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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - January 19, 1993 Page - 9 - NEW BUSINESS (continued) Council Member Corbett said these are tough economic times, and the City Council must struggle with their interest in supporting the arts versus the need to allocate scarce funds. She said the City Council receives many requests each year, and part of the criteria includes the benefits to San Leandro. Vice Mayor Faria said the budget report shows five months of operation and no grants and only $4,000 in corporate sponsorships through November. Mr. Weaver said some sponsorships were received in December and January. As of the end of December they had received $7,500 in corporate grants and $500 in government grants from the Alameda County Arts Council . Council Member Perry said she was concerned that there is $1,285 shown under fund raising and $4,000 shown under corporate funds. She said they still have $30,000 for the Music Director. She asked what the notation meant that said "no PR for August and September. " It was explained that meant the Music Director had not taken any payroll for that period. She asked if they had approached the schools for funding. They said no, but most of the school concerts have been underwritten by companies like Mervyen's. Council Member Perry said she did not feel the City Council was receiving a complete or accurate budget. Council Member Kerr said the Orchestra is a fine organization, and he would like to see it keep going. He said he has problems because he has had several phone calls. He said one Task Force Member objects to giving money to something that doesn't even perform in San Leandro. He said, since the organization is now called the Classical Philharmonic, he would like to see funding shared among other agencies, such as cities, schools, and the County, and asked if the Orchestra had tried to get money from other agencies. Dr. Goodrich said the Orchestra was not yet established enough in other communities to ask for funding. He said the only agency in Alameda County that would provide funding was the Arts Council . He said he is a Member of the Task Force and understands where people are coming from. He said there are probably a lot of taxpayers who support the arts, but the City Council does not hear from those people. He said the total percentage of the City budget dedicated to the arts is very small , and they are asking for a small slice of that pie. He said City Council support of the arts would be paid back in many ways. He said the Orchestra needs to be able to show City support when asking for grants from corporations or others. He said many organizations will not give funding unless government support also exists. He said the Orchestra will remain based in San Leandro, and they are trying to give back as much as they can. They are asking the City to be on record as supporting the arts like they do for the California Conservatory Theater.