Placerville Council extends lease for Switchboard Gallery through 2028 after months of debate

The Placerville City Council on Aug. 26 voted to extend the lease that allows Arts & Culture El Dorado to operate the Switchboard Gallery and offices at 525 Main Street through Dec. 31, 2028, and directed staff to amend the agreement to remove language that would have automatically ended the lease a year after completion of retrofit cost studies for Historic City Hall.

City Manager Morris told the council the extension would provide Arts & Culture El Dorado more time to work with the city on stabilizing and fundraising for the two historic properties at 487 and 489 Main Street. “The term of this lease shall run from the lease commencement date … the investigation completion date shall be the date the tenant is informed in writing of the architectural report,” Morris said while summarizing the current contract language and the staff recommendation to extend the term to December 31, 2028.

The recommendation prompted more than an hour of public comment. More than two dozen speakers — artists, educators, business owners and longtime residents — urged the council to keep the Switchboard…