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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/03/1966SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL November 3, 1966 - 8:00 P.M. CITY HALL Roll Call: Pre_sent:. Emmons. Blake, Frank. Gallagher, Arthur F. Spring, Donald Q. Miller, Clell W. Whelchel City Staff: ' Present;.- Harold Johnson,.City Attorney; Richard D. Miller, Administrative Officer. Also Present: Members of the Board of. Directors of the Civic and Fine Arts Association ----- =-- ----- -- __- -- ------------------------------------------- -------- 1. Mayor Whelchel opened the meeting by asking Mr. E. J. Fabbri to review the current status of the proposed Convention Center and Civic and Fine Arts Project. Mr. Fabbri said that the idea was initiated seven years ago to have a multi- purpose Center. The Civic and Fine Arts Association had raised certain funds for background studies, and the City aided by asking the State Recreation Department to make a feasibility study. He went on to review the fact that the Civic and Fine Arts Association had retained Stone and Youngberg, Financial Consultants, to prepare a feasibility report and had cleared a district formation with the Local Agency Formation Commission. The Project had been relatively dormant since the election defeat which would have set up the District to administer and develop the project. Mr. Fabbri pointed out, however, that the City of Dallas had gone through three elections before finally reaching success in a similar project. He said that ' perhaps the basic approach should be reviewed. Mr. Fabbri then read the objectives of his organization and passed out copies of a recap sheet which reviewed various work done by the Association over the years in attempting to encourage the Project. He also referred to another organization which is currently making a study on the feasibility of such a project. Mr. Fabbri felt that this study would probably show that a Center is needed which would accommodate groups of 50 to 450 delegates. It would probably be suggested that a multi- purpose facility be constructed especially since the convention area would not be used on a year -round basis. Mr. Fabbri felt that the first step to be taken would be the acquisition of a site or, at least, obtaining an option on a suitable piece of property. He then reviewed the possible methods of financing. Mayor Whelchel asked whether or not the Civic and Fine Arts Association were insistent that the site be in the downtown area. Mr. Fabbri felt that this was not necessarily so; the site could be as much as a mile or a mile and a half away. He felt that the very minimum would be a five acre site and with off - street parking at ground level, probably seven - ten acres would be needed. I Councilman Gallagher said it would be difficult for the City to bond itself with all the current requirements for expenditure of City funds. He felt that perhaps the District approach would be better. There was also a great deal of discussion to the effect that a downtown site would probably cost too much. Ronald Dunin, Chairman of the Visitors and Convention Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, said that he felt that San Luis Obispo was too small for a Convention Center. It was agreed that the City Clerk, J. H. Fitzpatrick, should contact Mr. Fran Wallace and find out any information he had on cities of similar size to San Luis Obispo which had successfully built and operated Convention Centers. Another point of discussion was the possibility of enlarging the present Veteran's Memorial Hall. r --. "i ;7 City Council Minutes November 3, 1966 Page 2 Mr. Harold Hayes said that there were many interesting points brought out"Itt. the�--"- meeting which deserved further study. He felt that the next step should probably - J..' --.. .' .,)-, 4. ", — r ,- .. 1. ;. .' 1. . ... be for the Civic .az�d­khe Krt's-,Associatioii tb• -make � some 'tYpe-, of definite- proposal to the City Council, after du1ie`-de_1fb_.er1Atio'n''. Mayor Whelchel thanked those present for their attendance and contribution.'o ea's. "The meeting "itdjouirne4 at aooroxima-t'-6-1*y-"1'6-3'0'P"M,.'-o'ii-i-�-o-tion'-"'o.-i"Councilm"a'n Gallagher, seconded by Councilman Blake. Motion carried. 0 71 7' 7 C 'j .............. APPROVED: November 21, 1966 ­; 0 K;�ff_'FITZP0ATRICK' CITY CLERK J .......... ... % 21: 3 J C: 7 il 1( A :. E. '. ?.i." .. : E. Z E i1 G.. I 1 I