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Lee's Summit Council focuses on arts
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Lee's Summit Council focuses on arts
Feb. 4, 2012
By Shelly Crenshaw Donovan
Lee’s Summit Tribune
The city council met Thursday and received an in-depth and comprehensive presentation on the Cultural Facilities Master Plan by the Webb Management Services. Encouraging support of the cultural arts in Lee’s Summit has been an important focus for the City Council since their master plan started in 2007.
Webb conducted surveys and met with over 40 persons from the Lee’s Summit community and gathered feedback. Lee’s Summit spends $5.5 million outside of the Lee’s Summit Area for cultural arts in areas surrounding Lee’s Summit.
“Studies have shown that residents would like to have cultural and entertainment facilities within 11 miles of their home,” said Councilman Allan Gray.
Several plans were presented for the board’s consideration.
“If I may, council was thirsting for this information – d now we are in a situation where we are drinking from a fire hose,” Mayor Randy Rhoads said.
Councilman Ed Cockrell said, “I’m gratified with this information and feel like we got a lot of bang from the buck for this study.”
The team has been working on options since May 2011 for increasing the Cultural Arts areas and facilities for Lee’s Summit.
Ideas included increasing use and abilities at the Legacy Park Amphitheatre. Other ideas included the Arnold Hall Site, which is currently under construction from a previous project. There were also plans that would include possibly purchasing the neighboring land adjoining Arnold Hall so square footage could be developed. Another project would be to develop an artist/work sell space where a group of artists would have studios, a lobby cafe’, classrooms, a common gallery and a store as well.
The group that was formed to make these recommendations included residents from our local arts organizations, Arts Council, and the Park Board. Yet as the council discussed all of the recommendations, they suggested that a special council work session would be best for further discussion and that 90 days more to consider before final decisions would be made and passed on to voters. The current standing and details with Arnold Hall will be a large part of the committee’s and finally council’s decision.
Another item that was discussed at the city council meeting was the budget for travel and expenses for council members and the mayor. A sum of $3,500/year to attend conferences and city related business was decided upon by the finance committee and agreement from the city council members. The National League of Cities in Washington DC is an annual trip that some members feel are very important information for the city council members.
Most agreed that Mayor Rhoads’ budget needed to be more flexible in order to “eliminate the need for the Mayor to be constrained, as he needs to be able to sell the city,” Cockrell said.
The much anticipated interest in the new projected space at View High Drive and Interstate 470 has been pushed to March 8 city council work session.
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Audiences should be able to participate
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