For the last couple of years, the employee holiday party has been combined with the Commission Appreciation dinner.  Staff is once again planning for that type of event and is requesting Council to approve/allocate the funding.  Last year the party was held at The Links at Northfork with dinner catered by Famous Dave's and entertainment (casino tables) provided by Ewald Entertainment.  The cost for the event was as follows:  Room rental - $500; Catering - $2,906.57; Entertainment - $800.  Casino dollars won were used to bid on prizes that were purchased with money from the employee's coffee fund (about $200).  The total cost for the 2009 holiday party was about $4,400.

 

Staff has tentatively booked the Wells Event Center for Friday night, January 21, at a cost of $100 for room rental.  That agreement, when signed, states a food and beverage minimum of $2,000.  Staff has also tentatively scheduled Ewald Entertainment for January 21, at a cost of $800.  By combining the two events (employee holiday party and the Commission appreciation dinner), it is expected there may be up to 200 people attending.  Rounding catering to about $20 per person, that would be $4,000 for food.  The room rental is less expensive this year and the entertainment remains the same.  Staff is once again suggesting $200 be used from the employee's coffee fund to purchase prizes.

Staff recommends that Council approve a not-to-exceed amount of $5,000 for the 2010 Employee Holiday Party/Commission Appreciation Dinner.

Staff is requesting up to $5,000 from the 2011 Council Contingency fund to pay for the Employee Holiday Party/Commission Appreciation Dinner.  This is the fund that has been utilized for the past events.

Motion to approve a not-to-exceed amount of $5,000 from the 2011 Council Contingency Fund for the 2010 Employee Holiday Party/Commission Appreciation Dinner.