Proposed arts center would be publicly run

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- After nearly two months, the ad hoc Arts and Cultural

Center committee has finally broken a deadlock over whether to have a

publicly or privately operated center.

The committee agreed to change to a format that would more closely

resemble the library board after City Attorney Bob Burnham outlined the

potential legal conflicts of having a nonprofit board run the proposed

center.

Library board chairman Jim Wood said the board would be an administrative

body that would run the center on a proposed budget of $100,000 a year in

city funds and the rest in private donations.

Burnham could not be reached Wednesday, but library board trustee

Catherine Michaels said one of the biggest problems with the initial

format was that it would be a conflict of interest for existing trustees

to sit on the nonprofit board.

The new model would include two representatives from the arts commission,

two from the library board, a city staff member and three public members,

said member Don Gregory.

“We’re still trying to not have it publicly funded and city owned,”

Gregory said. “We’ve come together a bit more, though.”

This is good news to committee members, who have continually debated the

merits and challenges of public or private operation. While many arts

commission members wanted to keep local government’s influence out of the

center -- to maintain freedom of artistic expression -- many library

board members wanted the facility to be city-run because they felt it

would be simpler.

With this issue settled, the committee is turning its attention to

organizing a presentation to the Newport Beach City Council. Committee

members have already starting talking with various council members to

introduce the center.

“I really do support the concept. I think we need something like this,”

said Councilwoman Jan Debay.

However, she added that the proposed location for the center -- a 12-acre

parcel of land north of the library -- could prove to be a challenge.

Councilman Gary Adams echoed that concern.

The site was proposed for both low-income senior citizen housing and a

passive park with an outdoor amphitheater. Many residents still question

whether it is the best site for the center, which would occupy 3.5 acres

of land.

Another potential hurdle is the annual $100,000 committee members plan to

request from the city to help run the center.

“It wouldn’t be a donation, it would be an expense to the city,” Wood

said.

Although the city supports the library, which is a basic public service,

it may not be as quick to give its financial backing to an arts center.

But Debay said city leaders would consider it.

The council has scheduled to review the plan for the Arts and Cultural

Center at its Nov. 8 study session.