Arts center gets new operating plan
Foundation’s board opposes the change
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009 AT MIDNIGHT
CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
What: The Escondido City Council this week approved a new management structure for the arts center, putting the two weakest performers — the theater and the conference concern — under the city manager’s control.
Why: The arts center has lost money every year since it opened in 1994, except for three years. The city, which owns the facility, has had to pay off millions of dollars in debt and loans. In July, the council began negotiating with the Center for the Arts Foundation, which is contracted to operate the city-owned facility, to hand over financial control of the theater and conference center to the city. The board resisted.
The Escondido City Council has adopted a new management model for the insolvent California Center for the Arts that would place the center’s two weakest performers — the theater and conference center — under the city’s control.
The new model, however, will not take effect until the Center for the Arts Foundation, which is contracted by the city to operate the city-owned facility, signs on.
So far, the foundation’s board has resisted the change, first broached in July. This week, it reaffirmed its refusal to sign the new contract in a letter to council members.
“While we remain willing to work with the city to come to terms that we believe will enable us to continue as the management team for the center, we cannot agree to sign the contracts as proposed,” board Chairwoman Kathy Rubesha wrote. She did not return a telephone call seeking elaboration on her comment. Councilman Dick Daniels, who is one of two council members appointed to the Arts Center Subcommittee to negotiate with the foundation board, said he was puzzled by the board’s “last-minute reticence” after months of talks, although he said he is confident that both sides will work something out.The other subcommittee member, Councilwoman Olga Diaz, said that if the foundation refuses to sign the agreement, the city could terminate its relationship with the board when the current contract ends in September.