Council Set Keep Ravinia Ticket Fee Flat, Cut YEA! Reference

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The City Council is set to approve a new 10-year contract with Ravinia Festival Association, the latest amendment to a development agreement with the nonprofit festival. The agreement, as recommended in a committee meeting Monday, would keep a 5 percent municipal fee intact and eliminate a clause requiring the festival to hold a concert for a nonprofit group. The latest amendment heads to the City Council for consideration Nov. 13.

The current agreement between the municipality and the concert venue expires on Jan. 28, 2019. Under the latest draft of the updated agreement, Ravinia Festival must clean up trash and recycling along the Robert McClory Bike Path between the Ravinia and Braeside trans stations after events on certain days. It would also be required to hold at least two neighborhood meetings with everyone in the neighborhood invited, rather than an eight-member commission appointed by the mayor.

Highland Park collected $1.1 million from the 5 percent admissions fee in 2017, according to Pioneer Press. The expiring agreement included a requirement that the venue offer 300 tickets to the youth arts nonprofit YEA! Highland Park to sell for a fundraising concert. Before the 2009 agreement establishing the municipal admission fee, YEA! Highland Park had received all the revenue from a single concert. Under a separate agreement, the city provides the arts group an annual $250,000 payment to offset the loss revenue.

"It is staff's recommendation to actually remove all reference to nonprofits within the agreement between the city and Ravinia Festival. We believe it's a cleaner agreement," said City Manager Ghida Neukirch. She said festival representatives has agreed to continue offering a charity concert to YEA! Highland Park, with slight modifications. "And so it's our recommendation that YEA! and Ravinia Festival enter into a side agreement on their own, but it would be separate from the city and certainly outside of our agreement with Ravinia Festival."

The new version eliminates all references to YEA! Highland Park and any required arrangements between the two nonprofits and says the city "may, at its sole discretion, contribute a portion of the admissions revenue received to one or more not-for-profit organizations for grant making purposes."

Neukirch said, overall, she was very pleased with the partnership from a staff perspective. The relationship has included regular communication and coordination with the city and business community. Ravinia Festival has also allowed local high schools to have their graduation at the venue free of charge and worked closely with city public safety officials, she said.

Councilman Tony Blumberg said he was sensitive that Ravinia was trying to keep as much classical music on its lineup as possible. He suggested it would be wise to schedule a time to review the agreement to make sure it was still working for both parties.

"I would like to see that as part of the agreement," Blumberg. "I don't think it's a deal-killer for me but I think it would be I think it would be important."

Councilman Adam Stolberg also suggested some kind of review after 5 years.

"I'm 99 percent comfortable with the whole agreement, I'm just wondering if there's anything that would be subject to review at some future date," Stolberg said. "I'm just wondering if 10 years is too long without some type of opportunity in between."

Councilwoman Alysssa Knobel said Ravinia had been a good community member and met regularly with city staff.

"It's a fluid relationship. It isn't like we sign it and we don't talk to them for 10 years," Knobel said. She said she was comfortable with a 10-year agreement, without leaving room for it to be reopened and renegotiated with lawyers.

"We could be on the losing end of this if we reopen it in five years or six years or whatever amount of time you gentlemen are thinking of," Knobel said.

Presiding Councilwoman Michelle Holleman said the city was in a better negotiating position to stick with a 10-year deal with the current 5 percent fee.

"It is a glass half full to say that we can lock into that revenue stream for 10 years, and I fully and 100 percent support a 10-year agreement," Holleman said.

Mayor Nancy Rotering has recused herself from discussions of the agreement due to her participation on festival's annual fund committee and women's board.