Title
Consider approving Resolution No. 2015-042 authorizing a License Agreement with the Farmers Branch Community Theatre, Inc, d/b/a The Firehouse Theatre, for use of property located at 2535 Valley View Lane; authorizing termination of prior agreements with the Farmers Branch Community Theatre, Inc.; and take appropriate action.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2011, the City moved forward with the construction of a new Fire Station #1 on Webb Chapel because it was determined that the original Fire Station #1 on Valley View was over 50 years old, was deteriorated, unfunctional and was not fit for City operations. At the time, the plan was to tear down both the old fire station and the administrative building behind it.
A group of citizens came forward and asked if they could use the facility as a community theatre. The City Council supported the advancement of the arts and asked City Administration to draft an agreement which would allow the theatre to take over the building as is with the idea the Firehouse Theatre group would raise funds to renovate the facility for their use.
Over time, the group was successful with their productions, but unable to raise enough funds to bring the facility up to reasonable code standards. Therefore, this year the group came forward and asked for a revamped agreement with the City to make the theatre more viable. At this time, the City Council asked City Administration to develop a new agreement which would require the City to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the building, which would relieve the theatre group of considerable expense.
City Administration drafted such an agreement and presented it to the Firehouse Theatre Board of Directors. The group reviewed the terms at their June board meeting and accepted most of the terms presented by the City with some requested modifications. These modifications include:
1. Changing the agreement from a license to a facility use agreement
2. Deleting all s...
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