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Letter to the editor

City forgives museum's $260,000 debt

The City Council again helps out the Florida International Museum with its fiscal troubles.

By JACOB H. FRIES, Times Staff Writer
Published December 21, 2007

Local leaders organized the Florida International Museum in 1992 to help fill an entertainment void. The museum was an instant success, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Last year, the museum recorded a $20,000 shortfall.
	[Scott Keeler | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG - The City Council agreed Thursday to forgive a $260,000 loan to the Florida International Museum on the promise that the museum continue to provide cultural programming through 2010.

The museum's other lenders - St. Petersburg College and philanthropist John Galbraith - also have said they would dismiss $1.5-million owed them if the city forgave its portion.

"I find it very difficult to not do this," council member Rene Flowers said. "If you have others forgiving $1-million debt, I think ours is very nominal at this point."

After a unanimous vote, Mayor Rick Baker thanked the college and Galbraith and recalled some of the museum's earlier successes. He cited the Treasures of the Czars exhibit in 1995 as a "turning point for our city" and said he was hopeful about the upcoming show of Vatican artifacts in February.

"It's going to be a great exhibit for our city going forward," he said.

The private, nonprofit museum expects the Vatican show to draw as many as 300,000 visitors.

But even if the exhibit is a hit, the museum's financial outlook is bleak. Last year, the museum recorded a $20,000 shortfall. This year, it hasn't been able to pay rent and has remained closed since its spring exhibit, "Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs," failed to attract the anticipated crowd.

Local leaders organized the Florida International Museum in 1992 to help fill an entertainment void. The museum was an instant success, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

Over time, the city poured more than $6-million into the facility to ensure its success. But after the museum endured a series of financial setbacks, city officials closed their checkbooks.

In 2004, the council agreed to forgive $1-million in unpaid rent, but demanded the museum pay $350,000 in back rent.

The $260,000 the council voted to forgive Thursday was the remainder of that debt.

-In other action, the Council voted to send to committee a measure that would prohibit anyone from passing out alcohol on city streets and right of ways. It is already illegal to do so in public parks.

City Council member Bill Foster proposed closing the loophole after a man gave free bottles of bourbon to homeless people lounging in Williams Park earlier this month. The measure will be considered by the committee a final vote by the council.

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 00:30:21]