Ojai Valley News Blog

Revised agreement reduced to 25 years

By Mary Long

Tuesday night the Ojai City Council unanimously approved the finalized lease with the Ojai Festivals with the enthusiastic support of both council and festival members. Jeff Haydon, executive director of Ojai Festivals, said, “The Festivals are pleased to be working with the city on building this historic project and codifying a relationship that has been in existence for more than 50 years.”

“I appreciate your great work and your commitment to the project,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. According to Paul Blatz, the newest member of the council, the lease made “all the sense in the world” and after many hours of the committee working out the details with council and the festivals, he said, “What we negotiated and what we told staff we wanted is exactly what the Ojai Festivals agreed on.”

City attorney Monte Widders walked the council and audience through the basic tenants of the lease and explained why there had been so much misunderstanding of its provisions. “It’s not your traditional commercial lease … they will pay their rent, virtually most of the cost of the building, up front — $1 million paid when we execute the lease, we already have $500,000 in our account, the other $500,000 will be paid to the city within three days of executing the lease … an additional $1.7 million by the Festivals to the city over the next five years, primarily coming from community pledges. So close to $3 million is being paid by the Festivals and their other fund-raising partners, the Ojai Service Foundation and the Ojai Civic Association, to the city, virtually up front and not over time. That’s the reason … the monthly rent is a nominal figure … we needed the money to rebuild the bowl, we couldn’t wait.”

The terms of the lease have been revised from the original and will be for 25 years instead of the 99 years first released; 14 days will be allocated for the Music Festival with 11 days to be designated by the Ojai Festivals for other performances of a similar quality. The lease has been adjusted to make a provision for an additional 25-year lease possible, linked directly to the amount of pledge money the Ojai Festivals has raised. This creative financing then builds into the lease an extra incentive for them and their fund-raising partners to continue their efforts to secure gifts and pledges. The city of Ojai will continue to maintain Libbey Bow, but Ojai Festivals will be required to carry their own liability insurance and fire and casualty insurance which will cover 90 percent of the value of the bowl.

The cash deposit agreement between the city and Ojai Festivals was also mutually agreed upon. As pledges are collected, the money will be turned over to the city in monthly intervals. That money can only be used for the construction of Libbey Bowl or to repay the city for the advancement of construction funds. According to Councilwoman Carol Smith, “We have poured $35K to $40K a year scotch-taping it together.” She said, “This new bowl will be for everyone,” and restated her support for the lease agreement which includes the provision that the local groups which have legacy events in Libbey Bowl will have their dates protected.

With money collected by Ojai Festivals outpacing expectations, the council was able to approve the construction of the dressing rooms, currently with the construction of the shell and stage, which will be an additional saving. Money has already been secured for the seating areas, which will not be constructed, until sometime next spring. At the time of this initial construction, compacting and excavating of the base will be done for the entire building plan as the compacting will be good for years. By preparing the site all at once, more money is saved and the base will be ready for construction of the rest of the alternates as soon as funding permits.

When contacted for comment after the meeting Haydon expressed his excitement with the entire project and said that the bowl could be used under Ojai Festivals for performances other than classical music as long as they were quality events. He said that in the history of Libbey Bowl they have hosted Shakespeare productions in the late ‘40s and produced jazz at Ojai Festivals between 1961 to 1983, which featured such notables as Roger Kellaway, the Dirty Dozen Super Band, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, and Bobby Sheu. “The initial premise of the (Ojai) Festivals was to produce multiple festivals,” said Haydon.

Architect for the rebuilding project, David Bury, was contacted for comment after the meeting and wanted to correct the council’s supposition that the “reasonable life span” of the bowl was only 50 years. “This bowl is built out of concrete and steel to last,” he said, stating that a more reasonable life expectancy for the new bowl would be 100 years. “Donors need to know that this bowl is built for the ages.”

Other topics of action for the Tuesday City Council meetings were the approval for the application of Sharrows on Grand Avenue, which had been recommended by the Planning Commission last week. They also provided for the restriping of center and fog lines on Grand to be done at the same time.

Reports came in from Ojai Trolley driver Jay Simons on ideas to increase trolley ridership with a goal of doubling their revenues.

The 2009 Preservation Award was presented by Blatz to Lou Torres, who accepted the award on behalf of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West, for their creation of the 2007 Rotary Community Park at the entryway to Ojai. The city of Ojai Historic Preservation Commission had nominated them for the Historic Preservation Award which was ratified on July 13.

City Council then retired to closed executive session.