Lanterman Auditorium undergoes gradual makeover

Lanterman Auditorium, a destination for local music and theater lovers, has been undergoing a slow but gradual makeover in recent years, and those heading the improvements believe the end result could someday be a boon to city coffers.

The La Cañada Flintridge City Council recently approved spending $18,775 to purchase more efficient LED light packages for the auditorium as part of a multiyear plan to upgrade the 812-seat Cornishon Avenue facility.

A similar commitment will be required next fiscal year to complete the lighting upgrades, which include automated, motorized LED lights that don’t need to be moved by hand, city staffer Carl Alameda said in a June 29 budget hearing.

“It was expected to be a three-year project, but we couldn’t do it in three years. The downtime was so minimal to do these projects,” he said, explaining that the auditorium’s schedule was a factor. “With the exception of February and August, it’s pretty much booked every day.”

The latest funding commitment is part of a wider schedule of improvements city officials see on the horizon for the auditorium, which has in recent years has gone from being an expense to turning a small profit for the city.

So far, the estimated year-to-date expenditures for Lanterman in fiscal year 2014-15 are $122,950, according to Finance Director Daniel Jordan, while revenues are currently estimated at $155,527. Those figures will adjust as the city completes its accounting for the year, Jordan qualified.

In addition to lighting improvements, the city recently renovated the greenroom so it could be rented out separately and is researching the cost of newer, more comfortable seating.

Additionally, city staffers are working with the La Cañada Unified School District, which owns the auditorium, to consider applying for a grant program through Southern California Edison that would help secure a zero-interest 10-year loan that could be used to purchase an air-conditioning unit.

If a unit could be secured, Alameda said, an eventual rate increase might help capture some of the costs. A ballpark estimate for the cost of the unit alone, given in February’s mid-year budget review, was about $245,000.

“It’s a big expenditure, obviously,” Alameda added. “(But) air-conditioning in the building would help with usage and would make it a lot more comfortable.”

Speaking in a public comment, LCUSD parent and professional musician Brent Kuszyk encouraged the council to consider Lanterman’s potential as a destination for arts festivals that could bring in additional revenue.

“I think Lanterman is a gem, so I applaud getting new lighting,” he said, adding air-conditioning, better seats and a new sound system to a future wish list. “I could really see us having some sort of, maybe a chamber music festival at Lanterman.”

Alameda agreed with Kuszyk’s vision.

“That’s really where we’re going right now,” he said. “In previous years, it was just getting the facility to a cleanliness (standard). Now we’re in a good place. Now it’s more of the user experience type things we’re looking at.”

Mayor Dave Spence said when the city agreed to take over operation of the facility from the school district years ago, it assumed a financial burden that has since turned into a benefit.

“We took a noose from around their neck and made it a very positive opportunity,” he said.