Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts Funding Mac topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves district funds for MAC lighting upgrade after questions about invoices and city collaboration
Summary
The board approved district project funding to support lighting upgrades at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center (MAC). Supervisors questioned invoice math, the building’s city ownership, and whether the MAC has a foundation; a donor pledged a match.
The Merced County Board of Supervisors approved a district project fund request to support lighting upgrades at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center (MAC), including a staff‑recommended subrecipient arrangement with the City where the city owns the building. The board’s vote followed public comments from arts organizations and local donors and discussion among supervisors about invoice totals, ownership and oversight.
Colton Dennis, executive director of the Merced County Arts Council and the MAC, asked the board to fund an upgrade he described as a strategic long‑term enhancement; the request in the record cited $14,428 for new lighting equipment. Public commenters and board members said the MAC hosts powwows, Day of the Dead exhibits and school programs and argued upgraded lighting would improve performances, educational opportunities and tourism.
Supervisor Silvera questioned discrepancies between invoice attachments and the funding request, pointing to different subtotal and item totals that, when added, appeared to exceed the dollar amount requested. Dennis and city staff said they were able to leverage Merced College contacts and that last‑minute price adjustments and donated matching funds had narrowed the gap. Dennis also said the MAC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) but does not have a separate foundation; he said discussion about forming one had occurred but no foundation exists to fund the project.
City staff indicated the city owns the MAC building and that, if the board approved funding, staff would prepare a subrecipient agreement with the city to implement the project. County staff noted past uses of district project funds and suggested reviewing the program’s policy parameters to refine oversight and expectations.
Donor Rob Baptee told the board he has contributed to local youth projects and pledged to match the board’s contribution if approved. Supervisor Pedrozo moved to approve the request; Supervisor Silvera seconded. The clerk recorded the motion as passing.
