Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority Board Met May 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Board Members Present via Videoconference: Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman; Don Villar, Vice Chairman; Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer; Roger J. Kiley, Jr.*; Terrance B. McGann; Juan Morado, Jr.; Sherman Wright *Joined meeting at 9:15 a.m. due to technical issues
Others Present via Videoconference: Larita Clark, Chief Executive Officer; David Winters, Chief Operating Officer; David Causton, ASM Global/McCormick Place; Matthew Simmons, General Counsel; Dao Ngo, Director of Procurement; Stephanie Lovelace-Nieves, Controller; Jason Bormann, Chief Financial Officer; Pat Allen, Director of Labor Relations and Campus Operations; Irma Guerrero, Project Coordinator; Doug Bradley, SAVOR at McCormick Place; Jim Walsh, Marsh; Joseph Honold, Marsh; Jill Jaworski, PFM Financial Advisors; Maria Calderon, Compliance Officer and Board Administrator
The public was able to watch the virtual board meeting through Microsoft Teams – Live Event, a live streaming service. A total of twenty-one members of the public watched anonymously.
General Matters:
A1. Roll Call: MPEA Chairman Bethke, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and Ms. Calderon called roll.
A2. Approval of Minutes: Chairman Bethke called for the approval of the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of the April 27, 2021.
Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member Morado, and the remaining members present voted approving item A2.
Roll call vote. Record as:
| Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman – Yes | Terrance McGann – Yes |
| Don Villar, Vice Chairman – Yes | Juan Morado, Jr. – Yes |
| Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer – Yes | Sherman Wright – Yes |
A3. Public Comment.
There was no public comment.
Report from CEO: Ms. Clark stated that MPEA and its campus partners are looking forward to reopening. Ms. Clark reported the campus directly employs 3,000 employees and indirectly employs 8,000-10,000 employees annually. She stated that the employees will begin to return to the campus in June and early July. Ms. Clark reported that Mr. Bormann, Mr. Simmons and herself attended an appropriations hearing with General Assembly members in Springfield. Ms. Clark stated MPEA needs to continue educating legislators about the value MPEA brings to the State. Ms. Clark stated she plans to connect with legislators to bring them to the campus to explain the work that is done on the campus. Ms. Clark stated she would provide an update regarding MPEA’s request to the legislature in the upcoming weeks. Chairman Bethke asked Ms. Clark to provide a snapshot of the economic impact MPEA has on the State and the City. Ms. Clark stated that, pre-pandemic, MPEA had a $2 billion economic impact on the State and the City and generated $154 million in State and local taxes. Ms. Clark stated the campus also indirectly provides 8,000 to 10,000 jobs; promotes a vibrant community; and supports local businesses and cultural centers. Ms. Clark reported Choose Chicago would host their annual meeting during the week and would be using the new production studio for hybrid productions powered by Freeman. Ms. Clark reported MPEA would launch the new production studio tomorrow with three customers including one attending virtually. Ms. Clark reported Vice-Chairman Villar and herself visited Lakeside Center to observe the UHCHI Culinary Apprenticeship Program, which is a partnership between MPEA, UNITE HERE Chicago Hospitality Institute, HIRE360 and SAVOR. Ms. Clark stated the program utilizes the Lakeside Center kitchen for training. Ms. Clark stated all the participants will have a job or commitment by the time the campus is opened. Ms. Clark reported the Marriott Marquis Chicago will be opening to host the NBA Combine from June 21-27. Ms. Clark reported the Chicago Sky hosted their home opener at the Wintrust Arena this past weekend. Member Ramirez thanked President Kent and Unite Here Local 1 for finding opportunities to work with MPEA and the campus partners to serve their members.
Report from Controller: Ms. Lovelace-Nieves presented the financial results for April 2021. Report from Chief Financial Officer: Mr. Bormann presented the tax collections for April 2021.
Report from SAVOR Vice-President of Culinary – McCormick Place Food Service: Mr. Bradley provided an overview of Savor operations at McCormick Place. Mr. Bradley reported Fiscal Year 2020 was a fantastic year in which Starbucks, Rockwell and Amazon hosted events on campus. Mr. Bradley reported that FY2020 ended with $4.5 million dollars deposited to the reserve and had a $404,000 positive variance. Mr. Bradley reported that the pandemic caused Savor to work with MPEA and organized labor to mitigate the impact of cutting staff by maintaining certain benefits of the affected staff members. Mr. Bradley reported due to the pandemic, products had to be assessed for expiration and 35,000 pounds of food was donated to various organizations in the City. Mr. Bradley thanked Members Birnecker Hart and Grondin for introducing MPEA and Savor to Fight2Feed which operated in the East kitchen for eleven weeks and provided one million pounds of food across the City. Mr. Bradley stated the UHCHI Culinary Apprenticeship started in 2019 with McCormick Place and Savor employees representing two-thirds of the students. Mr. Bradley stated during the operation of the Alternate Care Facility, Savor brought staff in to provide food services for the facility. Mr. Bradley reported ASM Global developed the ASM Global Venue Shield for food safety following the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) certification for the campus. Mr. Bradley stated United Here Local 1 and Savor will collaborate to train staff for a safe post-pandemic return to work. Mr. Bradley reported that all transactions were cashless during the home opener of the Chicago Sky, and cashless transactions will be expanded across the campus. Mr. Bradley reported 46% M/WBE participation achieved due to integrating opportunity from the surrounding communities.
Review of Covered Actions and Eligible Agreements:
C1. Review and Update of the MPEA Property and Casualty Insurance Program for the 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2022 Plan Year.
C2. Consideration of Approval of New Contract for the 2021-22 MPEA Expansion Project Bond Finance Team.
Moved by Member Kiley, seconded by Member McGann, and the remaining members present voted approving item C2.
Roll call vote. Record as:
| Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman – Yes | Terrance McGann – Yes |
| Don Villar, Vice Chairman – Yes | Juan Morado, Jr. – Yes |
| Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer – Yes | Sherman Wright – Yes |
| Roger Kiley – Yes |
Consideration of Approval of New Contract – Fire Pump Inspection Services.
Moved by Member McGann, seconded by Member Villar, and the remaining members present voted approving item C3.
Roll call vote. Record as:
| Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman – Yes | Terrance McGann – Yes |
| Don Villar, Vice Chairman – Yes | Juan Morado, Jr. – Yes |
| Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer – Yes | Sherman Wright – Yes |
| Roger Kiley – Yes |
C4. Consideration of Approval of New Contract – Water Treatment Chemicals and Services.
Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member Morado, and the remaining members present voted approving item C4.
Roll call vote. Record as:
| Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman – Yes | Terrance McGann – Yes |
| Don Villar, Vice Chairman – Yes | Juan Morado, Jr. – Yes |
| Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer – Yes | Sherman Wright – Yes |
| Roger Kiley – Yes |
Adjournment
Chairman Bethke moved to adjourn the meeting moved by Member Kiley, seconded by Member McGann, and the meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote of the Board.
Roll call vote. Record as:
| Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman – Yes | Terrance McGann – Yes |
| Don Villar, Vice Chairman – Yes | Juan Morado, Jr. – Yes |
| Jorge Ramirez, Secretary/Treasurer – Yes | Sherman Wright – Yes |
| Roger Kiley – Yes |
https://www.mpea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MPEA_Board_Minutes_Regular_Session_May_25_2021_Final.pdf
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