MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, March 25, 1998

Metro Council Annex

Chair McCaig called the meeting to order at 3:32 PM.

1.  CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF MARCH 11, AND MARCH 18, 1998

The minutes of the March 18, 1998 were not voted on at today’s meeting.

2.  ORDINANCE NO. 98-724, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS, CREATING FUNDS, LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES, AUTHORIZING INTERFUND LOANS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Chair McCaig opened a public hearing to accept testimony on Ordinance No. 98-724.

Chair McCaig told members of the public that no decisions about arts funding would be made at today’s meeting. The purpose of the public hearing was to give committee members an opportunity to hear from arts proponents, in consideration of budget decisions to be made on April 15, 1998, when the General Fund budget will be discussed. She informed councilors that the executive has put $62,500 in his proposed budget for arts. At one time, Metro supported the arts in the amount of $149,000, and that amount has been steadily reduced in recent years.

Councilor Morissette said he thought there had been a discussion to fund arts at the current level, which he believed was $150,000. Chair McCaig said arts funding has not been discussed in this budget process. Councilor Morissette said he believed discussion had centered around changes to the MERC budget. Chair McCaig said these are two entirely different issues and sources of funds.

Chair McCaig said she believes the Council appreciates the importance of and need for arts funding. She briefly explained the predicament the Council finds itself in, in that there is not money to fund all of the needs of the region. She said the choice the arts community is asking the Council to make is to find the additional $50,000 to $100,000, when Metro has no resources to do this. The money will have to come from cuts to current programming. She said arts is essentially competing for dollars with growth management planning projects.

The following individuals appeared to testify in support of increased arts funding in the Metro FY 98-99 budget: A. G. Lindstrand, Northwest Business Committee for the Arts, 315 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland; Jim Neill, Davis Wright Tremaine, Friends of the Performing Arts Center, 1300 SW 5th Avenue, Portland; Jose Eduardo Gonzalez, Miracle Theatre Group, 425 SE 6th, Portland; Sondra Pearlman, Oregon Children’s Theatre, 600 SW 10th, Suite 543, Portland; Cheryl Snow, Clackamas Arts Assistance Project, PO Box 837, Mulino; Ron Potts, Portland Baroque Orchestra, 600 SE Broadway, Suite 610, Portland; Jennifer Joyce, Art Back/Estacada, PO Box 613, Estacada; John Mangan, Standard Insurance Co, NW Business Committee for the Arts, Young Audiences, no address given; Anne Avery, Tualatin Arts Advisory Committee, 8470 SW Avery St, Tualatin; and Rosalie Tank, Artist Repertory Theatre, 1516 SW Alder, Portland.

Pat Ritz, Portland Art Museum, Park Blocks, Portland; Sandra Suran, The Suran Group, 121 SW Morrison, Portland; Mercedes Diez, Oregon Symphony Board, 9144 N Chautauqua Blvd, Portland; Judy Kafoury, Sue Berch, Steven M. Jones, Andy Flesuras, Diedre Atlansen, Maggie Jones, Sam “Sam I Am” Rogers, and John Monteverde, all from the NW Children’s Theatre, 1819 NW Everett, Portland; Martha Richards, Oregon Ballet Theatre, no address given; Pam Baker, NW Business Committee for the Arts, Regional Arts and Culture Council, 8705 SW Nimbus Ave, #230, Beaverton; Ellen Thomas, Northwest Film Center, 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland; Andrew Edwards, Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street, Lake Oswego; and Carol Meeuwsen, Clackamas County Arts Action Alliance, 643 N Grant, Canby.

In addition, the following individuals attended the meeting, but did not testify for various reasons: Joseph Cotter, The Art Back, 25160 SE Eagle Creek Rd., Eagle Creek; Martha Sloca Richards, OBT and PCPA Advisory Committee; and Lajos Balogh, Portland Festival Symphony, Metropolidan Youth Symphony, PO Box 359, Lake Oswego.

Testimony from arts organization representatives centered on several themes, primarily the request that Metro restore its funding for the arts to its former higher level of $150,000.

They discussed the state of arts funding in Portland, stating it was less than many other major metropolitan areas, in spite of the city being an otherwise very hospitable and open destination for arts participants. Arts are under-funded by both private and public sectors. All governments are being asked to increase their funding of the arts, because public sector donations greatly leverage private sector donations.

Many arts organization representatives said their organizations operated on the edge financially, and in spite of a committed membership and group of volunteer participants, many struggle to stay afloat. Even with sold out performances, some organizations cannot exist without public funding. Recently, the city lost a popular, major arts organization, the Portland Repertory Theater. It was noted that although the PCPA is doing well, the organizations that perform there need assistance.

Speakers spoke eloquently about the positive influence of art in people’s lives. Arts reach out to diverse communities, such as young people, retired people, crafts people and artisans, at risk people, under-served neighborhoods, as well as wealthy neighborhoods. The arts can build self-esteem and acceptance, and can provide individuals with a sense of belonging. Arts are important to livability issues. They enhance peoples’ quality of life, and can be compared with the positive influence of growth management efforts. They contribute to the stability of the region, as well as to economic development. Many arts programs have a regional reach.

Chair McCaig closed the public hearing.

There being no further business before the committee, Chair McCaig recessed the meeting at 4:57 PM until Wednesday, April 1, at a time to be determined.

Prepared by,

Lindsey Ray

Senior Council Assistant

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