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Emeryville council backs phased approach to Art Center, asks staff to pilot nonprofit operations before building
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Summary
Council members directed staff to pursue a phased implementation of the long‑running Art Center project that prioritizes forming a nonprofit operating entity and pilot programming first; consultants estimated initial startup support of $350,000–$550,000 per year and staff noted $5.4M of CIP funds could be reprogrammed for early operating costs.
Chadwick Smalley, Emeryville’s community development director, asked the City Council to support a new phased approach for the city’s Art Center project that begins with establishing an operating nonprofit and pilot programming rather than immediately building a permanent facility.
Smalley told the council that consulting work from Artist Love & Jean Johnstone Consulting and a fundraising feasibility study by CCS both reached the same conclusion: the city should build organization and programming capacity first, then use lessons from that phase to design and fund any permanent building. He said prior efforts — including a land disposition and development agreement terminated in 2022 — showed the city lacks a ready operating entity to fill and sustain a facility.
The consultants recommended a preorganizational phase that creates a time‑limited, nonfiduciary advisory steering group, helps secure a fiscal sponsor, and funds recruitment of a founding executive director who would in turn recruit a founding board. Jean Johnstone Consulting estimated initial operating support at roughly $350,000 to $550,000 per year for about two years to cover an executive director and early organizational costs.
Smalley noted capital context from the city’s Capital Improvement Program: $10.6 million is budgeted for the Art Center, and roughly $5.4 million of that is general capital funds (not bond‑restricted), which staff said could be reprogrammed for early operating costs if council directs it.
Public commenters with long involvement in Emeryville’s arts scene urged the phased approach. Jean Goldman, a member of the advisory group, said much of the programming already exists but “is not pulled together,” and recommended seeding an organization and office space so programming can demonstrate impact and attract donors. Vicky Sewell, who said she has been an Emeryville artist for about 40 years, urged the council to move quickly to hire fundraising staff and a director so the city can “get the nonprofit, get the director, a fundraising director that goes out and ask for money.”
Council members broadly supported the concept while asking staff to return with measurable milestones and accountability. Several members described the approach as an investment — a modest up‑front city commitment to create organizational capacity that would reduce long‑term reliance on public funds. Council members asked for clear milestones that would justify the city’s seed investment and for staff to report back on loan options and other funding strategies, though Smalley said debt for a fledgling nonprofit would likely be imprudent at this stage.
The council provided general direction for staff to proceed with the phased implementation and to continue exploring capital and philanthropic strategies; staff said specific agreements, funding amounts, and formal actions would return to the council for approval. No formal motion or vote was required at tonight’s study session.
Next steps: staff will work with consultants and the advisory group to draft steering‑group criteria, define milestones tied to the proposed two‑year startup funding, and return with specific agreements, a proposed budget reallocation if desired, and an implementation timeline.
