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.