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Show Council agrees: art center plan only a proposal By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL - A proposal for a new Bountiful cultural arts and education ed-ucation complex was discussed by the Bountiful City Council last Wednesday night, but without any council decision. Mayor Bob Linnell emphasized that the proposal is "still in the conceptual stage with several alternatives alter-natives to be studied." "We must keep in mind that this proposal is strictly that, just an architect's proposal," said Linnell as he displayed a rendering of a proposed site development east of Main Street between 100 and 300 South. In a presentation to the council. City Manager Tom Hardy noted that the proposed site would be primarily on city-owned property but would include some privately owned land, both developed and undeveloped. He suggested that the council consider all possible alternatives for development of the site, which would include the historic Stoker Elementary School. He said the council and study committees should first determine how much space is needed, cost for development of the project, means of promoting the project, possible fund-raising projects to help finance the project, and find out the feelings of residents within and outside the proposed area before any action is taken. Following a lengthy discussion, the council decided to refer the proposal pro-posal to the Council's Fine Arts Committee for further action. This committee is comprised of Coun-cil Coun-cil woman Barbara Holt, chairman; and Council woman Renee Coon and Councilman Leslie Foy. Architect Richard Stringham placed four buildings on the proposed pro-posed site, including the existing Stoker School. Hardy stressed that if development de-velopment of the project requires bonding, the proposal will have to be placed on the ballot for public vote. Since there is no municipal election this year, the proposal will have to be placed on the general election ballot in November, he explained. ex-plained. Hardy said that public approval of the project would be necessary because it would be a non-tax revenue development. Mayor Linnell told the council that the recent charette meetings regarding future economic development de-velopment of Bountiful rate the need for a downtown education and cultural arts center "very high on the priority list." He said there is also "very strong interest" from higher education to increase the number of classes offered and number of students attending at-tending college extension classes at the Stoker School. Expansion of the project would substantially increase the number of students now attending night school (1,700), and would make make it possible to include day classes, it was explained. The council agreed that it is too early to determine what facilities should be included on the proposed site if approved by the council --but --but said the project could, if necessary, be developed in stages. They said it would be a minimum of two years before construction of the first building would take place. The council assured those residents who live in the area, or who have a business in the area, that even if approved, there will be no immediate changes in their living or working conditions. |
