HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_06.24.2010Minutes of the Meeting of the
Arts and Culture Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Arts and Culture Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , June 24, 2010.
Board Members Present:
Charles Aguillon, Dar Richardson, Kaki Bassi, Karen Lange, Philip Baker, Steve Proesel
Board Members Absent:
Mandy Solin
Staff Present:
Eric Lashley, Library Director; Cari Miller, Tourism Manager; Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager;
Keith Hutchinson, Public Communication Director; Erin McDonald, Webmaster; Randy Morrow,
Community Services Director; Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner.
Minutes
Regular Meeting
Special joint meeting with Main Street Advisory Board and Convention and
Visitors Bureau Board
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Eric Lashley, Cari Miller, Shelly Hargrove, Keith Hutchinson,
Erin McDonald, Randy Morrow, and Robby Wyler
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Main Street Advisory Board – Connie Watson, Mike
Burton, and Denise Jimenez. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board – Ty Gipson,
Taunya Vessels, Randolph Lesseps, Tina Owen, Bob Villarreal, and Georgene
Richaud.Jamaal O’Neal, Williamson County Sun and Micki Ross, Williamson Museum
MINUTES:
A. Introductions by board chairs - The meeting was called to order by Keith
Hutchinson at 4:10 PM. Keith welcomed the participants and had each board
chair introduce themselves and the other members of their board and give a brief
description of the mission of their board.
B.Common threads in mission of three boards – The following list was compiled
by participants:
a. Focus on downtown
b. Events
c. Arts Center at the old Library
d. Billboards: cooperative campaign with same message?
e. Common identity of Georgetown
f. Special events
g. Historic sites
h. Events calendar: discussion of visit.georgetown.org calendar and Google
calendars
i. Arts center and staffing considerations
j. Event coordination
k. Downtown as a prototype for tourism and the arts
l. Benchmarking from other cities
C.Definition of arts and culture according to Hotel Occupancy Tax criteria – A
copy of the definition of Arts and Culture according to the Hotel Occupancy Tax
(HOT) criteria was distributed to participants. Cari Miller explained CVB was
funded exclusively through the HOT tax and expenditures can only be used to
encourage visitors to stay overnight in Georgetown. Cari announced hotels in
Georgetown are normally booked on the weekends and efforts need to be
focused on getting overnight stays during the week. She stated athletic
tournaments and other large events in the area are the major draws for hotel
rooms in Georgetown.
D.Arts and Culture related recommendations from the Downtown Master Plan
– Eric Lashley distributed excerpts from the City’s Downtown Master Plan that
was adopted in 2003. He noted there were a number of instances in which the
arts and culture should be tied to the economic development efforts of the city. It
was pointed out that at this time there is not a single staff member in charge of
implementing the elements of the plan.
E.Discuss arts and culture priorities - The following list was compiled by the
participants:
a. Cultural marketing
b. Creating public or private spaces for the arts
c. Heritage tourism
d. More art galleries, performance spaces, and live music venues recommended
e. The arts are an economic development engine
f. Designation of downtown as an arts district
g. “Facility plan for an arts center should be developed”
h. Public art and art parks recommended
F. Next Steps – The following list was compiled by the participants:
a. Create subcommittee to work on developing priorities and conducting
research (benchmarking)
b. Potential for re-structuring to simplify event planning coordination
c. Expanded meeting in the next few months that would include nonprofits and
others in the local arts and tourism industry
d. Come together again to work on priorities and action steps
e. Joint presentation to City Council in early 2011
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 PM.
Steve Proesel, SecretaryCharles Aguillon, Chair