Following a year of meetings, Barlow & Associates Principal Janis Barlow presented Lakeway City Council members with its first look Monday at a proposed concept for a performing arts center, including a roadmap for the finances associated with constructing a regional theater. Consultant Janis Barlow presented this concept plan for a proposed performing arts center to Lakeway City Council Oct. 3.[/caption] Although Barlow proposed a site behind the new H-E-B off RR 620 adjoining the Oaks at Lakeway center, Mayor Joe Bain said other sites—including an 82-acre tract off Lohman's Crossing Road under contract to local developer Haythem Dawlett—may be considered. The project will be funded through the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax, City Manager Steve Jones said. No action was taken on the proposal. Here are nine details from Barlow’s performing arts center proposal:

• 800-seat main theater
• 250-seat second stage/Black Box theater
• 100-seat rehearsal hall
• 140-200 use dates per venue annually
• 16 full-time staff members needed to operate the center
• 65,448 total square feet for facility
• $30 million price tag, excluding parking
• $1.2 million-$2 million annual operating budget
• $250,000 estimated annual HOT operating subsidy

Lakeway seeks hotel occupancy tax clarification Before the city pursues the idea of adding a performing arts center, a ruling from the state attorney general’s office is needed to determine if Lakeway can use HOT funds to build and fund the operation of a PAC, Bain said. The city requested a clarification of the HOT laws from the state about two months ago through the chairman of the legislative committee, and staff is awaiting a decision, he said. “Fifteen percent of the HOT can be used to promote the arts in general, and that’s not in question,” Jones said. “We are questioning [whether] we can go beyond that 15 percent. We think we can. Other cities have and they do. We just want to be sure.” The council informally agreed to not proceed further with the PAC steps until the state attorney general renders an opinion on the city’s use of its HOT tax.