TEXARKANA, Texas - During a busy meeting Monday, the City Council unanimously approved a contract with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra to take over management of the Perot Theatre.
The contract is for $272,207 for three years with three one-year renewal options. A citizen advisory committee recommended TSO after evaluating its proposal and those of two other organizations, the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council and VenuWorks, an entertainment venue management company.
Before the vote, TSO Director Andrew Clark and Musical Director Philip Mann gave a brief presentation explaining their vision for the theater as a community hub for the performing arts.
TSO wants the theater to be "a familiar and special place to everyone in Texarkana," as well as the first place locals think of when considering entertainment options, Mann said.
Plans include convening community committees to get input about programming, prioritizing needed repairs and renovations, and expanding the theater's offerings to include national and international programs, speakers and Broadway shows while making the theater accessible to local talent.
Entertainment district
The Council got its first official look at a proposal to create a downtown entertainment district where open containers of alcohol would be allowed outdoors.
Lisa Thompson briefed the Council on the idea to mirror a similar district created in 2019 in Texarkana, Arkansas, with the intent to promote development and attract visitors downtown.
If the ordinance creating the district passes, people will be allowed to have open, non-glass containers of alcoholic beverages outdoors, with the exception of Sundays between 2:15 a.m. and noon and other days between 2:15 a.m. and 7 a.m.
The district would, for the most part, coincide with the downtown Arts and Historic District. and include the Perot Theatre, Texarkana Regional Arts Center, the Art Park, the Kress Gap, the Ace of Clubs House, Pecan Point and Silvermoon on Broad, but not the Bi-State Justice Building.
The ordinance prohibits the use of glass containers for any liquid on public streets, sidewalks, or alleys, and does not conflict with already existing ordinances pertaining to noise. State law concerning alcohol, including the need for permits to sell alcohol and the prohibition of open containers in vehicles, would remain in effect.
If the ordinance is approved, city staff will evaluate the need for additional waste receptacles and garbage collection.
Interim city manager contract
After a private meeting to discuss it that lasted more than a half-hour, the Council voted to approve an employment contract for recently appointed Interim City Manager David Orr. Details of the contract were not immediately available.
Orr served as assistant city manager from last July until April 26, when the Council gave him the interim position. He follows former City Manager Shirley Jaster, who retired at the end of April.
Rezoning and permitting
City staff also briefed the Council on several rezoning and permitting requests:
- Rezoning a vacant tract of land north of 100 Gazola St. to allow multi-family housing to be built there. The land's owner is considering donating it to the Mt. Sinai House of Prayer Church, which has proposed several multi-family building projects in the immediate area.
- Rezoning and granting a special use permit to allow a double-wide manufactured home at 302 Daniels St.
- Approving a site plan for a Panda Express restaurant to be built at 3100 St. Michael Drive.
- Rezoning 605 Ward Ave. and granting a special use permit to allow a double-wide manufactured home there.
Sidewalk grants
An additional pair of first briefings concerned applications for grants from the Texas Department of Transportation to fund improvements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
If the Council approves the applications, the city will request $1.8 million to build sidewalks along Kennedy Lane and $800,000 for sidewalks along Leopard Lane.
The city would apply to two different TxDOT funding programs, Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, or TASA, and Safe Routes to School-Infrastructure, or SRTS.
SRTS grants do not require matching funds, but TASA grants require a 20% match, which the city would pay with a combination of in-kind labor and cash. Federal transportation development credits could cover the match expenditures.
Budget Advisory Committee
The Council voted by consent to form a citizen Budget Advisory Committee to make recommendations regarding the city's Fiscal Year 2022 budget.
Each council member and the mayor appointed a Budget Advisory Committee member:
- Mayor Bob Bruggeman - Van Alexander
- Ward 1 Council Member Jean Matlock - Charlotte Bradley
- Ward 2 Council Member Mary Hart - Carolyn Nance
- Ward 3 Council Member Betty Williams - George Lavender
- Ward 4 Council Member Christie Page - Pam Hamilton
- Ward 5 Council Member Bill Harp - Kelly Mitchell
- Ward 6 Council Member Jay Davis - Steve Mayo
Contracts approved
The Council voted by consent to approve a pair of water infrastructure project contracts. Both are with Kampco Inc. of Texarkana, Arkansas.
The first, worth more than $168,000, is to install more than 2,200 feet of 8-inch water main along Gin Road from Moores Lane to just south of Richmond Road.
The second, worth more than $117,000, is to install 324 feet of 8-inch sewer main, 400 feet of 2-inch force main and one lift station along the north end Gin Road.
The Council also voted by consent to approve a $430,000-plus contract with Smith Ready Mix Inc. of Texarkana, Texas, to supply concrete used for streets, alleys, bridges and storm drains.
Summer schedule
The Council will begin its summer schedule next month, reducing its number of meetings to one per month in June and July. Meetings will be held June 14 and July 12.
Williams and Page were absent from Monday's meeting, triggering Bruggeman's participation in voting.