The goal of creating a community arts center moved a little closer to realization Wednesday when the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation unanimously agreed to accept the lease terms laid down by the Turlock City Council.
The Board of Directors for the nonprofit foundation approved the conditions imposed by the City Council, including a caveat that $600,000 in donations go toward the construction of the Carnegie Arts Center. The Foundation had hoped to hold onto the donations so they could establish an endowment that would fund the arts center’s operations. The City Council has previously stated that no city funds will go toward running the center.
At their Sept. 22 meeting, the City Council indicated they could not accept any lease agreement with the Foundation that did not allocate the $600,000 towards the construction of the facility.
“There was support for the project in closed session, but a clear direction was also given and the terms in that lease agreement were not met,” Councilman Kurt Spycher said during the meeting.
Foundation President Patricia O’Donnell said the board decided to re-examine the matter and decided it was in the “best interest of the community” to accept the city’s terms.
“We are doing the best we can to bring an arts center to the community,” O’Donnell said.
On Tuesday, the Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, will have a community workshop to discuss what projects should be funded with the agency’s dollars, one of which is the Carnegie.
The Foundation will come before the City Council on Oct. 13 for a second presentation and a vote by the council to accept or deny the lease will likely happen on Oct. 27.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
The Board of Directors for the nonprofit foundation approved the conditions imposed by the City Council, including a caveat that $600,000 in donations go toward the construction of the Carnegie Arts Center. The Foundation had hoped to hold onto the donations so they could establish an endowment that would fund the arts center’s operations. The City Council has previously stated that no city funds will go toward running the center.
At their Sept. 22 meeting, the City Council indicated they could not accept any lease agreement with the Foundation that did not allocate the $600,000 towards the construction of the facility.
“There was support for the project in closed session, but a clear direction was also given and the terms in that lease agreement were not met,” Councilman Kurt Spycher said during the meeting.
Foundation President Patricia O’Donnell said the board decided to re-examine the matter and decided it was in the “best interest of the community” to accept the city’s terms.
“We are doing the best we can to bring an arts center to the community,” O’Donnell said.
On Tuesday, the Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, will have a community workshop to discuss what projects should be funded with the agency’s dollars, one of which is the Carnegie.
The Foundation will come before the City Council on Oct. 13 for a second presentation and a vote by the council to accept or deny the lease will likely happen on Oct. 27.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
