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Fontana council approves consent calendar, including $500,000 operating loan for downtown venue
Summary
The Fontana City Council approved its consent calendar, which included authorization of a $500,000 operating loan to support the downtown venue Stage Red. Council member Sandoval voted no on items E, Q and R and raised concerns about repeated subsidies.
The Fontana City Council voted to approve its consent calendar, including a $500,000 operating loan from the general fund to support operating expenses at the downtown venue Stage Red.
Council member John Roberts moved the motion and Bill Tim Garcia seconded; the motion passed with Council member Sandoval recorded as voting no on items E, Q and R. The motion approved the consent calendar as presented and did not separate the items for individual votes.
City staff described item Q as an infusion to the enterprise fund to cover operating deficits at Stage Red while the venue continues to build attendance and revenue. A staff presenter said arts and entertainment venues are often "heavily subsidized" and framed the infusion as a policy choice to support downtown revitalization rather than a capital investment.
Sandoval said he worried about repeatedly putting money into the venue without a clear return. "We've loaned another half 1,000,000," he said, warning that other agencies that kept infusing money "pretty much went bankrupt or the building deteriorated so that someone else can buy us." He urged the council to "stop the bleeding" and asked for accountability and tangible returns before approving additional funding.
Other council members defended the investment as a way to bring entertainment and opportunities for youth back to downtown. One council member said the proposed amount was an investment in the city's future and urged patience, saying the venue is beginning to pick up and the community is "appreciating having things close to home." Another council member called the $500,000 a significant amount but framed it as part of a broader strategy to attract businesses and cultural activity to the area.
The staff presenter clarified the funding is for operating expenses, not additional capital work, and said the expectation is that the loan would be repaid to the general fund as the venue's operations stabilize. The council did not adopt additional reporting or conditions on the loan during the vote.
The council also debated item R, which would retain current council assignments to regional agencies; Sandoval asked why the item was placed on the consent calendar rather than opened for nominations. The council majority left the assignments unchanged as part of the approved consent calendar.
The council approved the consent calendar and moved on to other business.
