The Ponca City Board of Commissioners will consider and vote on a lease agreement Monday evening between the City of Ponca City and the Ponca City Public School District (Independent Public School District No. 71) for the construction of a concert hall and associated classrooms, and reasonably related lawful purposes.
The issue will be addressed during the City Commissioners' meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall, 516 East Grand Ave.
The City owns the property where the James S. Hutchins Memorial Auditorium was located. Ponca City Public Schools plan to build a new concert hall at this location, and this 99-year lease agreement provides for that to occur. Terms of the lease require that the new facility shall memorialize and honor James S. Hutchins in the proposed concert hall. The City and School will share the parking that is currently located at the park.
THE LEASE AGREEMENT
The lease becomes effective Nov. 1, 2016, between the City of Ponca City as landlord and the Ponca City Public School District as lessee for the property, until June 30, 2115.
The base rent for the property is $1 per year, according to the contract.
This land surrounds the grounds and access drive formerly devoted to the James S. Hutchens Memorial Auditorium. This structure was so deteriorated as to be unsuitable for its intended use; the City of Ponca City approved its demolition. However, the City wants to preserve a memorial for James S. Hutchins.
The school district shall, accordiing to the lease, memorialize and honor James S. Hutchins in the proposed Concert Hall. This may be done by naming the facility in a manner to honor James S. Hutchins and/or with appropriate recognition inside the facility in a prominent location. The city will make available the plaque which was used on the Hutchins Memorial auditorium for use in honoring James S. Hutchins. The memorial plaque shall be used at a minimum. However, the Concert Hall as a complete structure shall not be named for any person, living or dead, unless named for James S. Hutchins.
