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By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Tyler City Council members plan to vote on the purchase of the Liberty Theater at their regular meeting on Wednesday.

The purchase is part of a memorandum of agreement with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra to turn the theater into a recital and performance hall that will seat 300 people.

It will be the first step toward Tyler 21's vision of a downtown business, arts and culture district, said Mayor Joey Seeber, and a major anchor for new downtown development.

The city said in March that it plans to buy the theater for $190,000 using money from the hotel/motel tax. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association has promised, through the memorandum of understanding, to fund the theater's renovation and to allow public use of the building in conjunction with city events, such as the Festival on the Square.

According to ETSOA officials, an architect has figured the renovation cost will be close to $800,000. The ETSOA plans to launch a fundraising campaign to pay for the cost. Once the remodel is finished, the city will transfer ownership of the theater to the Symphony.

The memorandum of understanding details a 10-year lease for ETSOA to occupy offices at 107 E. Erwin. At the end of that term, it will have the option to buy the offices from the city. The agreement also provides for naming rights to the theater as part of the fundraising campaign.

The city has also agreed to double its yearly contribution to the ETSOA to $25,000, which will also come from hotel/motel funds.

Other items on Wednesday's city council agenda up for consideration include:

Recognize city retirees, new employees, the May 2008 Blueprint Blue Ribbon award winner, and students who've completed the East Texas Area Leadership Council government program.

Agreement between the state of Texas and the city for highway illumination on Loop 323, between Bellwood Road and Copeland Road.

Amendment to Tyler City Code to match the definition of "junk vehicle" to recent changes in state law.

Interlocal agreement providing for Smith County's participation in Reinvestment Zone No. 2.

Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $456,953.40 to the Grande Phase 2B project for Cumberland Road improvements.

Change Order for the Golden Road Park Restroom Project in the amount of $2,257.

Professional Services Contract with Apex Geoscience Inc. in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for the South Tyler Pedestrian and Bike Trail project.

Donation of $5,000 from Trinity Mother Frances SportsCARE for sponsorship in the City of Tyler's 19th Annual Corporate Challenge.

Five-year lease/purchase contract with Baystone Financial Group for the purchase of five fire apparatus through the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments Cooperative Purchasing Program for $2,354,565.

Purchase one Ford F-650 cab and chassis for $43,930 and one Container Handler body for $22,502.48.

Five-year lease agreement with Xerox for a WorkCentre 7655P copier for $19,002.60.

Payment of $16,655.45 to Hall Volvo GMC for emergency repairs to Fire Apparatus Engine No. 7.

Contract with Above Average Building Maintenance for janitor services at city offices in the amount of $54,735.

Purchase security cameras for Glass Recreation Center and Senior Citizens Center.

Donation of $4,000 from the Tyler Crime Stoppers Inc. to help send Tyler Police Department Explorers to the National Law Enforcement Explorers Competition.

Texas Department of Transportation Project Grant Agreement No. ED 0802 (10) in the amount of $82,261 to provide public transportation to the city.

Award Bid No. 08-019 in the amount of $581,640 to National Bus Sales for four Low Floor Transit Coaches.

Professional services contracts with GIS consultants for GIS programming, analysis, production and database administration services.

The council will meet in executive session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss pending litigation involving Cascades and/or Western Rim developments and pending litigation involving annexations by cities that affect Tyler's extraterritorial jurisdiction.