Arts and Culture Commission - March 20, 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, March 20, 2019.
The Arts and Culture Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Arlette Preston, Deb Williams, Jon Offutt, Mark Johnson, Denise Kolpack, Tracy Jordre, Joe Williams, Tracy Walvatne
Absent: Dense Odegaard
Chair Preston called the meeting to order and welcomed Members to the meeting.
Item 1: Order of Agenda
Member Offutt moved 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 February 20, 2019
Member Kolpack moved the minutes of the February 20, 2019 Arts and Culture Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Jordre. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Fargo’s Capital Improvement Project Information
Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug presented a review of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Corridor Study processes. She stated the CIP is approved by the City Commission one-year prior, with a future goal of being multi-year. Corridor Studies involve City coordination with other jurisdictions and include community engagement opportunities. Corridor Studies are completed prior to being included on the CIP plan.
Chair Preston shared that she and other Commissioners met with the Fargo-Moorhead Metro COG (Metropolitan Council of Governments) regarding including public art in the Main Avenue Project. Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield explained that the Main Avenue Project has been in discussion for the past 8 years, and amenities including beautification improvements are forthcoming. Ms. Crutchfield stated the Planning Department has been coordinating with the Engineering Department regarding public art possibilities.
Member Johnson added that in the future public art can be incorporated on utility boxes, lift stations, flood walls, quiet zones, sidewalks, streetscapes, underpasses, and pedestrian bridges.
Item 4: Planning Department Update
a. Organization Structure
b. The Fargo Project – Creative Placemaking Project
c. Kresge Foundation Grant
Ms. Crutchfield presented updates and a brief review of the above items.
Item 5: Communication Plan, Joe Williams
Member Williams talked about the benefits of adding additional social media accounts for the Arts and Culture Commissions, in addition to the existing Twitter account. He noted how these free platforms would provide greater outreach and awareness of this Boards webpage.
Item 6: Call for Artists – Spring Grant Applications
Chair Preston informed the Board four applications have been received, and the selection committee will meet tomorrow, March 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to review and make their recommendations at the April 17, 2019 meeting. Chair Preston would like to review the existing selection committee list.
Item 7: Other Business or Public Comments
Chair Preston announced that The Americans for the Arts Conference will be in Minneapolis this summer. Ms. Crutchfield stated staff will send out an email with the conference details.
7a. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting April 17, 2019
The time at adjournment was 6:10 p.m.