We are writing to you with an important and exciting prospect for Pajaro Valley Arts. Earlier this year, we submitted a bid to purchase the city-owned Porter Building on the corner of Main and Second Street, in downtown Watsonville.
PVA would like to make this our new permanent home, enabling us to expand our programming to fulfill our mission to bring the community together through the arts. This 12,000 square foot building will house our gallery and retail programs, office operations, artist studios, a workshop space for youth and seniors, and a multipurpose room for community programming and use. Rental of artist studios will offset the operational costs of the larger building.
We have a commitment from an incredibly generous donor who will cover the offered purchase price of the building. We will apply for grants and will initiate a capital campaign to raise the funds to build out our dream.
PVA's proposal to provide an inclusive, safe, and professional space where the community can create and share their creativity and culture will be considered (along with one competing bid) at the upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, 10/27 after 5:30 pm. We know the Council will be interested in how the community feels about PVA transforming the Porter Building into a valuable community asset and visitor destination.
As a supporter of community arts and culture, we ask that you consider providing public or written comment at this meeting under Agenda item 10 by following the instructions below, provided by the City.
Thank you for your support!
City Viewing and Participation Instructions:
HOW TO VIEW THE MEETING: There is no physical location from which members of the public may observe the meeting. Please view the meeting, which is being televised at Channel 70 (Charter) and Channel 99 (AT&T), video streamed at https://watsonville.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx, and Facebook Live.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE BEFORE THE MEETING: Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments through the City's Council Meeting portal at https://watsonville.legistar.com by clicking e-Comment or by emailing citycouncil@cityofwatsonville.org. All comments will be part of the meeting record. Comments emailed to the above address, between now and 2:00 pm on the 27th, will be uploaded to the Agenda, to be read by the Council and staff. However, comments emailed after 2:00 pm on the 27th will not be uploaded to the Agenda and may not be seen by the Council or staff. They will be added to the agenda the day after the meeting
HOW TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE MEETING: Members of the public are encouraged to join the meeting through Zoom Webinar from their computer, tablet or smartphone: https://zoom.us/j/92706609937 or iPhone one-tap: US: +16699009128,,92706609937# or +12133388477, 92706609937# or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 213 338 8477 or +1 669 219 2599 Webinar ID: 927 0660 9937. You will access the meeting as an attendee; when you are ready to make a public comment, if joining by computer audio, please click on the "Raise Hand" button and the Clerk will unmute your microphone; by phone please press *9 on your keypad. If you want to enable your camera, please let the Clerk know when you start speaking. You may also register to speak until two hours before the meeting at https://watsonville.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Spanish interpretation services will be available through Zoom by toggling language audio options to the Spanish channel.
Servicios de interpretación en español estarán disponible en Zoom al elegir el botón Spanish.
