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Ms. Visser stated they are excited about it, there are things like this that have been discussed for <br />a very long time, to see it come to fruition will be transformative for us and other City <br />organizations. Our two (2) organizations have had more conversations about what is going to <br />happen with Smart Streets and the uptick in aesthetics. <br />Councilmember Broden stated she sees the aging in place piece with South Bend Heritage <br />Foundation. She asked what is that financial arrangement and is it on -site at Robinson. <br />Ms. Visser stated there are no financial arrangements, we simply provide it. <br />Councilmember Broden asked about any early childhood programming or if there is anything <br />with regard to art therapy. Different groups in the community are trying to bring kids into the art <br />loop earlier, obviously for brain development and for dealing with some of the issues people <br />bring into the school system. <br />Ms. Visser explained that they are not dealing directly with art therapy, but they do deal with <br />young children, as young as toddlers in the form of parent -child classes, and we've been doing <br />those for a long time. <br />Committeemember Voorde stated the Century Center was conceived as a community center, not <br />just a convention center, and I think that if it weren't for you guys in particular, it would lose a <br />lot of the community connection, because so many neat things go on there. <br />Ms. Visser stated that the original tenants of the Century Center were the Studebaker Museum <br />and Discovery Hall. The Michiana Arts and Sciences Council was there a long time ago. Those <br />were part of Century Center, and the arts complex that was supposed to be created. <br />Committeemember Voorde asked if Ms. Visser has a wish list for what she would do if she had <br />the resources. <br />Ms. Visser stated that changing the front of the St. Joseph St. entrance of the building, and <br />potentially creating a garden or a sculpture garden along that edge of the building has been a <br />dream for a long time. That was before the Council years ago and it ended up being a project <br />that died. It doesn't have to be that project, but because of the Smart Streets, it would be really <br />important to create a beautiful canvas feel for the Century Center. <br />Committeemember Voorde stated he doesn't know if the food and beverage tax will come to <br />fruition, but if it does, he would like to see a portion of that dedicated to the arts in general. I <br />can't say how it ought to be spent, but just so that it doesn't just get lost in more operating <br />expenses. <br />Ms. Visser stated she doesn't think that model is unusual for cities, those kinds of taxes do go to <br />arts and entertainment. <br />0 <br />