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Bismarck commission advances third‑party management plan, creates Event Center Authority and appoints inaugural board
Summary
After public comment urging protection of event center staff, the commission approved creating an Event Center Authority Board and advanced the city’s plan to contract with a third‑party manager (Oak View Group recommended). City staff said a draft contract including employee protections and KPIs will be developed for future commission review.
The Bismarck City Commission on Dec. 16 approved creation of a seven‑member Bismarck Event Center Authority Board and moved forward with plans to contract with a third‑party management firm recommended by a selection committee.
Susan Dingle, a longtime event‑center advocate, told commissioners the venue’s employees are "the secret sauce of the event center" and urged that staff be preserved and treated as partners in any management transition. Commissioners raised questions about staff protections, existing event contracts, and expected returns on the city’s investment.
City staff (Jason) said the selection process included an "employee protection plan" requirement and that the draft contract will address staff incentives and the expectation that "on day 1, all the staff in the Bismarck Events Center will be offered a job by the third party." He said the city is working with consultants from JLL to draft a contract and hopes to bring it to the commission for review in late January, subject to negotiations and legal review.
On contracts already on the calendar, staff said booked and signed contracts would be honored and that negotiations with clients and third‑party operators would address hold dates and priority for high‑ticket events. Staff also said the recommended firm pledged capital investments, including plans for an in‑house commercial kitchen, which staff and the selection committee view as a path to improve quality control and long‑term revenue.
The commission also approved the ordinance to create the Event Center Authority and appointed the inaugural seven members. City staff described the authority’s role as an oversight body that will meet regularly, uphold contract KPIs and hold the third‑party manager accountable for meeting performance targets and incentive thresholds.
The motion to approve the authority board membership passed unanimously. The city will post meeting notices for the new authority, and staff said they will explore meeting‑room technology to record and publish authority meetings consistent with other advisory boards.
Next steps: staff will continue contract negotiations with the recommended management firm, finalize employee‑protection language and KPIs in the draft contract, and return to the commission for contract approval and any required subsequent votes.
