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General Fund Highlights <br />Cultural Services Subfund Overview <br />.The Cultural Services Subfund, established in FY99, provides cultural programs and activities <br />for the community. The programs are primarily supported by the City's Transient Room Tax and <br />program fees. The Hult Center and Cuthbert Amphitheater annually host approximately 400 <br />public events, including 6-10 events presented directly by the Cultural Services Division and a <br />number of arts education programs serving youth and adults in the region. Total annual usage <br />exceeds 800 events,. including rehearsals and other non-public uses. <br />• The City Council continues to identify "Strengthen and Promote Arts and Outdoors <br />Assets" as one of their top goals for the coming year. <br />• Recent Hult facility capital improvements include: Assisted Listening Device (ALD) <br />systems installed in all performance areas, Silva, Soreng, Lobby and Studio; lobby <br />lighting re-lamp and augmentation for safety and security; dimmer installation for Silva <br />(complete Summer 2007); fire curtain installation for Silva (complete Summer 2007); <br />ticket office remodel design (complete Fa112007). <br />• The health of the subfund is subject to fluctuations related to the hoteUmotel market <br />within the City of Eugene and the overall health of the state's tourism and hospitality <br />industry. Loss of market share to hoteUmotel properties outside the City of Eugene has <br />an adverse effect on tax receipts. A healthy hoteUmotel market is vital. to ensuring long <br />term fmancial support for cultural services. Currently, Transient Room Tax receipts are <br />anticipated to increase slightly in FY08.Over the last seven years, for every $1 of <br />Transient Room Tax spent on Cultural Services operations, $5 was returned back into the <br />economy. <br />• In FY06; Council approved expenditure of up to $250,000 to fund amulti-year public and <br />consultant-based Cultural Policy Review (CPR) to determine recommendations for the <br />City of Eugene's support of arts and culture in the future. A Mayor's Committee of 21 <br />citizens was selected to shepherd the process and assist in data collection, analysis and <br />recommendations. To date, thousands of Eugene area citizens have returned cultural <br />surveys, attended meetings, participated in interviews and responded to the call fore <br />involvement and inclusion. Initial observations in the form of situation papers by the <br />consultants are circulated to the public and the Mayor's Committee for discussion and <br />review. The process is expected to yield a draft report with recommendations to Council <br />in July, 2007. <br />Cuthbert Amphitheater is the City-owned 4,SOO.seat outdoor venue located in Alton <br />Baker Park. The venue is traditionally open June-September. Last season venue operation <br />was contracted out to commercial promoters. These promoters provided facility oversight <br />and programming for 12 performances, more than doubling those in the previous season. <br />Total paid attendance was 23,807, up from 3,496 the previous season. The management <br />contract will continue during the upcoming season. <br />33 <br />