HomeMy WebLinkAbout010522 Arts Commission Minutes Minutes of the Port Townsend Arts Commission Meeting of January 5, 2022 LOCATION: City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Joe Gillard, Dan Groussman, Nhatt Nichols, and Nan Toby Tyrrell STAFF PRESENT: Legal Assistant Amber Long, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, and Legal Assistant Debbie Ritter Topic Motions/Recommendation/Action Call to Order Acting Chair Joe Gillard called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Nhatt and Dan were each nominated for Chair; Dan declined. The Commission voted 3-0, with Nhatt abstaining, to elect Nhatt as Chair for 2022. Nhatt took over as Chair for the remainder of the meeting. The Commission voted 3-0, with Joe abstaining, to elect Joe as Vice Chair for 2022. Approval of Agenda The agenda was unanimously approved with the addition of two items to the beginning of New Business: A. Questions for City Attorney about grant guidelines, and B. Commission resignations. Approval of Minutes for December 1, 2021 Meeting The minutes of December 1, 2021 were unanimously approved. Public Comment Amber read an emailed comment from Sheila Long against funding events located outside Port Townsend. Questions for City Attorney Nhatt asked Heidi to clarify the City’s position on funding events located outside City limits and also on funding events that are not all ages. Heidi read a portion of the Commission’s enabling resolution and stated there is no legal restriction from funding in either case. Commissioners expressed concern about the ability of Port Townsend residents to travel to events outside the City and about funding events that exclude youth. Nhatt will talk to the Commission’s Council liaison about how the Commission can ensure that a wide variety of Port Townsend’s residents benefit from funded events. Commission Resignations Commissioners discussed the recent resignations of Jason Victor Serinus and Diane Walker and how challenging the virtual format makes it to connect during a meeting. Commissioners requested a handbook and/or training for incoming PTAC members. Interim Council Liaison Ben Thomas offered to assist the Commission moving the handbook idea forward.
Topic Motions/Recommendation/Action Grant Schedule Clarification Amber asked the Commission to clarify whether application review would be restricted to the funding period in which the event or project starts. The Commission voted unanimously not to restrict the time period for application review. Applications for Financial Support Lindsey Wayland (Pick-Up Poetry), Jade Evans (SkyHouse Productions), and Mark Hardy (Salish Sound) each described their projects and answered questions from Commissioners. The Commission voted 2-2 to fund $2,250 for Pick-Up Poetry and not to fund the other two events; the motion failed. The Commission voted unanimously to fund $2,250 for Pick-Up Poetry and $1,000 for the February Barn Jam event; the Commissioners agreed to request that Jade make her proposal more specific and resubmit her application. Selection of Public Art Committee Chair & Members The Commission voted unanimously to postpone Public Art Committee appointments until February. Next Meeting: February 2, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.