HomeMy WebLinkAbout020222 Arts Commission Minutes Minutes of the Port Townsend Arts Commission Meeting of February 2, 2022 LOCATION: Remote MEMBERS PRESENT: Nhatt Nichols, Nan Toby Tyrrell, Joe Gillard and Dan Groussman STAFF PRESENT: City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Legal Assistant Amber Long, Deputy City Clerk Haylie Clement, and Legal Assistant Debbie Ritter COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Ben Thomas Topic Motions/Recommendation/Action Call to Order Chair Nhatt Nichols called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Approval of Agenda The agenda was unanimously approved, after changing the order of items D and E to reflect order of importance was unanimously approved. Approval of Minutes for January 5, 2022 Meeting The minutes of the January 5, 2022 meeting were unanimously approved. Public Comment None Chair’s Update There have been a few applicants for PTAC; selection should take place by Feb 7. Heidi advised that the Commission members are appointed by the Mayor, with the Council’s approval. Some commissioners expressed interest in having input as a group on future appointments. Evaluate Funding Guidelines Dan shared his research and suggestions for discussion, which included substituting the word ‘approve’ for ‘decide,’ whether there should be an example of a proposed marketing plan or whether that word should even be used; should there be a preference for local vs. out of area artists; and whether the guidelines should put emphasis on artistic value vs. economic benefit. Toward the end of the discussion, Heidi put the guidelines on screen share and made edits based on their consensus. A revised version will be included in the May meeting packet. The Commissioners agreed to table the accessibility statement due to constraints in time and bring it up again in a couple of months with the new Commission members Poet Laureate Program Update Nhatt said the next step is to form a selection panel. Heidi advised that the City Council needs additional information on this program. The Commissioners also discussed transparency in how the panel was selected. Nhatt will discuss further with Heidi and will find out more on what other places do.
Topic Motions/Recommendation/Action Public Art Update The Commissioners discussed the need for a subcommittee whose mandate is to present an annual set of recommendations. There was also the issue of what to do about deteriorating art around the City. Nhatt appointed Joe as the Chair of the Public Art Subcommittee. New Commissioner Handbook/Training Heidi said this has to be done for all advisory boards, and she has been tasked to oversee this. Nhatt and Dan commented that there have been many changes to the Commission that Kris Morris has not been a part of. The Commissioners discussed whether it would be better to have a pamphlet, as per Heidi’s suggestion, perhaps along with a presentation. The information in the handbook would be both general and then specific to the Commission, laying out the budget and duties of Commissioners. There is also a need to brief new Commissioners on technology. Nan Toby said that she was not prepared for what the role was when she started and was not familiar with the technology. While Joanna Sanders helped her a lot, being a Commission member took some time to learn and was not initially as enjoyable as she anticipated. Heidi advised that three new Commissioners are on the Feb 7 Council meeting agenda: Alexis Arrabito, Sheila Long, and Cosmo Rapaport. Nhatt suggested she meet with each new Commission member to brief them on technology and other issues, and then in six months ask the new people what they would have liked to have known coming in. Nhatt apologized to Nan Toby for not preparing her better and she will do a better job with the new members. Commissioners agreed that the poet laureate program and public art will be on the agenda for April. Next Meeting: March 2, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.