Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission 7.13.21Dubuque
THE CITY OF
DUB U
MI, AUHn
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES — SPECIAL MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Orpheum Room, Five Flags Civic Center, 450 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001
(virtual attendance offered via GoToMeeting)
Special Meeting
Commissioners Present: Ali LEVASSEUR (chair); Paula NEUHAUS (vice -chair) attending
virtually; Noelle CHESNEY; Ryan DECKER; Nicholas HALDER; Sue RIEDEL; Thomas ROBBINS
Staff Present: Jennifer Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Levasseur at 3:35 PM following staff
assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Roll Call
Roll Call was taken of all present commissioners (continuing and onboarding) and staff. Featured
brief introductions and mention of current A&CA committees
Oath of Office
Oath of Office was administered by Levasseur to onboarding commissioners Chesney and
Robbins, whom were also provided City Boards and Commissions resource binders by Petersen -
Brandt. Levasseur will arrange an in -person oath with Neuhaus (in electronical attendance) who
is renewing office for a second term. Petersen -Brant will file completed oath of office paperwork
with the City Clerk.
Review FY22 Special Protect Grant Application Scoring and Award Recommendation
FY22 Special Project Grant application scores and award recommendations as provided by Staff
were reviewed by the commissioners. Staff noted that approx. $7,000 of unused Creative
Resiliency Grant funds that utilized an approved FY21 carryover is projected to return to the
Special Project Grant fund, bringing the total award pool from $35,000 to approx. $42,000.
Extreme disparity in scores between the third and fourth place applications observed and
discussed. Award Recommendation A, based on traditional grading scale, considered.
Commissioners discussed alterative award options.
Halder motioned, Riedel seconded, "Recommendation B" as follows: Maximally -funded awards
($8,000) award to each of the Vt through 3rd place applicants; awards of "graded" amounts
rounded to the nearest hundred dollars to 4t" through V1 place applicants ($5500, $4400, $3300,
and $5000, respectively); totaling $42,200 in awards, with the gap covered by anticipated monies
returned from the Creative Resiliency Grant pool.
Discussion, followed by roll call vote: Chesney affirmed; Decker affirmed; Halder affirmed;
Levasseur recused; Riedel affirmed. Neuhaus and Robbins abstained due to professional
affiliations with some of the applicants. Motion passed. Aforementioned FY22 Special Project
Grand Funding Award Recommendation B to City Council carries.
Review FY22 Operating Support Grant Application Scoring and Award Recommendation
FY22 Operation Support Grant application scores and recommendation options as provided by
Staff were reviewed. Some spreadsheet formula/figure errors were caught. Noted bands of
scores that can delineated from total scores out of 45 points, not as clearly illustrated in the
averages out of 15 points.
Discussed that both Options 1 and 2 far exceeded the capacity of available $250,000 funding; to
fund all (or to fund most) a new option will be needed. Commissioners would like to review and
consider a new option (Option 3) employing tiered -percent funding, as employed in the FY21
funding cycle. Robbins suggested: 40+ total point as Tier I; 35-39.9 points as Tier II; 30-34.9
points as Tier III; and 0-29.9 points as Tier IV (which could be funded or unfunded). Staff will
provide Option 3 with updated figures.
Timing and relationship of award decisions to City Council schedule briefly discussed and
considered.
Riedel motioned, Decker seconded to table FY22 Operation Grant funding discussion and
recommendation decision until next regular Commission meeting (27 July), when Option 3 and
accurate figures can be available. Vote: Unanimously affirmed. Aforementioned motion to table
FY22 Operation Grant until 27 July carries.
Public Comment
Public Comment was offered, but not made.
New Business: Other
City Director of Strategic Partnerships has suggested Staff pursue an application for the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) American Rescue Plan Local Arts Agency Regranting program,
asking for $500,000 over a two-year period to boost A&CA Operating Grant capacity, individual
artist grants, and a part-time position in A&CA administrative support.
Levasseur motioned, Neuhaus seconded, to recommend to City Council that the Office of Arts &
Cultural Affairs submit an application to the NEA's ARP LAA funding program. Vote: Unanimously
affirmed. Commission's official support of Petersen-Brant's NEA Local Art Agency Regranting
carres.
Levasseur shared methods of sharing support as individual citizens with City Council.
Current Events Reported by Commissioners
• Brigadoon (musical), 16-25 July, Grand Opera House
• Hate Mail (play), 13-29, Bell Tower Theater
• Empty the Shelters (humanitarian effort), ended 11 July, Dbq Regional Human Soc.
• Organ Sampler (concert series) began 13 July, Univ. of Dubuque Heritage Center
• Ham House (historic site) now open for season, Dubuque County Historical Society
• DubuqueFest (art/music festival), 7-8 August, Dubuque County Fine Arts Society
• River of Innovation and Innovation Currents now open, National Mississippi River Museum
& Aquarium
• Taste of Summer (music/culinary series) concludes 5 August, National Mississippi River
Museum & Aquarium/Dubuque County Historical Society
• ART ON THE RIVER 2021 public art exhibit opening reception event will be 6 August, City
of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs —please save the date!
Adjournment motioned by Decker, seconded by Chesney at 5:06PM. Vote: Unanimously
affirmed. Motion carries.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 3:30PM
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)