Council approves museum’s budget

Henderson's Space and Science Center has gotten a green light for launch.

Without any discussion, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Space and Science Center's $234,000 operating budget for 2009-10.

The council also approved a $21 million gift agreement that changes what was approved at a June meeting council meeting with then-Mayor Jim Gibson and then-Councilman Jack Clark, who are Space and Science Center board members.

The change keeps the $21 million gift in the city's land use fund instead of immediately transferring it to the nonprofit museum board.

The change was made in July by a council with newly elected members led by newly elected Mayor Andy Hafen.

"I feel very strongly about this concept," Hafen said at an earlier meeting. "We're behind it 100 percent, and there's no two ways about it."

Hafen said the interest from the land use fund could be used for museum operating costs.

The city also would give the museum board the money to prepare the site, which city staff said could cost between $4 million and $8 million.

The site does not have any infrastructure in place. Roads and utility lines must be installed before building can start.

The site being considered is 160 acres of city-owned land on Galleria Drive east of U.S. Highway 95. The land was bought in the 1990s when the city thought it was going to be used as a major league baseball training facility.

The approved budget includes $80,000 for a project manager, $50,000 for consultants, $40,000 for marketing, $15,000 for research and travel, $12,000 for Web design, $10,000 for educational outreach, $10,000 for printing, $10,000 for board development, $4,000 for insurance and $3,000 for professional dues.

In other council news: An appeal of a Planning Commission denial for a residential group home, Sweet Home Belmont, at 2980 Belmont Drive, was delayed until Sept. 1.

Contact Henderson View reporter Lauren Romano at lromano@viewnews.com or 477-3839.