HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.18.19 BAC Minutes CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING
MINUTES
Name of Board/Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting:December 18,2019 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Contact information preparing summary:Celia Seaton,303-441-3206
Commission members present: Mark Villarreal,Kathleen McCormick,Erica Joos,Bruce Borowsky(Joos arrived at 6:10, left
at 8:05 PM),Devin Hughes(Hughes arrived at 6:15 PM) note:Meeting began at 6:00 PM.
Commission members absent:None.
Library staff present:
Matt Chasansky,Office of Arts&Culture Manager
Lauren Click,Coordinator,Grants
Mary Haan, Coordinator,Programs for Artists
Mandy Vink,Coordinator,Public Art
David Farnan,Director
Celia Seaton,Administrative Specialist
City staff present:
None
Members of the public present: Jessie Friedman,Jules Levinson,Rick Dallago,Gwen Burak,Maria Pacca.
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [0:00:05 Audio min.]
The meeting was called to order. As Joos and Hughes were not yet present,the review of the minutes will follow public
comment. McCormick moved to approve the agenda as amended,Villarreal seconded,and the motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 2: Public comment 10.01.59 Audio min.]
Executive Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival(JLF),Jessie Friedman,expressed appreciation for commission's
"arduous"work and discussed new funding($250,000). She spoke to the"unfortunate outcomes"last spring when several
larger organizations who met the threshold failed to garner funding(including Chautauqua,Boulder Ballet,and her own).
"Absurd and lamentable"for these groups to not be city-funded. Concerned that commission distribute the funds in a
"manner"along with council's intent(largest organizations in need of support). "Specific purpose"that should be
"respected,honored and fulfilled."
Levinson(also associated with JLF)spoke next. "Spreading the money around ... was absent from the process last spring."
"Notion of equitable action that evening was based on ...distorted... and erroneous"report of JLF receiving an"unfair share
of funding." City's funding for JLF only 1/3 of that reported,so the"notion that JLF received more than their fair share of
funding is false." Acknowledged commission's"agonizing"task making funding decisions. Advised commission act
"careful and cognizant in conversations and attempts to be equitable and democratic"and distribute the funds in accordance
with council's intent.
Agenda Item 3: Review of Minutes [0:12:11 Audio min.]
Item 3A,Approval/Review of November 2019 Meeting Minutes
Villarreal asked the commission for changes or addendums regarding these minutes. Villarreal and McCormick both
requested a summarizing statement that commission was in accord with the original decision made for the Yazzie sculpture
donation location. McCormick moved to approve the November minutes as amended,Hughes seconded,and the motion
was unanimously approved.
Agenda Item 4: Grant Program 10.14.15 Audio min.]
A. ACTION: Funding structure of the 2020 grants cycle Farman clarified that if commission prefers an option other
than staff recommendation,consultation with City Council will be required for"permission to not use[the funding]
in the way it was intended." Chasansky clarified council-approved directive for the 2020 budget: targeting these
monies to facilities-based cultural organizations,thus"closing the gap of inadequate government grant funding for
the city's largest cultural destinations." Borowsky reported how his conversations with council members fortified
his sense that commission process should align with the above directive. Borowsky made a motion for the staff
recommended distribution of funds across extra-large and large 2019 GOS applicants with scores above the
threshold.
Other options discussed: fully funding extra-large and large 2019 GOS applicants with scores above the threshold
and distributing funds across all GOS category applicants,with scores above the threshold. Villarreal queried
where the extra$10,000 would come from if fully funding. Click noted the grants that have not yet opened for
application(e.g.,cultural field trip funds,equity fund,second round of rental assistance fund). However,relevant
informational sessions on these grants have occurred. The idea of modifying already-published funding
opportunities"leaves a bad taste in[Villarreal's]mouth." Joos and McCormick agreed. McCormick aligned with
staff recommendation. Joos:"we are beholden to council to use the funds for what they were intended,"speaking
to commission"integrity." She noted importance of continuing to champion the smaller organizations.
For the decision process,staff recommended letting 2019 scores stand(though applicants may submit a statement
clarifying any updates or changes to 2019 application)as opposed to going through the full application process
again. McCormick favored the staff recommendation—"these groups have already qualified." Villarreal: as this is
just for 2 years and not 3,unfair to run applicants through the whole process again. Borowsky agreed.
Discussion of this being determined as a 1 or 2-year commitment. Chasansky discussed inherent issues in granting
multi-year funding within a city budget that is redetermined annually. McCormick noted that language could be
included clarifying that the monies fall dependent on the city budget accommodating this funding. Villarreal,
Borowsky,and McCormick agreed on 2-year duration. Joos wondered about future possibility of repurposing
money to include smaller organizations. Historically,Farnan explained,identified needs are responded to
incrementally. As the Cultural Plan calls for more funding,commission is likely to request further funding from
council. Joos feels strongly that this conversation was initiated by large organizations who were also facilities
because they could offer better services for smaller groups("trickle-down effect"). She sees a shift to addressing
the gap of funding for larger groups,which is a different thing—smaller groups also have a funding gap. Joos
beseeched commission be open to further conversation down the road(as she views current"heavy weighting"
toward large and extra-large when all sizes are underfunded). Hughes,Borowsky,and McCormick agreed.
Chasansky reminded commission that the funds granted in 2015 amounted to$250,000 total—now grown to
2020's$925,000 overall($748,000 of that in general operating support).
Borowsky moved that, in 2020,the$250,000 in grant funds be dedicated to distributing funds across extra-large
and large 2019 GOS applicants with scores above the score threshold set by the Boulder Arts Commission. Scores
from 2019 stand;applicants may submit a statement clarifying any updates or changes to their 2019 application.
McCormick seconded. Villarreal made a friendly amendment to adjust the time period from 2020 to 2020-2021.
The motion was approved 3-2,with Hughes and Joos in dissent.
Commission and Panel Grants Training set for January 2151 at the Boulder Public Library.
Break taken,wherein commissioners viewed the newly installed mural art in the reconstructed Main Library
bathrooms—the first fully-realized project stemming from the Percent for Art program.
Agenda Item 5: Matters from Commissioners [0.58.59 Audio min.]
A. Final discussion of the letter to City Council—gracious extension to get this to City Clerk by December 191x'.
Group discussed suggested adjustments to the draft in thean cket with Chasansky capturing changes. Villarreal
will incorporate edits and relay to Seaton by tomorrow,December 18". McCormick made a motion to approve the
letter as redrafted in the meeting. Villarreal seconded,and the motion was unanimously approved.
B. Discussion of historical data on community funding—Villarreal noted that staffs findings disproved his sense that
dance was underfunded(graph inan cket). He provided a monetary breakdown of the historical funding for various
organizations(see handouts . Borowsky:year-by-year comparisons may assist with future discussion(e.g.,one
year,music is most funded-the next,visual art). Group concurred that"catch-up"funding is not needed for any
single disadvantaged group.
C. Proposed letter of support for Los Seis de Boulder—Villarreal discussed this advocacy for a permanent sculpture at
28`'and Arapahoe where Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT)has the right-of-way. Villarreal distilled
a few points for the letter. 1)This was originally a project awarded by Arts Commission as a grant recipient,
backed up by commission letter of support to make the sculpture permanent on the CU campus. 2)Project provides
needed alternative history of Boulder that is overlooked. 3)Commission recommends to CDOT that this would be
a worthwhile project.
Hughes made a motion to endorse the Los Seis CDOT project via a letter of support. Seconded by McCormick,all
were in favor;the motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 6: Matters from Staff [2.09.47 Audio min.]
A. DISCUSSION:Questions About the Manager's Memo-Chasansky welcomed questions by email.
B. January 2020 meeting—Chasansky proposed that the regular January 2020 meeting be replaced by a"meet and
greet"session("The Year Ahead")mingling commissioners with local artists and organizations. Informal
interaction with the arts community that won't be gathered through official presentations in the upcoming grant
cycles. Opportune timing as no grant deadlines occur in January. Borowsky noted this opportunity as"good for
public relations in the community." Villarreal made a motion to replace the regular January meeting in favor of
this gathering. McCormick seconded;all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 7: Adjournment 12.16.11 Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time,the meeting was adjourned.
Date,time,and location of next meeting:
The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be replaced by an event("The Year Ahead")at 6 p.m.on
Wednesday,January 15,2020,at Bohemian Biergarten,2017 13th St,Boulder,CO 80302.
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
Board'Chit Board Secretary
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