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147 <br /> <br />best way to accomplish the'goals and whose responsibility the <br />program should be in the~long term, <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: TONSLER PARK MEETING <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that a planning session will be <br /> held on June 6th in and for Tonsler Park. ~Ms. Slaughter <br /> explained that new land has been acquired for the park and <br /> funds set aside for park design and the meeting will focus on <br /> future plans for the park as well as safety issues. Ms. <br /> Slaughter encouraged community members, including youth, to <br /> participate. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDS <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that the Paramount Theater Group had <br />requested $50,000. from the amount in the City's historic <br />preservation funds, a"first reading'on an appropriation up to <br />$40,000 to the Paramount had been held, a public hearing had <br />been heldi and'support had been expressed for establishment <br />of a revolving loan fund for historic preservation. Mr. <br />Hendrix stated that staff recommended that $35,700 be <br />appropriated to the Paramount to be.used for exterior <br />renovations to the building, including the marquee, with the <br />balance of the funds to go into a revolving loan fund along <br />with the $20,000 set aside in the capital budget, with an <br />additional $20,000 to'be added each year in the budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sheldon Anderson, President of the Paramount Group, <br />stated that he felt the appropriation would demonstrate the <br />City's commitment to renovating the building Mr. Anderson <br />stated that the-Group is proposing to raise $2 million and <br />will approach the County to request funds to match the City's <br />donation. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. vandever, Mr. Anderson <br />stated that the funds will be used to patch, not replace the <br />roof and the additional amount requested would be used to <br />renovate the lobby area. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms.~ Slaughter, Mr' <br />Anderson stated that no feasibility study has been conducted <br />on the projected usage of the building, but a similar theater <br />in Bristol, Tennessee has been successful, though the <br />Paramount Group anticipates that operating costs will need to <br />be underwritten. <br /> <br /> Mr. Anderson stated that approximately $10,000 has been <br />raised since March though the capital campaign is not <br />expected to begin until the fall and is expected to take four <br />years to complete. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she felt the Paramount Group had <br />a strong claim to the funds and she supported her original <br />motion to provide them $30,000 and an additional $10,000 <br />contingent upon their matching the amount, with the remaining <br />funds to go into a revolving loan fund for.historic <br />preservation" <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that he had concerns about elevating <br />the Param°unt's request above other requests and felt it <br />would be more appropriate to send the request through the <br />historic preservation fund. Mr. Toscano expressed concern <br />about the economic feasibility of the Paramount succeeding. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that She was alSo Concerned about <br />the feasibility of the project but felt that the facade was <br />worth preserving and questioned whether a preservation <br />easement could be required to prevent the facade from being <br />torn down. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that he felt the ~building <br />represented a very real piece of contemporary history for the <br /> <br /> <br />