In 2017 the City entered into a 30-year lease agreement with Sunset Center Cultural Inc. for programming and facility management of the Sunset Center and the Forest Theater. Sunset Center Cultural, Inc. has notified the Council that it wishes to terminate the lease for the management of the Forest Theater under that agreement. Sunset Center has stated that it will continue to perform under the current lease until such time as the City identifies and enters into a new lease agreement with an individual or organization for the management of the Forest Theater.
In order to determine a new lessee for the management of the Forest Theater, staff is recommending that Council authorize the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the leasing of the Forest Theater for theatrical programming and facility management.
The Forest Theater is an integral part of the cultural fabric of Carmel-by-the-Sea and has been since its founding in 1910. As such, staff is proposing an aggressive RFP timeline and process (Attachment 1).
This process will include public outreach for input that will be used to inform the RFP process in the form of a community survey distributed online, a special meeting of the Community Activities Commission, and survey at the Farmers’ Market. In addition, once the RFP is completed and ready for release, staff will conduct outreach to experienced professionals within the theater community based locally and in the surrounding bay area to raise awareness of this unique opportunity and to encourage a diverse group of qualified respondents.
The timeline is proposed to culminate with the approval of a lease agreement at the Council’s July or August regular meeting.