Cultural Council New Arts Center Steering Committee Minutes 2007 06 11

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New Arts Center Steering Committee Minutes June 11, 2007 I. Call to Order-Don Atwood II. Roll Call-In attendance were Donna Flebbe, Wendy Phillips, Karen Gerrity, Lynn Fleming, Don Atwood, Gina Varra, and Rick Kron. III. Appointment of recording secretary-Lynn volunteered and was appointed. IV. Approval of Agenda-Karen moved, Donna seconded-Approved V. Approval of Minutes-Gina moved, Karen seconded-Approved III. Public Comments-Rick Kron of Grimshaw and Harring, representing the Downtown Business Association, reported on the planning for a Cultural Arts facility in Parker. Rick is the legal representative for the Parker project and the Louisville Downtown Business Association. The report led to discussion on a number of issues. A. Parker wants to create a Library/Cultural Arts facility near City Hall. B. Parker has a small downtown area. C. Parker has gone through the planning process up through a final report on cost. (report available) D. Parker is about 3 times the size of Louisville. E. The city already owns the site, having spent 3-4 million on an earlier purchase. F. Parker wants to include unincorporated neighbors in the taxing area. G. The Parker library is run by a Library District property tax assessed throughout Douglas County. H. The new library would be another "branch" in the county system. I. They plan to have retail space on the ground floor with the cultural facilities on the second floor, and other kinds of spaces above. 1. Don brought up some discussion on the Dairy Center. He mentioned that the committee had generally agreed that it was easier to start a project from the bottom up than to retrofit an existing space. K. Donna commented on LAA' s inability to pay rent. L. Don pointed out that a new Arts Center wouldn't be free. M. Don again pointed to the Lakewood Arts facility as a good example and commented on the things that it includes. N. Rick said that the Library District law is excellent, allowing Parker to create a subdistrict to get taxes to create a new branch. O. Parker hopes for an election in 2008 for the cultural center. P. Rick detailed the various ways to finance such projects via General Improvement Districts and Metropolitan Districts (paying with property tax/bond issues) Q. Rick estimated figures from Louisville and guesstimated that a tax to support a new Arts Center would be about $1 OO/year for 25 years. R. Karen asked if Louisville even wants such a venue, and Wendy commented that the city turned down a similar initiative to improve the Rec. Center. S. Rick explained the process for creating Metropolitan Districts and General Improvement Districts. T. Karen expressed her support for the recycling of buildings. U. Gina and others commented on the probable, excessive cost of purchasing St. Louis Catholic Church when they move.