CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Center Department; authorizing the Seattle Center Director to execute the Third Amendment to the Facility Use and Occupancy Agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Repertory Theater.
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WHEREAS, the Seattle Repertory Theater (SRT) was founded in 1963 and began operations in the Seattle Center Playhouse before moving to the Bagley Wright Theatre (BWT), making it one of the longest-standing resident organizations at Seattle Center; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 118109, passed by the City Council in May 1996, authorized a 30-year Facility Use and Occupancy Agreement ("1996 Agreement") between The City of Seattle ("City") and SRT, which incorporated a new, second stage addition to the BWT, now known as the Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre, and provided a term for use of the BWT through May 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, under the 1996 Agreement, as of June 1, 2009, SRT assumed full responsibility for operating and maintenance costs and building systems of the BWT, except for the roof and exterior shell, consistent with the structure of more recent agreements between Seattle Center and resident arts organizations; and
WHEREAS, the 1996 Agreement requires SRT to establish and maintain the Seattle Repertory Theatre Replacement Trust Fund ("Fund") to be used solely for the replacement, maintenance, and repair of the BWT; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of COVID-19 have created an unprecedented challenge to SRT's finances; and
WHEREAS, SRT desires to temporarily cease contributions to the Fund for two years and obtain the ability to utilize a portion of the Fund for operating expenses to mitigate the economic impacts of COVD-19; and
WHEREAS, in order to ensure SRT's continued responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the BWT during and following the pandemic, the City and SRT wish to amend the 1996 Agreement to provide SRT with temporary financial relief...
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