windy day in arvin: High School, House and Council Mtg

Ashley W and I went to Arvin for meetings on Tuesday.  It was a strange weather day—gloomy clouds, a little rain, a little clear blue sky on the drive through Grapevine pass.  Once we were in the valley though: cloudy skies and WIND.  There were tumbleweeds and dust storms on the highways, dust like fogbanks. 

Blossoms like snow on the ground in March

Trees in bloom- almonds, I think

First we met Charles Trellis the City facilities guy at the Varsity Drive House so we could see inside and assess what we need to do before moving in, what we might want to bring for our stay there and how we might choose to use that property we are renting for the residency.  The repairs include replacing 2 broken windows, repairing the kitchen sink faucet, cleaning the carpets and replacing some filter.  Charles says they’ll paint the walls before we arrive.  The house has 3 bedrooms and one bathroom.  It has a living room in front and a kitchen sans appliances.  There’s also a one-car garage. 

We went to Arvin Library (boo! No wi-fi!) to do some work between meetings. 

At the high school we met with Robert Moore, Assistant Principal of Administration, and Principal Carlos Sardó, though Carlos missed the first third of the meeting.  Carlos continues to be very enthusiastic about our project and committed to supporting it as much as possible.  Unfortunately they were operating as if they’d never received the proposed schedule and explanation of use that I’d sent back in October.  BUT I’d brought extra copies and we all have that info now.  Their challenges for our project include 1. need for maintenance staff to be present whenever we are working on campus & the cost of that, 2. Cost of considerable use of air conditioning in the auditorium, 3. Their alarm systems adjustments.  Of all these things only #1 is a serious concern factor.  I am going to look at adjustments in our schedule to minimize the times when we would be there outside of hours when maintenance staff is already scheduled to be on campus.  I’ll send a revised schedule for use as soon as I can get that together.  Robert Moore will also look into a few variables that affect when the maintenance staff might already be on campus. 

It became clear too that we will have full use of the Auditorium, the loading dock/work room, and dressing rooms.  There didn’t seem to be any restrictions on the spaces affiliated with the auditorium.  But an additional room or space for rehearsals is not in the picture there.  Given all these circumstances it seems we should rent and utilize the Veterans Hall as primary rehearsal space, allowing the theater space to serve as production/shop workspace used during the hours that maintenance staff is already present on AHS campus. 

inside Veterans Hall

Finally we attended the Arvin City Council meeting because approval for us to utilize county-restricted spaces at Adobe Plaza (adjacent to Veterans Hall) was on the agenda.  When this came up, as we predicted, they immediately asked if we’d be sleeping and showering there!  City Manager contextualized our use of space there as housing but we clarified that our plans had changed and we’d use the Veterans Hall, the Y Suite (dining room and kitchen) and the A/B Suite for a variety of uses but not for living/sleeping/residence use.  This has become clear in the past few weeks of researching other possible housing spaces and other possible shower solutions.   The city council approved our use. 

[Other notes about the city council meeting: 

In Public Comments a gentleman told the council that he’d heard that a co-worker, fellow city employee was going to be reviewed by the council & likely fired, and this speaker wanted to speak out in favor and positive reference for the guy who’s job was on the line.  Mayor Tarver asked the man where he’d heard that this man’s job was under review by the council & on the agenda.  The man named someone who may or may not have been the individual he was advocating for.  The mayor turned to city staff and asked if this was truly an agenda item & the attorney replied that there were some “closed session items that were confidential.”  Mayor Tarver said, “Yes, that’s the word.  Confidential.  Please note, staff: confidential.” He shook his head and moved on.

Two different individuals spoke regarding a new apartment complex.  The city council approved this new(?) structure/apartment complex under the stated plan that it would be available to farm labor and low-moderate income renters.  But they are responding to inquiries from applicants that only farm labor (or retired former farm laborers) are permitted to rent there.  Also the new building is not handling their driveways/in & out access very well and are causing a nuisance and hazard for the road they are on. 

One other agenda item was a renewal of a lease to use the rec center at DiGiorgio Park to Arvin Boxing Club.  Councilmember Guzman—who almost always has questions—asked the representative present if in fact there was just one Arvin team as originally presented.  He’d heard that there might be a rift within the original group and that 2 different representatives at cross-purposes were trying to make arrangements for the space with the city.  The boxing guy said that’s not the case. 

We left as they transitioned to “reports.”]

After these meetings we are looking at this as a plan for our use of spaces in Arvin:

VETERANS HALL @4^th Street location – Classes and Rehearsal. 

Might reduce our dates for rental to reduce some cost.  We could start this rental as late as July 5 or July 7.  We might could definitely end this rental on August 5, maybe as early as July 31.

Y SUITE (KITCHEN & DINING ROOM) @4^th Street location - 

The Nest: Meals and Meetings

A/B SUITE @4^th Street location –

If it’s not too costly, we could use it for a secondary rehearsal space, classroom, meeting space, shop space, another landing place, and possibly an extension of the dining room for company meetings if we cancel the rental of Veterans Hall once we move to the theater for rehearsals.

VARSITY DRIVE HOUSE (across the street from AHS auditorium)–

Housing for 6 full time staff and occassional short term &/or visiting staff, and as a possible landing/mtg space for staff.  Living room might serve as an office.

ARVIN HIGH SCHOOL – Production work, shops and rehearsal for weeks 3 & 4 and performances. 

HAMPTON INN – Housing for students and majority of company.

Distances:

Between Nest & AHS/Varsity House = .7miles/15 minute walk

Between Nest/AHS & Hotel = 15 miles/30 min drive.

That’s where we’re at today!

-Paula Donnelly