CITY OKS AUDITORIUM AGREEMENT; 950-SEAT CENTER TO BE BUILT.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Clearing the first major hurdle to construction, city government has agreed to join College of the Canyons in funding and maintaining a 950-seat performing arts venue for both college and community use.

The Santa Clarita City Council has approved a memorandum of understanding with the Valencia-based community college that would require a $2.4 million city contribution toward the $16.6 million auditorium, to be built by Rockwell Canyon Road on college property. State funds will cover $11 million of the total cost.

City officials have been negotiating details of the preliminary agreement since July, when the college unexpectedly received additional state funding to make a long-wanted auditorium possible. College of the Canyons officials initially planned a 450-seat auditorium for school productions and special events, but city officials offered extra funding for a larger auditorium and some guarantees of availability for community events.

``It's an outstanding example of what public agencies can do to work together to benefit their needs and the needs of their communities,'' said Phil Hartley, vice president of instruction and student services at the college.

Rick Putnam, city director of parks and recreation, said the performing-arts center will be a tremendous asset to the city, providing a venue for community events outlined in a performing-arts master plan.

Theatrical and musical organizations have been growing in the city, unable separately to afford a state-of-the-art community auditorium. Cultural programming has been limited to outdoor parks, libraries and local schools.

In the memorandum of understanding approved last week, the City Council also made a commitment for the city to fund sculpture at the performing-arts center, provide access to the center and share in maintenance and equipment replacement, according to city officials.

The memorandum calls for:

The city to contribute $2.3 million over the next four years toward construction and $100,000 for sculpture.

The city will fund design and construction of the sculpture, and college officials will reserve the right to approve the design and location.

The performing-arts center initially would be available for community use, as by local theater and musical organizations, at least 40 percent of each weekend. As the college's arts programs grow, weekend availability for noncollege use could drop to 32 percent. Availability during weekdays will be greater.

College of the Canyons will oversee operations and scheduling at the center. However, representatives of off-campus arts groups and city government will serve on an advisory committee, along with college representatives, to recommend policies and to propose the annual budget and calendar of events.

The facility initially will be named just the Center for the Performing Arts, but college trustees will retain the right to rename the building to honor benefactors. The city will get credit on a dedication plaque, and the city's name will be displayed prominently on all advertisements and publications of the center.

The college district will pay for general cleaning and maintenance of the facility relating to school programming. Other users for the facility will pay for costs related to their events, including costs for cleaning, utilities, security, ticket takers, ushers, technicians, advertising and any damages.

College of the Canyons will oversee all concessions operations and vendors.

After the first two years of operation, the college and city will devise a means of financing equipment replacement from the proceeds of the center.

The center is expected to open in 2002, with groundbreaking scheduled for July 1, 2001, according to Hartley.