Council to discuss lease with New Beginnings
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 23rd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla City Council will consider at its work session today a proposal to lease the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheater to New Beginnings, a non-denominational fellowship of believers. The session begins at 4 p.m.
In the fall of 2020, New Beginnings approached the Walla Walla Parks and Recreation Department about assuming operation and renovation of the facility. The amphitheater has existed with little care or upkeep since the Walla Walla Community College Foundation last held a summer musical there in 2013. Staff estimates that a minimum of $500,000 would be necessary to get the amphitheater to a usable standard.
The proposal has been reviewed over the course of three consecutive meetings by the Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Advisory Board. There has also been discussion on the subject due to New Beginnings being a religious organization and concerns regarding the availability of the facility for groups within the community who desire to rent of sublease the amphitheater from New Beginnings. There are also concerns there could be certain groups turned away due to non-alignment of religious beliefs.
In February, the Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend the city council consider an agreement with New Beginnings for a use arrangement that allows community groups to use the amphitheater to the extent allowed by law. The matter has also been referred to City Attorney Tim Donaldson.
Since submitting the original proposal, New Beginnings has received a commitment from a roofing contractor to replace the roof on the buildings at no cost, plus a plumber has committed to doing much of the plumbing work without charge but is requesting the city pay for the installation of a water meter.
Live stream of today’s meeting may be viewed on the city’s website at https://www.wallawallawa.gov/government/city-council or through Zoom. The meeting ID is 848 7024 6002.
MYCB photo by Dan Thesman
