Title
Approval of an Ordinance Appropriating $284,320 from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to Replace the Stage Rigging System - First and Final
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on first and final reading an ordinance appropriating $284,320 from The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to replace the Washington Center’s stage rigging system.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an ordinance appropriating $284,320 from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to replace the stage rigging system.
Staff Contact:
Debbie Sullivan, Administrative Services Director, 360.753.8499
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts (the Center) was awarded a Building for the Arts Grant from the Department of Commerce (Commerce) as part of the 2017-2019 Capital Budget. Commerce awarded the Center a grant of $658,330, which represents 20% of the overall project cost of $3.5 million.
There are several components to the overall project, including replacing the stage rigging system. This work needs to be completed this summer while the theater is not in high use. Because the stage rigging replacement is just one component of a larger project, the Center cannot access the Building for the Arts Grant Funds until the comprehensive project is underway. The overall project will likely be under contract in 2019.
The engineer’s estimate is $424,320 for the stage rigging. The Center has $140,000 to contribute to the project and is requesting the City fund the balance from The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund ($284,320). This project meets the definition of how the Endowment can be used as stated in OMC 3.04.021, “…the endowment fund shall be used only for the maintenance, operation, repair, upkeep or improvement of the Washington Center for the Performing Arts…”
RCW 35A.33.090 provides that if an emergency expenditure could not reasonably have been foreseen at the time of filing the preliminary budget, and requires the expenditure of money not provided for in the annual budget, and if it is not one of the emergencies specifically enumerated in RCW 35A.33.080, the City Council before allowing any expenditure therefore, “. . . shall adopt an ordinance stating the facts constituting the emergency and the estimated amount required to meet it and declaring that an emergency exits.” Such an ordinance shall require the vote of one more than the majority of all members of the legislative body of the code city. (A majority plus one.)
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Due to the safety concerns with the rigging system, certain performances have not been allowed. Replacing the rigging system this year provides opportunities for a wider variety of shows.
Options:
1. Approve on first and final reading an ordinance appropriating $284,320 from The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to replace the stage rigging system. Provides immediate funding to complete the stage rigging project.
2. Do not approve an ordinance appropriating $284,320 from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to replace the stage rigging system. The Center may seek other funding sources, such as a bank loan, to fund the project or delay the project until 2019.
3. Direct staff to amend the ordinance to appropriate a different sum to reflect an increase or decrease in funding from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund to replace the stage rigging system.
Financial Impact:
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Fund has $786,000 of uncommitted resources. This appropriation will reduce the balance to $501,682.
Attachments:
Ordinance