Title
[Contract Supplement] Funding Agreement for Powerhouse Science Center
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01097
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Location
Location: Powerhouse Science Center, 400 Jibboom Street, District 4
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to City Agreement No. 2021-0601 for the Powerhouse Science Center for a not-to-exceed amount of $145,337 per year for up to five years through June 30, 2031 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $756,685 to support the operation and management of the Powerhouse Science Center.
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Contact
Contact: Dustin Hollingsworth, Assistant Director, (916) 808-5538, djhollingsworth@cityofsacramento.org; Megan Van Voorhis, Director, (916) 808-5979, mvanvoorhis@cityofsacramento.org; Department of Convention and Cultural Services
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-2021-0601-1 Funding Agreement for Powerhouse Science Center
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The City and Powerhouse Science Center (PSC) had a funding Agreement for the facility at 3615 Auburn Boulevard from 2008 through 2021 (City Agreement No. 2008-0676) for the annual contribution of funds for the operations, operating expenses, and academic programs and events provided by PSC at the Auburn Boulevard facility. In 2021, PSC completed their relocation to the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) at 400 Jibboom Street. The City and PSC executed Agreement 2021-0601 reflecting the City’s continued contribution to help support PSC’s operations at its new facility through June 30, 2026. The City would like to continue to contribute operational funding to PSC through a new five-year Agreement.
The proposed supplement to City Agreement 2021-0601 reflects the City’s desire to continue to contribute funding to help support PSC’s operations at MOSAC for the next five years through June 30, 2031. Consistent with past practice and the terms of Agreement 2021-0601, PSC shall request operating funds from the City to be approved by City Council during the City’s annual budget process. City funding shall be used first to offset any expenses incurred by the City in support of the facility at 400 Jibboom Street, with the remainder distributed to PSC for operations.
The fiscal year (FY) 2026/27 Proposed Budget, pending Council approval, includes $145,337 for PSC. Funding in future fiscal years is subject to availability of funding in the adopted budgets of the respective fiscal years.
PSC is currently recruiting for its next executive director. In addition to annual appropriations, the City proposes a one-time cost-sharing contribution of up to 50%, not to exceed $30,000, toward management consulting services associated with the executive recruitment process.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed amendment supports the City’s 2040 General Plan Goal YPRO-4.1 to provide a diversity of arts, culture, and learning opportunities, facilities and programs for people of all ages to improve knowledge of Sacramento’s history, enhance quality of life, and enrich community culture, and policies that encourage partnerships with organizations to support cultural educational activities and programming, children’s programming, and reinvestment in City facilities.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: In FY2024/25, MOSAC welcomed approximately 168,800 visitors and served more than 32,840 youth through camps, school programs, and educational activities. As a visitor-serving educational and cultural institution located within Sacramento’s riverfront destination area, MOSAC contributes to family visitation, regional tourism activity, educational programming, and local visitor spending associated with museum attendance and related activities.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The report concerns administrative activities that will not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review [CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3); 15378(b)(2)].
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/CommitteeAction
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: In 1974, the City leased the property at 3615 Auburn Boulevard to the nonprofit Sacramento Science Center and Junior Museum and began contributing funding for operations and programs. Later, the nonprofit became the Sacramento Museum of History, Science and Technology (dba Discovery Museum, Inc), which included both the Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento and the Science and Space Center on Auburn Boulevard. In 2008 the nonprofit split and Discovery Museum, Inc. continued to lease and operate the Science and Space Center; then, in 2013, became Powerhouse, Inc., in anticipation of relocating to the 400 Jibboom Street site.
MOSAC is now located at the historic Jibboom Street site and is owned by the City and leased to the (PSC) under the Ground Lease (City Agreement Number 2017-1522) and various amendments.
Obligations regarding PSC’s use of the premises, maintenance obligations, ownership, and improvement requirements are separately set forth in the Ground Lease Agreement (City Agreement Number 2017-1522).
MOSAC has emerged as a significant visitor-serving educational and cultural institution within Sacramento’s riverfront destination area, serving regional audiences through exhibitions, educational programming, camps, school partnerships, and community engagement activities. In Fiscal Year 2024/25, MOSAC welcomed approximately 168,800 visitors and served more than 32,000 youth through educational programming and related activities. The City has made substantial long-term investments in the facility and its ongoing success contributes to Sacramento’s broader educational, cultural, and visitor economy goals.
PSC is currently undergoing an executive leadership transition that represents an important opportunity for the organization’s next phase of growth and development. The proposed one-time contribution toward executive recruitment consulting services reflects the City’s interest in supporting a thoughtful leadership transition that positions MOSAC and PSC for continued organizational effectiveness, educational impact, public engagement, fundraising capacity, and long-term institutional sustainability.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: The FY2026/27 Proposed Convention and Cultural Services Budget, pending Council approval, includes $145,337 for PSC from the Community Center Fund (Fund 6010). Funding in future fiscal years is subject to availability of funding in the adopted budgets of the respective fiscal years.
In addition to the annual appropriations, the City proposes a one-time cost-sharing contribution of up to 50%, not to exceed $30,000, toward management consulting services associated with the recruitment of a new executive director for PSC.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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