HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20240214.Regular1
Wheeler Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
February 14, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
In Attendance:
Wheeler Opera House Advisory Board Members: Chip Fuller, Chair; Amy Mountjoy*,
Vice-Chair; Dr. Tom Kurt, Secretary, Nina Gabianelli; Ziska Childs*; Richard Stettner*,
Lauren Forman, Daniel Benavent; and Kate Northfield Lanich of Aspen Music Festival &
School.
Wheeler Opera House/City of Aspen Staff: Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director,
Alixandra Feeley*, Business Manager; Karen McConnell, Administrative & Artistic
Specialist; Michael Baca, Production Manager.
*Attended via Zoom
Recorder: Karen McConnell
Chair Chip Fuller called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. and observed presence of a
quorum.
Chair Fuller mentioned January minutes had been presented to the Board and there were
no edits. Nina Gabianelli moved to approve minutes from the January 10, 2024 Board
meeting and Daniel Benavent seconded. Board members unanimously approved
adoption of same.
Public Comment
Chair Fuller requested public comment. None was offered.
Wheeler Updates, Lisa Rigsby Peterson
Ms. Rigsby Peterson greeted Wheeler Advisory Board and provided information on upcoming
events at the Wheeler Opera House as well as ticket sale numbers for Laugh Fest and the
myriad of events in competition for this annual event and urged Board members to purchase
tickets for Laugh Festival.
Ticket sales report were previously provided to Board members by Ms. Rigsby Peterson and
details were provided on those events.
2
The 40th anniversary weekend coincides with Memorial Day 2024. Judy Collins is confirmed for
the main stage on Saturday, May 25th. On Friday, May 24th a handful of local actors, musicians
and perhaps dancers will be showcased. Wheelerstories@aspen.gov is the email to which
community members are encouraged to submit Wheeler histories, stories and ideas in
preparation for the Wheeler anniversary. Community members are also being videotaped to tell
their Wheeler stories. Newspaper advertising and social media are being pushed out to highlight
the 40th anniversary as well. More to come.
Ms. Forman suggested a structured procedure for submission of letters to the editor leading up to
the event. Dr. Kurt remarked that as the COVID pandemic has subsided, and the public has
grown more iPhone and social media-oriented, especially young people, that the Wheeler might
consider expanding marketing to include these approaches. on varying ways to market events at
the Wheeler. Ms. Rigsby Peterson shared that Wheeler Box Office member Jennifer Long has
relationships at local hotels and restaurants and frequently reaches out personally to garner
interest in events at the Wheeler. “Growing” of audiences over the years was discussed. Ms.
Forman recalled that in her work experience at the Wheeler it could take up to three years to
reach average ticket sales of approximately 300 for some artists. The airport was also mentioned
as an option for marketing to incoming visitors.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson shared staff updates. Theatre technician, maintenance technician and
marketing coordinator positions will be posted soon. The marketing coordinator position is a new
one which will support and encourage additional in-house marketing and less need for outside
marketing. The Box Office has been challenged by unexpected absence of a valued employee
due to illness and efforts are being made to cover for that position.
2023 End of Year financials will be provided to the Board the week of February 19th. Ms. Rigsby
Peterson provided a preview, sharing that the Wheeler was at 99% of our projected earned
revenue at $938,400. We were a bit lower on ticket sales but higher on box office fees and also
higher in rental income thanks to the great work by Maddy Overton. The RETT collections were
budgeted at 5 million dollars and came in at 7.7 million dollars. Significant investment incomes
were made in 2023. The operating expenses for the Wheeler, budgeted at 4.9 million dollars in
2023 actually came in at 4.07 million dollars.
The Wheeler is exploring the option of creating a zero-based budget beginning for FY2026. Ms.
Rigsby Peterson will be discussing this with Pete Strecker, Finance Director and Sara Ott, City
Manager. This would enable the Wheeler to ‘right-size’ the expense budgets to match actual
expenditures rather than have all expenditures automatically increase each year as is the case
with the current city budgeting protocol. Ms. Rigsby Peterson thanked Alixandra Feeley, Wheeler
Business Manager for her ongoing work with the City finance department.
An update on the rigging project was provided. Extensive planning and coordination with Aspen
Constructors, general contractor, and Barbizon have been made and they are on track to begin
as soon as the Music Festival moves out in late August. A stage weight load analysis has been
done in conjunction with the advance planning. The day the Music festival loads out, the
production crew will begin stripping the stage. Aspen Constructors and their subcontractors will
3
follow with electrical, structural, and steel reinforcement, as well as the removal of the fire curtain.
While initial schedule estimates had the work finishing in late November, the latest calendar with
more detailed scope of work shows a target finish date between Christmas and New Year’s.
Given the holidays, the need for inspections, and the restoration of the stage, Wheeler staff are
planning to resume programming on the mainstage in mid-January. During “dark months” on the
main stage, many options are being considered including programming in the Vault bar lobby
and programming student outreach in area schools.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson reminded the board that officer elections will take place at the march board
meeting, encouraged all board members interested in retaining their positions to let her and Chair
Fuller know. Ms. Forman shared that she had not reapplied for the alternate position in time for
the January board interviews and asked Ms. Rigsby Peterson to inquire about the next
opportunity to apply for the soon-to-be vacant alternate position.
Board Discussion
Chair Fuller asked the board members to debrief in regard to the February 5, 2024 work
session with City Council. Suggestions for the parcel lot adjacent to the Wheeler and
the critical need for area housing were one focus for Board member discussion. Board
consensus was that Wheeler Advisory Board should simply make a recommendation to
Council regarding housing and the parcel lot and let Council determine if it is worth
pursuing.
The Council requested that the board be in touch with them directly about topics of
Board conversation. The Board discussed the need for additional recap as a
supplement to minutes and expressed the feeling that one valuable part of their work is
that they don’t reach consensus on things, and how should this be communicated? Ms.
Rigsby Peterson informed the Board that she would inquire for greater clarity and
respond at the March Board meeting. Overall consensus of Board members was that
the meeting with City Council went well and Council would like to be made aware of
issues.
Council expressed interest in affordable tickets for the community. In the fall, a
presentation will be made to Council regarding affordable arts. Discount and tiered
ticket pricing for the community were discussed. Council praised the Wheeler for great
prices in comparison to overall community arts programs.
The Board would like to discuss recommending to Council that exterior lighting be
added to the Wheeler in conformance with the new City lighting code. Ms. Childs asked
if it would be possible to light posters in the front windows of the box office lobby. Ms.
Rigsby Peterson let the Board know that plans are almost complete to mount a lighted
marquee on the elevator shaft with upcoming events.
Ms. Northfield Lanich noted the Aspen Music Festival performance venues – the tent
and Harris Hall -- will be offline in the Fall while a new tent roof is installed.
4
Ms. Rigsby Peterson reminded the Board that Bill Johnson, owner of Aspen Public
House, will appear before Council again regarding restructuring weekday lunches at the
restaurant at the regular Council meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024.
Chair Fuller inquired if there were any additional topics to be discussed by the Board and
noted the schedule of upcoming Wheeler Advisory Board meetings. Nina Gabianelli
moved to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Tom Kurt seconded the motion and Board members
unanimously approved with no abstentions. The meeting concluded at 4:31 p.m.
Future Meetings Schedule
March 13, 2024 3:00 pm
April 10, 2024 3:00 pm
May 8, 2024 3:00 pm