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Arts group, city near agreement on building lease
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City of La Grande and Union County Art and Cultural Center representatives appear close to finalizing an agreement for lease of the city-owned Carnegie library building. In a work session Monday night, the city and the UCACC met in a work session to hammer out the fine details of an agreement for the nearly century-old building at the corner of Penn Avenue and Fourth Street. The city council will consider approval of the agreement during its meeting Wednesday. The UCACC was formed two years ago by people hoping to advance local art and culture. Under the proposed agreement, the city would lease the building to the group for $10 a year for the purpose of an art and culture center. The UCACC would be responsible for the costs of renovations and maintenance. The group envisions a $4 million center in the Carnegie building, similar to art centers that have been established in Baker City, Pendleton and Walla Walla. Renovations and improvements would be funded mainly by grants. Monday, the UCACC and the city spent two hours going over the proposed lease, refining language on maintenance, water and sewer issues, parking, fire insurance and more. A major sticking point that needs to be worked out is whether renovation of the building would be considered a public works project or an effort by a private group. In a public works project, workers would have to be paid the prevailing wage set by the state, and there could be problems with utilizing volunteer labor. If Oregon’s wage and rate law applies, renovation and improvement of the building could prove too expensive. City Manager Robert Strope said he will recommend council approval of the lease agreement, under the condition that the city gets a determination from the Bureau of Labor and Industries on the prevailing wage question. Wednesday’s city council meeting gets under way at city hall, 1000 Adams Ave., at 6 p.m. The lease agreement is one of many items up for consideration. Two public hearings, one on renaming street rights of way in the La Grande Business and Technology Park, and another on vacation of an alley right of way, are on tap. The council may adjourn to executive session to discuss a real property transaction. Also, the body will convene as the Urban Renewal Agency to consider expenditure of urban renewal funds. Both the city council and urban renewal agency meetings will be cablecast live on cable channel 3. |
