Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission 2 23 21 Copyrig hted
April 5, 2021
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 3/3, 3/4, 3/8, 3/9, 3/11, 3/15, 3/22, and 3/24;
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of 2/23; Civil Service Commission
of 3/15; Community Development Advisory Commission of 3/2 and 3/17;
Historic Preservation Commission of 3/18; Housing Commission of
3/23; Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 3/1, 3/3, 3/4,
3/8, 3/9, and 3/11; Proof of Publication for List of Claims and Summary
of Revenues for the Month Ended February 28, 2021
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 3/3/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/4/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/8/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/9/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/11/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/15/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/22/21 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/24/21 Supporting Documentation
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission of 2/23/21 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 3/15/21 Supporting Documentation
Community Development Advisory Commission Supporting Documentation
Minutes of 3/2/21
Community DevelopmentAdvisory Commission Supporting Documentation
Minutes of 3/17/21
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 3/18/21 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 3/23/21 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/1/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/3/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/4/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/8/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/9/21
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/11/21
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/ Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for Month Ended 2/28/21
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ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES — REGULAR MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Via GoToMeeting
1
Regular Meeting
Commissioners Present: Nicholas Halder, Ryan Decker, Gina Siegert, Tyler Daugherty,
Paula Neuhaus, Ali Levasseur, Susan Riedel
Staff Present: Jennifer Petersen-Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator; Annie Flanagan,
Arts & Culture Intern
Public Present: Tom Robbins of UD Heritage Center, Jean Tucker of Dubuque Symphony
Orchestra, Brian Cooper.
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Neuhaus at 3:33 PM following staff
assurance of compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law. Commissioner introductions followed
for public benefit.
Review of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes of January 26, 2021 by Commissioner
Decker, seconded by Commissioner Riedel. Commissioners Halder, Decker, Siegert,
Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion; Motion passed.
Review of Reports from Working Groups:
Accessibility, Engagement, and Inclusion (AEI) meet Feb 1. Discussed need for professional
development and communications in DEI for all practitioners to influence cultural shifts. Also
discussed the need to continue to accentuate the impact of arts and culture activities on
quality of life. Follow up meeting Jackie Hunter from MFC to explore what gaps our arts and
culture orgs might fill where public school opportunities lack for black and brown youth.
Dubuque Renaissance Project discussed with potential collaboration between UD and Fly By
Night to present story of Tuskegee Airmen.
Creative Economy met Feb 9. Only Tab Link and Jenni in attendance. Next steps for WG
include reengaging Shelby Fry on We Create DBQ logo. Once ready will use to put out call
for artist information for directory. Discussed hosting virtual artist meetup on First Fridays.
Public Art met Feb 22: Group further reviewing draft of public art policy with discussion and
recommendations made on specific options on funding mechanism, Art on the River as
permanent public art feeder program. Commission Levasseur inquired about next steps in
process. Staff advised that some language cleanup is still needed. Once this is done, final
draft to be shared with Economic Development Department Manager, Assistant City
Manager, and City Manager. Then document will come back to Commission and Task Force
for final review before recommendation to City Council.
Commissioner Halder asked about timeline for Dubuque Renaissance Project
implementation; with timeline now shifted to late 2021 into 2022 for activities to popup
concerns about setting aside Special Projects funding for DRP projects. As this initiative is
community-driven and not a project of the City thus the timeline shifts with the capacity of the
volunteers involved, DRP is interested in focusing on publicly marketing the idea behind the
initiative to allow people to more organically come to the project. Revisit potential Special
Projects allocation in collaboration with GARE grant at March meeting.
Status Updates from Staff
Introduction of Community Work Study Student/Intern: Annie Flanagan has begun
interning under Petersen-Brant through Loras College's Community Work Study Program.
Annie is junior majoring in social work, minoring in peace and justice. She is scheduled for
12-13 hours per week and will be assisting Petersen-Brant with communications, grant
application management, calls for art, and will participate in any arts and culture public
meetings as her schedule allows.
Winter Arts Recap: This year featured 3 sculpting teams. Without the usual Saturday
community event, virtual engagement was maximized with creation of "How to" videos on
YouTube and online voting for the People's Choice award, capturing 323 online votes. A
debriefing with planning committee to be held in near future; sculptors to be inviting to
debriefing as well to prepare for next year.
Art En Route Update: Current community engagement methods with community coloring
page and survey will be accepted through March 15. From that, planning team will develop
themes and wording to include in the call for artists; call expected to be released late April.
Grant Programs Schedule: Working with Commission's grant committee, a release date
of March 15 has been set anticipated deadlines May 17 and June 1 with scores to be back
to Commission for consideration by June 25. Suggest Special Meeting of Commission on
or around July 9 to prepare recommendation for July 19 City Council meeting.
Informational grant workshops planned; workshops will be offered as virtual webinars.
Commissioner Halder suggested utilizing 2pm Friday check-in. Commission requested
webinars to be held as soon as possible after the release date.
Other: None.
Recommendation regarding FY22 Operating Support program protocols: Grant
committee recommended 1) that the financial worksheet will request FY18, FY19, and FY20
(3 columns on the worksheet) completed financials with FY18 and FY19 to be averaged to
determine amount that awards will be based on, and 2) that the applicant outline the
organization's activities of the last year and events planned for FY22 as well as having
applicants discuss shifts that have to had made because of the pandemic. Additional work
needed in editing language in all documents and forms as well as including organizational
profile in Special Projects application.
Motion to accept recommendations of grant committee by Commissioner Riedel, seconded
by Commissioner Decker. Question by Commissioner Daugherty to clarify if new language,
financial reporting will continue after this year. Staff stated that this approach is meant for
FY22 only and clarified timeframes of fiscal years noted. Motion stands. Commissioners
Halder, Decker, Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion;
Motion passed.
Motion to authorize grant committee to implement recommendations, finalize language and
release grant materials on March 15 by Commissioner Levasseur, seconded by
Commissioner Riedel. Commissioners Halder, Decker, Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus,
Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion; Motion passed.
Release of unawarded FY21 Special Projects grant funds: Staff has been notified by
Finance Department that remaining Special Projects grant funds are available for distribution;
$20,550 remains unawarded for FY21 due to City spending holds due to COVID-19. $2,928
also remains in Operating Support line item. Although several applicants are available for
consideration, Grants Committee suggested creating a Resiliency Fund similar to lowa Arts
Council's current grant opportunity. Program offered last year by Bangor, ME also highlighted
as example. Awards would be small $1 ,000-2000. Discussion followed on what this funding
program might look like and that goal would be to get something to every arts and culture
nonprofit based on operating budget. Staff has mentioned to Economic Development
Department Manager; encouraged to draft details for review by City Manager.
Motion for Grants Committee to finalize structure and timeline to present to City Manager by
Commissioner Decker, seconded by Commissioner Neuhaus. Commissioners Halder,
Decker, Siegert, Daugherty, Neuhaus, Levasseur, Riedel voted to approve motion; Motion
passed.
Commissioner Terms: Commissioner Levasseur lead discussion on expiring Commissioner
terms. Commissioners serve 3-year terms; Neuhaus, Siegert (both `Professionals' category)
and Daugherty (At-large category) are expiring end of June 2021. Commissioners Siegert
and Neuhaus voiced interest in continuing but also open to not reapplying if new applicants
step forward that would more broadly diversify commission makeup. Discussion followed
about adding more Commission seats; clarification on process needed. Suggested that this is
part of strategic planning that will be held in FY22 as improvement package for this activity
was recommended. Commissioners with expired terms to connect directly with Chair and
Staff to confirm plans.
Other: Discussion on role of Commission in recruiting for open Commission seats.
Commissioner Neuhaus recommended raising awareness of the commission and the
opportunity to apply to be a member through public speaking engagements by
Commissioners.
Old business from last meeting discussed including:
• Need for Staff to follow up with Commissioner Decker on DEI resources for
organizations.
• Commissioner Levasseur shared that she talked with Gail Chavennelle regarding
communications, increasing public knowledge of efforts of Commission and City's arts
and culture work. It was productive conversation touching on limitations with staffing
capacity and opportunities; suggested that Branding & Communications Working
Group has role to play.
• Replacement for Mediacom arts and culture grant program continues to be explored.
Potential resource has been identified. Next step is to follow up with Mediacom
program to better understand logistics before presenting opportunity to potential
funder.
• Commission Neuhaus suggested exploring IAC capacity-building grant opportunity for
Commission; guidance on Commission's ability to apply for grants needed. Perhaps
embedding DEI practices into strategic plans.
Public Comment: Brian Cooper (retired editor of Telegraph Herald, and retired head of
Julien Dubuque Film Festival) introduced their self. Jean Tucker of DSO discussed the
difficulty of having in-person symphony shows without people getting vaccines. Predicted that
as more and more public are getting vaccinated, the number of people showing to concerts
will go up. Also shared their new concerts and attendance with 12 musicians, which created a
chamber orchestra feel. Commissioner Siegert commented on and applauded the unique
experience. Intern Annie Flanagan spoke on her college experience and highlights; shared
America's Funniest Home video claim to fame.
Current Events Reporting from Commissioners:
• Loras Players: A Midsummer Night's Dream - March 25-27 (Date Change!), Loras
College ARC Lawn (Alt Site: Hoffmann Hall)
• Fly-by-Night Productions: online content (FBN TV), http://flybyniqhtdubuque.com
• Grand Opera House: Easel Wars, 135 Live!, and addt'I digital content continues,
http://theqrandoperahouse.com
• Five Flags Center events:
o Rodney Carrington (reduced capacity) March 6
o Lee Brice March 13
o World Championship Flat Track Racing March 26-27
• DSO Classic Concert Series II and III and DBQ Youth Ensembles end of March and
April
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Siegert, seconded by Commissioner Halder. Meeting
adjourned at:
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 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)