Save ECPACMeeting Report 26 Mar 2012

Members of the community gathered on 26 Mar 2012 to discuss the proposed demolition of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and instead building a Marriott Hotel. The meeting was held at Cocos Restaurant on Main in El Cajon. Many participants joined in dinner at 6pm. The meeting started at 7pm and ended shortly after 9pm.

Attendees:

• Ray Lutz
• Gordon Bosma
• Eugene Cook
• Art Ballantyne
• Monica Cunningham
• Wendy Hutson
• John Gibson
• Former Mayor Joan Shoemaker
• Steve Shoemaker
• Miriam Raftery
• Bonnie Price
• Ivars Bezdechi
• John Martes
• Karen Marie Otter
• Patricia Parlin, President Grossmont Community Concerts Association
• Wendy Hutson
• Nadine Buchner

Notes from the flip chart:

• Notification -- no legal standing to challenge due to CEQA per Bill Fishbeck, Attorney.
• Venue size -- comparable to
  • Old Globe
  • La Jolla
  • Balboa Theater
  • Count Basie Theatre
• Looking for community partners
  • Colleges
  • Casinos
  • Angels
  • St. Madeline
  • Arts Community
  • Taylor Guitar
  • Deering Banjo
  • Tim Flannery
  • Maria Conner (?)
  • County -- Diane Jacob's $2M slush fund
  • Merchants Association
  • GUHSD Redev Bond Issue - High School run center??
  • Police Station Costs
• Thoughts / Brainstorming
  • Talk to Attorney about Req'g Vote, etc. -- No legal requirement
  • Recall Election
  • Better Publicity
  • Special Arts District
  • Money was set aside
  • Mix of users
  • Separate 501c3 Org.
  • Professionals to run it.
  • UT poll -- 78% save it, 21% Demolition it.
  • Boycott Marriott
  • Can't touch ECPAC -- Any changes means it has to be redone due to earthquake requirements and ADA.
  • Another Level on the parking Garage -- (eliminated as an option even though it was originally designed for 3 levels another level is not possible due to new earthquake regulations)
• Next Steps
  • Regular working group meetings
  • Petitions
  • Contact with Stakeholders
  • How much $ to open doors
    • Public works says $25K
    • John Gibson says $1M.
    • Kurt Swanson said $4.3M
  • Stop them from trashing it.
  • Letters to the Editor.
  • Location for meetings
    • Coco's Restaurant can't take any more.
    • Possibly School District board room.
• Set up subcommittees to make sure we make progress
  • Stakeholder / Donor / Economic Cluster Cte -- Steve Shoemaker
  • Facility Costs - Ray, John Martes, John Gibson, Karen -- need outside bids.
  • Mission statement Cte -- Nadine has some experience and says it isn't as easy as it sounds
  • Grants, etc -- High School deal
  • User Groups + Business / Use Plan
  • Media / Web
  • Logistics