PIEDMONT — The City Council on Monday grappled with crafting a new lease for the Piedmont Center for the Arts but sent it back to the drawing board after much discussion.
“A new alternative is not fleshed out enough for a vote tonight,” City Attorney Michele Kenyon said. “We need to determine fees, user groups, (over) probably two more meetings.”
“The city should control use of the facility with a defined set of users,” Vice-Mayor Tim Rood said. “Getting out of the sublease business is my hope.”
The Piedmont Post weekly newspaper currently sublets space at the center, where there are unused areas that could also be used. The main room houses art exhibits, concerts, book readings and other arts programs. A first reading of a new lease was held on Nov. 16 with a split 3-2 vote by the council.
The public reacted over the months since then, flooding council members and other city officials with emails expressing different opinions about how to move forward. Most agreed that the arts center provided a much needed outlet for fine arts programming. Whether the building should be more available for other types of programming due to its underuse, though, remains in question.
City Administrator Sara Lillevand said the city has negotiated with PCA to improve the proposed lease based on community feedback. Where PCA had been paying $1 per year to lease, there would be an $800-per-month rental. The city would take over interior maintenance of the center. Additional time would be designated for city programming, such as recreation department or community clubs like book, chess or quilting groups. Proposed was city use of the building, which is owned by Piedmont, to be available Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for space to offer senior/adult and preschool age programs.
Piedmont bought the property, an old Christian Science church building, years ago when it had been previously sitting empty. About 10 years ago, real estate agent Nancy Lehrkind and a group of volunteers offered to rehabilitate the dilapidated building at their expense to be used as an arts venue. The city accepted their offer, saying they would charge $1 per year for a lease. Since that time, a rich variety of arts programs have consistently been presented. A volunteer board oversees operations and obtains and approves the groups that appear.
Former Councilman Garrett Keating wrote in a recent editorial about it that “The most obvious need is a policy on subletting space to PCA board members. Ethics would normally preclude renting to a board member at below-market rates, but in the absence of that a city policy or PCA bylaws change is in order.”
Several speakers joined Monday’s virtual council meeting.
“A group of five started this organization. We want the city to be the best it can be. Find a solution,” said Sue Malick of the PCA board.
Lillevand expects to bring the matter back to the council in a few weeks.
“This is a dynamic issue for the council,” Mayor Teddy King said.
“The city needs to take control of PCA,” Lillevand said. “What made sense 10 years ago needs to take a different approach.”
Linda Davis is a longtime Piedmont correspondent. Contact her with news tips or comments at dlinda249@gmail.com.
