CC Minutes - 02/16/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Johnson replied that funding proposals, staffing, the steering committee, and consultant's report had uniformly recommended evolution, not elimination of the event. Mr. Farr moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, to direct the Eugene Celebration staff and Steering Committee to explore privatization of the event either by developing a relationship with an existing nonprofit organization with goals that support the ongoing production of the event, or by forming a new nonprofit organization; and to direct the staff and committee to return to the City Council during the month of May with a specific request for one-time transition dollars for the event. Mayor Torrey pointed out that one possible scenario which could evolve was that the council could determine in May that the request of staff and the committee for funds could not be granted. Mr. Johnson said that his best guess of the outcome of such a situation was that the Celebration would not be held. Mayor Torrey said he believed it was significant for all concerned to be aware of such a possibility. Ms. Nathanson said that she felt the Celebration should be self-supporting or eliminated as a City event. She said she supported continuing the Celebration, even if it was not a City-sponsored event. Ms. Goddard stated that all issues discussed by the council had been considered by the Celebration Planning Committee. She said that dwindling space resources in the downtown area was a concern about the success for the event because location was its most significant success factor. She said she believed that if the City sponsored the event, it should provide full financial support. She also said that the shortness of time available to plan the event was complicating the possibility of being successful. Mr. Farr pointed out that the Eugene Celebration had grown in scope over the years and that additional revenue producing efforts should be possible. Mr. Meisner said he believed reductions in costs through greater utilization of local talent and increasing revenue by requiring pins for entry to all locations could bring income and expenses for the Celebration more closely aligned. Ms. Taylor said that she believed downtown merchants should subsidize the Celebration. Ms. Goddard said that the downtown merchant associations already contribute significantly to the event. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said that she believed "empowerment" described as desirable by members of the Eugene Celebration Planning Committee was the status of a nonprofit corporation board of directors. In response to a question of Mr. Meisner, Mr. Johnson said that commercial sponsorship of particular venues or programs was needed more than general sponsorship of the Celebration. Mr. Tollenaar said that he was struck by the implication that adopting the motion under consideration would morally obligate the council to subsidize the 1998 Eugene Celebration. He Minutes--Eugene City Council February 16, 1998 Page 6 7:30 p.m.