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<br /> correct in her vision of the future, as is Councilwoman La Berge. We cannot be a
<br /> distinguished City completely, until we develop an advanced cultural life. And I think we
<br /> have the potential for doing that. It will happen. I am not prepared to see, for such a small
<br /> investment, the termination of these programs, or the diminishment of these programs in
<br /> the next few months. I am pleased to offer this motion and hope the Council will see fit to
<br /> pass it."
<br /> Councilman Leipzig said, "Now, for the other side. No one up here who votes against this
<br /> motion would be, if there is more than one, voting against culture in Redwood City. That's
<br /> the first thing I want to say. We support unanimously the Commission and its hard work. I
<br /> think that the issue really is, we are talking small numbers, whether it is $18,000, $15,000,
<br /> we are now down to $10,000. These are not big numbers. So we are looking at the
<br /> process.... It needs to have a look-see. We don't want to set a precedent as well, with this
<br /> process that is flawed somehow. We don't want to set a precedent for any other
<br /> commission or committee or department in Redwood City. We set a budget, we work hard
<br /> on it, and then we come back four months later and we change it. That is what we are
<br /> talking about here. The total funds are approximately $65,000 for this year. Half of that,
<br /> almost half of that, $30,000, goes to the Peninsula Center Stage, the Fox Theatre. That's a
<br /> big issue. That's something I think the Council should debate. I personally disagree with
<br /> giving the Fox Theatre $30,000 a year when they don't open up their doors to volunteer and
<br /> charity groups in Redwood City. They do put on a couple of shows a year, that's it, and
<br /> then they go back down to Palo Alto. That's nearly half the Cultural Commission's budget.
<br /> There's something wrong with that. I would be willing, and I do want to point out that it
<br /> was mentioned by Mr. Holt, about the Optimist Club receiving $2,400 this year, and the
<br /> Port also received, $2,500 for its anniversary. We've discussed that issue a couple of weeks
<br /> ago. That's nearly $5,000 of tax money that went to support that Festival. So we do have
<br /> some control over that, the money at least. Last year the "Tis the Season" was
<br /> approxirnately $3,500. I would be willing to loan the Commission, if you want to term it
<br /> that way, the $3,500, rounded up to $4,000 with some inflation, from next year's budget.
<br /> But next year we are going to have a new process and we are going to take a look at things
<br /> like $30,000 for the Fox Theatre... So I would support the "Tis the Season" program
<br /> funded this year with some kind of a payback from next year's budget. But to go ahead and
<br /> allocate another $10,000 or $11,000 is a mistake."
<br /> Councilwoman Buchan said, "The Cultural Commission has certainly done a great
<br /> evolution since the time that I've been on the Council, to become one of the most active
<br /> commissions around. Bringing wonderful things to Redwood City and I really mean that.
<br /> And I really believe in the work the Cultural Commission has done, is doing and will do. I
<br /> find myself on this matter on the horns of a big dilemma, as next week, we are going to be
<br /> discussing a staffing study of our Police Department, where we will be looking at future
<br /> staffing that will probably need a lot of funding. I would much rather have dealt with this
<br /> issue after we had gone through the staffing study so I had a better sense of where we were
<br /> financially. The amount of money, $10,500, no that isn't a lot. But I think what I'd much
<br /> rather see, something that Chairwoman Ball and I discussed this afternoon, is something
<br /> along the lines of what we did for the Alumni Association when we did the structural study
<br /> REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 OCTOBER6,1997
<br /> MINUTES Page No. 556 PAGE 9
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