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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-24 Arts & Culture Commission PacketHastings Arts and Culture Commission Agenda January 10, 2024 6:00 p.m. – City Hall Volunteer Room 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Approval of Minutes – December 13, 2023 ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS 3. Swearing in of New and Reappointed Commissioners 4. Introductions 5. Election of Officers SPECIAL PRESENTATION – LAKE REBECCA MASTER PLAN Parks and Recreation Director Chris Jenkins Attachments: Narrative from LCCMR Grant Agreement and Aerial Image of General Project Area OLD BUSINESS 6. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures - NA b) Finance & Fundraising - NA c) Outreach & Communications Sherry & Jeannie 4. Updates from Commissioner - Liaisons with City Commissions 5. Update on Google Calendar 6. Update on City Hall Tour - January 20th Update by Barb NEW BUSINESS 10. Set Benchmarks or Timeline to Accomplish 2024 Goals Persistent arts • Sculptures: Add another artist on Riverwalk; renew Dale Lewis sculptures after one-year lease expires • Mural artwork on exterior of civic arena Performing arts • Walking tour with musicians (and possible plein air painting by local artist) where participants interact with nature, arts, and community • Work with Paige in Parks Department on scheduling and programming Performance in the Park segment • Ideas include a puppet wagon for kids, a classical actors’ ensemble, and a walking play Cultural activities • Rivertown Days • Project with Dakota Tribe • Creative Convergence 11. Announcements 12. Adjourn Page 1 of 5 Hastings Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – 6:00 PM Hastings City Hall – Volunteer Room 1. Call Meeting to Order Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m. Present: Commission Chair Hollenbeck; Vice Chair Read; Commissioners Becker, Humphrey (remote), McCoy, McGinn (late), Tribe; Staff representative Lee Absent: None 2. Approval of Agenda Vice Chair Read motioned to approve; Commissioner Becker seconded. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes – October 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Commissioner Becker motioned to approve; Commissioner Tribe seconded. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS 4. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures Subcommittee has not met. b) Finance & Fundraising Subcommittee has not met. c) Outreach & Communications Update by Humphrey and Tribe • Reconciliation Project Commissioners Humphrey and Tribe met with Adrienne Benjamin, a reconciliation adviser who has worked with Minnetonka Moccasin on cultural awareness, and asked for guidance on how to proceed in the Hastings community since our lands are Dakota lands. Benjamin asked about the commission’s scale of what it’s trying to do—if there is both city and commission buy in and if the project should be commission-driven or led by another arts organization. She recommended the commission collect statistics of Native American percentages in Hastings—the number of Native Americans in general, then a further breakdown of Dakota population—and suggested the commission consider working with the school district. Humphrey spoke of a potential citywide educational opportunity—such as historical facts of the lands before White people settled in Hastings, and why things are named as they are. She asked if the commission is interested in doing something like a reconciliation Arts and Culture Commission December 13, 2023 Minutes Page 2 of 5 project and again stressed city and commission buy-in. If so, the commission can hire Benjamin on an hourly basis to get the initiative started. • Potential Partnership Humphrey reported that she was approached by the manager at Pleasant Hills Library about an opportunity for partnership. The library will be adding Dakota language onto the mat on the floor they currently have. They also want to implement a garden with Dakota County and offered the commission the opportunity to be involved. • Website Updates Tribe reported that City Communications Coordinator Skelly made the website changes as requested, including event listings and writeups. 5. Updates from Commissioner Liaisons with City Commissions a) Heritage Preservation No updates b) Parks Commission Hollenbeck reported that City Parks and Recreation Director Chris Jenkins will be invited to present at the Arts and Culture Commission meeting in January. c) HEDRA Hollenbeck attended the October meeting at the Confluence where current and former councilmembers and commissioners were thanked for their service. City Community Development Director John Hinzman gave a presentation on the history of the Confluence project. There are two sculptures on the Confluence property, which means the city art inventory is growing. Hollenbeck announced that Commissioner Becker resigned his position and thanked him for his service. 6. Update on Google Calendar Commissioner McCoy has created a prototype of the arts community calendar. Next steps will be to invite organizations and ask for a designee for calendar access (person submitting events has rights permissions, but commission holds master calendar); create simple training materials so those designees understand how to use it; and consider criteria for a formal process to be put in writing and added to the city’s website. McCoy will also contact City IT Manager Hokstad. The official name will be “Hastings Arts Community Calendar” and will also include “sponsored by the Hastings Arts and Culture Commission” as a subtitle. Arts and Culture Commission December 13, 2023 Minutes Page 3 of 5 7. Update on City Hall Tour – January 20th – update by Barb Hollenbeck reported that she spent time in the Pioneer Room with volunteers today. In coordination with Mayor Fasbender, tour times of 11:00am to 2:00pm were set—with tours conducted at 11:00, 12:00, and 1:00. Cindy Smith (Pioneer Room curator), Spencer Johnson (tour guide at Fort Snelling and Sibley House), and Cindy Toppin (Heritage Preservation Commission Chair) will serve as tour guides. Hollenbeck stated it will be their tour, and the commission will be a collaborative, supportive force. Volunteers will include members of the Historical Society, friends, and Arts and Culture Commission members. They will help guide tourgoers and escort those who use the elevator. Commissioner Tribe will serve as event photographer. Dave Youngren from the Chamber of Commerce has a script that will be revised to fit this tour, and he will email it to Smith and Hollenbeck. She reminded that former Commission Skeba created a City Hall arts brochure that could be incorporated into the script and physical copies made available at the tour. Staff member Lee will email Hollenbeck a PDF copy of the brochure. This tour will be held in tandem with the ice sculptures event downtown, where there will be live carving of sculptures. Commissioner Tribe expressed concern about how people will be directed from downtown to City Hall since there will be no ice sculpture on City Hall grounds. Hollenbeck suggested the tour information be added to literature for the ice sculpture celebration. Hollenbeck said she will provide more details at the January commission meeting, and a dry run of the tour will be conducted with volunteers later in January. NEW BUSINESS 8. Mission Statement Discussion led by Sherry & Jeannie Arts and Culture Commission Mission Statement (Current): The Arts and Culture Commission will advise the City Council concerning arts and culture policies, public projects, issues, and initiatives. The commission will advocate for arts and culture in Hastings and will work to ensure an inclusive and cross-cultural environment for all residents. Proposed but open for changes: Hastings strives to be a creative regional arts and culture community hub where everyone can participate. Arts and Culture Commission December 13, 2023 Minutes Page 4 of 5 Following commissioner input, the group agreed upon a mission statement that speaks to who the commission is and serves as an overarching umbrella of what the commission does. McCoy stressed that the mission statement is the commission’s call to action, and the projects are how the commission is responding and showing achievement. Motion by McCoy, seconded by Humphrey, to adopt new mission statement as: Hastings strives to be a creative arts and culture community where everyone can participate, learn, and grow. Motion carried. Tribe will email this updated mission statement to Skelly. Hollenbeck suggested working on an operational statement in the future as well. 9. Budget ($36,000) and Projects for 2024 • Persistent Art (murals, sculptures) • Performing Arts (music, dramatic acting) • Cultural Activities Hollenbeck announced the 2024 budget was passed by the City Council last Monday and includes $36,000 for the Arts and Culture Commission ($4,000 was spent last year on Dale Lewis sculptures). She reminded the sunset date for the commission is December 2024 when Council will examine its existence, so this needs to be a productive year. Commissioners discussed ideas for completion in 2024: Persistent arts— • Sculptures: Add another artist on Riverwalk; renew Dale Lewis sculptures after one- year lease expires • Mural artwork on exterior of civic arena Performing arts— • Walking tour with musicians (and possible plein air painting by local artist) where participants interact with nature, arts, and community • Work with Paige in Parks Department on scheduling and programming Performance in the Park segment • Ideas include a puppet wagon for kids, a classical actors’ ensemble, and a walking play Cultural activities— • Rivertown Days • Project with Dakota Tribe (as discussed earlier in meeting) • Creative Convergence – building connections with arts and culture communities Arts and Culture Commission December 13, 2023 Minutes Page 5 of 5 10. Set Dates for Creative Convergence • Humprey led the discussion to choose dates for the 2024 Creative Convergence events, and the group agreed upon Thursday, May 9 and Thursday, October 3. Commissioners discussed locations for the events and agreed it was good to rotate venues. Humphrey will contact the Public House for the May event, and Hollenbeck agreed to reach out to the Confluence for the October event. Humphrey will work on flyers and provide information to Skelly for the City newsletter and social media channels and suggested the entire group can do outreach. 11. Announcements • LeDuc prohibition-themed fundraiser will be held on December 28 at 6:00pm at the Public House • Interviews for two new commissioners will be held on Tuesday, December 19 • HPAC will be judging Christmas decoration of apartment doors at Artspace on Monday, December 18; Hollenbeck will represent commission as judge • Commission photo will be taken in January after new commissioners start • Winter gathering inviting Native American families, students, and community will be held at Tilden Community Center on Wednesday, February 7 at 5:00pm, with meal provided by Pow Wow Grounds • Black Dirt Theater improv is starting soon at Public House (family friendly) and American Legion (18+) • Black Dirt will be starting a script reading/live table reading group activity once per month in January and February that will rotate around downtown venues • Historical Society is bringing back the Great Truths event to be held at the cemetery with characters from Hastings Hollenbeck said that the City’s Public Safety Advisory Commission has badges that they wear out in public to identify themselves and asked if the Arts and Culture Commission should consider something like this for recognition in the community. 12. Adjourn Vice Chair Read made a motion to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. Motion carried. The next Arts and Culture Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10th at 6:00pm in the Volunteer Room at City Hall. 2 Narrative Project Summary: Lake Rebecca Park Area Redevelopment & Restoration Describe the opportunity or problem your proposal seeks to address. Include any relevant background information. This park area sits between the Mississippi River to the north and west, and Lake Rebecca to the south and is targeted to remain as natural and open space for the community and visitors. Major issues observed include: consistent high water events leaves much of this park unusable for any type of recreation, boat launch parking lot for the lake unusable during high water events, and in poor condition, much of the park area is also very thick with brush inhibiting passive recreation/exploration in the area, lack of access, habitat types are also degraded, and would benefit from enhancement. This area needs an ecological master plan to be completed, as well as the investigative/research processes to gather current ecological information. Without this vision the area has an uncertain future. There are however some important elements/outcomes that are currently known, and those have been included in this proposal. The City of Hastings Comprehensive Plan outlines the city's philosophy which includes 1) Enhancing the health of the ecosystem in Hastings, 2) Preserve and enhance biological diversity of native habitats, 3) Provide an appropriate balance between resource preservation, recreational use, and development. What is your proposed solution to the problem or opportunity discussed above? Introduce us to the work you are seeking funding to do. You will be asked to expand on this proposed solution in Activities & Milestones. Development of a vision, planning documents, and project implementation that meet the city's philosophy as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. Some known outcomes to currently known issues follow below. Propose to raise and reconstruct the boat launch at Lake Rebecca so that it is useable during most high water events, this is a safe boating area during high water and is an excellent, well managed fishery. Propose to identify select areas for leisure recreation opportunities and raise those areas so they can be used during high water for years to come. Propose to remove brush and some canopy trees and install walking trails and interpretive trails that introduce users to the unique habitats in the area. Propose to enhance habitat, install native grasses, flowers, etc. to increase wildlife/pollinator habitat. What are the specific project outcomes as they relate to the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s natural resources? First and foremost, a well constructed ecological based park master plan including recreational uses and purpose. Increased native plant and animal habitat and populations, increased habitat for pollinators, protecting shore land and wetland areas from repeated high water intrusion, increased passive recreation and interpretation opportunities, encourage user engagement with the natural resources of this area. Blend these enhancements into enhancements being completed by the USACOE, City of Hastings and our partners. Project Location What is the best scale for describing where your work will take place? Region(s): Metro What is the best scale to describe the area impacted by your work? Region(s): Metro When will the work impact occur? During the Project and In the Future