Arts and Culture Commission - June 19, 2019 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, 2019.
The Arts and Culture Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Arlette Preston, Deb Williams, Jon Offutt, Tracy Walvatne, Denise Kolpack, Mark Johnson, Denese Odegaard,
Tracy Jordre, Joe Williams
Absent: None
Also Present: City Commissioner John Strand
Chair Preston called the meeting to order and welcomed Members to the meeting.
Item 1: Order of Agenda
Chair Preston added Grant Round Process redesign as an item on the agenda. Member Kolpack moved to approve the Order of Agenda. Second by Member Offutt. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of May 15, 2019
Member Jordre moved the Minutes of the May 15, 2019 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: Performance by Theater B
Pam Strait of Theater B performed a dramatic reading form the company’s Reader’s Theater piece.
Item 4: Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Chair Preston announced that after two years as the Arts and Culture Commission Chair, she would be stepping down and opening the floor for nominations of a new Chair. Member Walvatne nominated Member D. Williams. Member Kolpack moved to elect Member D. Williams as Chair of the Arts and Culture Commission. Second by Member Jordre. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Preston opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair. Member Walvatne nominated Member Jordre. Member D. Williams moved to elect Member Jordre as Vice Chair of the Arts and Culture Commission. Second by Member Johnson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 5: Work Plan
Chair Preston introduced the idea of a monthly evaluation of the Work Plan. Member D. Williams asked each Member to provide an update of their work since the previous meeting. Member Jordre and Member Johnson reported that they were waiting to hear back from developers about what obstacles prevent developers from interacting with the Arts and Culture Commission. Member Walvatne requested a breakdown of how the Arts and Culture Commission funding was used in previous years. Member J. Williams is contacting individuals to build a strategy on how to grow awareness of the Arts in Fargo. Chair Preston encouraged Members to reach out to volunteers and community partners.
Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield gave a report on her experience at the American’s for the Arts Conference in the Twin Cities. Ms. Crutchfield also provided an update on the first phase of the Civic Plaza. Phase one of the Civic Plaza is operating on a tight schedule due to the required placement of Sodbuster by fall of 2019. Ms. Crutchfield also informed Members that the Planning Department requested $30,000 be set aside for the implementation of public art along Main Avenue.
Chair Preston requested an update on the public art survey. Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug reported that the survey has received close to 500 responses.
Item 6: Grant Round Process Redesign
Chair Preston commented on problems with the spring application process for the Creative Capital Sponsorship. Member D. Williams suggested the following changes to improve the process:
- Rename the program to provide more clarity for applicants
- Modify application process to make better use of artist’s time
- Narrow the scope of projects submitted to the Arts and Culture Commission
Member D. Williams is hopeful a redesign of the grant process will be approved by the Arts and Culture Commission in August. Member Walvatne commented on the importance of making changes in response to public feedback. Member J. Williams requested the application be made more accessible online.
Item 7: Other Business or Public Comments
There were no public comments made at this meeting.
7a. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting July 17, 2019
The time at adjournment was 5:37 p.m.