Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission 1 5 21 Copyrig hted
March 15, 2021
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUM MARY: City Council Proceedings of 3/1;Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of
11/24, 1/5 and 1/26; Cable TV Commission of 1/8; Community
Development Advisory Commission of 2/22; Housing Commission of
2/23; Human Rights Commission of 2/8; Library Board of Trustees of
1/28; Library Board of Trustees Council Update #207 of 2/25; Zoning
Advisory Commission of 3/3; Proof of Publication for City Council
Proceedings of 2/1 and 2/15; Proof of Publication for List of Claims and
Summary of Revenues for Month Ending 1/31.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 3/1/21 Supporting Documentation
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of 11/24/21 Supporting Documentation
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of 1/5/21 Supporting Documentation
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of 1/26 Supporting Documentation
Cable TV Commission Minutes of 1/8/21 Supporting Documentation
Community Development Advisory Commission Supporting Documentation
Minutes of 2/22/21
Housing Commission Minutes of 2/23/21 Supporting Documentation
Human Rights Commission Minutes of 2/8/21 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Minutes of 1/28/21 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Council Update#207 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 3/3/21 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
2/1/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
2/15/21
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/ Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for Month Ending 1/31/21
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ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES — SPECIAL MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, January 5, 2021
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Via GoToMeeting
1
Special Meeting
Commissioners Present: Nicholas Halder (joined 3:36PM), Ryan Decker, Gina Siegert,
Tyler Daugherty, Paula Neuhaus (joined 3:35PM), Ali Levasseur, Susan Riedel
Staff Present: Jennifer Petersen-Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
Public Present: Tom Robbins with University of Dubuque Heritage Center, Jean Tucker with
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Levasseur at 3:33 PM following staff
assurance of compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Review of Minutes: Motioned to approve minutes of November 24, 2020 with corrections by
Commissioner Decker, seconded by Commissioner Riedel. Commissioners Halder, Decker,
Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion; Motion passed.
Reports from Master Plan Working Groups/Task Force:
No working group notes submitted by staff; verbal updates provided instead.
Representatives of Dubuque Renaissance Project held a hybrid (virtual and in-person
options) meeting among Black creatives of Dubuque on Saturday, December 5 at Five Flags
Event Center and via GoToMeeting. Attended by Nick Anderson, Peggy Jackson, Renee
Dunn, and Lenore Thomas with Jason Neises, Ali Levasseur, Alanda Gregory, and Jenni
Petersen-Brant of the steering committee. Follow up meeting set for Saturday, January 16 at
2pm with hybrid option from Creative Adventure Lab.
Commissioner Decker asked about next meeting of Public Art Working Group. Working
groups typically meets 3rd Monday of the month which in January is MLK Day. Staff to follow
up with call for meeting.
Status Updates from StafF
Art En Route Community Engagement: Staff reported that the Art En Route planning
team consists of representatives of Green Dubuque, Green lowa AmeriCorps, City's
Sustainability Coordinator Gina Bell, Justin Harris-David of City Transit Department, and
Jay Foust of Gigantic Design. Staff to share coloring activity sheet and pre-implementation
survey with Commissioners with request to share with their networks. Staff asked to share
with organizations like the Multicultural Family Center; reported it has been shared with
MFC directors but will follow up with program coordinators.
City Council Work Session: Reminder to Commission that Work Session aimed at
providing an update on implementation of the City's Arts & Culture Master Plan is
scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2021 from 5-6:30PM. Commissioners Levasseur,
Neuhaus, Halder, and Daugherty offered to provide assistance with preparation of
presentation. Staff will share outline and PowerPoint with them via Google Docs for their
input. Staff noted that presentation will include guest speakers representing funding arts
and culture organizations as programs align with specific strategies of the Plan.
Discussion on sunset of MediaCom Foundation Arts & Culture funding program:
MediaCom arts and culture grant program has been utilized by many of our funded partners.
Commissioners expressed need and desire for similar program to exist and discussion
followed on role of Arts Commission in identifying new business entity(s) to initiate a
replacement. MediaCom program has existed for 15 years but is shifting its community giving
to other undefined areas of investment as noted in the letter submitted to City Council.
Commissioner Riedel suggested to continue engaging MediaCom in funding the arts,
perhaps as sponsor for Art Means Business activities and continue to engage MediaCom in
possible seed funding for upstart creative businesses. No suggestions for businesses that
may be interested in spearheading a new arts and culture funding program but Commissioner
Levasseur and Commissioner Neuhaus open to contacting Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque for discussion. Suggested to focus on established businesses that are known for
supporting the arts or on new businesses coming to Dubuque that may want to increase their
public profile by funding the arts. Motion to request a meeting with Community Foundation
leadership to discuss leads and foundation's role in hosting grant program by Commissioner
Neuhaus, seconded by Commissioner Decker. Commissioners Halder, Decker, Siegert,
Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion; Motion passed.
Discussion on UD Heritage Center request for review of Operating Support Program
eligibility:
Staff provided letter and support materials submitted by Tom Robbins of UD's Heritage
Center requested that the Commission revisit eligibility guidelines of the City's Arts and
Culture Operating Support grant program. The request is for the Commission to consider
expanding eligibility allowing arts and cultural programs associated with but that operating
independently of an education institution to apply for funding. The Operating Support program
does not currently allow entities that operate in this way to be eligible for funding. Discussion
followed with impact on current budget allocation, other entities this eligibility change would
affect, and timeline and process of when changes could be applied. Staff noted that if the
Commission wanted to move forward with this change, realistically, it could not be
implemented until the FY23 funding cycle as this change should be approved by City
Leadership and City Council. Staff suggested that the best process would be for Grants
Subcommittee to research and provide recommendation to Commission followed by
recommendation to City Manager and then consent by City Council. Noted that Special
Projects grant program is currently open to educational institutions.
Motion for Grants Subcommittee to revisit eligibility guidelines of Operating Support grant
program by Commissioner Halder, seconded by Commissioner Siegert. Commissioners
Halder, Decker, Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion;
Motion passed.
Current Events Reporting from Commissioners:
• Commissioner Levasseur returning to work at Five Flags for every other week. Five
Flags has also added in-person comedy shows to line up in coming months.
• DSO to kick off their four Classic concerts the end of February.
• Train Wreck's "Drinks and Dialogue" continuing monthly
• Bell Tower Theater presenting virtual play January 14 and 16. Live with The Dangers
of VD (Valentine's Day) on February 14.
• River Museum has virtual "Museum at Home" series tonight with raptors animal
program tonight at 7 PM, log on at Rivermuseum.com.
• River Museum also presenting Ice Fest January 16 - 17
• Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival, February 8 for volunteers with sculpting from Feb
10-13. Online voting and other virtual activities in lieu of Saturday community event.
• Heritage Center will be announcing virtual programming and hopes to include live
events after spring break.
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Decker, seconded by Commissioner Halder.
Commissioners Levasseur, Halder, Decker, Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus, Riedel voted to
approve motion; Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 4:41 PM.
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 23, 2020 at 3:30PM via GoToMeeting
Respectfully submitted: � �
Jenni Petersen-Brant
Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator, City of Dubuque
These minutes were passed and approved on , 2021.
� Witnessed By: (signature)
(printed)
(officer position)