Background

As part of its decision to provide $450,000 of funding to the Performing Arts at Metropolis (PAM), the Village Board directed that the Village obtain an economic impact study and a study to analyze the operations of PAM and the Theater and to assess other management structures.

The Metropolis Oversight Committee (MOC), consisting of Trustees Bert Rosenberg and John Scaletta, PAM Board members Dori Bonder and Monica McCarthy, and Village Staff Tom Kuehne, Mary Juarez, and Robin Ward, met with Charles Johnson of Johnson Consulting on October 22. Johnson Consulting (then CH Johnson) performed a study for the Village on the Metropolis Theater in 2003, when the Village was considering whether to buy the Theater. Because they are familiar with the Village and the facility and already have a baseline from which to begin in their existing study, the MOC felt it made the most sense to get a proposal from Johnson for this study.

A copy of the proposal from Johnson Consulting, detailing the tasks to be performed, is attached. Mr. Johnson anticipates the study taking approximately eight weeks. During that time, Johnson will gather data from the Village and PAM and they will also survey Theater attendees and businesses near the Theater.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Village Board retain Johnson Consulting to update their prior study, to assess options related to managing the Metropolis, and to perform an economic impact assessment of the Theater on the downtown, all for a cost not-to-exceed $24,000 and authorize the execution of all necessary documents. The cost of the study will be paid with reserves in the Arts, Entertainment & Events Fund.