Anytime you travel, you generally pick the destination for a purpose.  For example, if you want to clearly see The Northen Lights or Glacier Bay National Park you head to Alaska.  If you want to see the Grand Canyon, you head to Arizona.  If you have kids who love Disney, you are packing up to go to California or Florida.  Each place has is “draw” that brings in visitors and I highly recommend if you are every in Colorado Springs you visit the Garden of the Gods, a national natural landmark.

If you love country music you probably hit up Nashville, Tennessee and drop by Memphis to hit Elvis Graceland while you are at it.  If you love politics then Washington D.C. will fill your cup with historical museums, monuments and The White House.  When you think of Texas you probably think of LBJ Space Center in Houston, The Riverwalk in San Antonio, The School Book Depository Building where Oswald Shot Kennedy or the Dallas Botanical Gardens in Dallas, and of course the Fort Worth’s “Stockyards!”  

My wife is a lover of the ARTS and when she wants to see something of substance you can bet, she is dragging me on the next flight to a city that never sleeps.  That means west to Las Vegas or east to New York, New York, and we can all agree neither disappoints.  Both cities have amazing nighttime activities including light shows, theaters, concerts, and anything else your heart desires.  Last time we went to New York, my wife and I saw 3 Broadway shows on our short holiday and we collected the “Playbills” for each one.  What made it one of the best trips ever, was the “whole experience” and not just the building where the show was held.  It is not about the whole atmosphere of the city, the food, and the walk along Broadway in a city that never sleeps and that is something you will never find in Texas.  When you want to see a Broadway show and have “The Theatre” experience, you will not say “hey babe, book us two tickets to Frisco, Texas! 

That is the mindset that Mayor Jeff Cheney and his sidekicks “The Council Amigos” want you to believe is in Frisco’s future which is why they are pushing for this Performing Arts Center.   On September 17^th the city council tried to sneak into the “Consent Agenda” item 16 which reads, “Consider and act upon authoring the City Manager to finalize and execute the First Amendment to the Agreement with Theatre Projects Consultants, Inc., for consulting services related to a performing arts venue.”  What does that mean?

In September 2023, the council approved $1,415,500 for a professional agreement with Theatre Projects to include “exploration, development, costing, and preliminary design for the proposed performing arts venue.”  Other elements include multiple costing studies, site analysis, comprehensive community engagement, economic impact assessment, design concept facilitation, capital stack/funding study, and refinement of a final business plan.

Fast forward to September 2024, the council has approved another $214,350 taxpayer dollars because “As this study has progressed, there is more clarity for the upcoming Phase Two scope of services, resulting in this requested First Amendment.”  Clarity?  Who knew “CLARITY” cost so much?  What is the CLARITY going to get us?

The First Amendment will address an extension to the Phase One service through October 1, 2024.  The added cost for the Phase 1 extension services and related direct expenses is $49,850.

The Phase Two services have been refined with a duration of 10 months anticipated, from October 2024 to the end of July 2025. Key elements include concept design team selection, facility concept design coordination, project management, and partnership program development. The updated Phase Two fee is estimated at $628,000 (inclusive of travel).  DID YOU MISS IT…the keyword ESTIMATED….

All these expenses mean the council has to revise the original contract which results in an increase of $214,350 from the original contract.  That means the city has spent a total of $1,629,850 in Tax Payer Dollars aka BOND FUNDS.   

One of the elements mentioned above talked about “comprehensive community engagement” and we were curious in such an apathetic town like Frisco where we can’t even get people to show up and vote – how did they conduct this COMPREHENSIVE ENGAGEMENT?  According to the website they had 2 in-person open house sessions on May 15, an online survey for almost two weeks, and a virtual open house via Zoom on May 29^th.  We received an email from one of the zoom participants who said there were not more than 10 to 15 people in attendance, which included representatives of Theatre Consultants.  That sounds REALLY COMPREHENSIVE for a town of 200,000 plus people who will be footing the bill for this project.

What is even more interesting is we filed a PIR for all of the studies done over the last 10+ years and of course, you would think the city would want to be TRANSPARENT as they plan to bring a request for a bond through the Economic Development Corporation before the citizens but nope – they felt the need to provide some documents and send some to the Attorney General.  Yep, they fought us from getting everything we asked for which begs the question, WHAT ARE THEY HIDING FROM US?

Why is any of this important? Remember, Craig Hall has pulled out and is no longer offering to be a private partner or land donor for this project. For such a large project, why won’t the council answer basic questions such as where might the PAC go? How much will it cost taxpayers? Do you plan to try sliding it through the EDC? It is time for Intermission Break so until next time….

Click Here: To visit the landing page for the Frisco Center For The Arts Planning Updated 09/17/24