TOWN OF GILBERT ARTS ADVISORY BOARD, REGULAR MEETING

GILBERT MUNICIPAL CENTER, 50 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
GILBERT ARIZONA

November 10, 2003

BOARD PRESENT: Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet, Board Member Susan Fleming, Board Member Alan Luse, Board Member Raphael Ngotie (6:45 p.m.), Board Member Dominic Sibbio, Board Member Nancy Lane Wagner, Board Member Dwight Walth

BOARD ABSENT: Chairman Jose Benavides, Board Member David Shelton

COUNCIL PRESENT: Donald Skousen

STAFF PRESENT: Cultural Arts Coordinator, Kimberly Grace, Town Manager, George Pettit, Recorder, Linda Stanley

OTHERS PRESENT: Stephanie Paterik, Arizona Republic, Brian Powell, Tribune

CALL TO ORDER:

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet had Recorder Linda Stanley call the roll and a quorum was determined to be present.

MINUTES - Approve Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2003

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet verified that everyone had a chance to review the minutes from the last meeting.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio stated that there needs to be a correction on page 3 of the minutes. It states, “it was suggested that the group provide status reports to council every two weeks.” He stated that it should say twice a year, instead of every two weeks.

A motion was made by Board Member Dominic Sibbio, seconded by Board Member Allan Luse to approve the meeting minutes, as amended, for October 6, 2003

Motion carried 6 - 0.

COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS

None.

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet welcomed the reporters to the meeting.

DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS

- WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet welcomed new board members Nancy Lane and Raphael Ngotie. She said that any of the board members could help them with information about the board. She also said that Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace could too.

Board Member Nancy Lane stated that she was from Minnesota. She works for the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and is newly married. Her married name is Wagner. She lives in Gilbert.

Board Member Raphael Ngotie stated that he was from Kenya. He has a bachelor’s degree in fine art.

STRATEGIC PLAN

Discuss the draft of a 3 - year strategic plan.

There was discussion on the Public Art section of the strategic plan. It was suggested by Board Member Dominic Sibbio that the wording be changed under Objective A, Strategy 1, from implement current projects, to research and identify public opportunities for art throughout the community.

Board Member Dwight Walth suggested that it would be easier to do the strategic plan after the board discussed the direction of the board.

A motion was made by Board Member Susan Fleming, seconded by Board Member Dwight Walth to work on the agenda out of order.

Motion carried 7 - 0.

DIRECTION OF BOARD

Discuss the November 3, 2003 Joint Meeting with Council.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio stated that the council did not approve funding for the arts. He asked Town Manager George Pettit if there were any legal ramifications from not funding the art by Shan Shan Sheng for the Community Development building?

Town Manager George Pettit responded by saying no because the council did not have a contract with Shan Shan Sheng. He said the Public Safety Complex had sent out a request for RFQ’s and as a result of the council meeting we will send out notices that the project is not moving forward. The Freestone Recreation Center has had nothing done. The funds for art are being put back into the general fund.

Board Member Dwight Walth asked if we have to reimburse Shan Shan Sheng for any costs she may have incurred. Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace said that the RFQ states that the town is not responsible for any costs associated with application for this project.

Board Member Dwight Walth stated that the reason for his resignation is that he could spend his time working in other ways to their benefit. He had three suggestion for the direction the board could take, 1) fund raising with council showing their support by attending, 2) artist donating work which the board sells and uses the money for public art projects or 3) the board becomes a non - profit organization like the Gilbert Fine Arts Association (GFAA) with a clear mission separate from the GFAA, however you will be competing for the same funds. There might be an opportunity however to work together with the GFAA.

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet said that the Mayor did say that he would provide his support and seed money for the arts.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio stated that the Mayor did agree to come to fund raisers and lend his support. He said that we need to focus our direction and in order to accomplish that we need to gather more information. We are here to advise the council and we are acting on behalf of the citizens. He said that for the past couple of years they have been working from a survey taken from citizens, which stated they wanted art in the community. He said that he knows the survey is going on now and he wants to find out the results of that survey.

Town Manager George Pettit stated that there is an annual survey being conducted.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio said that the board needs to meet with other boards in the town, such as Planning and Zoning, Economic Development, etc. and have an open forum to discuss problems the board is having. He suggested the board could hold public meetings with citizens at the Boys and Girls Club to find out what citizens want. He suggested the way to get to citizens is by attending HOA meetings. He said the way to get to the business community is through the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. They have offered to help conduct a survey. He also suggested meeting with GFAA and look into the board turning into a non - profit. Finally, after they have information from citizens they could place a sales tax increase of 1/10 of 1% sales tax for the arts on the ballot if the citizens want it.

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet stated that she did not think that they would receive a lot of support from businesses if they ask for a sales tax increase because shoppers will go to other cities.

Board Member Raphael Ngotie said the board needs to explore other directions but to not put too much effort forth if it might not be supported. We need to find out what direction we can go in. We should find out long term what is going to happen.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio said that the information from the survey would help them try to understand what the community wants. We need to do research. It might take us three months to get this information together.

Board Member Dwight Walth said that they used the survey last year as a reference and that the same survey is being done now. It has useful information for the board.

Town Manager George Pettit state that the town is working on the telephone survey and that it takes 30 days to conduct and another 60 days to compile the information.

Board Member Alan Luse stated that the board still has a staff member with the town and a small budget to work with. There are still things that the board can do such as doing more advocacy things within the community. We can get more art into the library and look at other ways to promote the arts.

Board Member Susan Fleming agrees.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio stated that the board needs to focus on fund raising. We should focus on the subcommittees that we put together and those formulated ideas for projects and events.

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet said that they need to come up with something in December for the council so that they won’t forget about the arts. She asked if there was any kind of fund - raiser in the spring that they could do?

Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace stated that she understood the council to say that they wanted a plan in January to get a picture of what the board is about. If you want to do an art walk and it is successful, you can build on that. You could have something in the community and do it jointly with the GFAA. This group can go beyond public art. You just need to find funding.

Board Member Susan Fleming asked if they receive donations for art could the council take that money away?

Town Manager George Pettit stated that donations would be entered into the arts agency fund.

Board Member Alan Luse suggested that they work with Parks and Recreation to bring in small performing groups, such as Shakespeare in the Park.

Vice - Chair Elizabeth Cress - Sweet said she would like to see something like that in Gilbert.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio said they should go back to the subcommittees wish list and focus on those and do research to find out what it takes to put them on and than take that information to the council.

Vice - Chair Elizabeth Cress - Sweet wanted to have the strings concert with the high school students again this year. She will need to contact the superintendent of schools. Also, she will need to find out from the Herberger if they will be having the string concert for the schools this year. She said that she would need to contact the PTO to have them pay for the buses this year. The students were bused to Mesquite High School last year. She can’t do this without the board’s permission, so she requested that it be placed on the December 1st agenda.

Board Member Susan Fleming wanted to know if they wanted Christine Hall to do a 20 minute presentation at the next board meeting on how the Shemer was started and how they did fund raising.

Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace said that she would check with Christine and have her speak at the next board meeting. She reminded the group that elections for Chairman and Vice - Chairman would be held at the next meeting. She said that Board Member Nancy Lane Wagner would be approved as a regular board member at the council meeting on November 11 and that Wallace Taylor will be brought on as an alternate board member.

Vice - Chair Elizabeth Cress - Sweet advised the new board members to review the strategic plan and pick which subcommittee interests them to join.

Board Member Dominic Sibbio asked if they wanted to put direction back on the next agenda.

Vice - Chair Elizabeth Cress - Sweet suggested they wait for the survey results.

Board Member Alan Luse stated they don’t need general direction because they are asking the subcommittees to bring ideas to the next meeting. We can add those items to the agenda.
Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace reminded them that there is a very short amount of time for subcommittees to meet before the December 1 regular meeting due to the Thanksgiving two - day holiday

STRATEGIC PLAN

Board Member Dominic Sibbio suggested that they strike objective A, strategy 1 of the public art section of the strategic plan. Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet asked if there was a motion to do so.

A motion was made by Board Member Dominic Sibbio, seconded by Board Member Alan Luse to strike objective A, strategy 1.

Motion carried 7 - 0.

COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF

Cultural Arts Coordinator Kimberly Grace said that there were 76 artists who applied for the Public Safety Complex. Most of the artists applied for all three projects. Twenty artists were from Arizona. She said she would keep the information on file. The artist at the Lobby for Art at the Library is Diana Trucks Fleming until December 4. She said that in their packet was a phone list of all the Arts Advisory Board members. She passed out a press release from Gary Lewellan. He does photography project with students that documents Gilbert than and now. Allen Dutton will be speaking at Mesquite High School and his press release gives recognition to the Gilbert Arts Advisory Board for their support.

COMMUNICATION FROM BOARD

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet said that she was glad the board was sticking together and that they should plan on attending other boards and commissions meetings. She stated that they need to push by email the old Boys and Girls Club would be a great place to have a theatre, it could serve a lot of uses. She said she was sad to see Dwight Walth resign and that he taught her a lot. She stated that the board recorder will not be at the next meeting because she is getting married and congratulated recorder Linda Stanley on her upcoming wedding.

NEXT BOARD MEETING

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet said that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Center, Room #233. Please let Ms. Grace know if you cannot attend and give her any agenda items.

ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING

A motion was made by Board Member Dominic Sibbio, seconded by Board Member Susan Fleming that they adjourn this meeting.

Motion carried 7 - 0.

Vice - Chairman Elizabeth Cress - Sweet adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.

ATTEST:

Recorder Linda Stanley