HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20220608.Regular
Wheeler Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
June 8, 2022 | 3:00 p.m.
In-Person
In Attendance:
Wheeler Opera House Advisory Board Members: Chip Fuller, Chair; Amy Mountjoy, Vice-Chair;
Dr. Tom Kurt, Secretary; Daniel Benavent; Ziska Childs; Nina Gabianelli; Richard Stettner;
Lauren Forman (alternate); Jennifer White (ex-officio, MAA)
Wheeler Opera House/City of Aspen Staff: Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director; Alix
Feeley, Business Manager; Nicole Levesque, Marketing Manager; Craig Moxon, Production
Manager; Maddy Overton, Rentals Coordinator
City Council Liaison:
Absent:
Mayor Torre, Diane Foster
*Meeting Recorder: Malia Machado
Vice-Chair Amy Mountjoy called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
Ms. Ziska Childs moved to approve the May minutes. Mr. Daniel Benavent seconded. Motion
passed unanimously.
Wheeler Updates, Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director
Ms. Rigsby Peterson welcomed the Board to the meeting. She noted that YTD Financials will be
discussed next month. She shared updates about the bar, including confirmation that Bill
Johnson and Aspen Public House will not take on Wheeler bar operations. Ms. Rigsby Peterson
is in conversation with Michael Goldberg about continuing bar operations through the summer;
she is hopeful that [Webobs, LLC] will operate the bar through August on our jointly held liquor
license.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson asked the Board to review the first draft of the bylaws, which had been
shared via email. She anticipates the Board will discuss the bylaws and the mission statement
at the July meeting. Vice-Chair Amy Mountjoy suggested that Board goals be added to the
bylaws or requested the goals statement be removed.
It was announced that City Council will begin discussing the newly expanded RETT arts and
culture funds for the 2023 Arts and Culture Grants cycle at their July 5th meeting with input from
the Strategy and Innovation office. City Manager Sara Ott will update the board about this
preliminary discussion at the July 13th Wheeler Advisory Board meeting.
Building updates included the announcement that scaffolding is down, and brickwork
construction is underway in the parking lot area.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson led a robust conversation about the proposed 2023 Rental Fee Schedule.
Staff member Maddy Overton, who introduced the process and proposal, shared the goal of
creating an intuitive fee structure that recovered operational costs for the Wheeler while
supporting our community partners. Details about the thought process and justification for each
fee and category were reviewed. Ms. Rigsby Peterson and the Wheeler staff thoroughly
reviewed labor, equipment/misc., box office, and venue rental rates, answering questions from
the Board along the way. The Board commended the research and approach, especially the
goal of cost recovery. They suggested creating a private corporate event rate that aligns with
other local venue rental rates. Ms. Rigsby Peterson thanked the Board for their involvement and
feedback and noted that a formal Board recommendation will be proposed at next month’s
meeting and will then be taken to Council during the budget session in August.
Board Discussion
On behalf of Chair Chip Fuller, Ms. Rigsby Peterson raised the idea of canceling a Board
meeting at the end of the summer. Chair Fuller had suggested canceling the August or
September meeting. Ms. Rigsby Peterson urged the Board to discuss their preference with
Chair Fuller directly.
Ms. Childs moved to adjourn; Ms. Gabianelli seconded; the meeting concluded at 3:52 p.m.
Future Meetings Schedule (all in person unless otherwise advised)
July 13, 2022 3:00 p.m.
August 10, 2022 3:00 p.m.
September 14, 2022 3:00 p.m.