Council hears safety concerns, repair estimates for municipal auditorium rigging

City staff informed the council of safety concerns and needed repairs at the municipal auditorium, primarily involving the stage’s pulley/rigging system and curtains.

A staff presenter said consultants and vendors identified the pulley rigging and some staging infrastructure as immediate safety priorities because the rigging supports props and curtains used by school and community performances. “That system needs to be repaired… there’s a safety with that,” the staff member said, noting children and community groups use the facility.

Staff reported multiple contractor quotes: a near‑term rigging repair quote of roughly $62,000 and a larger, more comprehensive rigging replacement estimate approaching $300,000. The presenter recommended prioritizing immediate rigging repairs (the smaller quote) so the auditorium can remain in use while staff and the auditorium board develop a capital-improvement plan for longer-term work, including curtain replacement and other stage infrastructure.

Discussion only: council asked staff to pursue the prioritized safety repairs and confirmed the auditorium board’s willingness to help. Direction: staff will include the immediate rigging repairs in the list of capital priorities and return with a phased CIP and cost breakdown; no appropriation was approved at the meeting.