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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.09.18 CPAM BROOKLYN CENTER CULTURAL AND PUBLIC ART COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 18, 2025 BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL (Revised and updated October 22, 2025) Members: Nahid Khan, Chair; Michelle Thayer, Vice Chair; Gail Ebert, Adriana Jeffrey, Kari Kelly, Sabra Love, and Marie Martin. Members at Large / Affiliates: Denise Butler, Sandra Kenyon, and Cyd Haynes. City Staff: Liaison Raquel Diaz Goutierez and Director LaToya Turk. Council Liaison: Mayor April Graves. 1. CALL TO ORDER: at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Khan, followed by Land Acknowledgement read by Member Thayer. 2. ROLL CALL AND QUORUM: conducted by Liaison Goutierez. Members: All present except Member Marie Martin (excused absence). Quorum of four Members was met. Members at Large: Cyd Haynes was present. 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: conducted by Chair Khan. Member Love moved to adopt the agenda as presented, and Member Jeffrey seconded it. Motion unanimously adopted by Members. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: of July 17, 2025: Conducted by Chair Khan. Member Love moved to approve the minutes of July 17, 2025, as presented, and Member Kelly seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. 5. STAFF PRESENTATION: “THE MN LEGACY AMENDMENT TAX AND ITS ROLE TO SUPPORT ARTS, CULTURE, AND PARKS by Senate District 38B Rep. Samantha Vang. Chair Khan introduced the Representative and informed the rest of the Members that the presentation would be 15 minutes with 10 minutes of discussion and questions to follow. Representative Samantha Vang presented about the Legacy Amendment, what sort of funding the Legacy Committee does, and what money has been allocated. She stated that she is the co-chair of the legacy committee. She noted that in 2008, Minnesota voted to amend the state constitution to raise the sales tax one percent to protect drifting water sources, to protect and enhance wetlands, various forests, and fishing and wildlife habitats, to preserve arts and cultural heritage, support parks and trails, and to enhance and restore the lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. She noted that from that, the State created the Clean Water and Land Legacy Amendment, which has a dedicated spot for 25 years. She explained that it has been very effective, it has generated $5,700,00,000 and has funded over 27,000 projects. She described the four funding categories: the Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Clean Water Fund, the Parks and Trails Fund, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. She noted in 2024, there was about $800,000,000. She explained the types of funding projects that were allocated in 2025. She noted that the final fund, the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, is an easier fund to access, and the Legislators have more say in it. Following the presentation, Members asked questions and offered input. Member Thayer asked if the state art board grants funds to municipalities as well. Ms. Vang noted that it is because it is open to any nonprofit, as long as it is a public entity. Member Thayer asked if it could be used for programming and for organizational capacity. Ms. Vang stated that she was not sure about the organizational capacity, as it tends to go towards more programming activities. Member Ebert raised a concern about the rain gardens in the City, because they are not being taken care of, and what backup plan is in place for the money to make sure they are being taken care of. Ms. Vang stated that the Met Council would be the one to talk to about it, but requirements could be added in order to receive the funding for rain gardens. Member Love asked how the money is accessed for the programs. Ms. Vang noted that there are a couple of administrative agencies, the big one being the State Arts Board. She added that subscribing to their newsletter to see what sort of funding and application process is taking place. She stated that another administrative agency is the Minnesota Humanity Center, so subscribing to their newsletter will get the information as well. Chair Khan asked if the agencies read grants. Ms. Vang explained that the legislators decided on the framework and set the full funding, and then the administrative agencies take that and administer based on their criteria. Staff Liaison Goutierez stated that the City has received a few grants recently. Member Love asked if there is a cap on how much money is extended to each project. Ms. Vang stated that each administrative agency has their own nuanced policies. Member Ebert asked what type of oversight is in place for the public funds to know where the funds are going and how it is being spent. Ms. Vang stated that the agencies have their own grant policies in place. Chair Khan indicated that if there are further questions from the Commission, direct them to her or Liaison Goutierez, and they will be sent to Representative Vang. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: conducted by Chair Khan. a. Meeting Procedures and Commissioner Roles and Responsibilities. Chair Khan noted that the documents were included in the agenda packet and emailed out previously. Members offered input and asked questions about the documents. b. Commission Review of the Commissioner Code of Respect. Chair Khan updated the Commission that Staff is working on a draft for the Commissioner's Code of Respect. Members offered their input on the Code of Respect. Liaison Goutierez added information about how the role of a Commissioner looks different than the role of a resident. She added that all the concerns would be addressed in the Council meeting on Monday. Member Love brought up concerns about private conversations. Staff Liaison Goutierez noted that all the concerns could be brought to the council meeting on Monday, and this meeting would focus on those concerns. Chair Khan stated that this topic is just to give an update on where the code is. Staff Liaison Goutierez explained that the Commissioners' concerns were important, but she wants them to bring them to a place where they will be most validated, and that is at the Council meeting on September 22. 7. OLD BUSINESS: conducted by Chair Khan. a. Beautify Brooklyn Center: Planning for Public Art. Chair Khan explained the document Beautify Brooklyn Center: Planning for Public Art, which guides the work plan for staff and advisory commissions, and emphasizes the essential role of the arts in Brooklyn Center. She added that the Commission would continue the discussion on the proposed commission project that was started at the July meeting, and what the timeline for the project would look like. Member Thayer noted her concerns about going forward with the project due to not having the tools necessary and having questions unanswered. Members offered feedback on the project. Staff Liaison Goutierez provided input on the project and the way the City goes about finding artists in the community. Member Love asked if the Commission could have their own Facebook page. Staff Liaison Goutierez explained that there is an Instagram account, but it must go through the Communications Department. She noted that she is willing to propose the idea again at the request of the CPAC. Commissioners asked about calling out to artists to meet them at a specific location and having them hang out with the Commission, to meet them and see what they are into, an artist social. Staff Liaison Goutierez talked about ways to make it work, but the Commission needs to write something up and send it to her to get approval to do it. Member Jeffry asked about a room to meet up to work on art. Chair Khan noted that it would be an open lab for artists. Chair Khan noted that ideas can be sent to Staff Liaison Goutierez, Vice Chair Thayer, or herself. b. Grants Update. Member Thayer gave an update on the grants that have been applied for and could be applied for to fund staffing and artist project funding. She added an update about collaborating with other commissions and determining how the grant writing process works in the City. She asked the Commissioners to share their ultimate goals for the Commission going forward and how they would utilize the grants. Commissioners shared ideas for what they want to see in the future of the Commission. Staff Liaison Goutierez noted that a document was shared, which contains a comprehensive list of grants completed and applied for in the City. She shared information on the grants that are being applied for, as well, specifically the US Bank Grant. The Commission discussed whether the grant would need to be completed by someone else due to a conflict of interest, but Staff Liaison Goutierez noted that she has already talked to them, and it is not. Member at Large Hayes asked if the Commission has a line item in the budget. Staff Liaison Goutierez noted that they would need to wait to know the answer to this until the budget is approved. c. Artist Housing Concept Recommendations. Chair Khan gave an update on the Artist Housing Concept that all suggestions have been compiled, and Staff Liaison Goutierez and Manager Ian Alexander will meet to discuss next steps. Staff Liaison Goutierez noted that she and Manager Ian have been trying to meet with the developers of the building, but have not been able to as of yet, so no report will come until they meet with the developers. d. Anti-Litter Campaign Update: Potential Areas of Collaboration. Chair Khan gave a review of what the Commission had decided at the past meetings. She updated that the Parks and Recreation has been discussing forming a Sustainability Committee, and it would be open to the CPAC. She added that there are also two Parks and Rec Commission Members who are interested in joining any anti-litter campaign committee that may be formed. 8. NEW BUSINESS: conducted by Chair Khan. a. Upcoming Presentations. Chair Khan noted that the CPAC has the possibility of reviewing the new planning document for the City parks. She noted that the consultants are willing to work with the Commission to have their added input, and this would be something that would be presented at the November meeting. Member Thayer asked that if there are any events coming up that are known to try to get them to the Commission so they can be put on the calendar. Chair Khan noted that Member Thayer volunteered to track the events. b. Staff and Council Report. Chair Khan explained that the Commissioners should look at the extensive Artist Resident’s Report, and be ready to discuss next meeting. She also noted events that were coming up and events that had happened in the past. Staff Liaison Goutierez updated on some of the upcoming events and noted they were on the agenda as well. c. Commissioner Report. Chair Khan provided information on what can be shared during this part of the meeting. Commissioners shared information on different arts and cultural events that they know are taking place. d. Land Acknowledgement. Staff Liaison Goutierez provided information on the reason the Land Acknowledgement is included in meetings and whether the Commission wants to continue including it in the meetings. Member Thayer read the reasons for including the acknowledgement in the meetings. Member Jeffrey motioned to keep the Land Acknowledgement as part of the meeting. Member Kelly seconded the motion. Member Eber voted against the same. Motion passed. Member Ebert asked that the Land Acknowledgement be put into the agenda as an item, so she has time to excuse herself. Staff Liaison Goutierez asked that it be discussed at a later time on how to have the Land Acknowledgement put into the agenda to respect all. 9. OPEN FORUM: No requests from the public to address the Commission. 10. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Khan called for a motion to adjourn. Member Love moved to adjourn the meeting, and Member Ebert seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. Chair Khan declared the Commission meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.