06/10/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e - Mr. Anderson stated that the Civic Center Commission has given periodic reports on the construction progress of the Performing Arts Center and that progress has been considerable since the last report. The commission began with a bond issue, selected architects, reviewed design, checked cost estimates, and are, monitoring the progress of the project. The project is on schedule. The facility will be ready for inspection in July or August of 1982 with the grand opening in September 1982. The committee is already planning the opening festivities. The commission's work is nearly finished. Operation of the center will be the responsibility of the Performing Arts Commission. The Civic Center Commission has been very dedicated, with 12 of the original 15 appointees having served almost four-and-one-half years. They have had problems and pleasant experiences. Inflation has been their biggest obstacle with the CPI increasing 39 percent through 1980 and a projection of an additional 10 percent in 1981. No other program has had more citizen participation. They have held many meetings to hear both citizens' and experts' input which has contributed to the final package which will be one that will fit the needs of the City of Eugene. Some of the obstacles that they faced were higher bids than anticipated which caused them to place some items on the deferral or buy-back lists. About half of the $1.9 million buy-back list has been replaced by the Eugene Arts Foundation contributions. The foundation has committed $900,000 for construction of the green room, rehearsal hall, etc. The foundation will also help sustain oper- ating costs and give support to local arts groups. One positive factor in- dealing with the inflation problem has been the authority of Project Director Ed Smith to invest the interest moneys. This project was value engineered, which was a wise decision, enabling cost control. They have also followed the policy of owner-purchased items which allowed direct purchase of items such as a resonance system, the lobby timbers, the sound equipment, furniture and fix- tures, and the visual arts program. The final decision on the Willamette Street vacation request awaits council action but the Master Site Plan calls for some kind of treatment between the facilities and this will be the next development portion of the design. The parking structure is completed and in use. The visual arts program is under way thanks to the help of the Eugene Arts Founda- tion and the National Endowment for the Arts. Nearly $200,000 has been commit- ted to provide visual complements. Many of the pieces of visual art are being done by local artists. They have had reasonably good cooperation from those people. Next September, everyone can share with the commission in the pride of the fine center which Eugene will have. He indicated that Ed Smith could answer any technical questions. Ms. Wooten stated that the original bond was for $18.5 million. She asked if the $4 million has been interest accrued to date, or if that includes estimated interest accrual as well. Mr. Anderson responded that that is the estimated amount that will accrue and that about $3 million has already been accumulated. They are assuming that approximately another $1.3 million will be accrued. Ms. Wooten asked if this money would be used to purchase more of the buy-backs. Mr. Anderson stated that this is possible. However, the big hurdles have been crossed. Ms. Wooten asked for clarification on page 3 of the report and how the bond interest was used for the arts program. Mr. Smith stated that the project concept is being expanded, and to meet the project criteria, they needed an MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 10, 1981 Page 5