11/10/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mi~hael Fox, 250 North Adams, Vice President of the Eugene Symphony, stated that . ne feels the questlon of local charges should be deferred. The council should first focus on closing the income gap with expenditures. The self-supporting projection is hopelessly naive; no performing arts center anywhere breaks even on an earned-income basis. He asked where alternative funding would come from. The Symphony feels that the policies do not go far enough and they are not ranked with any consideration of long-range impact. He asked what role local organizations would play if additional room tax funding were to be diverted to the center. Local groups should be given priority in scheduling similar to a right of first refusal. They propose that: 1) the council establish a policy seeking outside funding in addition to room tax and Eugene Arts Founda- tion subsidies; 2) that a task force be established to study the total system; and 3) that the statement presented by Mr. Duncan from Eugene Symphony be adopted. Consideration to local needs should be given. Dan Anderson, 2522 Va~ Ness, President of the Board of Directors of Oregon Repertory Theatre, stated that the mission statement is supported by ORT, but it does not go far enough. There is no effort to rank or balance users when there would be a conflict. The local user fee schedule would el iminate all' but occasional uses of the center. The price of tickets that would need to be charged would limit purchase to all but the most affluent. The center could become a burden on the local government. The council should refer the proposed policies and user rate structure back to the Performing Arts Commission for modification to guarantee access for local performers and citizens. They would suggest that 25 percent of the available capacity be allocated at a price that . is affordable, and this would help provide a core of regular users. By using more of the room tax funds to support the center, this would be removing it from the local performers. The per seat cost is misleading; costs will in fact be more than double the amount quoted due to other necessary costs such as office space, rehearsal time, scenery costs, etc. Transportation costs and lost time would be expensive to groups such as ORT. In asking the council to return this issue to the commission with the clear direction to assist local groups, they are not suggesting that the level of subsidy be increased, but rather that the mission statement needs a rebalancing of priorities. Cynthia Wooten, ,670 West ~Oth, councilor-elect from Ward 7, stated that the Eugene Audltorlum Assoclatlon has sponsored summer musicals in the area for years. They are grateful to those who spent their time and energy. Now, the building is being constructed but many issues are unresolved. She would urge postponing this matter until more answers are available. Before consensus on rates can be contemplated, they need to know more about the status of the Eugene Arts Foundation and revenues from the room tax fund. Local groups cannot afford the suggested rates. She asked if it is fair to spend all of the room tax moneys on just one project. Many talented people are living in Eugene, and these people were willing to build a facility which they will not now be able, to use. People cannot afford $10-$15 tickets. The center could become nothing more than a roadhouse. Artists need jobs and City operations need local perfor- mances since some foundations do not fund if local groups are not performing. The goal of local access was given a high priority at the Council Goals Ses- sion. This goal will not be fulfilled and adopting the commercial rates tonight would shut off one option: that of increasing those rates to subsidize rates . for local groups. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 10, 1980 P ag e 6