comments or discussion.
So Mike, my question is, so this is 12 months of the new facility and then six months of the old facility
since it's gonna be closed. So how does this budget compare to 2026? It's some function of 2026, I would
assume. It's about double what that budget has been, a little bit more than that because with the new facility,
going from $20,000 to $40,000, just as an example, is. So it's a little bit more than double what that
budget was. Yeah. Any other questions? Comments? Seeing none. Mr. Paris? John Weichard? Yes. Doug Bruce?
Yes. Jim Silberstein? Yes. Joyce Poehling? Yes. Galen Katzi? Yes.
Okay, thank you. Item number nine, real estate report, and there are two items under, bulleted under
the real estate report, and Mr. Whitlatch is going to handle those two items. So, Mr. Whitlatch.
Thank you. Yes, there's two items, number nine and 10, on the agenda. I'll first start with number nine,
which is a real estate report.
The first portion of that item number nine is simply an update and does not require any action. And
I just want to update, as you know, we both the county and city agreed to deed certain real estate to
us in the last three or four months, and those transactions have now been completed. We received the
deed transfers from the city of Bloomington, and that is for the real estate
directly south of the current convention center, which is the parking lots south of the convention center
and behind the courtyard hotel. Those have been transferred to us by the city effective. I believe the
date was June 4. And then we have also received deep transfers from Monroe County
for the real estate that is further south of the property we just received from the city. That is the
real estate that also contains two commercial properties and residential properties on that real estate.
The county has also provided additional documentation regarding a 2024 D transfer that they made to us
for the property where the current convention center is being built where the legal description was
not complete and needed to be supplemented. So they've included that and what they've transferred to
us. And I think the effective date on that was June 3rd or June 4th as well. They have not at this point
in time though that they've agreed to do it.
but have not done it at this point in time and we will continue to talk to them about the timing of
that. But the property to the west of the convention center across the beeline trail has not yet been
transferred from the county and we're still working on the timing that that will all occur. That's an
update on those matters. Any questions on that update from anyone?
All right, seeing no questions, I'll move on to the next topic, which is four bullet pointed items for
approval by this board. My request will be to take them all together, but to the extent we want to vote
or handle any of them separately, we can do that as well. But my request will be to approve all four
of these together.
First item on those items for approval is an agreement regarding ownership of 396 feet of previously
vacated alley. That's about a 66 foot long piece of property to the east of the new convention center.
Second item on the list of approval will be the approval of insurance binders and acquisition of insurance
for the city and county acquired real estate.
We obviously had to get insurance for that and Jeff has talked about or can talk about that if there
are any questions regarding the insurance that we had to obtain for the property that we've just acquired
from the city and county. Third issue is that as the transition of the county property, we had to or
we did take ownership of the commercial and residential properties
to the south of the current convention center. That is where my sister's closet and Jeff's warehouse
and the other residential properties are located. We've taken ownership of those and as a result, taken
the obligation to manage that has become the obligation of the CIB. So that's the third item, which
actually goes hand in hand with the fourth item, which is that that real estate
commercial real estate and residential properties have been managed by a firm known as PMI and their
Indianapolis office, but they have a local presence. They have had a contract with the county to manage
that, things like collect rent, perform maintenance, other issues like that. They had an agreement with
the county.
And they have agreed to allow to sign an agreement with us as we transition that real estate over the
next two or three months. They have agreed to do that on a flat $2,500 per month fee, not on a percentage
of rents or any other basis. And so my
last item on these items for approval is to approve that real estate. So at this time, as a group, I
would ask for a motion to approve the vacated alley acquisition, the insurance issue, the acceptance
of the commercial residential property to our management. And as part of that, the approval of PMI as
the manager for that
commercial and residential real estate as we transition. All right. So unless there's objection and
there would be a preference to handle them individually, I would entertain a motion to approve these
four items. So it's been moved. Is there a second? Second. So it's been moved and seconded. All right.
Are there any questions, discussion or comments about the four items that we have moved for approval?
Joyce brought this up just a moment ago, but our media agenda is showing 380 square feet on the vacated
alley, and it's actually 396, right? That's correct. Yeah, 396 square feet. Okay, great. Thank you.
So any other questions, comments? Good catch. Seeing none, Mr. Paris.
John Leichhardt? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Jim Silverstein? Yes. Joyce Pollin? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes.
Jay Baer? Yes. Okay, thank you. Next item, item number 10, is the Convention Center Management Agreement
initial review subject to final approval at the July board meeting. Again, Mr. Whitlatch. All right,
so this item is to currently the
Monroe County has a management agreement for the management of the current convention center. That agreement
is currently between Monroe County and the convention center management company. We affectionately call
that Talisha. So that is Talisha Coppix, who she works for.
And so that is who manages the company. So that's the way to identify that. We also refer to it in our
acronym world of CCMC is who that is. So the county currently has an agreement with CCMC to manage the
convention center. We have prepared an agreement and we will be asking the board to approve an agreement
where the county would assign the county's obligation in that agreement to the CIB and the CIB would
then step in the shoes of the county and be the contracting party with the CCMC group in order to manage
the current convention center and also the future convention center additions under the assignment of that
uh, agreement. So we would, uh, that, that is that portion. There's also a portion of that agreement
that acts as a modification of that management agreement. Uh, that would be a modification
of the relationship between the CIB and CCMC and adds as a party to this agreement, the can visit, uh,
convention visitors commission known as the CVC. And we'll say that that,
can be identified as Mike Campbell's group. And so they will be added through a modification of this
agreement to that agreement. And that agreement or modification is to place the obligation for the promotion,
marketing, and sales of the convention center with the CVC
Uh, who will who will undertake that primarily we anticipate through visit Bloomington. So the agreement
management agreement will be modified with that to that extent in the CBC will be added to the agreement
we are asking today. It's a little unclear from the agenda item, but we are asking today today to approve the.
assignment and modification agreement that has been previously provided to you to approve that by this
board today and have it approved and then with that approval we will send that agreement to the CCMC
for their approval send it to Mike Campbell and his group at CVC for their approval at a meeting later
this month and also send it to the county
for their agreement to sign the assignment and consent to the assignment. So we are asking for that
approval today. So with that, on this issue, I would ask for a motion to approve the acceptance of assignment
from Monroe County of the management agreement with CCMC and modification of that agreement
to add the CBC to this agreement for purposes of promotion, marketing, and sales of the Convention Center.
And Jim, we're also asking for me to have the ability to execute these documents? Yes. I didn't hear
your answer, but we are, are we not? Yes, we are, I'm sorry. OK, so we're going to approve these agreements
and then permit me to execute them on behalf of the board so we can move them along.
Mike Campbell's board meets. John, just to be clear, it's all incorporated into one agreement. The CBC
agreement has become part of the convention management agreement. So it's really just one agreement
we're asking for approval on. Yes, thank you. And Mike Campbell's group meets quarterly. So he has a
meeting scheduled for later this month, which
It would be most helpful if we can get this approved today so we can get it moved on to him. So is there
a motion to approve the recommendation that Mr. Whitlatch has made? Still moved. Is there a second?
Second. So it's been moved and seconded. Comments, discussion, questions? I was going to say this is
why you hire attorneys. It is. It is. And we'll vote and then I'll comment further. But Mr. Parrish,
would you call the roll?
John Weichart? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Jim Silverstein? Yes. Joyce Polling? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes.
Jay Baer? Yes. Thank you. I want to mention it in public. I want to applaud Mr. Whitlatch for Yeoman's
work on getting all of these agreements in place for our meeting today.
We've heard CVC, CIB, CCMC, DBI. It's been alphabet soup and he's done an excellent job sorting it all
out, negotiating all of these things. I want to express my appreciation. I know we pay him, but I want
to thank him anyway. So thank you, Jim, for your efforts on our behalf. Well, thank you. And I appreciate
it. Just like I appreciate all of you doing what you do without being paid. So I appreciate it and I'm
thankful for the opportunity.
Thank you. All right, item number 11, hotel RFP process and a schedule. I circulated for you to look
at and make certain that we're able to meet these commitments. We have our RFP responses due on June
30th for our hotel RFP.
So we need to have a special meeting the next day on July 1st, Wednesday, July 1st, which is two weeks
from today, so that JS Held can report to us on responses that we've received to our RFP. At that point,
we will then schedule another special meeting for July 8th to interview
those respondents to the RFP who have met the requirements of the respondents so that we can bring them
in and interview them. Then between July 8th and our regular meeting on July 15th, the hotel evaluation
group will be reassembled to review all the information submitted in the RFPs, to review the information
from the interviews, and to come back to us at our regular meeting on July 15th with a recommendation.
on a hotelier at that time, if that is the recommendation that they would bring forward. I will mention
that that hotel evaluation group, and this is the process that we used two years ago, the same process
we used two years ago when we interviewed four hotel developers. The evaluation group who would meet
after the July 8th interviews and before the July 15th recommendation from them include CIB members, Mr. Baer,
Mr. Bruce, myself, Jim Whitlatch and Jeff Underwood, JS Held and a consultant that JS Held uses, a hotel
consultant that JS Held uses. And we have two advisory members, Mike Campbell from the CVC and Mike
McAfee from Visit Bloomington. So that evaluation group would then meet between the July 8th interviews
to come back to us on July 15th with their recommendation.
So that is the process and the schedule moving forward. So the first thing on our schedule then will
be our own special meeting on July 1st to hear from JSL about responses to our RFP. Any questions? Okay,
thank you. Next item, old business. Is there any old business to be brought before the board? Seeing
no new business to be brought before the board. Anyone have any new business?
Seeing none, comments from board members. One comment I would like to make is that you were aware that
Deb Koontz is leaving her position with JSL on July 2nd. Deb has been with us through all we've been
through over the last two and a half years. And her advice and counsel have been invaluable. And we
wish her well as she moves on in her journey to whatever she's going to do next. So thank you.
Thank you, Deb. Yeah. And also with us is Jason Larison, senior vice president.
from JSL. Jason's here with us. And Jason, as impossible as it might seem, will be taking Deb's place
and moving us forward as our owner representative from JSL. So Jason, thank you for being here and welcome.
And Deb, thank you again very much. You're free to comment if you'd like to. No pressure. Thank you.
I just want to thank the board for giving. This is an amazing project. And the speed at which
this organization is moving is
is amazing. So congratulations for making it happen. And I can't wait to come back for the ribbon cutting.
All right. Any other comments from board members? All right. Seeing none. Next item is comments from
the public. We set aside 10 minutes at the end of each meeting for comments from the public. Any public
speaker is allowed two minutes to make public comments.
And so the public is now welcome to come forward and if you are here in person or to raise your hand
if you are joining us remotely. And I see Mr. Green, welcome back Mr. Green to our meeting and please
identify yourself formally for the record and then the countdown will begin. You are correct. I am Mr.
Green representing local Bloomington DSA and Bloomington Homes for All. I'm here to
Again, advocate that this project on Seminary Point be at least delayed a little bit in exchange for
the CIB to submit a request to actually receive the College Square property, the property that everyone
agrees is the most optimal location for the host hotel. The CIB has tried to negotiate for, you know,
over the past year
years many times, but the current situation has changed and I believe that the RDC is open to a deal.
We have been interfacing with them, Bloomington Homes for All, about a
proposed redevelopment project at Seminary Point that involves preserving these affordable housing units
and this affordable business space. We have a business plan that has been reviewed by lenders and we
have had at least two lenders agree to sign letters of support for our plan. This Saturday on June 20th
at noon at the library auditorium we will be having a public presentation of our plan that will
include all of the details about what we hope to do, how we plan to pay for it, and especially the political
process that needs to happen for this deal to go through. I hope that members of this board will be
able to make it there. And I hope that they'll consider the prospect of delaying the July 15th decision
date, at least until there's some sort of discussion or arrangement with the RDC. Because I think that
before then,
If the CIB submits a deal or a response to their RFP that involves a contingent transfer of the seminary
point and to a nonprofit land trust, I believe that this will be given a fair hearing and given the
July 20th date for that the RDC's RFP
submission deadline, I think delaying the decision on whether or not to move forward with some development
on the artist or on Seminary Point would go would be worthwhile for everyone involved. Thank you. Any
other public comment? Yes, sir. Please come up, identify yourself and you have two minutes. Oh, no,
that lifted. Hi, Matthew Joseph. I actually represent the business and financials team for Homes for All.
I do ask you to submit a proposal to the RDC for College Square and to delay the decision for demolition
so that the RFP process can finish. I don't have to persuade you on why the College Square is a better
location. Research is clear that the closer a hotel is to a convention center, the more successful the
convention center is. But because of the
almost a rational expense of the land, of the College Square land. In my opinion, I don't think there's
going to be many other proposals for College Square. So the question is, why will the RDC care about
the CIB proposal at this point if they only have seminary point to give, which as we know are not equal
in at least appraised values? It's because of the RDC's openness to subsidize for the sake of maintaining
super affordable housing. A majority of the RDC members
be attending our public meeting this Saturday about our plan to save Seminary Point. This is a basic
question, but why would they show up if they didn't even care in the slightest about this plan and the
idea of maybe subsidizing the affordable housing? We have a 25-page business plan about how we're going
to do this, as well as a well-built out pro forma reviewed by interested lenders for how Seminary Point
can not only be retained,
but also flourish with the necessary renovations and maintaining the super affordability of it. All
things we've mapped out successfully with our pro forma and we'll be presenting this Saturday at the
auditorium and the public library. The RDC is not only interested in subsidizing affordable housing,
but they're also interested at the very least in our tangible plan of how we can make that happen. And
a proposal from y'all would be able to facilitate this process. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment?
You'd identify yourself for the record, please. Yes, Jacob Lish, president of the International Alliance
of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 618 here from Bloomington, Indiana. I would like to engage the
board in some conversations on utilizing the stagehand union employees to cover the AV equipment within
the convention center and as a labor force for larger events that
may come into the Convention Center. We have a very talented workforce right here in Bloomington that
would be able to assist the Convention Center in realizing some of these larger events that make them
through the Convention Center. So I hope to engage the board in conversations on how we could work towards
an agreement. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else in person have any comment they would like to make?
Is there anyone online who's indicated? All right. So that concludes the public comment period. Our
next meeting is our special meeting on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 at 3 p.m. back in this room. The next
item is for adjournment. And as I always say, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. We
are adjourned.