Council presses staff on $70,000 amphitheater opening; staff says amount covers AV, labor and time capsule

Council members questioned a request to allocate $70,000 from art/event reserves to cover the amphitheater inauguration and a separate fall concert. Deputy City Manager Yvette Aghilar and finance staff said the $70,000 request would cover a full‑day inaugural event, including audio‑visual and stage transition support, labor, refreshments and a time capsule installation.

“[For] the grand opening we need to be ready for the AV sound and make sure that we’re able to support the transition of those groups while they’re performing,” Yvette Aghilar said, explaining the professional services and labor required for a one‑day inauguration. Staff told council the $70,000 figure is based on anticipated AV, staffing and event costs and that a separate fall concert would be budgeted independently.

Council Member Keir Jones asked for more detail and for comparisons to past events, noting that an unsponsored $70,000 event would be large compared with prior programming. Council members and staff discussed sponsorships and naming rights as potential off‑sets. Mayor Tina Hanson and other council members asked staff to return with an itemized line‑by‑line cost estimate and a comparison to prior events (for example, staff referenced a sponsored drone show that had cost roughly $60,000).

Staff committed to bring a detailed cost breakdown back to the council at a future meeting prior to budget adoption. No funding was allocated during the study session; the request remains a staff recommendation pending council approval.