Initial planning to be completed for performing arts centre

STEERING COMMITTEE TO COMPLETE WORK; OTHER $6.8 MILLION ALLOCATED WON’T BE USED IN CURRENT CIP CYCLE

The Performing Arts Centre Steering Committee will be allowed to complete its work on the initial planning stages of a future $100-million performing arts centre downtown, including site selection, but may lose the majority of its Capital Improvement Project (CIP) grant for the current funding cycle.

Council voted 6-3 to allow the committee to complete this part of its work, and spend the $174,000 left over from a $375,000 grant for the planning and design phase of the project.

The motion was sponsored by Coun.

Jeff Carlson, who is also one of council’s representatives on the steering committee. Carlson said it was important this part of the planning and design stage of the project be completed to have it more or less shovel ready should future provincial or federal grants become available.

Carlson acknowledged given the budget constraints of all levels of government at the moment, including the City of Lethbridge, it was unlikely the performing arts centre steering committee could accomplish more than this in the near term. It also made it likely, he said, the committee would not be able to make use of the other $6.8 million allocated for the project in the current CIP cycle.

“The $6.8 million will likely be available for reallocation during the upcoming CIP,” Carlson confirmed, “and the work the committee does over the next few months will hopefully position us for continued support from council, especially if outside funding becomes available.”