What: Huber Heights City Council meeting
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: City Hall, 6131 Taylorsville Road
Continuing coverage
The Dayton Daily News has provided in-depth coverage on the Huber Heights music center story since we broke the news in December 2012 of the city's proposal. We will continue to follow this story closely and bring you the latest updates as they develop.
The city of Huber Heights is close to adding more than $1.25 million in VIP area and concession stand upgrades to the city’s $18 million music center.
City Council is expected to vote at Monday night’s meeting on three pieces of legislation — $400,000 for the VIP area, $99,000 for VIP improvements and $758,879 for concession stand upgrades.
Earlier this month, it came to light that the cost of the upgrades was about a quarter of a million dollars more than initially anticipated.
Legislation that would have authorized $1 million in spending was withdrawn by City Council because the "true, accurate numbers" were identified, City Manager Rob Schommer previously said.
“We only have one shot at getting it right, and we want to make sure that we do it first-class,” Schommer said. “This is something that Huber Heights deserves, and we’re excited to be able to present a facility that is top-class.”
City officials said general fund money is not being used to pay for these projects. The upgrades will pay for themselves in increased concession revenue and sponsorship opportunities, according to assistant city manager Scott Falkowski.
Falkowski projects the city’s debt service to be $81,084 a year over a 27-year period. The VIP sponsorship is projected to generate $40,000 in revenue per year, and the concession upgrades should increase revenue to $62,000 annually.
The Administration Committee recommended approval of the legislation at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“As the taxpayers deserve, we’re just ensuring the success of the project,” said Councilman Mark Campbell, chair of the Administration Committee. “This is necessary to make it a regional draw and top amenity in the area.”
Schommer also said the legislation needs approval before the city can finalize an agreement with a potential VIP sponsor.
Mike Seibert, president of Circuits & Cables in Vandalia, has expressed an interest in sponsoring the VIP area, and Schommer said another meeting could take place next week.
Schommer declined to disclose the proposed terms of the agreement.
“He’s just as eager as anybody,” Schommer said. “I see it moving pretty quickly right after Monday.”
The total concession stand project is nearly $1.07 million, with $300,000 of that already in the music center’s $18 million budget, Campbell has said.
The two main concession stands will be 2,049 square feet each. Upgrades include plumbing, electrical and kitchen equipment, including coolers, pizza ovens, gas grills and food tables.
The VIP area was part of the scope of work originally approved last year by the Huber Heights planning commission and Montgomery County.
Project manager Ken Conaway said the VIP area is 70 percent complete.
The VIP area will feature a private concession area, private restrooms, dining tent, landscaping, and a separate entrance and parking area.
Huber Heights is modeling its music center after the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati.
Falkowski said Huber Heights expects to operate the VIP area similar to the PNC Pavilion, which charges $300 per year for a VIP insider membership, $9,000 to $13,500 for a box suite, and $2,600 for gold season tickets.
Construction of the 4,500-seat covered music center at 6800 Executive Boulevard is expected to be completed by late summer.
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