HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2009
City of Auburn Arts Commission
Auburn City Hall, Room 3
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Meeting Minutes
Commissioners Present: Nancy Colson, Leslie Moore, Linda Elliott, Pat Gallagher, Pat Judd,
Debby Deal. Excused: Laurel Siegmund, Donna Smart, Tanya Rottle, Amanda Flanery, Cary
Davidson, Youth Council Liaison Erika Shepherd. Staff/Council Present: Laurie Rose, Maija
McKnight, Councilman Rich Wagner. Guests: Mary Ellen Bowers, GRCC, Interurban Center for the
Arts Program Coordinator
Call to Order, Approval of Minutes, Introductions: Chair Nancy Colson called the meeting to
order at 4:35 pm
1. Approval of Minutes / Opening Remarks: Due to lack of a quorum, the February minutes
will be approved at the regular April meeting. Ms. Colson noted that, due to staff's need to
be excused early today in order to give a report to the Park Board re: Arts Commission, the
staff and committee reports will be moved to the top of the agenda.
Introductions: Ms. Colson introduced Mary Ellen Bowers, Program Coordinator, Green
River Community College Interurban Center for the Arts.
II. Staff Report/Committee Report
Staff Report: Cultural Arts Manager Laurie Rose reported that budget reductions are a
city-wide necessity and that all departments and divisions are required to make cuts. Ms.
Rose reinforced that the Arts Commission can maintain impact, quality and creativity even
with a potentially reduced budget. She will ask the commission for their input at the April
meeting.
Ms. Rose reported that the City of Auburn and the Arts Commission now have "Group"
pages in "Facebook," a social and networking web site, and encouraged commissioners to
join.
Ms. Colson noted that City Council Induction of the Emeritus Members was held the
previous evening. The event began with a reception in the lobby of City Hall and culminated
with the Induction of Emeritus Members Dr. Herman Ansingh, Barbara Sharrard and
Gertrude "Gertie" Sprenger at the top of the regular City Council March meeting. The 25tn
Anniversary Video was screened as well. Ms. McKnight distributed copies of the video and
shared that a long (25 minute) and short (9 minute) were also both available online through
the Arts website.
Performing Art Committee: Commissioner Linda Elliott reported that the first committee
meeting was held and that the agenda was very broad discussion of what is currently
available through the city for performing arts programs, as a matter of orientation for
committee members.
Public Art Committee: Visual/Public Art Coordinator Maija McKnight reported on behalf of
Commissioner Pat Gallagher that Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain provided an
overview of the Downtown Redevelopment Committee Plans. Currently the Downtown
Redevelopment Committee is focusing on remodeling the City Hall Plaza. The consultant
for this project (Maul, Foster, Along, a landscape architecture firm) is developing a three-
dimensional model of the proposed changes for City Hall Plaza for an upcoming Downtown
Redevelopment Committee meeting. The Arts Commission has been asked to attach a
Public Art Plan to this project and other downtown projects. Staff will coordinate and the
committee will provide input for Commission review before it is submitted to Planning for
consideration.
Visual Art Committee: Ms. McKnight reported on behalf of Commissioner Laurel
Siegmund that the committee has agreed to name the visual arts 25th Anniversary event
"ArtRageous," based on the suggestions of the Commission and Parks Staff. The call-to-
artist prospectus has been distributed with a submission deadline of April 1, 2009, to
participate in this event.
Art Education Committee: Ms. McKnight reported on behalf of Commissioner ponna
Smart that the committee has been discussing how to uniquely define the scope and quality
of classes the committee wishes to offer apart from those already offered through Parks
Dept., as well as how to better to support and/or promote those art classes that are
currently offered. Recruitment of inembers is an ongoing topic for this newly formed
committee.
III. Green River CC Foundation's Art Docent School Program
Mary Ellen Bowers, Green River Community College, Interurban Center for the Arts
Program Coordinator, provided an overview of the Art Docent Program. The Art Docent
Program is a visual arts outreach program for elementary school students. The program
provides training for volunteers that then bring art concepts, techniques and imagery
directly into the classroom while supporting the State of Washington's Essential Academic
Learning Requirements (EALRs). The program currently serves a total of 34 schools, only
3 of which are in Auburn School District (Arthur Jacobsen Elementary, Lake View
Elementary, Terminal Park Elementary).
Discussion followed as how the Arts Commission can help secure more Auburn School
District Elementary Schools. Ms. McKnight reported that Ms. Bowers has joined the Art
Education Committee and that the committee will investigate this issue.
IV. Other/New Business
a. Ms. Colson discussed the desire to have 4Culture Public Art Staff present to Auburn an
overview of the positive impact of public art programs. Ms. Moore noted that this type of
presentation may be beneficial to a variety of city staff and departments, such as
Planning and Public Works, to better understand how "integrated artworks" are
developed, planned and installed as part of a capital project. The suggestion was made
to schedule a lunchtime presentation. Ms. Elliott noted the Chamber of Commerce
members might be interested in, as well.
b. Councilmember Rich Wagner explained that recently there have been several inquiries
to staff and council for the creation of murals in a variety of areas throughout downtown
Auburn. Discussion followed regarding potential policies and arts commission's role
within these developments. The Public Art Committee will continue to work on this topic
and report back to the commission. Staff will have a report for the Commission at the
April meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Rose