The job of the embattled head of the U.S. Bank Stadium oversight panel could be in jeopardy after a legislative panel voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to overhaul the organization, a 17-1 vote of solidarity that bucked Gov. Mark Dayton's position.
The House Government Operations Committee endorsed the bill after a presentation from one sponsor, Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, about the Legislature's goal of exercising more control over the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority in the aftermath of reports that its commissioners and staff were using two taxpayer-owned luxury suites to entertain family and friends after the stadium opened Aug. 3.
The MSFA is responsible for providing public oversight of the $1.1 billion downtown Minneapolis stadium, built with $498 million in public funds. But the panel's efficacy and ethics have been questioned since a Star Tribune story in late November revealed the use of two 18-person luxury suites to host friends and family for Vikings games, among other high-priced events such as Metallica and Luke Bryan concerts.
Dayton, a DFLer, has stood firmly behind the MSFA, dismissing criticism as partisan attacks and media sensationalism. Although he could veto a bill, the deep DFL support for MSFA changes puts him at odds with his own party.
Anderson's bill would increase from five to seven the number of people on the board and disburse the appointments more widely. It also would eliminate the position of full-time chair, making it a mostly volunteer job. Currently, the board has a chair, Michele Kelm-Helgen, and an executive director, Ted Mondale, who earn a collective $300,000.
The need for the two positions has come into question because the MSFA also has a 10-year contract with global marketing giant SMG to promote and book the stadium. Kelm-Helgen and Mondale said they were using the luxury suites to market the building.
In yet another indication of legislative unease with the MSFA, key GOP House legislators e-mailed a letter late Tuesday to the MSFA questioning the spending powers of Mondale and Kelm-Helgen. The letter noted that the two were able to enter contracts of up to $2 million last year without the full board's approval. The letter also questioned how DFL-connected public relations firm Tunheim Partners got its $200,000 annual contract with the MSFA for "communications services."
In the House committee, Rep. Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, was the only "no" vote. He unsuccessfully sought to substitute bills that would leave the MSFA intact for a year while studying the structure. The Legislature could make changes — if necessary — in 2018, he said. He argued against shaking up the board with less than a year before the Super Bowl.
