HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCDATE=JUNE 14, 2007 (5) • The l lennmene Cultural Center Adai ) Board
,Meeting %Hautes
June IJ, 2007
Advisory Board .Mambos Present: Kay W cloc, Kids Jambs,Cathy Mahn, Pete(mrlock
Board Member Absent Jeff Grosser
Staff Present; Batch wilhelinl, Bill Polk, Randy R opole, Cme ICur,.
0910: Sew Stegall m disaussthedowmtosvn wdlie iiieas [unite
the regularly scheduled June la, 2007 meeting was called In order at SoMAM The May 10,
2007 meeting tnlnums were approved.
I nems of Discussion from Heanmen.s' Staff
The meeting was turned Peel to Sean Stegall to give the board an update regarding the possibility
of ante Performing Arts Center or Symphony Hoo Ile mentioned That members of the
ysnphony and city council will visinhe multi-purpose facility hi 6a4vi Ile. which wasjustbuilt.
lie stated that We reason fnrlhese trips web ler hear hem ether venue owners As there arc many
tyvecs of retinase different saris to do it; some having made mistakes and regretting it, It is a
long tam projtvd. 'rhe nnal,ok completed by Ecvnontie Research Associates (ERA) it
• patnuash er with consultants 0nher-Darns Associates (FDA). which is the pre-aniucnt hill
consulting firm in the country, tonclodM that if Hemmens were to Watinue to grow , not only
with the symphony but also with the Hemmens shun s, adult and children's. more seats and dates
thneeded, 'I he number they eons up up with was ideally 1800 to 2,1W scats; anyah in¢ higher
an that will mewl connecting with other venues. A Wnneamon is Bass Hall in Texas. Buss
Uses the profits tram their touting shows to underwrite the cost of other sbtiws thin Are more
comunity bed and do not have the profitability. Sean smtsd that there is desire to have a
etc as
half, One obstacle that has been con shed is that the decision has born made that if new
facility is hunt, it would be a nmlti-purpose facility. The ditthrermc is a pure concert hall
primarily by and for a symphony would not have to Lave a By Iowa. That would load Ila Cry's
ability m capitalize in areas that we could Crow in, one of which would be Off-Hic ndway shows.
The Cirt el n ant to take away that mowth oppom miry A 2e° urea would be community
rou
gps: who knows whom the Elgin Opera will be 20-30 years from now. They need a multi-
purpose facility as well. Thafs it decision that has been made and hadly, a nmlti-parpnae facility
would have more scanIVAe for the community The gatternn now is W go with a brand new
facility in rinse of the Iliannuts on to keep the Ilemmcus card build a 2io fachty. No
determination has bccn made on than but than a budget finance standpoint. Sean duant think it
is practical for the City to own and maintain two wrenues over time Tltac is no precedence on
this In the country. Another option that needs to he worked out is making mnfor improvements
to The I lemmens in We range of S20 SM million- adding scats, new fngade. restrooms on the N'
flour, etc. lie downside tit this is it's like putting a new engine in a 15 year old an. 11 may be
the only thing we need to du and a 530 million im estment in the Hetmmrne setas like a cheap
• alternative compared to aS100+ million new faciniry. Al this point there is no new activity other
thin the held trip bocamethe housing market Heads to improve to improve the city's hnanecs,
which improves our ability to develop retire land downtown- semen rxwtes a burning source to