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11 <br />think through the process. A public/private partnership is required, and the public entity <br />must be committed to the design process. The University has committed to writing the <br />grant. Mr. No rris asked Mr. Cox to remind Council of his connection with the NEA. Mr. <br />Cox said he was the design dir ector at the NEA for three years and helped the Chairman <br />conceive of this grant program specifically for transformative projects in urban areas. He <br />c o -authored the guidelines and knows them intimately. He is w illing to help write a <br />highly competitive grant. <br /> <br />Ms. Smith asked if the arts and culture theme restricts us from how we design the <br />corridor. Mr. Cox said it is meant to look at the role of arts an d culture as the primary <br />catalyst for redevelopment. O ur entire downtown area can be viewed as an arts and <br />culture center. The bridge itself can be considered a work of art to put it within the <br />parameters for the grant. <br /> <br /> Ms. Galvin asked about partners. Mr. Jones said we ha ve reached out to PCA as a <br />potential partner. You also need a 501(c)(3) as part of the partnership as well. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said the need for a plan is there, but he is not sure this is the right way to <br />go about it. He prefers using local money and our own money for this. Ms. Smith asked <br />Mr. Cox if he thought we needed to ask for the full $150,000 amount. Ms. Szakos said it <br />may be problematic getting commitment from local donors. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he is struggling to find a downside. Ms. Szakos asked who is <br />devising the ideas that will go into the grant. Mr. Cox said we could designate someone <br />from Council and someone from staff to be points of contact for the grant writers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said the bridge design process should be put o n hold if we apply for <br />the grant. Ms. Szakos asked if this meant we would be giving up state money. Ms. <br />Galvin said Council should examine how much money we are willing to put into a <br />planning effort on this sort of thing. She asked that it be put on a fut ure agenda for <br />discussion. She said we can do design now and not wait for the grant if we are willing to <br />commit the money. Mr. Norris said he does not see this as mutually exclusive. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris moved that Council approve moving forward with the grant and <br />appoint Ms. Galvin as the Council point person. Ms. Smith seconded the motion . Ms. <br />Galvin said this is a huge undertaking and wished it had been worked through a month <br />ago. She asked w hat the implications were for breaking our contract. Ms. Szakos offered <br />the amendment that we allocate $150,000 for the planning process and start it <br />immediately, but not apply for the grant. Mr. Norris rejected her amendment. Mr. Jones <br />said funding c ould come from already allocated funds to Levy and Crescent Hall. Ms. <br />Szakos withdrew her amendment and said she did not want to allocate money until it was <br />properly discussed on an upcoming agenda. A vote on Mr. Norris’ motion was called <br />and did not pass. (Ayes: Mr. Norris, Ms. Smith; Noes: Ms. Szakos, Ms. Galvin, Mr. <br />Huja.) <br /> <br />