[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6583540,"mediaKeyId","3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a","parentId",3049887,"title","Park Theatre Trust reports $10.5 million raised, lays out renovation plans and timeline","audioSeconds",2206,"startMs",11280000,"endMs",13486000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a&start=11280&end=13486","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a/thumbnail_11280000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583540/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Park-Theatre-Trust-reports-105-million-raised-lays-out-renovation-plans-and-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583540-c2a76cf25fe6fbcf7e5b8b4a6457aa28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163054&Signature=IHUHJ9m2GujX8tz5zvStD1-lbOoONL95O0qvbnFiVVeX1E8R7N8HTol9Ox6sffcYq3hVco7SoQS3IfFKIDpjaqxQpEuDoUI0aSq6yeizmiMGYVIdM7jFltdN8CDd05xT-TW-9bWxLMKnOyW8UWnNQOmXWApkTXAu-IkdX7LKThnP~MMMGwOySzK5LJcL0kNj3bMWoFU3FsZWtByBTc~ejUeMbNh79fb556DnTSdM-csTUfFoWqfltBmkzsEOpBzpvvGY3cSDtFbjsw~CxgLwcaUBWcr8oAy4A121TibV0q4f1tjDWbY1EYzeowkUrk83viJ1abIZTG2TzXRVHbRNhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-18T10:03:55.467Z","article","The Park Theatre Trust updated the Lafayette City Council on plans to restore and reopen the Park Theatre, reporting more than $10.5 million raised to date and outlining a renovated facility that would include two screening rooms, a community room and a rooftop terrace.

Tracy Farrell, chief financial officer for the Park Theatre Trust, said the group raised $1,803,200 in pledges last year, bringing 2024 total fundraising to $2,299,575 and that overall the campaign has raised more than $10.5 million; she said about $2 million of the project’s target remained to be raised. Farrell credited a broad mix of donors and in-kind supporters and said the trust hopes to complete renovations in time for a late-2026 reopening, the theater’s 80th anniversary year.

Architect Adam presented detailed plans to the council, describing a 22-foot extension at the back of the building that will allow the single-screen house to become two theaters (one large and one smaller 49-seat theater), plus a community room and rooftop bar. The design preserves historic details on the facade, restores the original ticket booth and marquee neon, incorporates new accessibility features and includes solar panels on the roof to reduce energy use. Farrell said HAZMAT abatement had already begun and that construction drawings were with fire, building and public health for preliminary review; the trust hoped to submit final plans to the county by May 1.

Cinema SF will operate the theater under the trust’s plan, Farrell said, and the group is pursuing pro-bono and donated materials and services to help control costs. The trust also described reuse of historic elements — seats, lighting and marquee glass — and said some artifacts would be preserved or made available to local institutions such as the Lafayette Historical Society.

Why it matters: The Park Theatre is a locally significant historic venue and trustees and council members told the city the reopened theatre is expected to be a cultural anchor for downtown Lafayette and draw audiences across the East Bay. City staff and council members praised the trust’s fundraising progress and community outreach.

Next steps: The trust said it expects permit approvals in the spring and hoped to begin construction in September; trustees asked the council and staff to keep coordinating on permitting, traffic and staging needs as work proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lafayette City Council Meeting, April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Park Theatre Trust updated council on fundraising, preservation and renovation plans for the Park Theatre. The trust reported more than $10.5 million raised, HAZMAT abatement begun, and construction-permit submittal targeted for May 1 with an anticipated start as soon as September and reopening late 2026.","taxTitle","Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",77659,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6583548,"Lafayette council approves two-year $70,000-a-year MOU to fund La Mirinda Village supported memberships",2656,4387000,7043000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a&start=4387&end=7043","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a/thumbnail_4387000.jpg","/articles/6583548/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Lafayette-council-approves-two-year-70000-a-year-MOU-to-fund-La-Mirinda-Village-supported-memberships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583548-46a06c7bf00bc5f1395d979b534beebf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163054&Signature=R0ervAUACYIs6zDzTghiuBSCZOaXLlU1MKAVN6KI2jWfikxQE1l7o7Z7Owy7MWkfJCJXMhebJr5elcHymlzZR89PiWpAEkeQ9h1c2aLIDSfi7YY~tDIwzWF04PpaRRpdKBdzJGBRLfyor2Z989kf4vXz9e4GT-qfXs3rh5-naDaGI0sPgXblFXgaMqwKRiurNTHedGFkIsd5QrdVyLREogFU4uipmomH9uqo9petxafezBEyxSTUYptfO-thAeLdZPS~KVdXzq8wZxfMEMe0ovR-08Yi9l6HpB6WjjAz~joyPWcOdywgzUmZpRo7fVZmNkjd04HEAS904k6~c4Ewtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lafayette City Council voted unanimously April 14 to approve a two-year funding arrangement with La Mirinda Village that will provide $70,000 a year to underwrite supported memberships for eligible Lafayette residents.

Susie Pack, community outreach coordinator for La Mirinda Village, described the nonprofit’s work serving residents aged 55 and over across Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda and detailed services that include weekly social gatherings, transportation partnerships and volunteer coordination. Pack said the program’s standard individual membership is $360 a year and that the city’s previous two-year support had delivered $98,000 in payments to the village. She said the new structure would let La Mirinda Village process supported memberships as part of its existing sign-up workflows.

Jonathan Katayanagi, Lafayette’s parks, trails and recreation director, told council staff had worked with the village and the Senior Services Commission to simplify administration. Katayanagi said the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) would fund supported memberships upfront so the village could plan staffing and volunteer recruitment without first having to fundraise for membership subsidies.

Vice Mayor Enduring moved the staff recommendation to establish two years of funding at $70,000 per year to make supported memberships available to qualifying Lafayette residents. The motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Support for La Mirinda Village is intended to expand access to programming and social supports that city officials said can reduce isolation among older residents and help them continue living independently. Proponents told the council the arrangement will remove administrative obstacles and increase program stability.

Details in brief: La Mirinda Village reported increased participation since the city began funding supported memberships; program activities include weekly \"swell\" gatherings, organized transportation via Spirit Van, intergenerational events and an auxiliary volunteer group that helps stage larger programs. The village’s work with partner organizations provides services to residents in senior housing and in other Lafayette neighborhoods.

Next steps: The city will sign the MOU and fund the two-year commitment. La Mirinda Village will integrate supported membership options into its registration process for services and report back to the Senior Services Commission and council on program use and outcomes.","Council voted unanimously April 14 to fund supported memberships for Lafayette residents through a revised MOU that streamlines sign-up and gives La Mirinda Village stability for programming and volunteer coordination.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6583553,"Lafayette council weighs limits on protests near elementary school after safety complaints",4966,7055000,12021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a&start=7055&end=12021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049887-eebbcf031fd9883c21a266ee9aa84c7a/thumbnail_7055000.jpg","/articles/6583553/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Lafayette-council-weighs-limits-on-protests-near-elementary-school-after-safety-complaints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583553-048eab88ac3da94f25d9c0a20a972c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163054&Signature=KZn3o9sStT4CsnAYgJWRQtbDHax7qdWsY1gSRnVjdpIxKZxy60iIeBFlixUrqteGNEc6pOEdegvckhTP7quUa0~6Ho-ZE~MHetyvLwaXgL9dwUogulHJxWx6uurzpEoF0~AwoWgIsATiKzF4bK9JJhj3IizCGezXpqaWn-XCTcNNA7zpXutoIMXPZGh9ktn2RSZsJLxELabI7vIYasL4IIuhEZl2IICRYoVfuiN1PjIOQr3ashdGwqxMhb2xQ9djxb3QEz8vFDUKW7sIUCLZfi9-oDKZ8b20Hn2KyBfVKCRpPFbogqO-O0gD0t4c7-4Gm3kbPgnNrg6qUDymXpAc0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lafayette City Council members debated whether and how to limit demonstrations near Lafayette Elementary School during a lengthy April 14 meeting, after residents and school staff said protesters standing at or near the school’s sidewalks were creating safety hazards during student drop-off and pick-up.

City Attorney Mala opened the discussion by warning that any local restriction would have to meet constitutional standards: time, place and manner rules must be content-neutral, narrowly tailored and leave open alternate channels for speech. She noted courts have permitted narrow “bubble-zone” rules in some contexts and cited recent litigation involving a San Diego ordinance that mirrors protections the U.S. Supreme Court approved in cases about reproductive-health facilities.

The matter drew sustained public comment from dozens of residents on both sides of the issue. Police Chief James Williams summarized the department’s enforcement record: “The police department received about 170 phone calls for service in the vicinity of Lafayette Elementary School … over the last year. Only 30 were related to protest-related calls for service. Only three of them generated police reports,” he said, and added that recent responses had not produced criminal findings. Williams said the department “remains aware of the ongoing demonstrations and is committed to maintaining public safety for all members of our community.”

Residents, school staff and a crossing guard said the protests are nevertheless increasing risk in a busy corridor. Rhonda Tobre, a crossing guard at Brook Street and Moraga Road, told the council: “This issue with the protesters being out there is a hazard because people are distracted … People are taking their cell phones out to take pictures, taking their hands off the steering wheel to flip people off, to slow down to talk to the individuals, which has happened many, many times.”

Speakers opposing the protests argued the demonstrations target children and parents at school and asked the city to create a protest-free zone. One petition presented to the council had 387 signatures requesting a two-block protest-free buffer around schools enforced one hour before and one hour after classes. Protesters and their supporters countered that the demonstrations are peaceful and protected by the First Amendment; several speakers, including attorneys in the audience, warned that overly broad restrictions would invite costly legal challenges.

Council members said they were seeking a balanced approach. Several asked staff to gather more objective data about traffic and safety in the drop-off and pick-up windows, to review ordinances other California cities have adopted, and to return with legal analysis and practical options. The council also directed the police department to increase patrols in the area during busy school times while staff prepares that follow-up information.

Why it matters: Lafayette’s Moraga Road corridor carries heavy traffic and serves several neighborhoods and schools. Council members said they must weigh the community’s interest in protecting children and traffic safety against constitutional limits on content-based restrictions on speech.

What council did next: The council gave staff direction to research comparable ordinances, collect traffic and incident data for the schools’ pick-up and drop-off periods, and have the police increase patrol presence at the affected intersections. No ordinance or new regulation was adopted at the April 14 meeting.

Community reaction: Parents, teachers and a crossing guard emphasized immediate safety concerns; civil liberties advocates and several residents stressed the need to preserve free-speech rights and cautioned against overly broad restrictions.","City attorneys and police described constitutional limits on restricting speech but acknowledged safety concerns. Council asked staff for more data and increased patrols after residents and a crossing guard said protests near Lafayette Elementary distract drivers and pedestrians.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Park Theatre Trust reports $10.5 million raised, lays out renovation plans and timeline

Lafayette council approves two-year $70,000-a-year MOU to fund La Mirinda Village supported memberships

Lafayette council weighs limits on protests near elementary school after safety complaints