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e e e rates and co-promotes. He said he thought local arts groups were happy with the center, and he added that the scheduling conference had gone quite well. Mr. Smith said staff was attempting to keep ticket prices affordable at about $15. He also noted that the center was available not only for performing arts events, but also for live broadcasts such as the Hagler-Leonard fight. Responding to Ms. Wooten's question, Mr. Smith said the technical difficulties with that broadcast had not occurred at the Hult Center, but had originated with the satellite transmission. He also noted that the facility was available for parties and receptions, and that the SHO volunteer group recently had reported that 16,000 people had attended their free noon concerts. He said activities and uses had increased, although revenues had not. Mr. Roan said the average ticket price for sell-outs since the center opened had been $16.34, and he said the most expensive tickets usually outsold the inexpensive tickets by three or four to one. He added, however, that staff did try to maintain tickets at about $15, which was the cost of the best seats for the Broadway Series. A. Mission Statement Mr. Fox described the City Manager's recent consolidation of the Hult Center with the Parks and Recreation Department. He noted that the Parks and Recreation Department produced cultural events throughout the city and that an "excellent and dedicated" staff produced high-quality performances in an exciting venue and did fairly well given the nature of the market. He said he thought the consolidation allowed opportunities for more influence and coordination of the community's cultural direction and activities. He said the Performing Arts Commission had felt that it could serve as an advisory body for those functions of coordination and cooperation among the City's entire cultural and entertainment offerings, so that they could be planned in conjunction with resident companies and major users. He said the commission had modified its original mission statement to develop the current proposal. Ms. Cox said one concern of the commission had been the duplication of current efforts and the need for continuity and consolidation. Mr. Holmer asked whether the commission's expanded role would conflict with the Lane Regional Arts Council. Ms. Cox said a representative had been present at commission discussions. Mr. Fox said the commission was used to dealing with and resolving users' problems with the center. He said LRAC represented users, and he thought the groups could continue to work together. Mr. Holmer said he thought conflicts might occur in the functions of coordinating and scheduling, which he favored delegating to the commission. Mr. Fox said he saw the commission's role as dealing with use of City facilities and its agenda, and he said the group was willing to work with users like LRAC without difficulty. Ms. Ehrman noted that the commission recently had reduced its membership from 11 to nine members, and she asked whether the commission had discussed the need for more members if the role was expanded. Mr. Fox said that had not been discussed. He said he thought nine members were sufficient, and he said positions did not represent any particular interests. Ms. Heiny said she saw the expanded role as including functions of coordination, oversight, and problem resolution, rather than of actual scheduling. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session June 8, 1987 Page 6