Edmonds Center for the Arts Executive Director Joe McIalwain provided an upbeat annual report to the Edmonds City Council Tuesday night about the state of Edmonds’ nearly nine-year-old performing arts center and its impact — both financially and culturally — on the community it serves.

The ECA has seen 101 percent growth in operating revenue compared to a 59 percent increase in expenses during the past five years, McIalwain said, with a 26 increase in rental revenue and a 19 percent increase in ticket sales.

“Our ticket sales and fees are growing rapidly and we’re very happy about that growth,” he said.

The ECA will still need to borrow money from the City of Edmonds to meet bond payment obligations created by the remodel of the former Edmonds High School into a performing arts venue more than eight years ago, McIalwain said. However, the projected loan amount needed for 2015 — $124,542 — is much lower than in past years, thanks to the improving economy, which has increased the tax revenues the organization receives from Snohomish County. (In 2014, for comparison purposes, the city loaned ECA $167,593 to meet its bond payment.)

Because the ECA is operated through an inter-jurisdictional agreement between the Edmonds Public Facilities District and the City of Edmonds, the city is required to cover the bond obligations through a loan or similar means.

McIalwain also told the council that the ECA has received a $102,000 a federal Community Development Block grant to make accessibility improvements to the 1939-era restrooms that weren’t redone during the original remodel, which mostly focused on the “front of house” theater portion of the building.

The ECA’s estimated economic impact on the community is $3.2 million, including the salaries paid to its nine full-time and 15 part-time staff, and the “ancillary spending” by show attendees, such as dinner before, drinks after or gasoline fill ups, McIalwain said. Just 35 percent of ECA’s audience comes from Edmonds, with the rest traveling from nearby cities or other parts of Washington state, or even Canada.

The ECA generates an estimated 450 room nights at local hotels each year, with 180 of those being rooms the ECA itself books for its performing artists.

In addition to attracting big-name performers like Clint Black, the ECA is proud of its year-round involvement with community groups and youth organizations, from the DeMiero Jazz Festival to the Sno-King Community Chorale to the Cascade Symphony. McIalwain, then invited Gillian Jones, ECA’s Education and Outreach Manager, to talk about her outreach to children, families and school groups, which range from daytime “education matinees” to continuing education for teachers to the annual free “KIDSTOCK!” event.

Jones described the ECA’s ability this year to reach schools with a high percent of students living in poverty, thanks to reduced price ticket prices through an “Arts For Everyone” grant from the Hazel Miller Foundation. That funding will increase next year so that even more reduced-price seats can be offered, Jones said, ensuring that cost won’t be a barrier to attendance. “That’s a commitment we’ve made,” she said.

The ECA is also working to expand outreach to older adults in the community through its partnership with Songwriting Works, which is directed at helping adults with dementia and will be held at the Aegis senior living residence in Edmonds.

In addition, families can take advantage of four week-long summer camps — from Shakespeare to Hawaiian and Polynesian Culture — for ages 7-15.

At the end of the presentation, McIalwain thanked the council for its support and also extended his appreciation to the community for its generous donations of both time and money to the ECA’s continued operation.

Also during its meeting, the council:

– Congratulated Shane Hawley of the Edmonds Police Department for his promotion to administrative sergeant. As is tradition, Hawley was sworn in by Edmonds Police Chief Al Compaan as his members of his family and the police department looked on. A 14-year department veteran, including years of work as a K-9 officer, Hawley will continue to oversee the Field Training Officer program and is transitioning to become the department’s primary public information officer

– Heard an annual report from the Planning Board regarding its work during the past year and its priorities for 2015, which include a review of the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update and the Edmonds Development Code.

– Held a public hearing on draft Culture and Urban Design Element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update.

– Received an annual report on the City’s Park Impact Fees, collected to help pay for park projects needed to serve new growth and development.

– Heard a presentation of the December 2014 Financial Management Report. You can see the report here.

– Interviewed and confirmed Alicia Crank as the newest member of the Edmonds Sister City Commission.