HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-15-2005-5gORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 15, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: BOCC Contribution for the Orange County Jazz Festival
DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Geoffrey Hathaway, RPAC 270-1899
Lori Taft, Rec and Parks, ext 2660
Barry Jacobs, ext 2130
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To provide the Board with information so that it may consider providing financial
assistance for the second annual "Cool Jazz" Festival held at River Park in Hillsborough, While
several bands have been booked for this event, the nationally known feature acts of Eve
Cornelius and the Chip Crawford Trio are the groups for which the Board's "sponsorship"
assistance is requested,
BACKGROUND: The second annual "Cool Jazz" Festival, scheduled for April 16, 2005, is a
part of the Orange County Performance Series, which began in the fall of 2003 with the "Voices
of Praise" Gospel Festival. Last year's Jazz festival featured the St, Augustine University Band.
This year, along with St, Augustine, the County has contracted with North Carolina Central
University and Shaw University, Locally, Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools and A,L,
Stanback Middle School bands will perform. Organizers are also thrilled to have the opportunity
to bring performers of the caliber of Eve Cornelius and the Chip Crawford Trio to our community
as headliners.
Staff has asked the University Band Directors to review the local bands, evaluate talent, and
speak with individuals about scholarship opportunities with their Universities, The hope is to
continue to enhance the talent level at the festival each year so that performers will eventually
seek to join in celebrating the different types of jazz music in a festival that Orange County can
be proud to call its own.
Members of the business community have joined in supporting this project, So far, 7
businesses have contributed a total of $3,500, They realize that their assistance will benefit not
only the student musicians and jazz lovers in the community, but the area businesses as well,
Performers and audience members will visit local restaurants, hotels and businesses in the
area, paying forward the initial investment in the project,
At its February meeting, the Economic Development Commission (EDC) endorsed the
upcoming Cool .Jazz Festival, noting that such activities are consistent with the goal of
enhancing quality of place as described in the EDC's draft strategic plan. The draft plan
specifically encourages festivals that bring people together, celebrating culture, and recognizes
the potential economic impact of such events on our towns and communities.
Members of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council and the Performance Series Committee
have expressed their hope that Commissioners will consider participating in the festival as
sponsors of the feature acts., Geoffrey Hathaway represents the Council and the Committee in
bringing this request forward to the Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff estimates that the actual cost of the Festival for this fiscal year will
be in the neighborhood of $13,500. The approved Recreation and Parks budget for fiscal year
2004-05 included $5,000 for the "Cool ~)azz" Festival, and as indicated in the Background
section above, donations of $3,500 have been received from the business community.
The Recreation and Parks Advisory Council requests that the Board appropriate $5,000 from
Commissioners Contingency to cover the remaining casts of the Festival. The approved 2004-
05 Contingency budget totaled $50,000 and no appropriations have been made from that
account to-date.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information
above and approve the proposed appropriation of $5,000 from Commissioners Contingency.