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• MEMO TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: SHARIE LINKE, MOUNDS VIEW COMM. CTR. BANQUET MANAGER INNOVATIVE IMAGES MARKETING DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 1999 SUBJECT: MOUNDS VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER BANQUET CENTER The following information is provided to the Mayor and City Council so you may make an informed decision regarding the catering and liquor services at the Mounds View Community Center. As part of my involvement as Banquet Manager for the Community Center I researched the types of policies and services offered at other community centers. It was from this research and the direction that I was given by the administration and past Council that I developed the policies and services for the Banquet Center. I was originally directed to run the banquet center as a business in order to provide revenue for the operations of the community center. Through development of contracts with Elegant Thymes and Roberts Beverage Service, the City receives a percentage of the sales in addition to the rental fees. As we continue to market the facility and the popularity grows, the City will see an increase in revenues. I anticipate that after the Bridal Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center on March 7, we will have booked up much of the late summer and fall in 1999 and much of the first six months in the year 2000. For the months of January through April we have 21 events scheduled in the Community Center Banquet Facility. They include corporate meetings, non-profit organization gatherings, Chamber of Commerce and School District events, and City events. Our first wedding reception for 1999 is scheduled in May which was referred to us by Elegant Thymes Catering. There are many facilities in the metropolitan area that offer banquet facilities. These facilities vary greatly from the VFW and American Legion Halls to the large ballrooms of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Hotels. In between you have quaint manors and mansions, country clubs, restaurants, church basements and of course community centers. Some community centers allow the renter to do everything themselves which often includes setting up their own tables and chairs, finding their own caterer, cleaning up after the event, finding all the needed equipment, etc. Other community centers offer some of the set up services for additional fees. Then there are community centers such as ours that are a full service facility offering the client complete services without having to spend extra money and time making all the added arrangements. For a facility such as ours that is well appointed with lovely tables and chairs, high ceilings and fabulous dance floor, I felt that was the way to go. Having just had two children get married within three weeks of each other I feel that I have some experience in this area. My son had an outdoor wedding for over 200 guests. I did all the cooking, serving, wedding cake, decorations (I ran a catering business years ago).... and I was exhausted. My daughter on the other hand had a lovely wedding reception at the White 1