MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - PROGRAMMING AND USE OF THE CAPITOL THEATREMemorandum of Agreement
Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc.
Monday, November 29, 2010
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This Memorandum of Agreement is made and entered into this 8 day of der, 2010,
between the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency, a municipal corporation of the
State of Florida, herein referred to as the("CRA") and Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a Florida not-for-
profit corporation, hereafter referred to as (" Ruth Eckerd Hall").
CRA staff and Ruth Eckerd Hall have had discussions concerning a mutual desire of the group,
and CRA staff, to expand and improve the programming and use of the Capitol Theatre to further
the goals of both organizations during the period before reconstruction of the Capitol Theatre
begins.
Program offerings at the Capitol Theatre have to date produced 18 sellouts in 32 performances--
-exceeding projections of demand for the facility----and generating significant private rental and
event requests that could not be accommodated under terms of the MOU between the City and
Ruth Eckerd hall. Both the CRA and Ruth Eckerd Hall believe additional programming could be
successful if the necessary resources were available to meet performance opportunities and
community demand.
The CRA staff objectives are to 1) support existing retail business viability in a period of
economic downturn by creating larger crowds to create dining and retail demand for businesses
in the Cleveland Street District; and, 2) provide our retail recruitment efforts with a better
customer base to encourage new retailers/restaurateurs with the confidence to locate in the
Cleveland Street District during the current economic downturn; 3) "expose" additional potential
restaurant/retail customers and investors to the Cleveland Street District through attendance at
District events.
Ruth Eckerd Hall objectives are to increase exposure, customer base and interest in the
Facility as they approach the requisite fund raising campaign to raise agreed to capitol and
endowment funds to support future operation of the renovated facility. Additionally,
development of a strong customer base during the pre-renovation period will help attendance at
the renovated facility.
Ruth Eckerd hall has submitted a proposal to increase performances from the current 36
performances annually to 100 performances annually, with 52 of them live, self presented events
and the remaining 48 either films or third party rentals. The funding requested totals $ 148,000
per year, which includes the requisite staff to operate , manage and promote an enhanced
program schedule, as well as $ 5,000 in "one time" funds for projection equipment necessary for
film showings. The latter would be of such a quality that it could be used in the post-renovation
theatre.
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This memorandum of Agreement is entered into by the CRA and Ruth Eckerd Hall for the
purpose of formalizing the intent of the parties relating to the terms and conditions of the CRA
appropriation of funds to Ruth Eckerd Hall to partially underwrite the production and
management of an expanded performance schedule, as more fully described in the Proposal
from Ruth Eckerd hall to the Rod Irwin, Assistant City manager, dated October 7 2010 , a
copy of which is attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement.
To that end the parties agree as follows:
1) The CRA agrees to provide a $148,000 appropriation to Ruth Eckerd Hall to partially
fund the enhanced programming schedule as delineated in the attached Proposal from
Robert Freedman, President, Ruth Eckerd Hall dated ;
2) Ruth Eckerd Hall agrees to develop, produce and manage the expanded program
schedule, as more fully described in the attached Proposal and as delineated in paragraph
6 of this Agreement;
3) Unless specifically delineated herein, nothing in this Agreement supersedes the terms and
conditions of pre-construction operation of the Capitol Theatre, including the profit
sharing provision, of the November, 2008 Memorandum of Understanding between the
City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall;
4) Ruth Eckerd Hall agrees to coordinate with the CRA Executive Director with respect to
the expanded program development and management to insure that the program is
consistent with the spirit and intent of the CRA grant; Ruth Eckerd hall will provide the
CRA Executive Director with quarterly financial and performance reports concerning the
appropriated funds ;
5) Should Ruth Eckerd Hall or the CRA at any point be unable or unwilling to meet the
requirements of this Agreement, the remainder of CRA funds shall be reimbursed to the
CRA.
6) This agreement shall terminate at the end of three years from the date of execution by the
parties , or at the commencement of renovations of the Theatre, whichever occurs first.
In acknowledgement and agreement with the terms and conditions of this Memorandum of
Agreement, as delineated above, the Agreement is executed by the authorized representatives of
the CRA and Ruth Eckerd Hall:
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY OF THE CITY OF
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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
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Frank V. Hibbard
Chairperson
Approved as to form:
Ich
amela K. Akin
City Attorney
o n,. RUTH ECKERD HALL, INC:
Robert Freedman
President and CEO
Attest: ` SOP AE?VT
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Rosemarie Call
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City Clerk {,r `
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