Arts center foundation, El Cajon reach an agreement

Union Tribune (2006-07-13) Liz Neely

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By Liz Neely

STAFF WRITER

July 13, 2006

EL CAJON – The city has reached a settlement with the former manager of East County Performing Arts Center.

Advertisement The City Council unanimously approved a deal with the Arts Center Foundation at its meeting Tuesday. The agreement calls for a payment of $182,500 to the city. A check has been mailed, said Edgar Stemen, who worked as a consultant for the foundation.

The nonprofit also will turn over various assets, including cleaning supplies, office furniture, and sound and computer equipment. The assets also include the domain name ecpac.com, and a list of ticket buyers compiled by the nonprofit when it ran the city-owned theater.

The foundation managed the 1,142-seat theater for nearly eight years before it was ousted by the council in April 2005 for falling behind on its bills to the city. City officials pegged the final amount at $2.3 million.

The downtown performing arts center was run by the city until December, when Art Beat Management took over. Art Beat is a business unit of El Cajon-based Christian Community Theater.

The deal comes as the Arts Center Foundation works to dissolve its status as a nonprofit. The agreement leaves the foundation with about $20,000 in cash to pay off bills, including legal fees and final tax-return filing fees. Any remaining money will be turned over to the city, Stemen said.