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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_02.18.2009Minutes of the Meeting of the Arts and Culture Board City of Georgetown, Texas Wednesday, February 18, 2009 The Arts and Culture Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. Board Members Present: Addie Busfield, Jane Paden, Ruth Roberts, Mandy Solin Board Members Absent: Charles Aguillon, Penny Plueckhahn, Georgene Richaud Staff Present: Eric P. Lashley, Library Director; Judy Fabry, Library Administrative Assistant; Micki Rundell, Finance Director; Leticia Zavala, Comptroller Minutes Regular Meeting Regular meeting has been cancelled. February 2009 meeting will be held February 11, 2 -4 p.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library. A. Ruth Roberts called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. B. Announcements from chair regarding upcoming events. Ruth noted that an article appeared in the Williamson County Sun about the "Art Park" that has been proposed for the open space behind the businesses that face 8th Street, between Main and Austin Ave. The writer stated that the proposed park is supported by the Arts and Culture Board. Ruth and the other board members wanted it noted for the record that the Board did not offer this project any support when Shelly Hargrove presented it at the October 15, 2008 meeting. C. Citizens wishing to address the Board. None were present. D. Consideration and approval of minutes of last meeting. Mandy said that the URL that she gave us for the solar sculpture is not correct and she wants it removed from the minutes. She will give Judy the correct URL. Ruth moved to accept the minutes as distributed at the meeting with that correction. Jane seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. E. Consideration of and possible action on 1. Presentation by City Finance Devartment staff about 09 -10 budget process. Micki Rundell told the Board members that the City is expecting no revenue growth in the coming year and, in fact, is anticipating the need to cut expenses. She spoke about Council's brief consideration at their meeting on February 10 of changing the mechanism by which they fund the Arts and Culture Board (current funding is 1/4% of the General Fund). The Council moved to have staff bring them funding options that are not attached to the General Fund. Recently the Council changed the social services funding, which also had been a percentage of the General Fund, to a capped amount of $7 per capita. That cap represented a $2 /capita decrease from the current level of funding. Micki announced that she was moving the Arts and Culture Board's current appropriation to an account where it may be carried over into subsequent fiscal years. She said that she and Paul Brandenburg will create the funding proposal that Council requested, but that she would return to the Board's March meeting to share that proposal with the members before taking it to Council. She suggested that it is possible that funding for festivals might be a part of that proposal, as Councilperson Berryman had requested. Ruth asked Micki whether it was wise for the Board to continue working toward the creation of a master plan for the arts within the next year. Micki said it might be better to wait and see, or, perhaps to keep working on the plan, but not to expect any buy -in from this Council. She said that this is a "short- sighted" Council that prefers solutions to problems that do not make major commitments of future resources. She added that that is not necessarily a bad thing. Ruth then asked what Capital Improvement Projects are coming up and Micki said that there are none. Renovation of the Albertson's property is on hold and she expects it may be sold. Any expansion of the police facilities will be at the old library. Micki invited the Board members to send her any suggestions they may have about alternative means of funding the Arts and Culture Board. 2. Appointment of community representative for Recreation Center art selection panel — Ruth Roberts. Ruth reported that Bill Sattler, Council representative for Sun City, has agreed to be on the art selection panel for the proposed artwork for the Rec Center . 3. Board input for presentation to Parks Board on February 12, 2009 — Eric Lashley, Mandy Solin. Jane said she would try to send some examples of sculpture to Mandy before the meeting on Thursday night. Addie and Ruth said they would attend the Parks Board meeting. 4. Planning for February meeting with Juli Fellows including identifying stakeholders to invite — Eric Lashley, Ruth Roberts. Mandy opened the discussion by saying she thinks the master plan should be shelved. She sees no reason to do the hard work and spend the money for a plan that may not be accepted or implemented. Jane said she agreed. But, Mandy said, the new problem is what to do with the Board's money. She wondered whether it is wise to spend it all this year, if they don't have to. Ruth asked whether Mandy meant to spend the entire budget on the artwork for the Rec Center. Mandy said definitely not. She's worried that the proposal Finance takes to Council may involve no appropriation for the coming year, so the Board needs to save something in case that happens. Ruth said that she believes the Rec Center is a good place to showcase art, but she also doesn't want to spend the entire budget there. Jane moved to cancel the planned meeting on February 28 with Juli Fellows. Ruth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Discussion continued about how the budgeted amount that had been set aside for the master plan might be used. One idea was to do something to promote awareness of the art shows at the library. Mandy brought up the Arts Calendar, and said that Lacy Vain, keeper of Southwestern s arts calendar, says the City calendar doesn't work. Her information does not get entered accurately. Perhaps the Board should employ someone to take care of a city -wide arts calendar — perhaps in conjunction with the Sun . Channel 10 was another suggestion of a place to advertise, but no Board member could say that they personally use Channel 10 for information. This discussion will be continued at the March meeting. Ruth adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jane Paden, Secretary Ruth Roberts, Chair