Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission 9 28 10MINUTES
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Library Auditorium 3 Floor, Carnegie -Stout Library,
360 W. 11 Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with the Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners present: Paul Hemmer, Ellen Henkels; Louise Kames, Marina
O'Rourke, Sue Riedel, and Geri Shafer. Commissioners excused: Julie Steffen.
Staff present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel. Others present: Jeff Goldsmith.
Approval of Minutes of September 28, 2010. Corrections were submitted.
Motion by O'Rourke and seconded by Riedel to approve the minutes as
corrected. Motion carried 6 -0.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Jeff Goldsmith, Executive Director of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra,
presented an idea to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the
September 1 1 th catastrophe on September 11, 2011. He is gathering input
and feedback on a possible city -wide observance. Commissioners noted
an interest in the idea but encouraged its development as cultural and
artistic, not political. Jeff will develop a community committee to further
look at the feasibility of such an event and keep the Commission apprised
of the progress.
2. Stoffel reported that all of the final reports for FY2010 Special Project
Grants had been received and the grants closed out.. Copies of the final
reports were provided to the Commission along with a summary of a
description of the funded project and the final grant awarded. Of the six
grants awarded, three organizations had reduced grants due to a
decrease in actual project expenditures. There was a question on what
happened to the surplus. O'Connor explained that the Special Projects
Grant program is part of the annual operating budget. Unexpended
operating budget funds usually are turned back in at the end of the fiscal
year unless a specific request for carry-over funds is approved. This year
a carry over request was approved and those funds are being utilized for
the Economic Impact Study.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. FY 12 Budget Improvement Request.
O'Connor presented the FY2012 budget improvement request that staff
submitted to the City Manager. The request is to increase the Arts and
Cultural Affairs Coordinator position from 10 hours to 20 hours per week,
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ending reliance on state grant funds for the part time position.
Commissioners considered their recommendation from the previous year
of increasing the'staff position to 20 hours and the Commission's request
to increase the operating support funding by 10% ($20,000). Commission
discussed the importance of having adequate staff to further the goals of
the commission and continue our momentum, as well as the importance of
the operating support funding program and the fact that the demand for
the operating support funds has far exceeded the available funding.
Shafer indicated that she will appear before City Council at the appropriate
time to maintain the Commission's presence before Council and request
for additional funding in accordance with the Commission's priorities. A
motion was made by Hemmer and seconded by Henkels to endorse the
two budget improvement requests. Motion passed 6 -0.
2. Commissioners revisited the Value Statement and reiterated that the value
statement is meant as ground rules for the Commission. After more
discussion of the exact wording of the statement, Hemmer moved and
Riedel seconded that Commissioners accept the following :
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission will:
• Act with integrity
• Increase accessibility to the arts
• Exercise fairness and impartiality in decision making
• Support life -long engagement in the arts
• Preserve cultural heritage for future generations
Motion passed 6 -0.
O'Rourke suggested commissioners each work on their version of a Vision
Statement so that it can approved at the next meeting, possibly using the
idea of a "community whose art and culture exudes so much energy,
vitality and creativity that there are not enough containers to hold it,"
originally suggested by Kames in the August planning session.
3. Shafer reported that she and Steffen would be exploring Priority I:
AdvocacyNisibility — Expand the Commission's Role as a leading
action /policy /networking organization for the arts. She reported that she
met with Mayor Buol about establishing a business committee for the arts.
He supported the idea and recommended that Shafer contact Molly
Grover, President of the Chamber, to set up a meeting with Keith Rahe of
the Dubuque Conventions and Visitors Bureau to explore options. Shafer
and Steffen will develop talking points. Shafer suggested that they gather
information about all of the other ways that the City indirectly supports the
arts (e.g. improving the street that fronts the Dubuque Museum of Art.)
4. Paul Hemmer recorded PSAs for Arts and Humanities month this year for
local radio, but said there was less interest than last year. Ellen Henkels
received a thank you note from the Dubuque Symphony for her letter to
the editor.
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ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION: Commissioner O'Rourke commented on the
high quality Boards and Commissions training she had attended as a. new
Commissioner. She considered more deeply her responsibility to serve an as
expert for the people of Dubuque and encouraged existing members to reaffirm
their dedication as Commissioners.
INFORMATION SHARING: O'Connor shared a proposal from Scott Lammer,
Visual Arts teacher at Prescott School, for a student mural to be painted at the
Iowa Street Parking Ramp. Commissioners encouraged the idea and hoped the
City could work out the details.
Adjournment
Riedel moved and Hemmer seconded to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Motion
passed 6 -0. The next meeting will be held on November 23, 2010, at 4:30 p.m.,
at the Carnegie Stout 3rd floor Auditorium.
Respectfully submitted,
//
Stoffel, A -Lfand Cultural Affairs Coordinator
ese minutes were passed and approved on
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