Agenda - 06-18-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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23 1 Whitted neighbors very seriously. She reviewed some of the organizations that have proposed 2 partnerships with OCCC and said the potential is endless. 3 Frank Miller presented the following petition to the board: 4 5 Petition — Use of Whitted Building 6 The Orange County Manager has recommended the Orange County BOCC authorize 7 proceeding "with the Whitted 2nd Floor `A' building as permanent meeting space for Orange 8 County Government; shared with Hillsborough and Orange County Schools and potentially for 9 alternative arts use a governed by an Operating Agreement between Orange County and the 10 OCCC." 11 We, the undersigned citizens of Orange County, are supportive of using the space for 12 meeting facilities for Orange County, to be shared with the Town of Hillsborough and Orange 13 County Schools. We are also supportive of "alternative arts use" of the space by local no-profit 14 groups for occasional programs of community interest. 15 However, we are opposed to "alternative arts use as governed by an operating 16 agreement between Orange County and the Orange County Cultural Arts Center (OCCC)." 17 There is significant difference between `making space available for arts groups' and 18 `promoting a location as an arts and tourist destination center' as proposed by the OCCC. We 19 encourage the Orange County BOCC to authorize creation of a meeting space for public 20 entities, to be shared with local arts groups on a permit basis managed by Orange County. 21 22 Audrey Riley said she has been listening to all concerns and ideas and she said there is 23 certainly a conflict between residents and the arts community. She said this seems like a 24 perfect democracy. She said that for the OCCC to exist there has to be an approval of this 25 particular space, as there has not been any other viable option. She said there will be an 26 executive director who will need to be paid and there will be services provided to organizations 27 who desire to use the space. She said the OCCC does not see itself as just another non-profit 28 using the space, but it desires to provide a service to the community. She said the OCCC 29 wants to partner with and listen to the community and the neighbors. She said there is a new 30 member of the board who has agreed to be a liaison with the neighbors and there will be a 31 committee formed with the neighbors to listen and plan together. She said this board can only 32 function without being the Orange County Cultural Center and having funds to support an 33 executive director and administrative costs. She urged the Commissioners to vote for the 34 OCCC to manage the non-governmental use of the building. 35 Commissioner McKee asked if, other than the liaison mentioned above, there have been 36 any additional meetings or opportunity for community input since the meeting on April 4th 37 Elizabeth Waugh Duford said there has been one on one conversation, but there have 38 been no group community meetings. She said other neighbors have been approached to serve 39 on the board but so far only one liaison has volunteered. She said the desire is to work with a 40 committee of volunteers from the neighborhood. 41 Commissioner McKee said he assumed that any representation being sought would be 42 for those that support as well as those that oppose. 43 Elizabeth Waugh Duford answered yes, all voices are welcome. 44 Commissioner Gordon referred to the OCCC Business Plan and budget on page 15. 45 She said she was not sure if these facility fees would be a pass through to the county. 46 47 Elizabeth Waugh Duford said this was not the intent. She said that the hope is that 48 people who want to use the facility for non-governmental usage will see that there is value in 49 the OCCC helping with marketing and site management. She said this is the facility fee that is 50 being referred to. This will be a fee paid to OCCC for those services.