HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-84-0781CiTY OF MIAMI. FLORIOA
IjINTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO. Howard V. Gary
City Manager
At*A * _%�
FROM: Dena Spillman, Director
Department of Community Development
OATS: May 29, 1984
FILE:
SUBJECT. Use of Manuel Artime Community
Center Auditorium
REFERENCES, Ccvrmittee of the Whole Discussion:
June 14, 1984 Commission fleeting
ENCLOSURES:
Please be advised that we have received a request for the use of the Manuel Artime
Community Center Auditorium on an extended basis. The potential users intend to
stage commercial theatrical productions that would feature well-known Hispanic
television entertainers. The promoters of this venture have received a commitment
from Channel 23 to promote these theatre productions. They may also be producing
taped television shays from some of these with the intention of selling them to
Spanish International Network (S.I.N.), in which case we would require a percentage
of their profit.
Presently, the Manuel Artime Community Center Auditorium is under-utilized due to
the inadequacy of the facility for cultural events. Local performing arts groups
have to spend at least S600 per performance to use the auditorium ,just to bring in
a minimum sound and light system, as the Center does not have any theatre equipment.
Consequently, these groups have sought out and found more adequate facilities,
which is evidenced by the limited number of cultural events held at the Community
Center.
The Center's auditorium is presently used on an average of ten days per month,
mostly for religious, civic, and educational programs. The Department currently
coordinates a weekly film series and a monthly concert/dance for the neighborhood.
Both of these events are free to the public.
Section 38-8 of the City Code authorizes the City to collect a use fee for the
facility ($100 minimum for first four hours; S50 each additional hour or 10 of
ticket sales, whichever is areater). The City collects an average of S700/month
in use fees. During the course of a year, the City Commission grants an average
of ten fee waivers for the use of the Center's auditorium, mostly to civic
organizations.
Average attendance at the limited cultural events held at the Center are three to
four hundred people. Attendance at the religious events averages three hundred
people; civic and educational programs have an attendance from two to six hundred
people.
In view of the potential revenue as 4:e11 as the cultural activity that could be
generated from the proposed Theatre productions, ,:e are requestinq authorization
from the City CGnrllisslon to discuss conditions of use with the promoters of this
event, with the possibility of arriving at a one-year use agreement that would be
in the City's and corrurunity's best interest. in addition to revenue, the promoters
have indicated their willingness to provide a number of free tickets to area resi-
dents, in order that the current level of free activity available at the Center
M0T`/*01/
84-7S
Howard V. Gary
Page two
May 29, 1984
will be maintained if not increased. Additionally, we intend to reserve at least
two days per week for other community uses. It is anticipated that the current
level o17 events could be accommodated during these two days per week.
This venture will create jobs for the Hispanic artistic community since local per-
formers, technicians, directors, etc., will be involved along with the international
talent.
If the City Ccmmission approves the idea of granting an extended use permit for the
aforestated use, we will proceed to discuss conditions of use as well as an appro-
priate use fee with the promoters for presentation at the July 12 City Commission
meeting.
It is also recommended that Section 38-8 of the City Code be amended to allow the
City to collect an appropriate use fee for this project. This will be prepared
for the July 12, 1984 Commission agenda as well.
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