FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Grant Request from Chapel Hill Museum for James Taylor Exhibit and Bridge Dedication
DATE: April 14, 2003
This memorandum responds to a request from the Chapel Hill Museum to fund $20,000 for the Museum’s James Taylor Exhibit and April 26 Morgan Creek Bridge dedication.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
At the March 26 Budget Public Forum, Chapel Hill Museum Director Mr. Morgan Kenney presented the Council with a request for $20,000 to fund a James Taylor Exhibit at the Museum and the Morgan Creek Bridge dedication ceremony (Attachment 1). The N.C. Department of Transportation renamed the bridge the James Taylor Bridge in July 2002 (Attachment 2). The dedication ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at the Dean Smith Center. James Taylor is scheduled to attend.
The $20,000 request is part of a $35,485 budget for the exhibit and dedication (please see attachment 1). According to Mr. Kenney’s request, Town grant funds would be used for such work as creation of the exhibit and expenses related to the dedication ceremony, including program printing and invitation mailings. The public will be able to attend the ceremony at no cost.
There is approximately $21,300 remaining in the Council’s contingency account. The Council could decide to fund part or all of the request; or, could reasonably decide that the Museum should seek funding from private sources, rather than from the Town.
In September 1996, the Council authorized a lease agreement with the Museum. The lease agreement states that the Museum “shall be responsible for all necessary staffing for and operation of the Museum’s programs” (Attachment 3). The lease term is for 10 years, ending on September 3, 2006. The Museum’s performance agreement, entered into on November 12, 1999 and revised July 30, 2001, states that the Town “does not obligate itself and does not intend at any time to provide any support either financial or operational, to the Museum in this fiscal year or in succeeding years.”
However, the Council could choose to support this activity as a community benefit or visitor event, and we have provided a resolution for your use as you wish. Event planners expect several thousand people to attend the ceremony on April 26.
CONCLUSION
If the Council wishes to fund part or all of the Museum’s request, the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to negotiate a performance agreement with the Museum. The Council could insert such an amount as it desires.
ATTACHMENTS
1. March 26, 2003 Petition from the Chapel Hill Museum (p. 4).
2. July 11, 2002 Department of Transportation Resolution (p. 10).
3. September 4, 1996 Lease Agreement, with amendments (p. 11).
4. November 12, 1999 Performance Agreement, with amendments (p. 23).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHAPEL HILL MUSEUM TO FUND THE JAMES TAYLOR EXHIBIT AND MORGAN CREEK BRIDGE DEDICATION CEREMONY (2003-04-14/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Museum has requested $20,000 to fund the Museum’s James Taylor exhibit and the dedication ceremony for the Morgan Creek Bridge, renamed the James Taylor Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the Council agrees to fund ________ of this request; and
WHEREAS, the Council customarily authorizes the Town Manager to negotiate performance agreements with groups that receive Town funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Manager to negotiate a performance agreement with the Chapel Hill Museum in order to assist with funding of the James Taylor Exhibit at the Museum and the Morgan Creek Bridge dedication ceremony.
This the 14th day of April, 2003.