City Council votes on Landmark contract

The Richmond City Council voted unanimously last night to extend an agreement for management of the Landmark Theater until 2013.

RPAC Inc., established to develop and operate the newly opened Richmond CenterStage performingarts center, has also managed and operated the city-owned Landmark since July 2008 under an arrangement approved by the council in 2007. The city's agreement with RPAC for the Landmark expired Aug. 31 but was extended last night to March 1, 2013.

Suzette Denslow, chief of staff to Mayor Dwight C. Jones, said the city has benefited from the arrangement, having spent $510,000 to $570,000 annually to operate the Landmark in each of the three years before RPAC took over.

Now, the city is contributing up to $500,000 annually to subsidize operations of both the Landmark and CenterStage, but its agreement with RPAC requires the city funds to be matched with private dollars. Officials said the arrangement has allowed the city to also reduce payroll costs, as one-time employees at the Landmark have moved over to SMG, which manages the theaters for RPAC.

"For a lower amount of money, we have someone managing and controlling costs for us," Denslow said.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .