- to go ahead and call this meeting to order. Thank you all for being here. We're going to start this
- meeting off a little bit different than how we have previously, but I think this will be the way going
- forward. We're all just going to go around in a circle and say our name and say present. So, yeah, I'll
- go ahead and start. Gerard Ponacook, present. Christina Eamon, present. Austin White, present. Correction
- Malm, present.
- Nick Blanchard, City of Bloomington staff. Present. Okay, and I think it's Jane, is it just Jane on
- the line? Yeah, it's Jane Coopersman. Yep, Jane Coopersman, staff, present.
- Awesome. Would you mind just saying real quickly what your connection is to the movement in arts? Yeah.
- I've lived here for 13, 14 years. Came here. Just kind of became an honorary townie. I love it very
- much. I work at Secretly, have been involved with community events, block parties, DJing around town.
- Just kind of been like a local guy.
- Also a humble guy. I know Austin's also an excellent musician and karaoke host. Yeah, thanks so much.
- Yeah, we're really happy to have you on the commission, Austin. So going on to agenda item number two,
- an approval of the agenda and of the minutes. So the minutes from the February meeting, because we didn't
- have a March meeting,
- have been distributed in red. Are there any noted corrections to the minutes? No. Okay. I'm going to
- go ahead and motion to approve the minutes. Can I get a verbal second? Yes. All right. Thanks. All in
- favor of approving the minutes, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. All right. Fantastic. The minutes
- are approved.
- So I will move on to agenda item number three, the staff report and I'll turn it over to Nick.
- Thank you, Gerard. So, you know, Gerard went through a quick roll call there. There might be a couple
- other changes we see with the agenda and some of the documents over the next month or so. The city has
- some requirements regarding accessibility around city documents and a lot of that ties in with meetings.
- We have some deadlines to meet here in the next week or two. So if you see some changes, that's what
- a lot of it's rooted in. The couple other updates I have are we have concluded interviews for the special
- project manager position. There's a tentative hire there. We hope to announce more soon once all the
- HR I's are dotted and T's are crossed. And we're in the midst of interviews for the arts
- And then we'll get into the assistant director position. So moving along there. And then I know we'll
- get into this more with the grants subcommittee report. Arch project grants are live. We've seen, I
- didn't get the count today. We have a couple dozen in so far. And so I would just encourage everyone
- to keep word of mouth going, encouraging folks that you see to apply.
- we'll continue boosting that city side. And then we're going to have some public feedback sessions for
- the convention center. Jane, you actually want to speak to that briefly? Not yet. But as soon as the
- CIB, this is led by the CIB. And as soon as the CIB subcommittee has that plan solidified, we'll share
- that and make sure.
- that this group is aware and can help get the word out about that too. Cool. And so yeah, I think that's
- probably it on the staff side. Gerard, anything else you want to cover with the chair? I will move on
- to that. I guess there's really nothing to report on the financial side of things. My apologies. That's
- all good. I skipped over that.
- Yeah, we can run through that here. That is included in the full meeting packet. Basically, no changes
- from the previous month. Allocation to the BAC grants for 2026, $130,000. BU-EA zone grant allotments,
- $50,000, putting the total between those two at $180,000. And there's still $5,000 in for the Emerging
- Artist Professional Development Fund.
- So naturally, as grants are reviewed for this arts project cycle, we make some funding decisions that
- will start to draw down from the grants budget. So thank you, Gerard, for that nudge. Perfect. Nick,
- can I say something about what you said? Certainly. Do we have a good link for the new grants opportunities
- to send out to people? Is that in the last email? Yeah.
- I know we're going to run through this a little bit more with some of the criteria and eligibility changes.
- But yes, on the Arts Commission website, the page linked from the city site, which I will give us a
- quick look at here, there is a subpage for grant opportunities and professional development. That's
- what we should cut and send to people. Exactly. And so here's the subpage. This includes a full summary and then
- a more thorough program guidelines, a preview of the application questions, and a budget template that
- people can review before going to the application. So they can do some prep without having to start
- from scratch, like in the form. Nick, may I ask about that? Because as I went through this and got to
- this page, it seemed to me only about the arts project grants and not the other two grant cycles. I
- think it would be helpful if there were a place where all the grant cycles were
- available and announced, even if they don't have dates, they could at least be on people's agenda. Yes,
- I think that's fair. I know that in the past, or at least last year, there was an announcement about
- all three cycles at the outset, at the time when the first cycle, which I believe was project grants
- again, was opening up. I think in this case, because of the transition we had with city staff,
- we were a little hesitant to commit to timelines and wanted to leave some room for that new assistant
- director to communicate with the VAC and just make sure that everyone was square there. So what we can
- do is simply mention that there are gonna be two other grant cycles. I can add text to this webpage
- that just mentions more information will be coming. And then, yeah, I think once we have the AD in here,
- able to talk about timing for the second cycle, what we'll do is potentially look ahead and see if we
- can just announce dates for both the second and the third at the same time, if it feels appropriate
- to BSE. Yeah. That'd be great. The easier, the better. Just share it. Yeah. That's a great point. Great
- question. Yeah. I could be mistaken here, but I believe there are also a Facebook and Instagram post
- too that you'd be probably easily sharing last.
- Yes, there is an Instagram post from the BAC account. And we're going to bump that again. Yeah, it sounds
- like what you're reporting in terms of numbers is, I think, about what we would expect. And because,
- I mean, the bulk of them tend to come in those last couple days. So yeah, if we're already at a couple
- dozen, that's pretty good. Deadlines motivate action. It's always good. Yeah.
- Okay. Awesome. Thank you, Nick. So agenda item number four from your former chair. We have already welcomed
- new commissioner. Awesome. And so a quick note, I mean, this was, this was
- This was brought up in that as midpoint email, but just a reminder about meeting attendance. I think
- that I shared the policies for for meeting attendance and meeting requirements in that email. And I
- think in particular, just a reminder that it's super, super helpful to fill out the attendance form
- just so we don't run into a situation like what we had in March, where people are showing up and then
- we don't have quorum.
- Just a reminder there. And with that note, I will go to agenda item number five, public art, with a
- report from Christina. So I don't have a lot to say, but mainly an update on CIB. So most of the artists
- were able to come here and do their visit.
- And they were able to submit their proposals, or it's due on the 10th, so it's due this week. And then
- we're gonna start interviews April 20th through the 1st. And so right now they're just scheduling when
- they wanna do their interviews for their proposals. For the public arts subcommittee, we'll kind of
- like look at the proposals, do our discussion and give our recommendation to the CIV.
- And that will happen between like the fourth and the 15th, so that way they can kind of make that contact
- with the selected artists on the 20th. So that's kind of the timeline between now and then. We're also
- going to be doing public feedback between the 20th and the 1st as well. I didn't know, Jane, if you
- had any more information on kind of how that's
- I know it's like in person and online, but I didn't know if there's other details that I might be missing.
- Yeah, the materials aren't ready yet, but what I've been talking about with Galen is. Having a survey
- link with questions where we're trying to generate like mind people for me will feedback about the pieces
- and then I'm not sure. I'm definitely happy to do this, but I think there should be a dog and funny
- show that goes around town,
- like tentatively signed up for the farmers market tabling on the 25th. And I've been reaching out to
- different community spots and grocery stores. But then this is all, it hasn't been finalized by the
- CIB public art or the subcommittee yet. But that's kind of what we're thinking about in terms of getting
- feedback from the public. Trying to really get into the community in different
- different spaces. I'll say real quick for your benefit Austin CIB is the capital improvement board and
- so there's a group overseeing the convention center expansion so this is all about the public art element
- being incorporated into that. Can I say something about that so our role is only to advise we're not
- picking. I think a lot of people think we are
- Yeah, it's a little bit different than some other 1% for the art projects that have been done in the
- past, where the BAC's had more of a direct role in the decision making. Yeah. So that's kind of updates
- from the CIB. And then we had the, do you want to give more information on the CCC grid? Like how that
- went with Ron and? Oh, with the mural selection?
- Yeah. Is that what that's referring to? Yeah. Yeah. I think just the quick thing, especially since we
- didn't meet last month, is there is a mural call that went out for proposals to put an exterior mural
- near the New Soma location in the trades district. So the retaining wall, basically on the north side
- of the Kiln building, on the south side of 11th Street,
- in their outdoor patio area. So again, this is not an official BAC commission, but Bob Castello, who
- owns SOMA, did want to bring in a couple community members. So there are a couple people from the CCC
- grant, the project that I'm working on with IU in the middle, Bob himself. And then we invited someone
- from the Public Art Committee. Gretchen jumped in and joined us. And so it seems like there is a
- a finalist selected. Ultimately, IU is handling the funding and the contracting for that. So it's not
- 100% set in stone. But I think there's a good concept, and it's an artist that they can work with to
- kind of fine tune it. Yeah, thank you for that. Yeah. And then I guess the last thing I had was just
- the next meeting for the Public Arts Committee will be
- We changed it to the second Tuesday of the month at 5.30 p.m. So that will be April 14th at 5.30. It's
- in the Hooker conference room. I'm not sure what that is. So, but... Oh, neither. That's good. Oh, yeah.
- You guys can go to the Hooker conference room. Yeah. I'm gonna check out this Hooker conference room.
- Yeah, right. And this is the public arts subcommittee. The public arts subcommittee. And I will be a
- little late. Okay. Because I have a double meeting.
- I will definitely be there. You there? Yeah. It's upstairs, you guys, in case no one said that yet.
- It's upstairs here today, all. OK. Thank you. So yeah, also, I don't know if Netta or someone had briefed
- you on it, but once you're a couple months in, you'll select one or both committees, subcommittees to
- be a part of. There's a public arts subcommittee, and then there's a grants subcommittee.
- Okay. Okay. Paul and I will give the grants reports. So as Nick noted at the top of the meeting, the
- Arts Project Support Grants are live and we would definitely appreciate continued sort of like promotion
- of those and encouragement of artists and arts groups to submit
- submit proposals. If anyone that you know has any specific questions, they can first, they can email
- Paige. I believe Paige is sort of like the first line of fielding questions and then she delegates those
- as needed. And we also offer sort of like, I guess you could call them short consultations.
- if folks have specific questions about the applications that they're putting together. We don't review
- grants, but we will answer questions and kind of get people feeling good about the proposals that they're
- submitting and make sure that it's appropriate and eligible. So speaking of eligibility, a couple, I
- guess a couple months ago at this point, Paul and I
- along with Page, sort of updated the guidelines and ineligible expenses language, as well as the application
- for the Arts Project Grant, and we plan to do similar updates to the Artistic Advancement and Operations Grants.
- Um, the updated materials were included in the packet for today. Um, and so what I am hoping to do with
- that is just get, um, I guess some like general feedback, but also if there's feedback specifically
- from anyone on the grants subcommittee, which I guess in this case would just be Lynn. Yeah. And then, um,
- Assuming there isn't any major feedback there, we'll do a quick just sort of like committee vote on
- those with minor changes so that we can kind of make adjustments here and there. And then I have a couple
- quick other announcements. So yeah, so had anyone been able to review or have any notes about sort of
- the changes that have been made? Can you pull them up or not? Yeah, we have them here. That's it, okay.
- Where are the changes?
- So some of the major changes. Do you want to look more at the restrictions? Or is there anything about
- eligibility? Well, I don't know if there are changes in the eligibility per se. I think we've clarified
- a couple of things. So we have clarified that
- The project like we kind of defined like the I guess the when you call it the grant window and so because
- some of the projects that we funded in the past have been either like one off or like an ongoing series
- we wanted to continue to be able to support those books but we like defined a specific window that says
- like you know the expenses.
- for this particular grant cycle have to be made between July 1st, 2026, and June 30th, 2027.
- So that is, so like, you know, folks who apply can't retroactively pay for things that had happened
- before. And then, yeah, and then same for expenses beyond the June 30th window. So that was one thing.
- And then in eligibility,
- I think it had been sort of a working rule of the committee, but we kind of put it into the eligibility
- criteria. And that was about sort of like student projects that students can absolutely apply for these
- projects, but we will not fund sort of like projects that are specifically tied to their curriculum.
- You're talking IU. Well, I mean, Ivy Tech or things like that as well. But not local high school kids?
- I believe, and we didn't, I don't think we threw this in the criteria, but it was a question that came
- up. You have to be over 18, which I guess could apply to some high school seniors. So yeah, if they
- were over 18, they could apply for this, but it couldn't be for, like, yeah, like, yeah, like if they
- were doing like an art, a photography class at their school, they couldn't get funds for that. But if
- they wanted to do a public exhibition or a public performance, like those would be eligible.
- So do we need to change higher education institution to include secondary education institution? Potentially.
- I'll make a note of that. I think, yeah. I correct my own wrong, Gerard, but I feel like where this
- came up most frequently was when there were applications for students who want funding for an MFA thesis
- show or a final BFA show, something like that.
- That's exactly right. Okay, so then moving, and then, you know, we should, because of, yeah, I think
- some of the personnel changes at the city, we shifted the timeline a little bit, mostly just sort of
- when the window is open, but in terms of the funding notification and funding disbursements, those haven't
- changed significantly.
- But yes, I think first of all, we, I think with the help of Paige, created a funding restrictions list
- where we, we kind of used the IAC list as like sort of like a starting point, but then kind of like
- made adjustments to that. And I think we're maybe more appropriate. And in some cases, I'd say a little
- bit more. I think these are a little bit less restrictive than some of the IAC guidelines. But we created
- a list there and then,
- I think most importantly, we really sort of like honed in on evaluation criteria. Yes, where we I think,
- you know, honed in on sort of two, two sort of like general criteria within like four specific points
- within each community impact and engagement and implementation. And
- I think what you'll see is like we were really specific about this and then the application I think
- really sort of like flows and follows follows these criteria so that like one it's sort of like the
- person who's applying has a very clear understanding of what information they need to provide and what
- you know what they're going to be evaluated on and also for the committee reviewing is we have a very
- clear set of criteria as well that matches
- very cleanly with the application. I think we had developed, I think, a pretty good understanding of
- that. But it was in previous years. But we're operating on institutional knowledge. And I think this
- is moving us into, I think, just further clarity, both for us and for applicants. I think those are
- good changes.
- Okay, and then lastly, we sort of simplified some of the final reporting criteria. This won't be really
- coming to play until next year. But, I mean, really, I think what we assessed was, you know, we just
- kind of want a little bit of documentation about, you know, the impact of the project. And then also,
- like, both just,
- I mean, yeah, partially to make sure that the money was spent how it was supposed to be spent, but also,
- I think, for our own data. When we go to city council and we are asking for continued funding and support
- for these projects, we want to have data to show that, hey, look at all these great things that this
- money has gone toward. The artists that have been able to be supported by this and the broad audience
- for this work as well.
- Um, and that includes pictures, uh, which, you know, like for slideshows and PowerPoints and, um,
- and sort of, you know, really showcasing, uh, the work that we do. Can I ask a question? Yep. Whose
- responsibility is it going to be to go through the final reporting? That's a great question. Um, I will
- say quickly that it is the responsibility of city staff to collect the reports.
- and to connect the dot back to like the really defined timeline for when the project needs to be completed
- within. That endpoint is the trigger for city staff to then go seek out those final reports. So part
- of what we're looking at too is was the money all spent? Was it spent within that window, right? And
- so then once it's collected, admittedly,
- This has been a little loose in the past and so I think that we will most likely really empower the
- new assistant director for the arts to engage the BAC on how to use that information you know because
- like Gerard said it will inform conversations about
- future funding and just how we generally talk about the success of the program. But as far as how it
- informs future evaluation, things like that, I think that's a staff and VAC conversation. Yeah. I would
- agree with all that. Thanks for providing that clarity because I was assuming and hoping that would
- be a staff responsibility to collect those. Someone who's paid for it. Yeah, that's good to know.
- I was like, that's going to be a busy summer. I think it's helpful to just keep in mind that
- There's a way in which this is a kind of draft, and we're testing it out this coming year, and we're
- trying to move closer and closer to something that's really helpful to artists, and helpful to the city,
- and helpful to the commission. Yeah. Great. So yeah, I think that's, yeah, thank you. I'm sorry,
- I was just, and I might have blinked,
- one of the things about the final report. If you could just put that. I'm wondering if it would be helpful
- at all to say something about what length is expected. That is a great point. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Well,
- I think one of the key
- I think to Paul's point, we said requirements may include the following. We still haven't, I think,
- figured out what the reporting form or mechanism will actually look like. I think when it comes time
- to do that, we usually have character amounts or things like that. Or numbers of characters rather than
- words. Yes. Sort of like. Of course, I'd say.
- to feel my age come from the era where I was told how many pages these things should be, which is no
- longer really needed or appropriate. But to make it look less onerous, having sort of no more than access
- required, that's not the right way to put it, something like that. Yes. Yeah, I think we will definitely
- include that. And my understanding is that we want to keep these relatively
- For sure like like like like yeah, we want this of course the information to be to be accurate and useful
- But yeah, not not kind of overburden. So and I'll add to that when artists are recommended by the BAC
- formally selected and staff reaches out to initiate contracts with the artists there is language in
- that in that contract that describes the final reporting
- And there has been a recent discussion just as we're sort of reevaluating everything about exactly how
- that is defined within that contract. And so I think, let me double check what our actual contracting
- window is. But yeah, with funny notifications happening June 8th, the idea is that
- between that June 8th and July 31st window, the idea is to contract in that period of time. Obviously,
- it depends on people's responsiveness and what questions they have and staff capacity to some extent.
- But I think there will be an opportunity. We don't know when a new assistant director will start, but
- there may be an opportunity to engage them on that. If not, we do have Paige as a resource, as the consultant.
- to give us additional feedback in addition to the commissions as far as exactly what we want that to
- look like. So with that being incorporated in the contract, there will be room for some dialogue and
- folks to ask questions. Can I ask something? So you guys on the grants, there'll be like a specific
- form that they will fill out to make it a little bit easier? Likely. I mean, that's how we do it now.
- Although that kind of process has been, we haven't been as consistent with that. But my understanding
- is, yeah, it'll be a form. Like the use of von's form and the brief explanation. Yeah. Although, I mean,
- and this is something that I think we'll consider in the creation of it. We have gotten some really
- creative reports in the past. I think her name's Katie. I'm blanking on her last name. But she delivered
- her report. She's a graphic novelist.
- And she delivered her report in this very creative way. They had all the info that we needed, but it
- was like she sketched it out. And I think, you know, I don't think we want to, I think we'd like to,
- yeah. But also, you know, want the, maybe want the information in ways that we can kind of like put
- into. Yeah. You don't want to collate it. Yeah, right. Yeah, I don't want to get ahead of, you know,
- feedback from the future arts director.
- There's probably a wisdom in having at least some basic information go in a Google form so that it can
- be easily co-related and dropped into an Excel sheet or whatever, just for future reference. And then
- that sort of thing, along with pictures and whatever supplemental material people provide, just gives
- you more color for what the artist did. Yeah. All great questions. OK.
- Any more notes or thoughts about the Arts Project Grant changes? Okay, well then I think with just the
- sort of, we do have committee quorum here, so I think just between me, Paul, and Lynn, I would like
- to take a quick vote on the sort of, you know, on the sort of eligibility criteria
- and ineligible expenses language and the changes that we've made with minor changes. So all in favor
- of the language and changes that have been put forward, say aye. Aye. I just wanted to, the one thing,
- the question about the higher versus other educational institutions, that was, aye with that copy.
- Okay, yeah, yeah, I think I think that could fall under minor changes. Okay, then I great fantastic.
- Any opposed say nay. Alright, fantastic. Great. So a couple other things on the on the great grant side.
- So one is, and this actually
- came from Nick, but I wanted to just bring it to the attention of the folks here. So the NEA currently,
- or I said this year, has a grants for arts projects grant that I think they're in between their two
- cycles right now. They had sort of a February cycle, and then they have a July cycle coming up. So one
- of the questions that we frequently get is like, OK, well, so maybe my
- Maybe I need more funds for the project that I'm doing, or you know, the BAC isn't funding me this time.
- What other resources are available? This is a very high level example of federal funds that would be
- available for arts projects. So I just wanted to put it on our collective radars to let folks know that
- the NEA is awarding some funds.
- still, which is great. And yeah, it looks like the upcoming application package will be available in
- mid-May, and then the submission deadline for that July cycle is July 9th. So, and there's, I don't,
- I think, is there, I don't know if there's a link to this in the agenda.
- Well, actually, it might not have been in the agenda. I'll go ahead and send this out to folks so that
- you have a link to the NEA page for that. I would say just broadly, we do try to include things like
- this that come across our radar in the monthly, at least currently monthly, city arts newsletters. If
- you have people that are sort of new to the grant seeking game,
- I just encourage people to also sign up to the newsletter for the Indian Arts Commission. They're really
- good about collecting national and regional stuff, too. Yep. Yep. Okay. And lastly, I believe this was
- in the midpoint email, but just to reiterate, the Grants Subcommittee is also changing its meeting time.
- We are going to be the fourth Wednesday of every month at 5.30 p.m.
- I'm blanking right now on the exact meeting location. See if I can find it. We will follow up with that.
- We have that in the Kelly conference room, which is just down the hall. Go through the double doors.
- It's just past the ESD office. Okay. Perfect.
- Paul, before we move on to the next thing, is there anything that you want to add or note? No. Okay.
- I have a conflict on April 22nd, which is, I believe, that date. Okay. Great. Thanks a lot. Sorry. I'll
- follow up with you and Betsy about that. We may end up moving that meeting because I think Betsy also
- has a conflict.
- Okay, so with that, moving on to agenda item number seven. Nick, if you wouldn't mind pulling up the
- upcoming events and important dates document. I'm kind of dominating this at the moment. I threw a bunch
- of stuff in here this afternoon. So a couple quick things that are related to the Arts and Humanities
- Council or some of events that we're hosting in our building space.
- Yeah, tomorrow and Friday, I can't remember if it's the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center or if it's
- AAADS or AAAI, or all of them collectively, but they're hosting a symposium on soul music that is free
- and open to the public at Maxwell Hall at the Cook Center.
- And yeah, the keynote is, sorry, there's a speaking event tomorrow from three to five and then like
- this sort of symposium with panel discussions is taking place on Saturday between nine and three. Who's
- the keynote speaker? I don't know off the top of my head, I'm sorry.
- Well, she wants to be... Well, I don't know. She's the guest farmer. Okay. And then a couple other quick
- things. Coming up, and this is sort of just Grand Faloon kicked off this past week with... We had a
- screening with Cicada Cinema, and we had an art exhibition opening. And there's actually an event that
- just started right now at the Busker Chumme Theater, a comedy and politics event.
- So Grand Food is underway, so I'm gonna be sort of like putting all of our events on the calendar here.
- The ones sort of in between now and our next meeting that are sort of like free and open to the public
- are the IU Cinema and Can Can are gonna simultaneously screen the film Swiss Army Man, which connects
- to some of the themes of Slapstick, our novel this year. And then in early May, the IU Theater and Drama
- A visiting faculty member there has adapted this year's novel, Slapstick, into sort of a one-hour staged
- concert reading of the novel. And theater students will be performing that at the Cook Center. And I
- think we're also working on having a talk back after one of those events. But those are always pretty
- well attended. And it's cool to see faculty and students
- collaborating in that way and being, you know, kind of joining Grand Faloon, our programming in that
- way. So I'll give those a shout out. Anyone else have any events or things that they would like to share
- or note? Well, at the Buskirk Chumley, right after this, it is free. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
- It's a longer event today, so it'll be going. I'm not sure if we are, like,
- In April, they always have their concerts every week. So the 18th is the dance company, the 21st. The
- 25th is the solo review, and then May 4th is the choral ensemble. So the next couple of weekends, they'll
- be having their concerts. Where are they going to be? All at the same place or different places?
- Most of them are at the IU Art Tourium or at the all-covered bus, Perth Tournament Theater. I can put
- it in there. Yeah, I've got a spot held for it. Great. They're all very different places, but I'll just
- tell you guys in the document. Well, I will just mention that
- There's an Earth Day celebration at Switchard Park, Saturday, April 18th. And there will be some art
- and games and things like that. I think there's a sand art station people can work at. And I believe
- there's a pre-tree giveaway. We need a tree for your yard. Is that Switchard? Yes. Switchard, Saturday,
- April 18th, 12 to 3.30 PM.
- They're being free. Have they said when they're going to announce the main grand balloon? They actually
- just have. Just on Monday. It's not Waxahachie, is it? So there's actually three. It's a series now.
- There are three performances. Waxahachie is the headliner for the June concert.
- Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings are doing two sets in July they're doing a great I believe a Grateful
- Dead cover set and then a like original set and then Duran Jones is the headliner for August 29th and
- I know that that is in collaboration actually with secretly as sort of like a celebration of 30 years
- of secretly so I know that there's gonna be some other concerts and engagements kind of like in partnership with
- And those are gonna be, yeah, that's what you're gonna mark. Great. Any other events or important dates?
- Okay, moving on to commissioner comments and announcements. Does anyone have any comments or announcements
- they'd like to make?
- It was more so about how many people are on the commission and filling new spots. And I didn't know
- if there was any updates on that or that jazz. Yeah. So we are, with Austin joining us, we are now at
- 10 out of 11 seats filled. So I know we've talked about quorum.
- a simple majority, so it's like half plus one. Now we have 10, Quorum is six. When it's full of 11,
- Quorum will still be six. That one open slot is a mayoral appointee. I know that Jane has checked in
- on that a couple times, and the mayor's support staff is at least engaged with some applicants. I'm
- not sure exactly where it's at beyond that, because there are at least a few people who have like on
- the side checked in with
- Jane and Paige and I, just to make sure they're still in the mix. And we've just gotten confirmation
- from the mayor's office that they are or still need to talk to people. Great question. Thanks. Are we
- allowed to know who's applied or not? Is that confidential or...? That's a good question. I don't...
- Is it none of our business?
- I don't know the official answer to that. And off the top of my head, I don't remember any names. But
- I'm happy to look it up and check. Curious. Yeah. And the only thing I'll mention is just that even
- if there's not an open seat, it is totally fine to still encourage people to apply. People can just
- sort of sit in a queue for when seats open up. And it's good to know who those people are.
- people. And I guess I should have mentioned this in the staff report but just while we're talking about
- membership of the commission. I would just give people a gentle reminder to fill out your conflict of
- interest form if you've not already that is something that is generally needed for the commission but is
- important ahead of grant reviews will not be able to review grants without that it's not complicated
- it's not like a background check it's just simply stating do you have relationships with an organization
- that you would derive some financial benefit you know there be awarded a grant that doesn't even mean
- that you're precluded from reviewing grants it just means we know
- who to tell to step out of the room when we're reviewing specific ones. So just need to know that before
- anyone can sit down and look through the applications. So obviously a lot of people are asking about
- Holly and Jazz. My response has been,
- HR has said that they can't talk about it yet. Is that still the response? Yeah, I would say from my
- understanding, it's not even yet. I think it's simply like city side. It's just they don't,
- I guess we, HR department doesn't comment on personal decisions publicly. I think a lot of employers
- do. What about us as commissioners?
- I think that still holds. I mean, the truth is, we've had some like all staff events or at least events
- that are like available for staff to submit questions to the mayor and things like that. That has not
- been divulged to like staff either. Like I was not told anything directly. Other people in our department
- was not told anything directly like from city staff. Okay. Is there ever going to be like a statement
- about it or just not?
- My understanding is probably not. Yeah. So I know, naturally, press can ask questions. And I think some
- questions have probably been asked. And so I don't know what will come from that. But I just know on
- a personal level, I talked to Holly directly. And I think she and Chas will.
- divulge what they want to divulge. That's a good response. Yeah. Any other comments or announcements?
- Okay, moving on to agenda item number nine, the public comment. Oh, hey, Betsy. Hey.
- Yeah. Hey, I've been hearing the whole time. Hey, do you have any any comments or announcements? No,
- but I wish you were here in Mississippi with me on sitting on this porch of my sister's Airbnb. Yeah,
- that sounds. That sounds delightful. No, I don't have anything to add,
- I do think that it's, you know, I hope that we'll be able to reschedule that grants meeting sometime.
- I see that someone else has a conflict, so maybe figure out a time. Yeah, we'll find another time,
- for sure. Yeah. Perfect. Thanks. OK. Come on, Betsy. Given that there's no public, so we will go ahead.
- and move to call to adjourn. So again, thanks all for being here. I motion to adjourn the meeting. Can
- I please get a second? Second. Thank you, Gretchen. This meeting is adjourned. Thanks all.