Title
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra Concert Funding (B)
This item involves a request from the Gainesville Chamber for their “Pops” concert event.
Explanation
In January 2004, the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra ("Orchestra") requested support for their outdoor free concert, "Pops on the Plaza." The City Commission elected to support the request, and in 2005, stipulated that the funding be included in the Cultural Affairs Division's annual budget. The amount of support was budgeted at $5,000, with the intent that it assist with costs for support services necessary to have a large, outdoor community event on the scale the Orchestra envisioned. Support services for the venue included security (Gainesville Police Department) and various other city services for street closures and clean-up.
The Orchestra received $5,000 each year until 2009, when the amount was reduced to $4,748 due to overall budgetary reductions. An additional 10% cut occurred in FY 2010 due to budget constraints, bringing the amount to $4,273.
On February 15, 2010, Orchestra Chief Operating Officer Thomas Rider sent a letter to City Manager Russ Blackburn indicating that the Orchestra has encountered financial constraints, and had to reduce its performance season by one concert. They requested that the funds allocated for "Pops on the Plaza" used for City support services be applied instead toward the cost to produce their May performance concert, "The Planets" at the UF Phillips Center for Performing Arts. On March 18, 2010, the Gainesville City Commission approved the request.
On February 15, 2011, Mr. Rider sent a letter to staff indicating that the Orchestra plans a pops concert for Friday, March 4th, at the University Memorial Auditorium, and is requesting City support for this event on a recurring, annual basis.
Fiscal Note
Funds for this year's Orchestra are available in the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs budget in the amount of $4,273.
Recommendation
The ...
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