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Mr. Fialho explained that it could take many forms, noting that more recently many agencies have <br /> elected to implement an impact fee to be collected from new development. <br /> Mayor Thorne noted that the goals are not prioritized, which he assumed would be one of the first <br /> activities with which the Civic Arts Commission was tasked. <br /> Councilmember Narum asked if staff has looked at placing the topic of expanded use of schools <br /> facilities on the agenda of the school district liaison committee. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked and Ms. Crose confirmed that 487 respondents is a significant <br /> survey response. <br /> Mayor Thome opened the item for public comment. <br /> Olivia Sanwong urged the Council to consider a more formalized partnership with the Economic Vitality <br /> Committee (EVC) as the prioritization of goals is considered, noting that the EVC has representation <br /> from Visit Tri-Valley, PDA, Pleasanton Unified School District, and Project Lead the Way. She said <br /> there is an incredible opportunity to approach this from the perspective of the creative class and STEM <br /> (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, perhaps with the integration of the <br /> arts. She said she particularly supported the idea of a signature festival. She suggested that the city <br /> has an opportunity to increase its return on investment, noting that Pleasanton's annual arts <br /> expenditure totals $2.2 million and nets $1.5 million while Walnut Creek spends $8.5 million but nets <br /> almost the same expenditure of$1.6 million. <br /> Heidi Massie, Civic Arts Commission, said the Commission felt the Plan was written in a way that <br /> provides the flexibility needed to meet the stated goals from several strategic standpoints and to <br /> leverage the city's existing resources. She concurred that priority setting would be a critical part of the <br /> process and encouraged the Council's support of the Plan. <br /> Mayor Thorne closed public comment. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio said she was delighted with the Plan, particularly the idea of coordinating <br /> art and cultural efforts with economic development. She also supported reconstitution of the Civic Arts <br /> Commission as described. <br /> Vice-Mayor Pentin said he felt that diversifying the city's cultural offerings would help to educate us all <br /> on how the community has evolved and that he strongly supported combined marketing efforts for the <br /> city's facilities. He referred to the printed annual program of events for the Firehouse Arts Center and <br /> said he would like to see the same thing done for Amador Theater. He acknowledged the Council's <br /> extensive list of priorities but said he thought that addressing renovations of the Amador Theater, <br /> Century House and cultural center to be wonderful inclusions. <br /> Councilmember Brown noted that the fairgrounds offer a number of wonderful cultural events and <br /> asked if the city partners with that in any fashion. <br /> Ms. Crose explained that staff does make an effort to combine programming when possible, usually by <br /> bringing an offering to one of the city's venues that will capture the same audience as another event. <br /> Councilmember Brown said she has heard from citizens that there is a strong interest in a movie <br /> theater, especially downtown. She asked, and Ms. Crose confirmed, that the Firehouse Arts Center has <br /> the ability to show movies and asked if that is something staff is exploring further. <br /> Ms. Grose explained that while they have already held several movie events there, staff is aware of the <br /> demand and is exploring that sort of programming more closely. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 10 of 11 October 21,2014 <br />