Iowa City committee recommends city give money to Englert Theatre

IOWA CITY – The City Council's Economic Development Committee believes the Englert Theatre should continue to receive funding from the city.

The committee, made up of council members Regenia Bailey, Susan Mims and Mayor Matt Hayek, approved Tuesday a recommendation to the full council that the city give the downtown theater $50,000 annually for the next three fiscal years, said Wendy Ford, the city's economic development coordinator. The funding would be reviewed each year.

That's the same deal the Englert, 221 E. Washington St., currently has with the city. On July 1, it will enter the final year of the agreement.

Jeff Davidson, the city's planning and community development director, said there was some confusion over the length of the proposed new agreement. The motion approved by the Economic Development Committee was for next  fiscal year, which has already been OK'd, and the following two years, he said.

The council likely will consider the recommendation when it discusses the city's budget late this year and early next year, he said.