HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 11.21 CPAMMINUTES of the PROCEEDINGS of the
CULTURAL AND PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
of the CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
in the COUNTY OF HENNEPIN in the STATE OF MINNESOTA
Thursday, November 21, 2024.
1. Call to Order at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Room of Brooklyn Center City Hall,
by Chair Nahid Khan.
2. Roll Call by Staff Liaison Raquel Goutierez.
Members (residents / full voting members):
Nahid Khan, Chair – Present.
Jaclyn Frost, Vice Chair – Present.
Isabella Bridges – Absent (unexcused; third unexcused absence).
Gail Ebert – Present.
Kari Kelly – Present.
Sabra Love – Present.
Quorum of full voting members was met.
Members at Large (non-resident affiliate non-voting members):
Denise Butler – Absent (excused; third excused absence).
CieJay Hanson – Absent at time of roll call, but arrived later (two unexcused absences for
prior / first two Commission meetings).
Cyd Haynes – Present.
City Staff: Liaison Raquel Diaz Goutierez and Director LaToya Turk.
Roll Call Follow-up Discussion:
a. Unexcused absences: 3 in a calendar year constitutes automatic resignation.
Member Love asked if non-attending Commission members have been contacted by
phone; they might not know they have been sent emails about their Commission
appointment and meetings.
Vice Chair Frost reiterated that issue is diverse levels of accessibility to technology.
Action step: Staff Liaison will look into it.
b. Reminder of standard Commission meeting procedure: Chair leads meeting,
Members, Staff and attendees address Chair, who provides floor to speak. Further
information on meeting procedures will be provided under Agenda item #5.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
3. Adoption of Agenda.
Chair Khan proposed collapsing this Agenda item, Agenda item #4, and Agenda item #8
into one action and made a motion to do so. Vice Chair Frost seconded the motion.
Upon the advice of Member Ebert, Chair Khan made motion to amend the Agenda to
incorporate this change. Vice Chair Frost seconded the motion. Motion passed with
unanimous approval of all Members.
4. Approval of October 2024 Minutes. See Agenda item #3.
Chair Khan proposed that a motion be made to approve both October and August
2024 (Agenda item #8) together. Vice Chair Frost made the motion and Member
Ebert seconded the motion (to approve together, and to approve them). Motion passed
with unanimous approval of all Members.
5. Meeting Procedures. Discussion and Summary of Points:
Chair Khan: As a City Commission, we have to [follow] rules, regulations, procedures
and policies. Member Ebert has long experience with Robert's Rules of Order and we
appreciate her advice and points of order. Summaries of these were provided at the
August and October Commission meetings so please keep reviewing those.
It is a learning experience for all of us and we will improve with experience.
It is recommended to attend other Commission meetings and also the City Council
meetings to observe the City meetings process and Robert’s Rules of Order in action.
Liaison Goutierez: To keep the Minutes in order and the transcription clear for the
record, it's of utmost important for Commissioners to address the Chair, who is leading
the meeting.
The Chair will state your name [for the record] and give you permission to speak. Avoid
jumping in with a comment unless you address the Chair first for permission to speak.
Example: "Commissioner Hanson, you may speak”, or “Commissioner Haynes, you have
the floor".
Please follow the order of the Agenda, when making a point, and speak on it under the
relevant Agenda item (or hold until New Business).
Chair Khan suggested to Liaison Goutierez to prepare a short presentation on this topic
for us to review together [Action item].
Member At Large Haynes asked about stating names when making a motion or
seconding a motion, and Chair Khan affirmed this as good procedure in order to record
that information.
6. BREATHING EXERCISE. Summary:
Chair Khan: Breathing exercise is an activity suggested by Liaison Goutierez. It’s
becoming a more common practice in other board meetings. We are adopting it here to
provide a new dimension to our proceedings, and we can establish our own practices.
Action item: Commission members are welcome to share ideas with Chair and Liaison
for conducting breathing exercises as well as volunteer to lead them during future
meetings. Liaison Goutierez then led breathing exercise with full explanation.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Filling Vacant Positions and Application Form.
Review of Four Documents and Condensed Summary of Discussion, Actions Taken:
[Chair’s Note: All four documents were included in the November board packet and/or
previous meeting board packets as print outs and in emails, and shown on screen during
this and previous meetings. Master Plan and Resolution also are available online on the
Commission page at City web site.]
First Document (included in board packet) presented by Liaison Goutierez:
City Council Resolution number 2024-47: Vacancies of the Cultural and Public Art
Commission are filled by Mayoral appointments based on consensus of the City
Council. Specific procedures for filling vacancies described, including requirement to
be posted for 30 days before any City Council action is taken.
Chair Khan: City will announce vacancies on Commission. Applications are submitted
to the Mayor and the City Council for review; City Council reviews and approves
appointments to Commissions.
Discussion item is addressing how to use our community connections, and how City staff
use Community Engagement work to invite applications to the Commission.
[Chair’s Note: Application is at the City web site under the Government tab, and then
the City Commissions page.]
Liaison Goutierez: There is a QR code included in packet that links to application.
Commissioners are encouraged to inform anyone in the community who might be
interested in applying, and may share application at any time, especially with anyone
among your contacts, networks, groups (and use social media as well as channels of
communication at local schools) to promote a diverse applicant pool. Commission
applications are open on a rolling basis because whenever there are vacancies, Mayor can
pull from a pool of applicants at that time, including past applicants, if still interested.
Director [LaToya] Turk suggested an Action item:
The Commission requests that the City sends notification via our engagement
weekly email to community. The Liaison can make their request to the community
engagement department.
Chair Khan explained to Commissioners that the direction of our Agenda item is to
make some recommendations to move on this item, publicizing that applications
continue to be accepted for this Commission through (i) Commission members
informing members of our networks, and (ii) our Staff Liaison working with
relevant City staff to inform the community generally through City channels and
engagement work.
Director Turk clarified that City staff outreach and engagement work is done through (i)
attendance at cultural events, (ii) sending marketing to culturally specific communities,
and (iii) utilizing trusted messengers to promote an opportunity (such as applications to
Commissions). Filling vacancies on Commissions is a process that extends further
than the question on the application.
Second Document (included in board packet) presented by Chair Khan:
Printout of current application for appointments to all City Advisory Commissions,
which is not the original form that current Commissioners used to apply for this
Commission.
Discussion item is to address how we want to proceed with this discrepancy in the
application process regarding the application form going forward given that we are
dealing with some vacancies and one of our roles is to advise the City Council on their
Commission member selection procedures.
Chair Khan provided background:
For the new Cultural and Public Arts Commission, there was a special streamlined
application that was created by City staff to use specifically for this Commission. It
asked for all our contact information, and only asked one required question which was,
“Please provide a brief narrative for your desire to serve on the Cultural Arts
Commission.” It was very open-ended.
That application form is no longer up at the web site connected to applications for
appointment to the Cultural and Public Arts Commission. Applicants must now use
the same, much longer and much more difficult application form that is used for all the
other Commissions instead of the one designed for this Commission that was used by
current Commissioners.
Issue: The discrepancy in application forms for potential applicants limits
implementation of goal to diversify applicant pool for this Commission.
In relation to above goal, Liaison Goutierez provided background, referring to above-
mentioned First Document, City Council Resolution number 2024-47: whereas all
qualified applicants will receive consideration without regards to race, color, marital
status, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, stability or
veteran’s status. Resolution reinforces core values of equity and inclusion in application
process, and supports diverse representation on Commission to advance work towards
various improvements in quality of life for the people of our City through art in public
spaces. Resolution emphasizes that the Commission is committed to reflecting the full
richness of our community, as a strategy to create a vibrant environment through art, and
overall aesthetics and beautification.
Liaison Goutierez also referred to the Third Document (included in board packet):
The Near-Term Work Plan emphasizes the importance of inclusive representation
and equitable governance of the Brooklyn Center Cultural and Public Arts
Commission, which underscores the necessity for a Commission that is informed and
active, equipped not only to guide policy development but also to reflect the diversity of
our community and its dynamic ecosystem.
Liaison Goutierez further explained that to inform our work to review the
Commission application process, it’s important to revisit the definition of diversity
[drawn from the Master Plan as the Fourth Document [see Chair’s Note at beginning
of this item a.] as it includes a broad spectrum of factors that contribute to a variety of
perspectives. These could be some examples; age, cultural / ethnic backgrounds,
economic diversity, geography, geographic location – [i.e.] different neighborhood [in the
City] that you're representing - professional expertise, or lived experience.
Diversity encompasses many things, [important because] we're serving on the Culture
and Public Arts Commission [in the City which right now] is one of - if not the – most
diverse in the state of Minnesota, and is the reason why diversity is in the Master Plan,
to ensure representation from all the different standpoints. We don't want to exclude
[diversity] and certainly we don't want to insinuate that we want to exclude anyone. Right
now, it might be a tall order to get a broad range of representation right away. We can
also invite expert speakers to do presentations on certain topics that we need more
information on or have a greater understanding of different things.
Discussion of Action items and proposed Motions presented by Chair Khan:
Firstly, return original application form that was specifically designed for this
Commission to the Commission page at web site.
Secondly, add one or more question(s) that support the purpose and mission of the
Commission, and helps encourage a wide variety of people in our community to really
look at how they can participate and contribute to the commission as members.
Vice Chair Frost made a motion to approve these two recommendations. Member
Ebert seconded the motion. Chair Khan asked members, all in favor? Members
unanimously stated, aye. Chair Khan asked if any members opposed, and none did
so. The motion to approve these recommendations passed.
Follow-up Discussion:
Director Turk asked, Do you have any recommendations on what specifics you
would like to see on the application? [Action item.]
Chair Khan opened the floor to discuss such specifics.
Liaison Goutierez proposed asking for a voluntary response to an additional question
about applicant’s diverse background; for example, “in what ways do you believe
your unique background and experiences can contribute to diversity and
effectiveness of the Cultural and Public Art [Commission]?” The original question
would be retained, and this optional question added to provide insight into applicant’s
experience in different cultures, putting on events or living it, in an open-ended manner.
Chair Khan responded that this is a good start and invited Commission members to
comment further regarding specifics to operationalize the just-approved motion, which
would help Mayor and Council members decide on appointees to the Commission.
Member Love emphasized importance of framing questions and going to a variety of
places in community to ensure a diverse application pool for Commission to carry out
mission and vision of the Master Plan to reflect and represent diverse population of
Brooklyn Center, given that the membership of the Commission does not match the
demographic makeup of the City.
Chair Khan appreciated Member Love frankly raising the practical question about how
to get at wording that invites and encourages a broad range of people to apply.
Liaison Goutierez expressed understanding of Member Love’s point. The Commission
application is made available to people at different locations who are invited to apply
and choose how to explain why they want to serve on it. The additional optional question
is about the type of experiences they have with different cultures, including personal
experience, everyday life, cultural background, and interactions with a certain group or
groups, perhaps through time spent outside the country. Commissioners will not review
completed applications; they will be provided to Mayor and City Council who will
review them.
Vice Chair Frost asked if we need to include marketing of applications to cultural-
specific events and [community locations] in our motion. Director Turk, Liaison
Goutierez and Chair Khan explained that this was done in the past and will continue, but
recommended Commission address this.
Vice Chair Frost then asked to amend earlier approved motion and make a motion to
approve:
(i) the recommendation that we [i.e. Commission members and City Staff]
promote applications to the Cultural and Public Arts Commission, through all
City channels of communication as well as community engagement work,
including continuing to promote them directly to people at community
locations and attending cultural events (as described by Director Turk, Liaison
Goutierez and Chair Khan);
(ii) the original Commission application form be returned to the City web site,
and that the original application process be re-opened (as explained by Chair
Khan); and
(iii) the additional, optional new question (as drafted by Liaison Goutierez) be
added to the Commission application.
Chair Khan stated that we have our notice of amended motion including three points.
Member Ebert seconded the amended motion as stated by Vice Chair Frost. Chair
Khan asked members, all in favor? Members unanimously stated, aye. Chair Khan
asked if any members opposed, and none did so. Motion to approve these
recommendations passed.
b. Review 2025 Commission Meeting Requirements: Summary.
Liaison Goutierez explained that our [City Council Commission] Resolution states that
quorum is four members. We have six members [at present], so we need four for
quorum. Even if there are no new appointments in January, the quorum will still be four.
If you are going to be absent, please let me know ahead of time to ensure that I can
inform the rest of the Commissioners if we're not going to meet quorum.
Chair Khan said we can still meet if we don't have a quorum, however, we cannot make
decisions / make and pass motions.
Member Love asked about meeting in December. Chair Khan and Liaison Goutierez
said that City Commissions do not meet in December.
Member Ebert shared her long experience serving on City Commissions, noting a
Commission meets only if there is a matter needing to be dealt with in December. It also
is up to the Commission to decide.
Liaison Goutierez noted that previous Commission meeting Minutes state we are not
meeting in December and we approved the Minutes. Discussion followed about
procedures and constraints for adding a meeting in December, including work time
constraints for Liaison.
Chair Khan noted lack of interest by rest of Commissioners for holding a meeting in
December and concluded discussion on potentially adding an official meeting, but
observed that this does not preclude education offerings, discussion of which should be
brought up in New Business.
c. Define Beautification and Public Art. Summary of Discussion and Exercise.
Review definitions of Beautification and Public Art derived from the Master Plan with
the goal of developing a shorter working summary that can be easily used by the
Commission as well as by the Staff Liaison as City’s Artist in Residence and fellow
colleagues on City staff as needed, using an exercise. The full definition would still be
used, but there are other situations where a short working summary is needed.
Liaison Goutierez pointed out the document titled Master Plan Definition of
Beautification and Public Art and referred to second page [heading], What is Public
Art? (which is taken from the Master Plan page 11 and 12). This document was
previously shared with Commissioners via email but should be shared again [Action
item.] [See Chair Note at beginning of Agenda item 7.a.]
Member Love suggested feeding Definition of Beautification and Public Arts into AI /
ChatGPT, and asking it to summarize into two or three paragraphs to market these ideas
to the public.
Liaison Goutierez said this already has been tried with the Master Plan, and AI gave a
long definition of both Beautification and Public Art, similar to what we already had
because the Master Plan is quite extensive.
Beautification, for example, is a process of identifying and enhancing existing conditions.
It gives you a little description of what we already know if you read the Master Plan
because this is taken from the Master Plan. It gives you all these different community
engagements, sustainability practice, urban design, cultural and historical preservation.
Member Love entered the Master Plan Definition of Beautification and Public Art into
AI / ChatGPT and said it produced three paragraphs, which she advocated for using it as
the basis for developing short summarized working definitions that can be refined and
humanized by the Commissioners’ perspectives for the sake of time. Since the
Commission is not full and lacks some diversity, the argument was made that Chat GPT
is unbiased.
Liaison Goutierez responded that she could have used Chat GPT already to develop
short summarized working definitions but wanted to include Commission members by
having us put collective thought into it so that everyone’s voices were heard, our inputs
and DNA be part of it, and come up with something that we all agree upon so that we
own these definitions as a Commission.
Chair Khan expressed that there are some pros and cons for both approaches; perhaps
we can think about how to include an AI / Chat GPT version in the mix but not be the
only one or the foundational one that we then further refine. We want to use all of our
input into developing the short, summarized working definitions: that's why we're on the
Commission, to provide our perspectives and not [resorting to] AI.
Member at Large Hanson expressed the value of Commissioners summarizing
definitions and getting at their meanings and applications for the work of the City’s
aesthetic projects, since the Commission is about using human intelligence rather than
AI.
Liaison Goutierez, Chair Khan and Vice Chair Frost transitioned the discussion into
the exercise portion of this Agenda item, having discussed the exercise prior to the
meeting and delegating Vice Chair Frost to lead the exercise with guidance from
Liaison Goutierez:
Combined and Summarized Instructions and Plan: Take this original Definition of
Beautification and Public Art document and use highlighters to highlight things that we
found important and relevant, things we want to make sure continue to be included in the
definition, in an effort for us to get it into a smaller, more [focused] definition. Since the
definition of Public Art will be mostly [used] in grant (applications), start with the Public
Art piece, and then if we have time, we can do Beautification.
Please turn in your notes by the end of the meeting. We will take the notes from everyone
here and try to compile them into what we would then approve as a shorter summary
definition statement. We were going to try to do it all in real-time here at this meeting
with the Commissioners, but to save meeting time, we will take them and see if there are
some commonalities, and work on a short summary definition statement, and then bring it
back to the Commissioners for refinement and approval.
Use your digital copy to review and add other thoughts to include or delete, as an
assignment for the next meeting for further discussion.
If you have ideas outside of this document, for the sake of this exercise, we will stick to
what we have (now). We can take further ideas that we want to contribute to this work
that we aren’t able to address today and add them to a future Agenda item.
Following the exercise, Member Kelly raised a concern about a sense of manufactured
urgency with the exercise and asked if we can actually take some more time to think
about the definition because it feels like a very foundational piece of our group. Member
Kelly also raised a concern about time management.
Liaison Goutierez responded in agreement that these are foundational definitions and it
is important for the Commission members to work together with Master Plan definitions
and with your help and input, give you a sense of ownership, making the summaries
something that we are creating together for the future and move us forward as a
Commission. I want you to take this task as it is for what it is. It's not to task you with
one more thing but to include you in defining what we are going to be doing at a larger
scale later on.
Chair Khan said there's a consensus building for spending more time on this task as we
won't be able to complete it today.
Vice Chair Frost made a recommendation, in view of need to give this task more time to
be thoughtful and provide sufficient guidance from Commissioners to prepare a shorter
definition of Beautification and Public Art, that this item be postponed. Chair Khan
approved of the recommendation.
Vice Chair Frost made a motion to make this task an assignment for the next meeting.
Member Ebert seconded the motion. Chair Khan asked voting members, all in favor?
Members unanimously stated, aye. Chair Khan asked if any members opposed, and none
did so. Motion passed.
d. Create a Template Narrative for Grant Applications.
Discuss how to use these definitions for grant writing and project proposals.
Develop a standardized narrative for grants related to art experiences, festivals,
workshops, etc.
Chair Khan postponed both [previous] item 7.c and [current item] 7.d to the next
Commission meeting because of the requirement to spend some thoughtful time on
definitions and synthesis, which would then be applied to item d. We need to do the
foundational work.
e. Create a Spreadsheet of Funding Agencies.
Review current list of funding agencies. Discuss how to maintain and update spreadsheet.
Liaison Goutierez shared handout of grant opportunities list for the Cultural Public Arts
Commission. Currently six organizations are listed but goal is to increase list.
Commissioners may provide any funding opportunity that you know about to Vice Chair
Frost, who has the spreadsheet. If you know of any grants that are coming up for 2025,
please let us know so we can include them in our Agenda for January 2025.
f. Grant Application Tracking.
Set up a system to track grant application deadlines and requirements.
Assign roles and responsibilities for monitoring applications.
Chair Khan: [Items e. and f.] are both systems in the process of being developed and
organized, and assigning roles and responsibilities. At the moment, we have assigned
Vice Chair Frost to track these, working with Liaison Goutierez, on both items e. and f.
Commission members and at large members are invited to share information with the
three of us.
Member Ebert mentioned a City resident in attendance with information on a Hennepin
County Grant that she's brought to other Commissions, and requested time for her to
speak about at this Commission meeting. [Chair’s Note: Diane Sannes, who was referred
to the upcoming Open Forum (Agenda item #9)] to present it.
8. Approval of Old Minutes: August 2024 Minutes. See Agenda item #3 (passed).
9. Open Forum.
Chair Khan invited two City residents in attendance to address the Commission.
Michelle (Thayer): I'm a resident of Brooklyn Center for over 20 years. I came across
the Commission initially in one of the advertising pieces, I was going to apply and then I
fortunately met Nahid; She's in my jewelry-making class that we do over at the African
American Museum in North Minneapolis. …..
I love being in the arts. I did apply for the Commission as well, so I'm hoping to make it,
possibly be a part of it or if not, just be a community at large person who comes in and
checks in and sees what you're doing.
Vice Chair Frost said “thank you for being here” and Chair Khan said “thank you for
joining our Commission tonight. Hope you learned something and want to stay involved”
to which Ms. Thayer replied, “yes, definitely.”
Chair Khan invited Ms. Sannes to address Commission, but she declined to introduce
herself or bring up her information about a grant.
10. New Business.
For the sake of Agenda order, some topics / questions raised from various points
elsewhere during the meeting have been moved to this point in the Minutes.
a. No Commission meeting in December.
b. Educational opportunity proposed by Liaison Goutierez:
Exhibition at Katherine Nash Gallery, Regis Center for the Arts, University of
Minnesota West Bank campus on Saturday, Dec. 7:
Art and Artifact: Murals from the Minneapolis Uprising. [Nash Gallery and
Memorialize the Movement present an exhibition of murals that were painted on plywood
after the murder of George Floyd.]
There was an additional exhibition at Quarter Gallery in same building:
Layers of Joy: A Community Celebration of Black Art and Artists in Minneapolis.
[Curated by Art History & Philosophy students for the Department of Art's Quarter
Gallery, the exhibition features five artists creating work with and about Black joy. This
included Sean G. Phillips, who was a member of the cohort and planning team member
as well as artistic “harvester” of the Emerging Brooklyn Center initiative.]
c. Adding items to the Agenda, suggestions for improving Commission
meetings, ideas for the Commission.
Commissioners are welcome to contact Chair Khan, Vice Chair Frost, and Liaison
Goutierez to add items to the Agenda, make suggestions for improving Commission
meetings, and share ideas for the Commission. Vice Chair Frost has started a document
to record them. Commissioners may volunteer to lead the Breathing Exercise portion of
the meeting.
d. A Commission budget question was raised during discussion of Agenda
item 7(c): Definition of Beautification and Public Art, and addressed in
that discussion.
Liaison Goutierez mentioned that Beautification [as implemented so far by the City] has
involved residents into art experiences, at least in the summer, and aesthetic
enhancements through revitalization of the Adopt-a-Park Program, through Community
Engagement opportunities. Apart from those programs, we don't have any [current]
funding to beautify the City as the Master Plan states.
In response, Member Love asked for clarifications about funding for the Commission
which was established to bring arts, culture and beautification to Brooklyn Center yet
there is no budget for the Commission.
Liaison Goutierez explained that the [Beautification and Public Art] Master Plan has
many layers. The City's goal is to have some funding and budget line for Beautification
and Public Art. The City is still dealing with the aftermath of COVID, and the City
Council will budget for the Master Plan after dealing with budget issues caused by
circumstances out of (the City’s) control. In the future, there likely will be a budget item
allocated to the Commission. That's why in the beginning [first Commission meeting in
August], I stated that we should focus on grant funding opportunities which will enable
[implementation of the Master Plan].
Chair Khan added that the various departments of the City are doing projects which
have an aesthetic component, and our advice would be useful for them as they develop
those projects or implement them. So that would be a role that we play that doesn't really
require funding specifically [for the Commission] because the funding's already in the
budgets of the other departments as they implement the work they're already doing. There
is no funding for the Commission specifically yet, but there are different ways in which
our work can be carried out.
We’re also a new Commission, so we are starting with nothing. The other [City]
Commissions don't necessarily spend money [directly] because what they do is they
guide staff and staff does the work. Commissions themselves don't have a budget and in
general, that's how Commissions operate, [by] providing an advisory role, but not (in)
making monetary decisions.
e. Grant writers, grants, and grant policies questions were raised as a
New Business item.
Member Love said she has no grant writing experience and asked about grant writing
experience of Commission members and who will write the grant proposals.
Chair Khan explained that Commissioner at Large Cyd Haynes has extensive
experience in writing grants. Commissioner Gail Ebert has been involved in writing
grants. Chair Khan also has helped with writing grants but not taken the lead.
This topic is a potential item to add to our future business to learn more about the grant
writing process, and explore our Commission members’ grant writing experiences.
Liaison Goutierez explained that for this Commission, there is no grant writer per se but
as a part-time staffer, she wrote a grant in October and has worked with Commissioner
Haynes before to write grants. Liaison also is willing to work with Commissioners on
this.
Director Turk explained that some departments have capacity to assign staff who have
experience in grant writing to assist with grants connected to work of this Commission
but there are no designated grant writers for the entire City.
Member Ebert shared experience from service on the Parks and Recreation
Commission, which seeks out grants for projects such as new playground equipment and
then staff will write up grants. We [on the Arts Commission] just have to find the grants.
Liaison Goutierez explained the need to be selective in what type of grants to apply for
and also consider City staff capacity. Liaison works on a part-time basis under Director
Turk under the community engagement umbrella, but other City staff can help facilitate
community engagement with art.
There may not be the monies in a budget line, [but funding] may come from other
departments seeking advice art to put in a certain location. The Opportunity Site will
have funding for art, so Commission advice will be taken to create a call for art, or decide
on what type of art would be best in that area. Community survey results on what type of
art is preferred also will be available to inform the decision-making process.
Chair Khan said staff from departments could speak to us about projects they're doing
that might require input from the Commission; this will be New Business.
Member Ebert, who also serves on the Charter Commission, mentioned its initiative to
place on the ballot a question requiring City Council to have a grant policy, which was
approved by voters at last election in November, and therefore might have implications
for the City’s grants process.
Chair Khan: [The City] already has a grant policy so there's a lot to learn about it and
significance for writing [and obtaining] grants.
Director Turk provided clarification on the City’s grant policy already in place. The
[ballot question approved by voters] a few weeks ago was to include in the City Charter a
requirement that the City to maintain a grant policy. There is a City grant policy already
in place that staff are abiding by, which requires us, if we apply for a grant, to notify the
Council through the Weekly Update. It does not mean that staff go to the formal Council
meeting to notify the Council that we are applying for the grants. We can apply for
whatever grants [staff determine are needed for City projects]. It means that once the
grant [is issued by the funder], staff now go to directly to Council and ask for a formal
approval to receive those monies and we make a formal presentation on receiving that
money. There's already a City grant policy in place. The policy assures that (1) the grant
aligns with the Commission Resolution and (2) also aligns with the City's strategic
priorities.
11. Adjournment.
Member Ebert: I would like to make the motion to adjourn. Chair Khan asked who
would like to second the motion and Vice Chair Frost did so. Chair Khan asked
members, all in favor?” and members unanimously stated, aye. Chair Khan asked
members if any opposed? None opposed and Chair Khan declared the meeting adjourned
[at approximately 8:30 p.m.]. Chair Khan also issued reminder that for the next
meeting in January, everyone should have their calendars available to check dates for
Commission meetings for the 2025 calendar year.