Kathleen Haley headline-17957 2009-11-20T05:47:44Z 2009-11-20T05:47:44Z <p>Citizens will get to present their views about a proposal for a new arena and entertainment center to Mayor Kevin Johnson&rsquo;s task force, the mayor said. His remarks came at a news conference Johnson held Thursday in Old Sacramento to introduce the panel&rsquo;s members.</p> <p>Community feedback will be part of the review process before the task force makes its recommendations to the City Council, he said.</p> <p>The 12-member task force is tentatively planning to hold public meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month, said Chris Lehane, task force co-chairman and partner in Fabiani &amp; Lehane, a public relations firm. The task force includes real estate, finance, and communications executives. Public meetings may begin in December, he said, adding, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re really looking for feedback and information from the community.&rdquo;</p> <p>Lehane said the task force expects to make its recommendations to the City Council in mid-March.
</p> <p>Johnson has tied building an arena and entertainment complex to making Sacramento a &ldquo;world-class city.&rdquo;</p> <p>The task force will analyze developers' ideas for the complex. Members, who come from a wide range of professions, are not paid.</p> <p>Co-chair Chris Lehane was the Special Assistant Counsel to President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1997. Restaurateur Lina Fat is the other co-chair.</p> <p>Other members include land development executive Dea Spanos Berberian; former city treasurer Tom Friery, infrastructure finance executive Mark Harris; local union leader Matt Kelly, sports facility designer Dan Meis, former aide to Gov. Schwarzenegger Adam Mendelsohn and lobbyist Ron Tom.</p> <p>Photo by Anthony Bento.</p> <p><em>Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.</em></p> Kathleen Haley 2009-11-20T05:47:44Z