PUBLIC COMMENT I
From:
Lindsey Boyd
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Public Comment for YPAC 7-27
Date:
Friday, July 24, 2026 6:38:59 AM
Dear Mayor and Members of the Yucaipa City Council,
I am writing as a concerned resident and taxpayer to express my disappointment with the recent handling of matters involving the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC).
During the May City Council meeting, the Council voted to keep the YPAC open. As a resident, I expected that decision to provide direction and allow everyone to move forward in good faith. Instead, it appears that the possibility of closing the facility has resurfaced, creating confusion for residents, uncertainty for community organizations, and unnecessary delays.
My understanding is that a partnership agreement with ProPS AN had already been negotiated and was ready for Council approval. Rather than moving forward with an agreement that had been developed through the proper process, the City has continued to revisit issues that many of us believed had already been settled. This repeated reconsideration consumes valuable staff time, legal resources, and taxpayer dollars that could be better invested in serving our community.
I am also concerned by the timing of the City's budget process. Traditionally, the budget is adopted before the start of the new fiscal year. Delaying that process while simultaneously introducing discussions about potentially closing the YPAC raises questions about the City's priorities and decision -making process. From a resident's perspective, these actions appear inconsistent and have eroded confidence in the City's leadership.
The YPAC is more than a building. It is an important community asset that supports local schools, performing arts organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and families throughout Yucaipa. Continued uncertainty surrounding its future only harms those who rely on it.
I respectfully ask the City Council to honor the decisions it has already made, move forward with the direction previously approved, and focus on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Our community deserves transparent, consistent leadership that follows through on its decisions rather than repeatedly revisiting settled matters.
As a taxpayer, I want to see my elected officials spending their time solving problems, implementing approved plans, and investing in the long-term success of Yucaipa —not prolonging debates that the Council has already voted on.
Thank you for your time and for considering the concerns of your constituents. I sincerely hope the Council will restore confidence by providing clear direction, honoring its previous actions, and keeping the best interests of the community at the forefront of every decision.
Respectfully,
Lindsey Boyd
PUBLIC COMMENT 2
From: Branden Boyd
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment — 7.27 - Agenda Item 21— FY 2026-2027 Budget and the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center Date: Friday, July 24, 2026 7:00:01 AM
Dear Mayor and Members of the Yucaipa City Council,
I am writing to respectfully ask the Council to reconsider the proposed closure of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center and to reject the alternative of outsourcing its operation through a Request for Proposals.
I understand the difficult financial decisions facing the City and appreciate the responsibility you have to balance the budget. However, I believe this discussion should focus not only on annual operating costs, but on the long- term stewardship of a significant public investment.
The City has already invested more than $12.2 million to construct the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center, with additional funding dedicated to the surrounding infrastructure. That investment has already been made. Closing the facility or transferring its operation to a private vendor does not recover those taxpayer dollars —it simply reduces the return our community receives from an asset it already owns.
If the YPAC is not meeting its financial potential, then we should ask why.
Is the venue being marketed aggressively? Are enough events being booked? Is every opportunity being pursued to host concerts, theatrical productions, school performances, conferences, community events, fundraisers, weddings, and private rentals? If the answer is no, then the solution is to improve the business model —not to give up on the asset.
When a public asset underperforms, the answer is not to abandon it or outsource it. The answer is to improve its management.
If one of our parks, sports facilities, or other City -owned properties were underperforming, we would expect City leadership to evaluate the operation, identify what is not working, and make the necessary changes to improve performance. The YPAC deserves that same commitment.
A private operator is accountable first to its own financial interests. The City's responsibility is to serve the residents of Yucaipa. Those priorities are not always the same. Outsourcing the facility may reduce the City's
operational responsibilities, but it also reduces the City's control over programming, affordability, community access, and the long-term vision for a venue built with public funds.
Rather than asking whether we should continue operating the YPAC, I believe we should be asking a different question:
How do we maximize the return on a $12 million investment that the taxpayers of Yucaipa have already made?
That conversation should include evaluating the current operational model, strengthening leadership and accountability, expanding programming, increasing marketing, developing new partnerships, and ensuring the facility is managed in a way that reflects its full potential as both a community resource and a revenue -generating asset.
The Yucaipa Performing Arts Center should not be viewed as a liability. It should be viewed as a long-term public investment that deserves better stewardship. I respectfully ask the Council to reject both the proposed closure and the outsourcing option, and instead direct staff to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the facility's performance while keeping it under City management and serving the residents of Yucaipa.
Thank you for your time, your service to our community, and your thoughtful consideration of this important decision.
Respectfully,
Branden Boyd
Yucaipa Resident
PUBLIC COMMENT 3
From: Daniel Hernandez
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment July 27th City Console
Date: Friday, July 24, 2026 11:34:15 AM
Attachments: ypac-piece.pdf
What's Really Going On With the YPAC?
Before jumping to conclusions, it's worth looking at the decisions that led to this point.
For quite some time now, there has been no supervisor managing this facility. The YPAC has just two full-time coordinators and a mostly part-time staff. The previous supervisor left a while ago, and City Council and the City Manager chose to freeze the position indefinitely, leaving the remaining staff to hold everything together without that leadership.
In April, City Council approved a contract with Props AV for a public/private partnership to help rent out the facility. But when that contract came up at the next meeting, Council reversed course with little explanation. Even Councilmembers Miller and Thorp raised questions about the sudden shift.
It would be a real loss to see a facility originally built for the community taken away without genuine consideration of the impact on Uptown businesses — and on the residents who rely on it.
What YPAC Was Meant to Be
The intention behind YPAC was the same as the Community Center and the Scherer Center:
a municipal service that enriches residents through programs, events, and activities, while helping bring business and growth to Uptown. That mission matters. YPAC is one of the few places in Yucaipa where the community actually comes together — not just to attend a show, but to be part of something. Ask around, and you'll hear it: people who've lived in surrounding cities say they don't have anything quite like it. That's not a small thing. That sense of togetherness is part of what makes Yucaipa feel like a hometown instead of just another city on the map — and for a lot of families, YPAC is where that feeling lives.
The Budget Question — and the Real Point
Budget is always going to be a factor, and no one should pretend otherwise. But the more important point is this: YPAC has real revenue potential under the right framework.
The YPAC has already gone through an RFP process before without success. Council has to take into consideration the actual structural design of the facility versus what they are expecting. The YPAC offers year-round events, community programs, rental opportunities, and visual/performing arts services. Yet, under current expectations, it is supposed to host quality entertainment at affordable ticket prices while somehow covering the rising costs of
entertainment, marketing, staffing, licensing, permits, equipment, and maintenance —all with only 300 indoor theater seats.
While there is the large, beautiful outdoor stage in Uptown Park, hosting outdoor events and concerts costs more. Production companies have to be brought in to supply the sound and lighting rigs required for these shows. Expecting a 300-seat venue to turn a profit misses the entire point of what a community arts facility is built for.
Giving Credit Where It's Due
The current staff — almost certainly capped at 40 hours a week — have not been sitting on their hands. They've rolled out memberships, sponsorship opportunities, program advertising, seat -naming, trips to music destinations like Nashville and NYC Broadway (with a share of proceeds going back to YPAC), and venue naming rights. All of this on top of coordinating with rental clients, producing shows, working events, and training and managing part-time staff to meet city policy and expectations. These are people who are likely burnt out and underpaid for what they carry. As a community, we probably should have recognized and supported them more before it came to this.
A Pattern Worth Noticing
It's hard to ignore the timing: a poll went out about a week before this agenda was posted, asking residents to choose between funding roads or funding YPAC — only two options.
That poll lines up closely with the actual agenda item, which frames the choice as either closing YPAC and going out for RFP, or shifting funds from Streets to keep it running.
Residents deserve a more honest and complete framing of that decision than a two -option poll suggests.
And the pattern doesn't stop at YPAC. Concerts in the Park, the Egg Hunts, and the Ice Rink are already gone. Community festivals — which, like YPAC, are meant to draw people into Uptown and support local businesses — could easily be next if this trend continues.
Why This Is Personal
Speaking from experience, YPAC was one of the reasons we chose to move to Yucaipa.
We've watched families drive in from surrounding cities specifically for a show, a recital, or an event at YPAC — parents bringing their kids to see their first live performance, grandparents in the audience for a grandchild's dance recital, neighbors running into each other in the lobby. That's not something you can manufacture with a poll or an RFP. It's the kind of thing that makes a town feel like home instead of just a place you happen to live. For a lot of families like ours, that hometown feeling was the deciding factor — and YPAC is a big
part of where it comes from.
The Bigger Picture
The outpouring of community support around this issue says a lot. People aren't just showing up for a theater — they're showing up for what it represents: a place where families feel at home, where Yucaipa feels like a community and not just another city. That's what Yucaipa is about, and it's worth fighting to keep.
PUBLIC COMMENT 4
From:
rachel rivera
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Public Comment 7/27/26
Date:
Friday, July 24, 2026 3:41:08 PM
July 27, 2026
Regarding the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center.
Dear members of the Yucaipa city council,
As a resident of Yucaipa, i believe the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC) plays a vital role in bringing our community together. It is far more than just a venue- it is a place where families, local businesses, artists, performers, and residents come together to celebrate what makes Yucaipa unique.
Our city has always been built on the support of local businesses and community involvement.
YPAC events create opportunities for restaurants, photographers, performers, artists, vendors, custom apparel businesses, and many others to participate, collaborate, and grow. These events strengthen connections within our community while also supporting our local economy.
Removing the YPAC would mean losing more than a building. It would mean losing a central gathering place that has become part of Yucaipa's identity. The Performing Arts Center fosters creativity, supports small businesses, and provides experiences that bring people together across generations. It is a source of pride for our city and contributes to the welcoming culture that so many residents value.
I respectfully ask the City Council to consider the lasting impact this decision would have on our community and to preserve the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center for current and future generations.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Rachel Rivera
PUBLIC COMMENT 5
From:
Kimberly Hall
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
YPAC
Date:
Saturday, July 25, 2026 11:01:13 PM
I am writing to express my support of the YPAC remaining open. As a resident of Yucaipa since 2018 (and a frequent visitor prior to that), I have attended and volunteered at many YPAC events. These events inspire a sense of community and bring revenue and patrons to the businesses in Yucaipa. When the YPAC was initially proposed and subsequently approved, it was not intended to be a profitable source of revenue. Rather, it was to bring another avenue for arts, entertainment and culture to the city for its residents -much like the community center and senior center. To expect anything different from that original purpose, especially given the rising cost of living and inflation, is in direct contrast to the initial vision. The limited size and seating capacity are indicative of that original plan as a venue that only seats 300 people is not large enough to support itself, let alone bring in a profit. Often, when financial cuts are necessary in government, the arts are one of the first departments to be slashed. Yet, the arts are a significant part of our history. They should be celebrated and appreciated.
I urge you to consider other options (like the contract with AN Props that was brought forth in June) over shuttering the YPAC. Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Hall
PUBLIC COMMENT 6
From: Ana Miller
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment 7/27/2026
Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026 1:17:47 PM
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC).
Not only do I have a friend who is employed there, but my immediate and extended family, friends, and I have enjoyed many performances and community events that have made the YPAC a special gathering place. It has become a cultural cornerstone for Yucaipa and serves as the heart of many of the city's festivals and celebrations.
My understanding was that a decision had already been made to protect the YPAC from closure. However, I have recently heard that its future may once again be uncertain/at risk. If there are discussions taking place regarding the YPAC, I respectfully ask that the City provide transparency to its residents. The community deserves honest and timely communication about decisions that could significantly impact such an important public space.
The YPAC is more than just a building, it is a community treasure that enriches the lives of residents of all ages and draws visitors from surrounding areas. Losing it would be a tremendous loss.
Thank you for your time, your service to the community, and your consideration of this comment.
Sincerely,
Ana Miller
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PUBLIC COMMENT 7
From:
katie Bunn
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Public Comment 7/27/26
Date:
Sunday, July 26, 2026 6:55:12 PM
The YPAC is very important to our family and our entire community. It has given us a place to spend quality time together, make lasting memories, and enjoy live performances that bring our community together. It enriches our children's lives by exposing them to the arts and creating experiences we can't get anywhere else. My youngest son is constantly asking when the next festival will be, we have attended every single one since moving here in 2015.
Please continue to support and preserve the YPAC. It is more than a building it's a place where families connect and our community thrives.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Katherine Lecesse
PUBLIC COMMENT 8
From: Glory Garcia
To: Justin Beaver; Chris Venable; Public Comment; Bob Miller; Jon Thorp; Judy Woolsey Subject: Public Comment YPAC
Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026 7:54:54 PM
Good evening Mayor and Council Members,
I understand the City is facing difficult budget decisions, but I respectfully ask you to reconsider closing the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center.
Before making this decision, has the City completed an economic impact report? Have you measured what the Performing Arts Center brings to our local economy through restaurants, retail stores, hotel, and other businesses every time people attend a show, concert, graduation, or festival? I know Councilmember Venable has previously requested recap reports on City events. If an economic impact analysis has not been completed, how can we truly know what this closure will cost our community?
The Performing Arts Center is not just another expense. It is a community investment that taxpayers have already paid millions to build, maintain, improve, and promote. If you close it, what happens to that investment? What happens to the building, the equipment, the technology, and all the taxpayer dollars already invested? An empty building doesn't save a community. It still requires maintenance, security, insurance, and utilities while producing little or no public value. Empty buildings also invite deterioration, vandalism, and other costly challenges. Ask our PD where our hobby homeless are constantly being asked to leave from? All those items where taken into consideration when being built.
What is the plan for the festivals, community events, graduations, performances, and other programs that depend on this venue? What happens to the digital kiosk that lights up that corner of Uptown and advertises upcoming events? It has become a visible part of our uptown.
Without the Performing Arts Center, how do we keep that part of Uptown vibrant instead of allowing it to go dark?
Many of us supported and voted for the sales tax increase because we were told it would help preserve the quality of life and services our community values. Yet today we're discussing eliminating one of the very amenities that makes Yucaipa a destination. Based on the Measure S reports, we appear to be moving toward a position where these budget items can be sustained for items you're stating the money for YPAC will be used for.
This Council has spent significant time, staff resources, consultant fees, and legal expenses addressing concerns raised by the North Bench and other neighborhood issues. If you are willing to invest public resources to respond to a relatively small portion of our community, shouldn't you be equally committed to preserving a community asset that serves thousands of residents, students, local businesses, and visitors each year? As one example, this Council approved a $40,000 settlement with Kathy Sellers after litigation involving the City. Which the city won. That single expenditure represents nearly 40% of the estimated annual loss being cited for the Performing Arts Center. Why can't we show that same commitment to preserving an asset that benefits the entire community? I understand the current potential partnership may result in an estimated annual loss of about
$100,000. But has every alternative been explored? Closure should be the absolute last resort.
I'd rather see Props AV give it a shot on managing and creating something a little different and loose 100,000 next year than giving it to citizens with tantrums.
Please don't let this Council be remembered as the one that closed one of Yucaipa's greatest public investments. Protect what we've already built, preserve the heart of our uptown, and find a solution that strengthens —not diminishes —our community.
Thank you.. I appreciate your hard work in making hard decisions.
Gloriselda Garcia
PUBLIC COMMENT 9
From:
Mandy
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Save YPAC
Date:
Sunday, July 26, 2026 10:21:33 PM
Hello!
We are writing to voice our support to keep YPAC in operation for the community! We have lived in Yucaipa for 21 years, and consider ourselves to be proud members of the community. We are also in favor of helping to support small businesses in uptown Yucaipa, which benefit from YPAC's popularity. We have attended many community events at YPAC and firmly believe that it is essential to all ages of the community. As a former member of the Healthy Yucaipa Committee, I am a proponent for connecting health to the visual and performing arts. We urge you to keep the YPAC open so that the community continues to enjoy its services in a safe and welcoming environment for all to gather.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert & Mandy Morales
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PUBLIC COMMENT 10
From: Marissa Pesantes
To: Public Comment; Jon Thorp; Chris Venable; Bob Miller; iwoolsleyCfvucaipa.gov; Justin Beaver Subject: Public Comment 07/27/2026
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 7:21:18 AM
Good morning Yucaipa Board and Community Leaders,
I am writing to ask you to please keep YPAC's doors open. YPAC is so much more than a building or a performance venue. It is a place where our community comes together, where people celebrate important milestones, where artists can share their talents, and where families and friends can make memories together. For me and so many others, YPAC has been an important part of our lives since it opened its doors in 2019. Losing YPAC would mean losing a place that has brought our community together in so many different ways.
I am a member of the Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet, and I have been dancing at YPAC since it opened in 2019. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to perform The Nutcracker every year, as well as Snow White and Cinderella. YPAC has been a huge part of my journey as a dancer, and it would mean so much to me, my fellow dancers, and our company to continue performing there and remain the official ballet company. Having a place where dancers can perform, grow, and share their passion with the community is incredibly important. YPAC has given us that opportunity, and I hope it can continue to do so for future dancers as well.
My connection to YPAC, however, goes far beyond dance. I have attended many graduations there, and I had my high school homecoming at YPAC during my time in high school as a member of the Class of 2024. 1 have seen firsthand how YPAC provides a place for people to celebrate some of the biggest moments in their lives.
Many middle schools also hold their promotion ceremonies at YPAC, allowing students and their families to come together and celebrate an important achievement.
These events are a reminder that YPAC is not only a place for performances. It is a place where our community gathers to celebrate one another and create memories that people will carry with them for years.
One of the things I love most about YPAC is how many different experiences it offers to the community. It is also a fun place to see cover bands, whether they are performing on their own or as part of larger events like the Music and Arts Festival or Winterfest. I have personally had the opportunity to see Green Today, a Green Day cover band, and No Duh, a No Doubt cover band. Being able to enjoy live music close to home with friends and family is something that makes YPAC special. Events like these give people another reason to come together, enjoy themselves, and make memories in a place that has become such an important part of our community.
I have also attended YPAC's post-COVID shows, including Illuminate. Those events were especially meaningful to me because they gave me the opportunity to be a teenager, have fun with my friends, and make new ones. After such a difficult and isolating time, having a place where young people could come together again was incredibly important. Illuminate gave us a chance to reconnect, enjoy ourselves, and create new memories. YPAC has provided a space where people can feel connected
to one another, and I am grateful that I have been able to experience that firsthand I have also attended events like Country Night, where I have seen the community come together to enjoy music, spend time with one another, and have a good time.
Whether someone is attending Country Night, watching a ballet performance, seeing a cover band, going to the Music and Arts Festival or Winterfest, celebrating a graduation or promotion, or attending an event like Illuminate, YPAC gives people a reason to come together. That sense of community is one of the most valuable things YPAC provides.
When I think about YPAC, I think about all of these different memories and experiences. I think about performing The Nutcracker every year with the Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet. I think about performing summer shows like Snow White and Cinderella and having a place where I could share my love of dance. I think about attending my high school homecomings. I think about seeing graduations and middle school promotions, watching families celebrate their loved ones. I think about going to Country Night, seeing Green Today and No Duh, attending the Music and Arts Festival and Winterfest, and being able to experience Illuminate with my friends. All of these experiences may be different, but they all have one thing in common: YPAC gave our community a place to come together.
Closing YPAC would mean losing a place that has been part of so many people's lives and memories. It would affect dancers, performers, students, families, schools, musicians, and community members. It would take away a place where young people can discover their passions, where families can celebrate milestones, and where friends can gather and make memories. Most importantly, it would take away a place that has continued to bring people together through both everyday events and some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
YPAC has been a part of my life since 2019, and throughout those years, I have grown as a dancer, performed on its stage, attended events with my friends and family, celebrated important milestones, and made memories that I will always carry with me. YPAC has given me opportunities to dance, perform, listen to music, celebrate, meet new people, and simply enjoy being a part of my community. I know I am not the only person who can say that YPAC has played an important role in their life. There are countless people who have their own stories and memories connected to this place.
That is why I sincerely hope you will consider the impact that keeping YPAC open would have on our community. I am incredibly grateful for everything YPAC has given me and so many others over the years. I hope future generations will have the same opportunities I have had to dance, perform, celebrate, listen to music, spend time with friends, make new friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Please keep YPAC's doors open. This community needs a place like YPAC, and its value cannot be measured by the walls of the building alone. Its value is in the people who gather there, the performers who take the stage, the students who celebrate their accomplishments, the families who share important milestones, and the friendships and memories that are created inside its doors. YPAC has been a place that brings
our community together, and I hope it can continue to do that for many years to come Thank you for taking the time to hear from someone whose life has been positively impacted by YPAC. I truly hope you will listen to the voices of the community and consider how much this place means to all of us. I hope that YPAC will continue to be a place where people can come together, celebrate, perform, discover new passions, make memories, and feel connected to their community for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Marissa Pesantes
Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet
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PUBLIC COMMENT 11
From:
Sherri Dart
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Public Comment, July 27, 2026
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 9:27:31 AM
It has come to our attention that the City Council is considering the closure of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC). We own The Vintage Vault at the corner of Yucaipa Boulevard and California Street, catty corner from the YPAC. Our shop sees increased traffic, especially before and after matinee shows, from many people who have not previously been to Uptown. This includes many Yucaipa residents who are surprised to find the many restaurants and stores available, as they have never been to Uptown before. Many come into our store to shop, but also ask about the eating places in the area.
We recently read a new event booker has been hired, and were hopeful this would bring better offerings that would appeal to more people. We believe our business, and those in the uptown area of Yucaipa would definitely suffer if the YPAC closes. We understand budget issues, but get an RFP out there ASAP, if that is what it will take to keep things running.
Thank you,
The Dart Family
The Vintage Vault
PUBLIC COMMENT 12
From: Ana Sauseda, MMC
To: Kim J Metzler; Tara Davis
Subject: Fw: Please Preserve the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 8:19:56 AM
Attachments: C2 signature emailsig 4b0758cb-513c-4837-b504-78094ad13b88.png Image.ong
Please include with public comment
Ana Sauseda, MMC
Director of General Services/City Clerk
City of Yucaipa
City Hall • 34272 Yucaipa Blvd • Yucaipa, CA 92399
Office: 909-797-2489 Ext. 230 Mobile: 909-769-8649
www.yucaipa.gov
From: Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
Sent: Monday, 27 July 2026 08:12:02
To: john Sachs
Cc: Sherry Washburn ; Ana Sauseda, MMC
Subject: Re: Please Preserve the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center Thank you for your email. We will distribute your comments to the Council and the public at the City Council meeting today.
Respectfully,
Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
ICMA-CM
City Manager
City of Yucaipa
City Hall . 34272 Yucaipa Blvd • Yucaipa, CA 92399
Office: 909-797-2489 • Email: smoorePyucaipa.gov • Website: www.yucaipa.gov
From: john Sachs
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 12:34 AM
To: Jon Thorp ; Chris Venable ; Bob Miller
; [email protected] ; Justin Beaver
; Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
Subject: Please Preserve the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center Dear Honorable Mayor, Members of the Yucaipa City Council, and City Manager, I am writing to respectfully express my strong opposition to the proposed City -run closure of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center as indicated in agenda discussion item
21. Since opening in 2019, the Performing Arts Center has become far more than a theater. It is an economic driver, a cultural centerpiece, and an educational resource that benefits the City of Yucaipa, its residents, local businesses, and the greater Inland Empire.
The theater consistently attracts audiences from both within and outside the city. Those visitors do more than attend performances —they dine in local restaurants, shop at nearby businesses, purchase fuel, and stay in local hotels, generating revenue that supports Yucaipa's economy. Studies by Americans for the Arts have shown that arts patrons spend substantially beyond the cost of admission, demonstrating that performing arts venues generate meaningful economic activity for surrounding businesses. Communities such as Temecula, Claremont, and Redlands have experienced these same benefits, with performing arts venues serving as catalysts for Local. commerce and tourism.
Equally important is the theater's role as a true community venue. It provides professional performance opportunities for youth organizations, nonprofit groups, schools, local artists, and community organizations. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet, I have personally witnessed this impact through our annual production of The Nutcracker, spring performances, and outreach programs serving military families, public schools, charter schools, homeschool students, and the broader community. Our productions bring performers from Yucaipa and throughout the Inland Empire while attracting audiences that directly
benefit local businesses.
Patrons consistently tell us they appreciate the intimate atmosphere of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center. It has become a destination venue that audiences genuinely enjoy visiting and returning to.
I recognize the City's responsibility to exercise fiscal discipline, but I respectfully urge the Council to reject any option that closes the theater or transfers its operation to a private entity whose primary focus may be profitability rather than community access.
Across Southern California, many nonprofit arts organizations have been priced out of professionally operated venues because of escalating rental rates and operating costs.
There is a legitimate concern that this same outcome could occur in Yucaipa, limiting opportunities for youth, schools, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to utilize the facility.
The staff report estimates a net annual operating cost of approximately $726,745 after projected revenues. Rather than viewing this solely as an expense, I encourage the Council to view it as an investment and pursue strategies that reduce operating costs while increasing revenue through expanded programming, community partnerships, grants, sponsorships, private rentals, and other income -producing events. The objective should be to make the Performing Arts Center increasingly self-sustaining without sacrificing its accessibility as a community asset.
The question before the Council is not simply whether the City can afford to operate the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center, but whether it can afford to lose the economic activity, educational opportunities, community engagement, and cultural identity the theater provides.
I respectfully urge the City Council to preserve the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center as a City -operated community resource and to pursue operational efficiencies and revenue - generating opportunities rather than closure. Doing so will protect an invaluable public asset while strengthening Yucaipa's economy and quality of life for generations to come.
Thank you for your time, your service to our community, and your thoughtful consideration of this important matter.
Respectfully,
John Sachs
Board of Directors
Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet
PUBLIC COMMENT 13
From: Ana Sauseda, MMC
To: Kim J Metzler; Tara Davis
Subject: Fw: Revenue -Generating Partnership Opportunity for YPAC Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 8:21:19 AM
Attachments: C2 signature emailsia 4b0758cb-513c-4837-b504-78094ad13b88.ona Image.ono
Please include with public comment
Ana Sauseda, MMC
Director of General Services/City Clerk
City of Yucaipa
City Hall • 34272 Yucaipa Blvd • Yucaipa, CA 92399
Office: 909-797-2489 Ext. 230 Mobile: 909-769-8649
www.yucaipa.gov
From: Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
Sent: Monday, 27 July 2026 08:07:13
To: Inland Empire Dance Center
Cc: Sherry Washburn ; Ana Sauseda, MMC
Subject: Re: Revenue -Generating Partnership Opportunity for YPAC Thank you for your email. We will distribute your comments at the City Council meeting to the public and Council.
Respectfully,
Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
ICMA-CM
City Manager
City of Yucaipa
City Hall . 34272 Yucaipa Blvd • Yucaipa, CA 92399
Office: 909-797-2489 • Email: smoorePyucaipa.gov • Website: www.yucaipa.gov
From: Inland Empire Dance Center
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 1:00 AM
To: Jon Thorp ; Chris Venable ; Bob Miller
; [email protected] ; Justin Beaver
; Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS ;
Megan Wolfe
Subject: Revenue -Generating Partnership Opportunity for YPAC Dear Mayor, Members of the City Council, and City Staff, Thank you for your continued service to the City of Yucaipa and for the thoughtful consideration you are giving to the future of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC). As Founder and Artistic Director of Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet, and a Trustee on the Riverside County Board of Education, I understand the importance of making wise investments with public resources.
Rather than asking the city to increase funding, I would like to propose a partnership that expands community use of YPAC, creates new earned revenue, invests in local children and families, and allows the City to retain full operational control.
IECB would be honored to partner with the City by providing professional dance instruction, educational programming, workshops, master classes, and community performances as part of YPAC's year-round programming. The City would oversee registration, retain 100% of the tuition revenue generated through the program, and continue operating it in the manner that best aligns with its goals. IECB would provide the instructors, curriculum, and artistic expertise, creating a partnership that expands programming without requiring the City to develop or staff its own dance program.
This model has already proven successful at one of Southern California's premier performing arts centers. Segerstrom Center for the Arts' long-standing partnership with American Ballet Theatre grew beyond presenting performances to include year-round dance education, master classes, and community programming. That collaboration strengthened community engagement, expanded arts education, enhanced the Center's reputation, and created lasting value for both the institution and the families it serves. I believe YPAC has the opportunity to build a similar model, one that creates sustainable revenue while establishing the Center as a year-round destination for arts education and community engagement.
A year-round dance program could serve more than 150 students each week, bringing hundreds of families through YPAC's doors every month and generating more than $150,000 in tuition revenue. Those regular visits increase activity at the Center, support nearby businesses, create an ongoing source of earned revenue, and provide local children with access to high -quality arts education in a safe and inspiring environment.
Since 2019, IECB has proudly presented The Nutcracker and our annual Spring performances at YPAC. Together, these productions have welcomed nearly 10,000 audience members and generated more than $220,000 in ticket revenue, demonstrating the economic and cultural value that quality arts programming brings to our community. The Nutcracker has sold out nearly every year and has become a cherished holiday tradition for families throughout the region.
When children walk through the doors of YPAC each week to learn, grow, and perform, the Center becomes more than a building it becomes an investment in the future of our community.
Thank you for your time, your deep consideration, and continued commitment to the residents of Yucaipa.
Respectfully,
Jamie Azpeitia-Sachs, Founder & Artistic Director
Inland Empire Dance Center
Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet, Inc.
Jamie Azpeitia-Sachs, Artistic Director
6056 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 686-6500
WWW.DancelE.com , [email protected]
Maria Palencia-Agundez, Assistant of the Director
PUBLIC COMMENT 14
From:
gavlene young
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
YPAC
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 11:49:34 AM
I understand that there is a discussion about the closing of YPAC. Who is currently managing the facility? It seems that it is being mismanaged, there is no other reason that it shouldn't be making money. Maybe hire someone to manage, market the facility instead of closing it. I am totally against the closure.
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
PUBLIC COMMENT 15
From:
Shawn Madden
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
YPAC - An Investment Worth Perpetuating
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 12:28:56 PM
Short and sweet:
Keep it open. Invest in experienced booking and operations management that knows what they're doing.
And expand opportunities for usage. High school productions, regional indy acts, community theatre, and so on.
And stop with the tribute bands. That kind of booking is for free concerts in the park and silly little street fairs.
Yucaipa (we) invested in a professional -tier arts center. Get management in there who'll treat it accordingly.
The question itself of whether to close isn't a budget question, it's a failure of creative problem -solving.
All my best,
Shawn Madden
PUBLIC COMMENT 16
From: pesantes shannon
To: Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS; Justin Beaver; Bob Miller; Chris Venable; Jon Thorp; Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment 07/27/2026
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 1:17:20 PM
Dear Members of the Yucaipa City Council,
I am writing to express how important the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center (YPAC) is to my family and to our community. I truly hope you will continue to support and preserve this incredible space that has become a second home for so many people.
My daughter has been dancing with Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet, the resident ballet company at YPAC, ever since the theater opened its doors in 2019. Over the years, YPAC has become much more than just a performance venue for her. It has been a place where she has grown as both a dancer and a person while creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Beyond ballet, YPAC has been part of so many milestones in her life. She has attended a graduation there, community events like Illuminate and Country Night, and even celebrated two of her high school homecomings at the theater. It has become a place where families, students, performers, and community members all come together to celebrate important moments.
YPAC is also a home for many other local artists and organizations. Yucaipa Dance uses the stages for its performances, giving countless young dancers the opportunity to perform in a professional theater. Students from different schools perform there, local theater groups bring productions to life, musicians fill the auditorium with music, and community organizations host events that welcome people of all ages. The indoor and outdoor stages allow so many different forms of art to thrive, creating opportunities that many young performers might not otherwise have.
What makes YPAC so special is that it brings everyone together. It is a safe, welcoming space where artists, dancers, musicians, actors, students, and families can connect through the arts. It gives young people a place to express themselves, build confidence, and be part of something bigger than themselves. The friendships, experiences, and memories created there cannot be replaced.
Losing YPAC would mean losing a vital part of our community. It is more than just a building —it is where people come together, where children discover their passions, and where the arts continue to inspire future generations. I hope you will do everything possible to keep YPAC open and ensure it remains a place where our community can continue to learn, perform, and celebrate together.
Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your commitment to serving our community.
Sincerely,
Shannon Pesantes
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
PUBLIC COMMENT 17
From:
Kristine Thewes
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
RE: Closure of YPAC_City Council Meeting 07/27/2026
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 1:22:01 PM
To whom it may concern:
My name is Kristine Thewes, and I have been a proud resident and homeowner in the City of Yucaipa for more than eight years.
The Yucaipa Performing Arts Center has been one of the most valuable investments our city has made. It has enhanced our Uptown district by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and creating a welcoming, family friendly environment for residents of all ages.
The Performing Arts Center serves as much more than a venue for entertainment. It provides opportunities for local youth, schools, community theater groups, dance studios, and musicians to showcase their talents and develop valuable life skills. The festivals, performances, and community events hosted there give families a safe place to gather and provide children, teens, and young adults with positive activities that strengthen our community.
As a parent and resident, I have seen firsthand how important these opportunities are. They foster creativity, build confidence, and create a sense of pride in our city. They also encourage new families to choose Yucaipa as a place to live and invest.
While I understand the difficult financial decisions the City Council must make, I respectfully ask that you reconsider any proposed budget reductions affecting the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center. Our city already makes substantial investments in parks and recreation programs, which themselves face ongoing maintenance challenges. Eliminating funding for the Performing Arts Center would negatively impact local businesses, displace numerous arts organizations, reduce educational and cultural opportunities for our youth, and leave a prominent city asset underutilized. An empty facility would likely become vulnerable to neglect, vandalism, and graffiti, diminishing the progress our Uptown area has made.
The benefits of maintaining the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center extend far beyond the arts. It contributes to our local economy, enhances public safety by providing positive community engagement, supports tourism, and enriches the quality of life for everyone who calls Yucaipa home.
I respectfully urge the City Council to preserve funding for the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center and continue investing in a resource that has brought tremendous value to our community. I believe the long-term economic,
educational, and social benefits far outweigh the short-term budget savings.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Kristine Thewes
PUBLIC COMMENT 18
From: Melissa Benton
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment - 7/27/26
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 1:22:55 PM
Hello,
My name is Melissa Benton and I am writing a public comment for the voting on the closing of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center.
I am a performer with Legendary Productions, the in-house theater company of the YPAC, and have come to love the YPAC as a second home. It gives life and art to the community and is a beautiful venue, not just for theater.
They host dances and raves, stand up comedy, touring and local artists, along with many private events, including local Homecomings and Proms.
The YPAC is a staple in not only Yucaipa, but in the surrounding areas as well in the Inland Empire. Theaters and the arts are often the first things thrown away or budgeted out, and I disagree strongly, as they should always have a place in our community. I oppose the city council trying to close the theater and urge them to think of the local children learning how to sing, dance and audition at Legendary Productions' kids camp they do every summer, the people needing a local spot to see a stand up show, the ones driving in to go to the country music night, as all these things bring our local community together through the performing arts.
The YPAC has had a huge positive impact on our community and we want to see it continue. It deserves to stay open and be in its rightful place here in Yucaipa, hosting all kinds of fun and wonderful events for people of all ages to enjoy.
Thank you,
Melissa Benton
PUBLIC COMMENT 19
From:
Lisa Zichichi
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Ypac
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 1:47:21 PM
I am unable to make the meeting tonight but want to comment. YPAC has been mismanaged from the beginning... over budget build, horrible location, complete lack of parking, etc. it's beyond me why it wasnt located where parking is possible. While it's nice for a local community theater to have reasonable pricing, it makes zero sense if it loses money. It seems little has been done to make YPAC thrive, and it is considered just that ... a community theater, rather than a performing arts center. What is the McCallum (or any number of venues) doing that YPAC isn't? Has the idea of sponsorship / donors been proposed? Has anyone considered booking popular performers from the Redland Bowl? I quit going there years ago because "free" isn't worth the hassle. I would happily pay quite a bit to see some of those performances in a smaller (air conditioned) setting with guaranteed seats. I would guess others would as well.
I don't know what the answer is, but there has to be a better answer than just walking away from it and leaving a monster size problem uptown.
Lisa
PUBLIC COMMENT 20
From:
Many Preuviwff
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
WAC
Date:
Malay, July 27, 2026 2:01:56 FM
Dear City Council Members,
We have used the YPAC several times for acting classes, plays and comedy shows. It would be a shame to let this close down. I would love to see more wmmuuity based acting opportunities for ore kids. I would be able to go to comedy shows more if it was simultaneously offered with a parents night out option for childcare maybe even ensile! I also think having the highschwl theater group perform there would be amazing. I think there are plenty of creative ideas the community bas to save this important investment.
Thank you for your consideration.
Tiffany Preuschoff
PUBLIC COMMENT 21
From:
Valarie Williams Booth
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
Please do not close YPAC
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 2:29:19 PM
To whom it may concern:
The YPAC has so much potential. Please reconsider partnering with PropsAV. I've seen the work they have done before (within Yucaipa and elsewhere) and I can see this partnership bringing in so much revenue for our town.
From acting classes for children to large events like ballets, proms, and concerts, there is so much room for growth here.
Thank you for your time,
Valarie Booth
PUBLIC COMMENT 22
From: Dee Ashley
To: Public Comment
Subject: Do not close ypac
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 2:35:13 PM
Please count my family as being very disappointed if you close ypac. We have been enjoying and supporting it since it opened.
Dee Ashley
PUBLIC COMMENT 23
From:
Annette Book
To:
Public Comment
Subject:
YPAC
Date:
Monday, July 27, 2026 2:57:16 PM
Hello, my name is Annette Book and I am resident of Yucaipa. I am writing to express my opinion on our Performing Arts Center and the discussion regarding closing it.
I am completely against shutting down the YPAC. I feel the facility should be able to be used by our schools for their performances and our community for special events. I understand the use of the facility is difficult for our High School groups to use for some reason, that should change.
Our town is supportive of our community events, and keeping YPAC open and available to our schools and groups will help with that.
Thank you,
Annette Book
PUBLIC COMMENT 24
Tara Davis
To: Ana Sauseda, MMC
Subject: RE: YPAC Possible Shutdown
From: Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 3:28 PM
To: Anna Gonzalez
Subject: Re: YPAC Possible Shutdown
Thank you. I will forward your comments to the Council/public for tonight's Council meeting.
Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP, DPA, MPA, MAPS
ICMA-CM
City Manager
City of Yucaipa
City Hall • 34272 Yucaipa Blvd • Yucaipa, CA 92399
Office: 909-797-2489 • Email: smoore ftucaipa.gov • Website: www.yucaipa.gov From: Anna Gonzalez
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 2:50 PM
To: Jon Thorp ; Chris Venable ; Bob Miller ;
[email protected] ; Justin Beaver ; Dr. Sean M. Moore, AICP,
DPA, MPA, MAPS
Subject: YPAC Possible Shutdown
Hello,
My name is Anna Gonzalez and I'm writing to you all as a patron and performer of the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center. It's been brought to my attention that there is a proposal to have YPAC shut down. When heard of this initiative, I was shocked and heartbroken.
As a patron, I've attended this venue for multiple productions by Legendary Productions and the Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet. I've also attended for concerts and other events. This venue is one of the only local performance venues that I enjoy returning to because of the convenient location, surrounding downtown area and variety of events it has to offer. It is a safe, clean, comfortable and beautiful space to gather with family and friends to enjoy what our local arts community has to offer.
As a performer, myself and my students have danced in this space for multiple performances with the Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet. This space is an important hub for the local performing arts community in the Inland Empire. The arts are difficult to keep alive already right now, and losing YPAC would be another massive set back in an already difficult task. This venue is home to multiple companies and acts. It serves as a space for our performers, especially youth performers, to thrive. Also, this space provides an accessible venue for many people who would otherwise not be able to access the arts. I hear from audience members all the time that if it weren't for YPAC they wouldn't be able to attend live theatre or shows because other venues are too far or too expensive. For our company specifically, I've heard some audiences say that our show at YPAC was their first experience seeing ballet.
The Yucaipa Performing Arts Center is a fantastic venue that not only serves the artists that take the stage but the local community for providing access to the arts. People in Yucaipa and the surrounding area deserve to have a local space to gather and enjoy live performance.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I sincerely hope that there is a motion to keep this venue operating.
Thankyou,
Anna Gonzalez