01.17.18 BAC Minutes i
i
CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING j
MINUTES
Name of Board/Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: January 17,2018 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Contact information preparing summary:Maureen Malone,303-441-3106
Commission members resent: Mark Villarreal,Felicia Furman,Kathleen McCormick,Devin Hughes,Erica Joos
Library staff present:
David Farnan,Director of Library&Arts
Matt Chasansky,Office of Arts&Culture Manager
Mary Haan,Programs for Artists Coordinator
Maureen Malone,Administrative Specialist II
Members of the public present:
John Georgis;Lisa Nesmith;Mary Harrocks;Marc;Pen Vollunaim,Open Studios;Cindy Sepucha,Open Studios/BCAA
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [6:03 p.m., 0:00:00 Audio min.]
The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m.
Villarreal moved to approve the agenda,and Furman seconded.All in favor.
Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [6:04 p.m.,0:00:45 Audio min.]
Item 2A,Approval of December 20,2017 Meeting Minutes
McCormick asked that a statement be added to the minutes indicating that commission agreed to set a goal to create and
execute an equity grant in 2018.Villarreal moved to approve the minutes as amended,and McCormick seconded.All in
favor.
Agenda Item 3: Public comment [6:08 p.m.,0:05:12 Audio min.]
John Georgis introduced himself,and shared that he has applied to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Arts Commission.
Agenda Item 4:Matters from Guests [6:10 p.m.,0:06:28 Audio min.]
a. Questions on the Namaste Warehouse Reuse Project—Cindy Sepucha,Charlotte LaSasso,Lisa Nesmith.
• Sepucha gave an overview of the Cultural Cooperative project(see handouts for presentation).
• Joos asked whether the rent will be fixed. Sepucha replied that it will grow;the owner gave them a
proposal laying out the entire 10-year lease—the rent will increase incrementally every 3 months for the
first year until it reaches market rate,and after that it will go up a set amount each year.However,the
proposal they received was for the entire 15,000 sq. ft.building,but the group is now looking at renting
only a portion of the building.
• Furman asked how many sq.ft.they are looking at renting now. Sepucha replied that there is a brewery
interested in renting half of the warehouse space(3,000 sq. ft.)and a dance studio interested in 1,800 sq.
ft., leaving about 10,000 sq.ft.
• McCormick asked if the rent for the offices will be comparable to what artists are currently paying in
North Boulder. Sepucha explained that it's difficult to compare;most artists in North Boulder have a
stand-alone warehouse space where they pay for everything,whereas in this situation,in addition to
having their own distinct space,tenants will also have access to the kitchen,restrooms,storage,etc.
• Joos wondered how the fee for the conference/flex space will be determined. Sepucha replied that there
will be an hourly fee;those that rent a space in the building would receive a discounted rate.
• Villarreal stated that this project can have the biggest impact in the way that it is run and how it is
community-directed,so that it can serve as a template for similar endeavors in the future.
• Villarreal commented that he would have liked to see some performance space for theater companies.
Sepucha replied that she has done some research,and the theater companies she spoke to would like to
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January 17,2018
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have a space where they could do a 1 or 2-week run without having to strike anything and would be
willing to pay$500/week; that is just not doable with bare warehouse space.
• Villarreal asked whether there is a philosophy statement yet. Sepucha replied that one has not been
developed yet,but there will be some kind of vetting process for finding tenants to make sure they fit
within the philosophy of community minded creatives.
• Joos asked what kind of process will be put in place to decide who gets space in the building. Sepucha
replied that she envisions having a committee that chooses tenants based on criteria laid out in the
beginning of the project.
• Furman suggested that the group talk to someone at the Dairy Center about their model for bringing in
artists and having studio and tenant office space.
• Chasansky wondered whether there has been discussion about having the brewery or some other retail
outfit come in and pay a little over market rate to subsidize the artists,with the idea that the artists would
bring in the crowds to feed the profit that would justify that agreement. Sepucha replied that the brewery
interested in the space is brand new and not established.LaSasso added that the group initially thought
they would be the master holder of the lease,but they feel more relaxed now that the brewery and dance
studio will each have their own leases.
• Villarreal asked if the group has considered how having the Arts Commission as a sponsor might be used
to parlay other fundraising opportunities.LaSasso replied that having the city's endorsement will be huge.
Sepucha added that the group has explored other grant opportunities,which require that they have
established some other source of funding.
• McCormick asked if this project is a formal partnership between Boulder County Arts Alliance(BCAA)
and NoBo Art District.LaSasso replied that there is not yet a formal partnership established. Sepucha
explained that there has been discussion about creating an entity that would eventually become a 501(c)(3)
for the sake of maintaining the space.
• Furman commented that it might be good to have someone who knows the business to help plan the
structuring out of the facility. LaSasso replied that there are a number of people who have expressed
interest in getting involved: Steve Pomerance,Jerry Shapins,the architects who did the remodel for
Namaste.Nesmith added that there is an awareness and excitement around the project within the North
Boulder community;perhaps there are some neighborhood businesses that would want to get involved as
well.
• Joos stated that while she knows how well BCAA represents the artist community in Boulder,she is still
really curious about the process for interviewing and selecting tenants,and wants to be sure that it will be
an equitable experience.LaSasso replied that equity is a primary value,and it will be important,but also
tricky,to find a balance between having a community that can work together and that shares the vision,
and also making sure that nobody is being excluded.
• Chasansky asked whether commission had any concerns before staff moves forward with the process for
requesting that the unspent funds from the 2017 grants cycle be used as a sponsorship for this project.
Hughes replied that his only concern is around having to answer to the people who ask why this project
didn't need to go through the formal grants process to get funding. Chasansky explained that this project
fits within the established principles for the sponsorship program: it does not fit into any of the existing
grants categories or timelines and it is something that advances a strategy in the cultural plan,but is better
to happen through the private sector(the principles of government funding don't do it service).
• Commission discussed whether or not to put restrictions on the use of the sponsorship money.Furman
suggested giving the money to BCAA and letting them decide how to use it;commission has to trust the
people involved.Chasansky agreed that if the goal is to help these groups get the doors open,it may not
help the process to stipulate what the money is spent on.Joos stated that she wants to be transparent in the
use of the money since it is part of the mission of the commission to represent the entire community.
• McCormick encouraged the group to try to negotiate the rent rate with the owner.
• Faman brought up commission's question from the December meeting about what happens if in 3-4 years,
this project has not yet happened,and suggested that commission could set a condition that the funds be
expended in the first 2 years. LaSasso commented that the owner is personally invested;his wife is the
person interested in building out the dance studio.
• Chasansky affirmed that there needs to be criteria around timing,and staff will make sure that gets
stewarded,as well as taking everyone's comments from tonight into consideration when determining the
structure for this sponsorship. Staff will keep commission up to date on developments as the project
moves forward.
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January 17,2018
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• Villarreal moved to reaffirm the vote from the last meeting to provide this funding to the North Boulder
Cultural Cooperative,and McCormick seconded.All in favor.Joos expressed that she would like to work
closely with the group on this project,and LaSasso encouraged this.
Agenda Item 5: Grant Program Action Items [7:20 p.m.,1:17:04 Audio min.]
a. Grant Reports
1. FY17 Arts Education Project Grant,Parlando School of Musical Arts,Music and Visual Art Outreach;
$3,000
Furman moved to accept the report,and Joos seconded.Vote 5-0,unanimous.
Agenda Item 6: Commission Business [7:23 p.m., 1:20:23 Audio min.]
None
Agenda Item 7: Matters from Staff 17:24 p.m., 1:20:29 Audio min.]
a. Manager's Update
Farnan asked whether the Arts Commission has any interest in scheduling a joint meeting with the Library
Commission to discuss the Library Master Plan and provide any input on the future of the Canyon theater and
gallery. Commission asked that staff provide the relevant portion of the Master Plan in the next meeting packet.
Farnan stated that he can give a presentation and ask a member of the Library Commission to be present to
entertain feedback.
b. Discussion:Request for a Joint Commission Meeting with the Human Relations Commission(HRC)
Chasansky explained that he would like to present the HRC with the reason for requesting a joint meeting,some
idea of a structure for the meeting,and a proposal for possible dates.Commission agreed to propose April 5 or
April 26 for the joint meeting,and Joos and Villarreal volunteered to attend the February 26 HRC meeting to
formally make the proposal.
Agenda Item 8: Adjournment [7:57 p.m., 1:53:34 Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time,the meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Date,time,and location of next meeting:
The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday,February 21,20 18,in the Boulder Creek
Room at the Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.,Boulder,CO 80302.
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
f .
Board Chair' Board Secretary
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Date Date
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January 17,2018
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