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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20250813.Regular Wheeler Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 13th, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Attendance: Advisory Board Members: Chip Fuller (Chair), Dr. Tom Kurt (Secretary), Ziska Childs, Bob Ephlin, Sarah Pelch, Kate Northfield Lanich, and Bryan Weingarten Staff: Mike Harrington (Executive Director), Alixandra Feeley (Business Manager), and Lucy Berdiales (Administrative Specialist). Meeting Recorder: Auto-transcription generated via Teams and Microsoft Copilot AI; summarized by Lucy Berdiales and Alixandra Feeley. Call to Order & Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes Chair Chip Fuller called the meeting to order. He noted that the minutes from the June 2025 meeting had been circulated in advance. A motion to approve the minutes as submitted was made by Dr. Tom Kurt and seconded by Mr. Bryan Weingarten. Motion passed unanimously. Public Comment There were no public comments presented. Wheeler Updates – Mike Harrington Mike Harrington opened his report with updates on building maintenance and preservation. He noted that general upkeep remains on track, with exterior painting completed during the summer. This work included correcting windows that had previously been painted shut. Touch -ups were also made to the stage and proscenium following the Aspen Music Festival. The lobby carpets, which had been replaced within the past year, are scheduled for reinstallation at no cost due to improper settling, with the vendor covering the work. Harrington also discussed early -stage explorations around exterior and architectural lighting. Several fixture samples have been tested in consultation with the Historic Preservation Commission, and further mock -ups will take place in the coming weeks. He then highlighted professional development initiatives, noting that staff presence at industry conferences is growing. Building supervisor Pete Hadju recently attended the League of Historic American Theaters Conference in Pittsburgh, where the Wheeler was featured prominently in presentations despite not having participated in past years. The experience reinforced the Wheeler’s reputation for careful preservation and community investment compared to peer institutions across the country. Other upcoming industry engagements include MAX, IEBA, Spektrix, Momentus, Aspen Live, APAP, and Capacity Interactive. He highlighted that Wheeler staff members Malia Machado and Alex Glenn were accepted into APAP’s Emerging Leadership Institute, in recognition of their leadership potential. He also shared that the Wheeler was recently certified as a Silver Member of the Colorado Green Business Network, one of only three businesses in Aspen to achieve that designation. Turning to programming, Harrington reviewed several recent initiatives. The Wheeler produced Clue: A Walking Experience , which involved a dozen downtown businesses and offered families an immersive puzzle -solving activity. While the program was well received by participants, it did not recoup its costs due, in part, to high royalty fees to Hasbro. Harrington noted that future immersive projects may succeed better without licensed intellectual property. On July 4th, Cirque Kikasse performed in the parade and in front of the Wheeler, drawing strong crowds and positive feedback, followed by the Aspen Symphony of Freedom drone show. The performance, which combined images of the Wheeler logo, local wildlife, and artistic symbols of Aspen with original music, was met with enthusiastic community response. Harrington describe d it as a powerful affirmation of the Wheeler’s role in Aspen’s cultural life. He also described the Vault’s experimental production of A Streetcar Named Desire , which reconfigured seating, incorporated natural light, and engaged the audience directly, making for a distinctive and educational use of the space. A planned collaboration with the Aspen Art Museum featuring André 3000’s project was canceled due to health issues of the artist, though conversations continue for 2026. Mr. Harrington next introduced the Wheeler’s new education and outreach series, which was announced the same day. Six events are scheduled between September and April, including student matinees and workshops with visiting artists. He noted that outreach effor ts are intended to serve both valley schools and the broader community. On financials, Harrington shared that presented event revenues for 2025 are expected to exceed $1.3–1.4 million, significantly surpassing original projections. Comparative attendance data shows that within the first six months of 2025, the Wheeler had alre ady surpassed its total presentations and attendance figures from the entire 2023 calendar year. Ticketing records indicated that approximately 82 percent of audiences resided locally or within eligible Wheeler Insider zip codes, which Harrington described as evidence of the Wheeler’s strong role as a community hub. He concluded with an overview of the FY26 budget and capital planning process. The Wheeler is requesting increased program support, three new full -time positions—a Director of Operations, a Production Technician, and an Education and Outreach Coordinator —and incremental adjustments to rental rates. Capital projects for 2026 include completion of exterior and lobby lighting upgrades, renovations of administrative and back -of-house spaces, a website redesign to improve ticketing integration, and the transition to a cloud-based security system. He also informed the board that, according to the Finance Office, City Council has requested a loan of $5 million from the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) fund to support the construction of the Armory. He emphasized that this is part of the FY26 budget conversation. Board members noted that similar borrowing from the RETT has occurred in the past for projects such as water infrastructure, and repayment by the City has historically followed. Finally, long -term planning continues to include exploring development opportunities on the adjacent lot beginning in 2029. Board Discussion The board first discussed the proposed adjustments to rental rates. Several members raised concerns about the impact of a 10 percent increase on nonprofit organizations, with suggestions that nonprofits face a smaller 5 percent increase or no increase at a ll. Others argued that nonprofit partners should benefit more directly from the size of the RETT fund, while for-profit renters could shoulder higher rates. Ultimately, after debate, the board endorsed staff's proposed 10 percent increase across the board. Members agreed that the Wheeler should revisit this question in the future, with an eye toward a more equitable structure that could better support nonprofit partners. The discussion then turned to the FY26 supplemental budget request. A motion was made by Ms. Ziska Childs and seconded by Ms. Kate Northfield Lanich to endorse the package as presented, including increased programming support and three new full -time positions. After discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Members noted that the City Council presentation would take place in September and expressed their willingness to attend in support if helpful. Further discussion focused on technical needs for the Wheeler’s facilities. Ms. Childs requested updated ground plans, sections, and elevations with sightlines, explaining that these remain industry standards for lighting and set design. While staff confirmed that a 3D laser scan of the building was being conducted to update venue documenta tion, it was noted that traditional drafting materials remain essential for visiting designers. Adjournment With no further business, Chair Chip Fuller called for a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Ms. Ziska Childs and seconded by Mr. Bryan Weingarten. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 PM. Future Meetings Schedule September 10th, 2025, | 3:00–5:00 p.m. October 8th, 2025, | 3:00–5:00 p.m. November 12th, 2025, | 3:00–5:00 p.m. December 10th, 2025, | 3:00–5:00 p.m.