Arts & Culture Commission - November 14, 2018 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2018.
The Arts and Culture Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Arlette Preston, Deb Williams, Jon Offutt, Tracy Jordre, Joe Williams, Mark Johnson, John Strand
Absent: Denise Kolpack, Denese Odegaard, Tracy Walvatne
Chair Preston called the meeting to order and welcomed Members to the meeting.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Member D. Williams move to approve the order of agenda. Second by Member Johnson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of October 17, 2018
Member Offutt moved the minutes of the October 17, 2018 Arts and Culture Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member D. Williams. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: 2019 Meeting Schedule
Chair Preston noted the 2019 meeting schedule within the packet.
Item 4: Christine Jaeger - Creative Plains Foundation
Christine Jaeger, founder and Executive Director of the Creative Plains Foundation, spoke on the foundation and its primary goal to provide opportunities to support at-risk youth in the community. She explained that the foundation works primarily with elementary age children to facilitate early exposure to arts and art education. She stated the foundation works with other organizations within the metro area, providing about 8,000 art experiences annually. Ninety-five percent of the Foundations funding comes from donations by Jaeger’s family.
Item 5: Election of Officers
Chair Preston opened the nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair of the Arts and Culture Commission.
Member D. Williams nominated Arlette Preston as Chair. Second by Member Offutt. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Offutt nominated Deb Williams for Vice-Chair. Second by Member Johnson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 6: Strategic Planning Workshop Report
Chair Preston presented the Strategic Planning Workshop Report included in the packet.
Item 7: Budget
a. Allocation
b. Re-granting Program
Chair Preston presented the draft of the budget included in the packet and further explained the budget categorizations. Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield noted that the numbers in the draft are a starting point for the Board to discuss.
Member Johnson suggested one of the action items of the workshop – coordination with partners – occur sooner in order for better communications, and requested this be considered for the budget.
Discussion ensued regarding budgeting for restoration and appraisal of public art pieces. Assistant Planner Brittany Rakowitz noted the challenges of locating a qualified appraiser and that it may require resources outside the metro area. Ms. Crutchfield noted that restoration dollars could be discussed further into the year and that the budget could be amended.
Item 9 was heard before Item 8.
Item 8: Hayes Restoration Update
Ms. Rakowitz provided an update on the restoration of the Hayes piece, which has been completed. She also shared an update on the Creative Bike Rack that was hit by a vehicle, and stated Betty Homme, the fabricator, will restore the bike rack.
Item 9: Art Proposal and Criteria for Projects
Ms. Rakowitz presented the draft document for this item. The Board Members discussed the benefits the Board, arts community, and staff would have with two recurring phases annually.
Chair Preston resumed discussion on the draft budget and noted that $20,000 may not fund many projects. She discussed the re-granting of dollars to The Arts Partnership over the past several years. Ms. Preston also noted a stipulation could be placed on the dollars so that the dollars allocated fund art that is free to the public, and that the dollars would need to be tracked. Member Offutt asked about current stipulations on the re-granting dollars. Ms. Crutchfield noted that in the past, the dollar commitments have been related to the business aspect. Member Offutt suggested the Board review The Arts Partnership’s entire budget. Chair Preston noted that the Board could request the entire budget, but that there could only be stipulations on money re-granted by the Board.
Member Johnson suggested an increase of $5,000 total for each of the two granting periods, resulting in a reduction of the re-granting to The Arts Partnership by $10,000. City Commissioner Strand and Ms. Crutchfield discussed curating in the New City Hall.
Member D. Williams requested the changes of $102,000 for The Arts Partnership and $30,000 for projects. Member Johnson suggested the remaining $6,000 be moved to the consulting dollars for publication, and to begin the appraisal process for insuring pieces not currently insured. Member Johnson made a motion to approve the budget based on the changes noted. Second by Member Jordre. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
The Board discussed The Arts Partnership re-granting dollars regarding allocation to administrative funds and projects. Member Offutt made a motion to leave the administrative dollars at 70% of the re-granted dollars. Second by Member Jordre.
Discussion continued with Member Johnson suggesting the possibility of deciding the ratios this month and discussing the possibility of stipulations on the project dollars for free access. Ms. Crutchfield noted the need for outreach efforts with recipients, and that this could be noted in a letter of commitment by formalizing public access in line with the Boards goals as part of preparations for following years.
The motion continued with all Members present voting aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member D. Williams made a motion to start discussions with The Arts Partnership regarding a free access public art component. Second by Member Offutt. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member D. Williams made a motion to approve the Art Proposal and Criteria for Projects. Second by Member Offutt. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 10: Brochure/ Leave Behind
Ms. Rakowitz presented on the brochures and requested feedback. Member Jordre noted an update to listed Members.
Item 11: Work Plan
Ms. Crutchfield presented the Work Plan/Action Plan from the October Workshop, and noted that the next step is to identify resource needs and action items per item. Chair Preston noted the Board could take one category at each upcoming meeting to further discuss.
Item 12: Performing Arts Center/ Civic Plaza
Chair Preston, a member of the Performing Arts Center Task Force, provided information on the task force.
Item 13: Other Business or Public Comments
No other business or public comments were discussed.
The time at adjournment was 6:30 p.m.