HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/4/2024 Item 6a, Dantona
Jim Dantona <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:McDonald, Whitney; Hermann, Greg; Cano, Molly
Subject:Council Item 6A: FY 2024-2025 Supplemental Budget
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Good evening Mayor and Councilmembers,
On behalf of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce let me thank you and staff for all the diligent
work it has taken to pull together the supplemental budget for FY 2024-2025. The Chamber has a couple
of items we would like to ask the Council to consider in its deliberations.
SLO REP Theater
In the Chamber's view, one of the keystone infrastructure improvement projects in the city's pipeline is
the City's Cultural Arts Parking Structure. This project will unlock the economic potential of the Western
part of downtown in several ways. One of the most important ways is with the joint venture with SLO REP
to build a new theater adjacent to the Cultural Arts District Parking Structure.
In the Chamber's economic vision Imagine SLO, we identify Creating Connection as one of the seven
pillars that paint the picture for how our region will thrive. That pillar states the goal of, "enable all people
in our community to feel at home and be free to be their best, authentic selves." Within that pillar we
highlight the following policy priorities to accomplish that goal:
Champion the development of vibrant neighborhoods...that include gathering spaces and
amenities that bring people together and create a sense of belonging and community; and
Promote and enhance access to arts and cultural activities in the region, recognizing the role they
play in expanding greater community participation, connection and cultural understanding.
The SLO REP theater does all of this and makes our community and economy stronger.
By drawing 50,000 patrons a year downtown, SLO REP's direct economic impact will be another asset
that will help sustain our downtown economy. But beyond the economic impact, SLO REP will be an
even larger contributor to the local arts scene. And a thriving arts scene helps energize greater
community engagement, participation, connection and cultural understanding.
Given the Council's support of this project since its inception, we know you agree that this project will
not only provide a significant economic boost to downtown SLO's economy, but it will also enhance the
City's overall quality of life. SLO REP's fundraising success to date - more than $10 million raised in
private donations - strongly suggests that the community wants to see this project completed. But with
inflation, SLO REP clearly needs additional support to complete this worthwhile project. To the degree
possible, we urge the Council to find ways to assist SLO REP in making this project a reality.
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Housing and Homelessness
Additionally, the Chamber wants to thank the Council and the Community Development Department for
their consideration of our requests to changes that could be made to unlock housing development in the
City of SLO. We certainly appreciate the inclusion of these program updates to the work matrix. We
would continue to stress that if it was possible to further prioritize programs like the Waterway
Management Plan update, in cooperation with the County, and the development standards for
downtown to be done in a further expedited manner, we could realize significant housing construction in
the relatively near future.
Once again, we thank the Council and staff for the consideration of these ideas and look forward to
working with you to make these items a reality.
All the best,
--
Jim Dantona
President and CEO
805.786.2761
jim@slochamber.org
895 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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