At the June Zoom meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District, during discussion of the planned renovation of the Community Clubhouse, it was requested by the Board that the District Administrator investigate the potential removal of the stage in the upstairs room and the theater pipe organ installed within the stage in order to enlarge the size and capacity of the room.  The project to renovate the Clubhouse, using Measure J funds, is currently under design and is projected for construction beginning in December 2020 and continuing for approximately 18 months.

Consideration of the stage and organ-removal proposal and the findings of the District staff have been placed on the agenda for discussion and public comment during the July 15 Board meeting.  That meeting will be conducted virtually on Zoom, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Members of the public who want to participate online in that meeting should contact the District at 916-966-1036.  Written comments may also be mailed or delivered to the District office in advance of the meeting.

I requested that the District Administrator identify and notify in advance of July 15 those of the District’s community partners and other potentially interested persons of this discussion item.  The proposal as initially discussed, would entail removal of the elevated stage area, the storage under the stage, and the theater pipe organ with its myriad of wind-driven instruments that are installed in spaces on either side of the stage.  A replacement smaller portable stage may be included in the west side of the room.  The proposal envisions removal of the pipe organ at the expense of the American Theater Organ Society, Sierra Branch, that owns and maintains the complex instrument.

As one of the five Directors of the District I do not support the proposed stage and organ removal.  In advocating the enactment of Measure J, I envisioned investing in upgrading and adding amenities to the District’s parks and facilities, not removing amenities.  In my opinion the theater pipe organ, one of only a few in our region, is a unique instrument that can contribute to the District’s vision of branding the Village as a venue for the visual and performing arts.  I do feel that the organ is currently underutilized and should be better publicized and used for more concerts, silent movies and weddings in the Clubhouse.  I will advocate for that direction.

Most residents have never heard this remarkable wind-driven instrument and its array of pipes, bells, whistles and percussion.  The organ was initially built for a theater in San Leandro where it accompanied silent films.  Later it was moved to Cal Expo for a number of years until its thousand-hours restoration and installation in our Clubhouse.

If you have interest in this item, please register to participate in the July 15 Zoom meeting, drop off your written comments at the District office or send an email to the District Administrator in advance of the meeting so your input can be included in the Administrator’s report to the Board.

And feel free to share this message with anyone else you think may be interested in this item.

UPDATE
The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District Board of Directors, myself included, received a summary of the analysis of cost and feasibility for removal of the Clubhouse stage and theater pipe organ as a potential part of the planned Clubhouse improvement project.

It seems that the stage also houses an electrical panel for the Clubhouse that would need to be relocated and that would trigger the need to completely upgrade the entire electrical system.  In addition, increasing the occupancy of the Clubhouse would necessitate an additional restroom, increased fire suppression systems and another exit door.

The estimated cost for such modifications ($675,000-$850,000) together with the unfavorable response so far to potential loss of the theater pipe organ and the stage suggests that the question of removing these features to gain additional Clubhouse capacity will be moot.

As it is an agenda item, there will be discussion of the feasibility and cost analysis and the upcoming staff report at the July 15 virtual Board meeting on Zoom (starts at 6 pm) but I doubt the removal and capacity proposal will go forward.

Thank you to those who have commented.