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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230809 - PacketHastings Arts and Culture Commission Agenda August 9 – Regular Meeting Agenda Hastings City Hall – Volunteer Room 6:00 pm 1. Call Meeting to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes – July 12, 2023 Regular Meeting OLD BUSINESS 4. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures b) Finance & Fundraising c) Outreach & Communications Plan Creative Convergence 5. Updates from Commissioner Liaisons with City Commissions 6. Performing Arts on the Trails NEW BUSINESS 7. Select Artwork to Lease for the Riverwalk 8. Budget 2024 a) Use workplan and budget request (2023) as guiding documents 9. Discussion on goals for 2024 10. Announcements 11. Adjourn Page 1 of 8 Hastings Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 12, 2023 – 6:00 PM Hastings City Hall – Volunteer Room 1. Call Meeting to Order Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commission Chair Hollenbeck; Commissioners Becker, McGinn, Skeba, Tribe; Staff representative Lee Absent: Vice Chair Read; Commissioners Humphrey and McCoy Others present: Bryant Ficek, MN DOT Rep Metro District – South Area Engineer for Dakota County; Pam Pontzer, Hastings Prescott Arts Council Board Member 2. Approval of Agenda Commissioner Tribe motioned to approve; Commissioner Becker seconded. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes – June 14, 2023 Regular Meeting Commissioner Becker motioned to approve; Commissioner McGinn seconded. Motion carried. 4. Hwy 61 Presentation from Bryant Ficek, MN DOT Rep Metro District – South Area Engineer for Dakota County Following introductions, Ficek discussed Highway 61 Project and the five identified community spaces the commission is interested in. The project is scheduled for 2027 and includes the entire corridor—4th Street to 36th Street. The three phases to study include: a) information gathering, including traffic counts and observations (MN DOT has considered previous studies done by the city and has held public open houses and solicited online input.); b) compiling all information gathered and identifying issues, solutions, and various options; and c) proposing final version after all input and identifying key issues, including but not limited to safety and mobility, speed, crossings, flow that includes getting on and off the highway, making it part of the community, and ADA compliance. Timeline: Targeted construction begins in 2027. Between now and then: finishing up final report; making simulation of corridor; pursuing funding opportunities, including federal and state grants for city’s portion for corridor reconstruction and utilities. By 2024 – complete preliminary design and move into final design. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 2 of 8 Ficek rolled out a large map/blueprint for commissioners to have a visual concept of the project. He started on the south end of town and worked his way to the other end, pointing out opportunities for the commission to consider. Opportunity #1 – coming in at 316 Ideas: Paint, mosaics, green art, sculptures, and persistent art would be acceptable in the middle area, within guidelines and with maintenance considerations. Opportunity #2 – coming off 316 (by civic arena/trail) Ideas: Add trails to both sides. Chair Hollenbeck asked if there were any easements MN DOT would need access to. Ficek said MN DOT would need to look at the right-of-way (5-10 feet beyond curb). He said they can work with it, but clear zone must be considered. Opportunity #3 - at 21st Street Ideas: There is a slope coming down, and MN DOT sees an opportunity for trail connection. Commissioner Skeba wants an art indicator to Hastings as you come in on south side of town. Opportunity #4 – at 18th Street Ideas: Realign for better intersection, signalize for truck traffic, and close access. MN DOT has met with the Mill and suggested the commission find ways to recognize its historic value. Ficek encouraged commission to meet with them to pursue opportunities and form potential partnership. Opportunity #5 – 10th Street & Highway 55 - Todd Field MN DOT will be rebuilding the wall and would like to retain historic elements (iron gate, plaque, and inner façade to mimic existing wall). Ideas: Reconstruction of the wall and sidewalk will create opportunity for green space. Commission suggested putting a mural on outside concrete wall, but Ficek explained the height of the wall on the street side would be two to three feet plus fence. He explained that the wall lies halfway on district property and halfway on MN DOT property. MN DOT will fund the functional and structural aspects of wall but will not pay for anything beyond base cost. The commission would need to work with the school district if they’re interested in pursuing anything more. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 3 of 8 Final opportunity – entering on 3rd and 4th Streets Ideas: Consider carrying herringbone pattern forward, lighting, creating a better sense of place, and better signage to direct people downtown. Ficek reminded there are many rules governing signage but, at a minimum, current signage could be cleaned up. Commissioner Skeba asked how the commission should go about contacting MN DOT. Ficek said he is the contact person. Skeba requested Ficek send the commission photos of similar things MN DOT has done in other cities. Ficek advised that as commission ideas move forward—and if they are not in tandem with or if they run outside of MN DOT’s schedule—the spaces are still going to be there, reserved for the commission. Fisek reminded that MN DOT is not yet in the design stage, and there will be more public opportunities and open houses moving forward. They will have a better sense of the full project in early to mid-2024. Meanwhile, he said, commission ideas can go back and forth with MN DOT (determining yes we can make it work, no we can’t) and can be considered in design, with discussion of funding. Commissioner Skeba suggested the commission put together a proposal for the City Administrator, so he is aware what the commission wants when the project moves forward. Fisek and Pontzer both departed the meeting, and the commission continued with its agenda. OLD BUSINESS 5. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures Hollenbeck reported the subcommittee did not meet because of 4th of July/summer. She added that once it was determined the commission would use artist leases, it took some pressure off commissioners to develop their own. The commission can take artist agreements and add stipulations from the city. She said it is common practice for artists to use own leases because they are familiar with them, but commission can propose a hybrid. Skeba stated the commission must make sure the City Administrator and City Attorney are comfortable with the agreement—and added that we need recourse. He said he put together a list of 34 artists that lease and added it to the two shared commission Google drives and will figure out how to get it onto others. The list has links to artist webpages and costs, which the commission can choose from as it moves forward. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 4 of 8 b) Finance & Fundraising The subcommittee has not met. Hollenbeck sees meetings further down the road. Skeba noted the commission can’t fundraise until it has something to fundraise for; likewise, it can’t write grants until it has something to write grants for. He also suggested the commission gets sponsorships in place. Hollenbeck suggested that once the commission moves forward after its two-year trial period and becomes permanent, she wants to secure a grant for strategic planning. She expressed that right now the commission is throwing darts at a board and hitting a lot of different targets. Moving forward, she would like the commission to look for grants for 2025-2026 where it can create a strategic plan that lays out what they are doing and how they will get there. Skeba would also like to put a grant together for sponsorships to show the essence of Hastings, where the commission can be specific about the art it wants to see. He said he has been working with the city’s Pioneer Room volunteers and asked them what they would consider to be the essence of art in Hastings. He suggested the commission can grab some of the work they already did and use their collective knowledge to move forward. Hollenbeck acknowledged that the 2024 grants submission cycle has likely already passed. She stated that the commission has a lot of ideas and will need to take a more funneled approach to make things more substantial and impactful for community. c) Outreach & Communications Commissioner Tribe said she and Commissioner Humphrey will be meeting next week. Tribe said they’ve discussed a performance through Prairie Island. She then asked who runs the events downtown and who is the person to contact. Hollenbeck replied that the Downtown Business Association has an event scheduled for September 30, and Artspace is on board. She said that most anything downtown – in the parks – is run by Paige in the City’s Parks Department. Hollenbeck asked about the dollar amount Humphrey has come up with for the performance and mentioned that a resident at Artspace knows a member from another tribe in Afton, and it will be great to start bringing in the Native American narrative. Skeba inquired about contacts made with other arts organizations (Red Wing, Mankato, etc.) and Tribe said she and Humphrey have been busy, and no official contacts have been made. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 5 of 8 Hollenbeck and Skeba volunteered to make those contacts. Skeba says he has a connection with a committee member/main funder and will find out how they do their fundraising. Tribe asked, for purpose of outreach, where the list of local artists is currently housed. 6. Updates from Commissioner Liaisons with City Commissions Historic Preservation Commission – Tribe HEDRA - Hollenbeck Skeba asked what the expectation is for commissioners. Hollenbeck responded that, in the beginning, commissioners reach out to the staff person and commission chair of their designated commission and introduce themselves as Arts and Culture commissioners. She suggested they also ask the staff liaison of designated commission to give a heads up to the Arts Commission if something pertains to it. Hollenbeck suggested contacts be made via email so there is a paper trail. Also, all commission agendas and minutes can be found on the City’s website. 7. Performing Arts on the Trails Hollenbeck said that in addition to the September 30th event downtown, there is a Bike with a Ranger event on September 12th, and added we already know people will be on trails—and it would show collaboration with the Parks Department. Skeba asked for clarification on what the commission is proposing. Hollenbeck responded that, as Travis Lockwood suggested in his idea while on the Arts Task Force, we would install four to five different musicians at strategic points on the 10-mile loop as participants Bike with a Ranger. There was back and forth discussion on whether we should move forward with this event or have an event where people stop and listen to musicians. Tribe will reach out to Lockwood for clarification of details he had in mind. Hollenbeck asked for a motion to accept the September 12th “Troubadours on the Trails” event. Skeba suggested we talk to Paige in the Parks Department to understand her vision and find out how many bikers there will be to see if the cost for musicians makes sense. He said he would make a motion that we investigate. Tribe will connect with Lockwood for clarification of details he had in mind, then reach out to Paige. NEW BUSINESS 8. Select Artwork from Dale Lewis to Lease for the Riverwalk Hollenbeck suggested leasing five sculptures from artist Dale Lewis for installation along the riverwalk. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 6 of 8 Skeba asked if other artists were considered and said he prefers diversity in the art shown. Hollenbeck said the goal tonight was to choose three sculptures from the Dale Lewis collection so they can be placed. She said if we want to add two more, we can—but we can also look elsewhere at work from other artists. The group agreed that local artists be considered for easier transport. Commissioners also agreed that choices be Hastings-centric, that they are things related to Hastings and/or animals seen in this area. Commissioner McGinn asked about safety and liability. Skeba responded that the concrete pads are recessed from trail – the seahorse has a pedestal, and the other four pads are flat. Consideration should be given, though, to the two pads that abut the wall. Hollenbeck gave an update on the HEP grant. HEP will be meeting on July 20th to make their sculpture selection for that project, therefore we will need to coordinate commission choices with HEP. She also volunteered the commission’s services for whatever they need to move their grant project forward. Commissioners agreed on the following Dale Lewis sculptures to lease: Otter, rock bass, bicycle tree, and turtle (which is already on display, but will recommend city begins to pay lease) Commissioner Becker inquired about a timeline for sculpture placement. Hollenbeck said she was eyeing August 1st date. Lee reminded that lease agreements need to go before the City Council for approval and that timing needs to be considered in planning process. The group then looked at other local artist offerings online. Skeba said he would send out an artist list that night. He requested that, through email, commissioners propose some ideas and preferences on the local artists and pieces they like. Skeba stated there needs to be one single point of contact at the city. Hollenbeck offered to be that point of contact for installation, maintenance, etc. of sculptures. Hollenbeck asked for a motion to select three Dale Lewis sculptures and approve budgeted amount. She said she connected with Lewis, and he cited $1,000 per sculpture per year. The lease agreement must go before the City Council, and she wants budget and lease agreement in one document for approval. She suggested they use Lewis’s lease agreement and write in stipulations for deinstallation, replacement if sculpture is removed, and commission. Hollenbeck said she will speak with Lewis’s assistant to let them know what the commission is doing and secure a dollar amount. Skeba offered to rewrite lease agreement with rider. Hollenbeck will ask Lewis if he is agreeable. Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 7 of 8 Motion by Skeba to lease four chosen sculptures at a cost not to exceed $5,000 with the three stipulations made to lease agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Becker. Motion carried. ** Letter to Editor Discussion ** The commission discussed a letter to the editor of the local newspaper titled “Artistic Questions” written by Bea Westerberg. Skeba interpreted she was asking how the public can get involved with what the city/commission is doing with art and what that path looks like. He suggested the commission needs a larger presence on the city’s website to communicate with the general public and have a place for artists to contact. He said the current page does not say anything about what the commission is doing, and we need to address the outside world so they know what is happening. Tribe asked if the commission is supposed to build a website. Lee reaffirmed that the commission has pages available on the city’s website to convey whatever information they wish, provided it does not require a great deal of upkeep from staff. Tribe said she would reach out to the city’s communications director and set up a meeting to discuss the website pages. 9. Goals for 2023 and Strategies for Achievement a) Use Workplan and budget request (2023) as guiding documents Hollenbeck advised the commission needs to craft a budget for 2024. She requested the same amount of funding provided by the city for 2023—$20,000 spendable monies and $5,000 staff salary. She suggested that if this year’s funds are forwarded to 2024, they must be earmarked and tied to projects. She noted it’s getting late in season, and the commission needs to be mindful of moving forward and getting stuff done; build stronger liaisons with city personnel and organizations; figure out how to engage with community and provide an avenue for people to get to commission; drill down and decide how money is going to be spent. She said the commission has had tons of ideas but must make things happen. Skeba suggested commissioners submit their ideas for strategic plans for 2024. 10. Discussion on goals for 2024 Hollenbeck shared some ideas to put on the radar: Arts and Culture Commission July 12, 2023 Minutes Page 8 of 8 Utilize center island outside of Artspace, which is now just a grassy area, to add a Cow Town theme because it’s on the edge of what residents refer to as Cow Town. This would build around a neighborhood theme. HEDRA owns two buildings on the corridor. Commission could use funds to put something colorful on them, such as an image screening by Graphic Design. They already have a design for historic Hastings, and we could put that design on the facades of those HEDRA buildings. Becker suggested we invite a band ensemble to perform. Commissioners agreed that we need performing arts/a variety of arts. Hollenbeck suggested that for 2024, commissioners note events happening during the calendar year and think about ways to partner with organizations. She added we need to consider the culture piece too. 11. Adjourn Chair Hollenbeck made motion to adjourn at 8:13pm. Seconded by Commissioner McGinn. Motion carried. Next Arts and Culture Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 9th at 6:00pm in the Volunteer Room at City Hall.