SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
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Presentation of findings and recommendations of concept validation portion of the bandshell feasibility study by Webb Management Services, Inc.
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SUMMARY:
In January of 2019 the City engaged Webb Management Services, Inc. to provide a study to assess the feasibility of developing and operating a bandshell in “The Green” portion of the Imagine Clearwater Master Plan.
The study is intended to be done in two parts, with this first part focusing on the viability of a bandshell in terms of supply and demand issues in the operating environment. This portion of the study included a review of project related materials and studies, a look at the arts and entertainment sector as a whole, an assessment of the market, a competitive analysis, interviews with potential users, research on touring product potential for the region, identification of potential operating, programming, and development partners, determination of community benefits and impacts, and research of comparable facilities.
The consultant will provide a set of conclusions and recommendations on the potential development of the facility at this meeting and city staff will identify potential direct and indirect impacts of the recommended facilities. Based on these deliverables, staff would like council to provide direction on whether the consultant recommended facility or an alternative should be the focus of the second part of this study.
The second part of the study will consider the financial and operating implications of the council directed facility. The consultant will be focused on creating a business plan and testing that plan to identify its financial impacts. We will have a meeting in early April to review the final portion of the plan, which will include a recommended operating model, programming plan, staffing requirements, facility management plan, pro-forma operating budget, and a critical path from planning through the start of operations. At the same meeting, city staff will provide Council with the changes to the plan that based the recommended facility. Based on these deliverables, staff will be requesting at that time to confirm whether to base final design on the council directed facility or make further adjustments.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
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USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
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