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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 2008 0220 RDA REGMINUTES OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Moorpark, California February 20, 2008 A Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Moorpark was held on February 20, 2008, in the Community Center of said City located at 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, California. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Hunter called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Agency Members Mikos, Millhouse, Parvin, Van Dam, and Chair Hunter. Staff Present: Steven Kueny, Executive Director; Joseph Montes, General Counsel; Hugh Riley, Assistant Executive Director; David Moe, Redevelopment Manager; and Deborah Traffenstedt, Agency Secretary. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. 4. REORDERING OF, AND ADDITIONS TO, THE AGENDA: None. 5. PRESENTATION ACTION DISCUSSION: A. Consider Eiahteen Month Performance Review of the Hiah Street Arts Center. Staff Recommendation: 1) Direct staff to determine the necessary actions to form a Moorpark Community Foundation of the Arts; and 2) Continue financial support for the High Street Arts Center until at least June 30, 2009. Mr. Riley gave the staff report and discussed Agency budget reporting for Fiscal Year 2007/08, which failed to properly advise the board that even though actual expenses for the Arts Center had not increased, staff was recommending an increase in the agency "subsidy" to pay for those expenses, to compensate for the fact that staff's initial projected yearly revenues from the theatre had been over - estimated and were not achieved. A discussion followed among the Agency Members and staff: 1) Clarifying the shortfall in revenues from the theater and the need to budget, beyond the originally projected $300,000 agency contribution for the first three years of operation, an additional $30,000 - $40,000 annually to make up for lower incoming revenues than had been projected; 2) Confirming that Minutes of the Redevelopment Agency Moorpark, California Page 2 February 20 2008 there is no recommendation to close the theater; 3) Confirming that the purpose of the agenda item was to discuss an 18 -month performance review of the Arts Center's operation that could address the current plan and any modifications to the plan that might be suggested; and 4) Explaining that in the Agency's original consideration to run the theater, revenue projections had been based upon a) past experience of Mr. Larry Janss; and b) information from the High Street Theater Foundation about theatre attendance at their productions (both paid and complementary) instead of on only paid ticket sales. L.J. Stevens, contract manager for the High Streets Art Center, apologized for sending an email to her colleagues in the arts, which was forwarded to the Councilmembers and the Mayor. She stated she hopes to continue to work to enrich the arts in Moorpark with open communication. Mayor Hunter accepted Ms. Stevens' apology. The following speakers spoke in support of the High Street Arts Center in either its current operation or with modifications to expand the use of the theater, as outlined in an alternative business plan prepared independently by the Mayor including its goal to expand use and availability of the theater. Rolland Petrello Leslie Nichols Regina Mocey Jean Donahue Ralph Mauriello Darby Shields Reeshan Gulati Tuomi Bruce Thomas Rich Burlingham Johanna Burlingham Linda Livingston Dr. Clint Harper Bob Peskay Thomas McKenzie Margaret Travers Cheryl De Bari David Allen Peter Foy Dawn Mortara Stuart Cooper Pamela Castro George Kralemann Greg Gillis -Smith John Procter Bill Amador Minutes of the Redevelopment Agency Moorpark, California Page 3 February 20 2008 In response to Chair Hunter, Ms. Traffenstedt summarized one Written Statement card from Mary Verleur in opposition to the Mayor's new business plan and in support of keeping the High Streets Arts Center in its current format. Ms. Traffenstedt stated one more speaker had arrived in the audience. Pam Rossi, Moorpark, dance school business owner and Artistic Director of Moorpark Civic Ballet, spoke in support of expanding the uses of the theater. AT THIS POINT in the meeting, a recess was declared. The time was 8:55 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:18 p.m. Chair Hunter stated it was never his intent to close the theater or to criticize the current productions. He gave a PowerPoint presentation showing comparisons of the 2006/07 season versus the 2007/08 season in the areas of seating capacity, tickets sold, and percentage of concession sales versus box office ticket sales. He stated his business plan was a proposal intended to stimulate discussion on enhanced efficiency of the facility, to broaden the range of activities involving the community, and to guarantee sound stewardship of public funds. MOTION: Agency Member Mikos moved for the purposes of discussion and Agency Member Millhouse seconded for the purposes of discussion a motion to: 1) Continue to financially support the High Street Arts Center (HSAC), to expressly honor the previously approved three -year commitment to the present operating model through June 30, 2009, including the currently approved funding in the 2007 -2008 adopted agency operating budget, with another review in June 2008, as part of the 2008 -2009 budget adoption, and another mid -year progress review in January 2009; 2) Direct staff to evaluate the practical feasibility, including the staffing and fiscal impacts of potential future near term or longer term modifications to the HSAC's operating plans and procedures as outlined in the agenda report, as outlined in Agency Chair Hunter's Concept Plan that was released to the media last week, and any other ideas that may come forward for future consideration; 3) Approve the creation of a Moorpark Community Foundation for the Arts as a nonprofit tax exempt public benefit corporation organized for public and charitable purposes, specifically to support, encourage, and enhance presentation of the performing and visual arts, educational programs, and cultural activities within the City of Moorpark, with a mission to raise funding for annual arts support and to establish an endowment fund, which will serve as a sustaining revenue source for the High Street Arts Center, and a stipulation that the foundation shall have no direct involvement in the finances or management of operations of the Arts Center; and 4) Direct staff to determine and effectuate the necessary steps and actions to create this foundation at the Minutes of the Redevelopment Agency Moorpark, California Page 4 February 20 2008 earliest possible date, with the support of the City Attorney, at a cost not to exceed $5,000 without additional Agency approval. A discussion followed among the Agency Members and staff regarding 1) a staff failure to identify, in the narrative portion of the mid -year Agency budget report, the decrease in revenues for the theater; 2) the need for increased understanding of the function of the arts center in the community; 3) honoring the three -year initial commitment to the Arts Center, while still making mid - course corrections when needed, taking into consideration feasibility of and both staffing and fiscal impacts of potential operational changes; 4) the benefits of creating a foundation; and 5) staff's ability to move forward, as they did with acquiring the Moorpark Library from the County, to hire a contractor, set bench marks, and make the High Street Arts Center a collaboration between staff, professionals, and the community for what is best financially for the theater and to continue to present excellent, quality productions. Further discussion followed regarding Agency Member Millhouse's recommendation to form an ad hoc committee to refine the proposal prior to returning it to the Agency. AMENDED MOTION: Agency Member Mikos moved to amend number 2 and Agency Member Millhouse seconded the amendment to number 2 of the motion to include formation of the High Streets Arts Center ad hoc committee to meet prior to returning discussion of this to the Agency at the first meeting in May 2008. Agency Members Mikos and Van Dam volunteered to serve on the High Street Arts Center ad hoc committee. The amended motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR: (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) MOTION: Agency Member Millhouse moved and Agency Member Parvin seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. A. Consider Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 16, 2008. Staff Recommendation: Approve the minutes. 7. CLOSED SESSION: None was held. Minutes of the Redevelopment Agency Moorpark, California Page 5 February 20, 2008 S. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: Agency Member Parvin moved an en c ember Van Dam econded a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Moor ark Redeve pment Ar ncy. he motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The tim as 10:05 p.m. ATTEST: Deborah S. Traffenstedt, Agency Secretary * W W M 1�+�M8r Cw