ITEM TITLE:
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Consider approving a partnership agreement between the McMahon Auditorium Authority and the City of Lawton, subject to the McMahon Auditorium Authority also approving the agreement and budget, to promote tourism and make renovations and repairs to Arts and Humanities related buildings.
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INITIATOR: Jason Poudrier, Arts and Humanities Administrator
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: Jason Poudrier, Arts and Humanities Administrator
BACKGROUND: The approval of the Partnership Support Agreement between the City of Lawton and McMahon Auditorium Authority (MAA) is needed for MAA to be able to use funds allocated to MAA by City Council, to support tourism, make needed repairs to Carnegie Library Town Hall and the National Guard Armory, and to continue to make hailstorm related repairs to Arts and Humanities related buildings, such as Carnegie Library Town Hall, The National Guard Armory, and the John Denney Playhouse:
$37,000.00 FY 2024 Hotel/Motel Funds, Resolution No. 24-182, Support tourism through
arts and humanities programming
$307,096.00 Budget Amendment Resolution No. 24-051, Make needed, initial repairs to Carnegie Library Town Hall, and The National Guard Armory
$81,527.84 Remaining insurance funds issued by City insurance related to the June 2023 hailstorm for repair and maintenance of Arts and Humanities related buildings to include Carnegie Library Town hall, The National Guard Armory, McMahon Memorial Auditorium, the John Denney Playhouse, and the Museum of the Great Plains building.
The McMahon Auditorium Authority agrees to support and aid in providing arts and humanities activities, and the funds would be administered in collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Division. The portion of those funds from hotel/motel tax revenue would be used for the purpose of supporting tourism though (1) Arts and Humanities programs and activities in Lawton and (2) the purchase or rental of technical equipment and supplies in support thereof.
At the February 14, 2023 Lawton City Council Meeting, the Trust Indenture of the McMahon Auditorium Authority(MAA) was expanded to include “providing and/or aid in providing proper operation, supervision and management of Carnegie Library Town Hall and National Guard Armory,” and Lawton City Council approved an allocation of $350,000 to MAA to start repairing and restoring the buildings. The funds have yet to be allocated directly to McMahon Auditorium Authority.
This partnership Agreement authorizes the authority to finally, directly receive the remaining $307,096.00 ($350,000-$42,904) from the General Fund City At Large Contingency Account specifically for repair, renovation, restoration and maintenance of Carnegie Library and the National Guard Armory building. Furthermore, contained within the agreement is language that requires MAA to abide by all City of Lawton purchasing policies and the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act, to the extent required by law.
With Resolution No. 23-157, the City, through its governing body, determined that the City should award Five Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred, and three 97/100 Dollars ($536,903.97) to departmental budgets for Repair and Maintenance from insurance proceeds from the June 15, 2023, hailstorm, and the Arts and Humanities Division received Three Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and One 40/10 Dollars ($325,601.40) of which Two Hundred Forty-Four Thousand, and Seventy-Three 56/100 ($244,073.56) was spent on repairs and maintenance related to the June 15, 2023, hailstorm, leaving Eighty-One Thousand Dollars, Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven 84/100 Dollars ($81,527.84) remaining, and there are still outstanding repair and maintenance items that need to be addressed related to the June 15, 2023 hailstorm.
EXHIBIT: FY25 MMA Partnership Agreement; FY25MAA Budget; Resolution No. 24-182; Resolution No. 24-051; Resolution No. 23-157
KEY ISSUES: City Council has voted to provide funds to McMahon Auditorium Authority; however, without a support agreement in place, funds are unable to be expended by McMahon Auditorium Authority in support of tourism and to make needed repairs and renovations to Arts and Humanities related buildings; furthermore insurance funds related to the Arts and Humanities buildings need to be distributed to the McMahon Auditorium Authority so that funds can remain in their accounts perpetually until fully expended on hailstorm related repairs.
FUNDING SOURCE: Hotel/Motel Tax Fund; General Fund City At Large Contingency Account; General Fund Account
STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: Approve agreement between the McMahon Auditorium Authority and the City of Lawton to promote tourism and make renovations and repairs to Art and Humanities related buildings.