SR-305-005 (4)
F:\CCSADMN\SHARE\STAFFREP\011304 18th st.doc
Council Meeting: January 13, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
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SUBJECT: Contract with 18 Street Arts Center For Funding Approved During the
Fiscal Year 2003-04 Budget Approval Process
Introduction
This report requests that Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
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contract with the 18 Street Arts Center for funding approved with the adoption of the
FY 2003-04 City Budget.
Background
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At the June 17, 2003, City Council meeting, representatives of the 18 Street Arts
Center requested funding to embark on a Facility Expansion Feasibility Study to identify
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ways that 18 Street can maximize the use of its property to better address the cultural
facility needs of the City’s arts agencies and artists. This study will examine the cost of
building and operating affordable artist live-work housing using sustainable building
practices, implementing upgrades to the studio, gallery, theater, dance and office
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facilities currently provided to nonprofit arts organizations at 18 Street and the
development of on-site parking as a possible revenue generator. In response to this
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request, Council set aside $20,000 for the 18 Street Arts Center’s planning study
pending staff evaluation of the Center’s scope of work. This motion was incorporated
into Resolution #9863 adopting the FY 2003-04 Budget.
Discussion
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Community and Cultural Services Department staff has met with the staff of the 18
Street Arts Center and Cain Brothers, consultants and capital advisors on the project.
Cain Brothers has a proven track record in creating plans and generating the necessary
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funding sources for projects similar to the one proposed by 18 Street. The proposed
plan lays out realistic goals with built in check points to examine the feasibility of moving
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forward. 18 Street has already secured $20,000 in additional funding for this strategic
plan from private sources. Additionally, potential funding sources from both private
foundations and public agencies have already been identified for various project
components.
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The work plan for the Facility Expansion Feasibility Study for the 18 Street Arts Center
provides many opportunities for the public to provide input on the project. Specifically,
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18 Street hopes that the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Environmental Task
Force, and other City agencies will participate in workshops and a design charette
planned for March. The shortage of affordable cultural facility space in Santa Monica
has been documented in the Santa Monica Cultural Arts Master Plan, adopted by
Council in 1996, while the need for affordable artist live/work space was identified in
Strategies to Preserve and Enhance Affordable Artist Housing and Studio Space,
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adopted by Council in 2000. 18 Street Arts Center is the only nonprofit provider of such
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space in Santa Monica and the demand far outstrips their current capacity. 18 Street
houses thirty percent of the nonprofit arts agencies in Santa Monica with another twenty
percent on their waiting list for office space. There are only nine nonprofit live/work
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studios for artists in Santa Monica and all of them are at 18 Street. With the
development of Crossroads School, there is a substantial need for parking in the
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neighborhood surrounding 18 Street. Planning for the project will examine these
needs.
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City staff is confident in the 18 Street Arts Center’s ability to proceed with this strategic
plan and recommends that a contract be executed.
Budget Financial Impact
Funds in the amount of $20,000 are available in account number 01274.544390.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute
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a contract with the 18 Street Arts Center.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director, Community and Cultural Services
Karen Ginsberg, Asst. Director, Community and Cultural Services
Hamp Simmons, Coordinator, Cultural Affairs Division
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