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Prairie Winds Event Center reports heavy bookings and recent AV, HVAC upgrades
Summary
Prairie Winds’ director reported a busy 2024 with high wedding and rental demand, staff additions and capital investments — an AV upgrade (~$40,000) and an unexpected air-conditioning repair — and discussed ongoing maintenance and future projects such as landscaping and potential floor replacement.
Jess, identified in the meeting packet as director for the Prairie Winds Event Center, reviewed bookings, staffing and capital investments for the venue. Council members heard that 2024 was unusually busy — the presenter reported 69 wedding days booked (including day-before bookings), and the center has adjusted rental pricing in recent years to reduce the subsidy the city provides.
Staffing changes include the February hire of assistant manager Madison Flet, who now manages many day-to-day events. The presenter said the venue completed a significant AV system upgrade after failing iPad-based controls and invested roughly $40,000 in a new control system and software to make operations more reliable and shareable among staff. An unexpected early-year air-conditioning repair required new compressors and parts, which took weeks to source and left the building with reduced cooling capacity before mid-summer.
Ongoing and planned maintenance and improvements include landscaping around the building, digitizing historical rental files back to about 2015, possible replacement of a wood dance floor (deferred to 2027), and consideration of additional cameras for upstairs and exterior coverage. The director said new chairs, plates and silverware are being evaluated, with estimated replacement costs included in the presentation.
Council discussed ways to attract more midweek events; the presenter said interior lighting and shade/projector conflicts contribute to lower midweek bookings and recommended adding targeted lighting or replacing chandeliers to improve daytime functionality for business meetings.
The council did not take a separate formal vote on Prairie Winds items but received the report and asked staff to continue exploring the improvements and pricing changes described.
