RecordingTranscript available55:45

North St. Paul Arts and Culture Commission Meeting - 9/3/25

North St. Paul City CouncilMonday, September 15, 2025
Watch on original source

Document Analysis

Analyze the transcript to extract topics, key quotes, people, and more — then generate focused stories for any topic.

Transcript
Commission to order for September 3rd, 2025. >> Hello, Jordan. How are you >> doing? Good. How are you guys? >> Pretty good. Would you like to take roll for us? >> I can. Um Tom Sonic >> here. >> Carrie Neto >> here. >> Amanda Black here. >> Sharon Clark Williams >> here. >> Raquel Sodto >> here. >> Laura String is absent. Eliza Verma >> here. >> Ured Arosco Garcia is absent and Troy Woods >> here. >> And our staff leaison Jordan Layman. All right, we'll move to adopt the agenda. Everybody get a chance to take a look at the agenda. Any suggestions for changes, questions, anything like that. Otherwise, I'll look for a motion to approve as is. >> I'll make a motion to move to approve the agenda as is. >> I second. >> Second. All in favor say I. I >> oppos. Agenda is adopted. Approval of minutes. Everybody get a chance to look at the minutes. Any suggestions, edits, anything like that? >> If not, I'll look for a motion to approve the minutes as listed. >> Motion to approve the minutes. >> Motion by Sharon. >> Second. >> Second by Eliza. All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Minutes approved. Meeting open to the public. Nobody here. Public hearings? We have none. Commission business action items. Um, so autumn arts updates and role discussion. Jordan, you want to take the lead on this one? >> Yes, I can. Um, I have a list of things Ava wanted me to review with you guys. Um, so the first thing on there is reviewing the new event map. Um, the um, what is it? The event has been moved to the parking lot as opposed to I think the area by the I don't know if that's a ball court or something. I'm not familiar with this park. Um it was on the grass prior. Um so one thing she wanted to highlight was that the vendor and volunteer parking is a designate designated lot on the grass. That's the blue one or blue marked in blue in the map. And we'll be available, but we'll be closed to um vehicle entry and exit between 10:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. So, if you want to park there, you will not be able to move your car from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Um and then vendors are also expected to stay until the event ends at 6 p.m. And then I suppose just yeah, reviewing this map layout if there's any questions, concerns, or anything you want me to bring back to Ava. Jordan, is that other parking lot open? That kind of back parking lot. Do you know what I'm talking about? >> Yeah, on the north side of the park. >> I don't think so. >> I'm not sure, but I know that's where a lot of construction is. >> I think that's where >> Yeah. >> So, that's not available either. >> I don't believe >> we should have plenty of street parking, especially with the food trucks not being in the street now. Also, >> there's parking on the on both sides of 17th. On the north side of 17th, there is a sidewalk the full length of the street. So, if people park along there, they will have the sidewalk and um on the other side, you'll have to just run across the street. >> We've also in the past used the parking lot at the school down the street. They've allowed us to I I don't know if we've ever talked to them about it, but people have parked there. >> They're under con. >> Yeah, that's under construction. >> Oh, >> well, that's not going to work. I don't know how much parking there may be some parking but I know there's construction >> there's a lot of construction going on there at the moment >> and then we're done. If you have any other comments, let me know. But um she also wanted me to confirm uh let's see who is doing the craft project and art cart. I believe last time we talked Laura was on the art cart. I didn't know if anyone else was. >> Raquel will as well. >> All right. And then I'll be doing the craft project. >> All right. And then just Amanda for that >> for now. >> Okay. And then I'm pretty sure we all agreed that it was you guys wanted to do till the event started and then till supplies last for both of these uh projects. Let's push the craft project um like half an hour after start time or something just to give me time for if I'm moving around and not there >> like 11:30. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is that craft project supposed to be underneath the art tent then? >> Is that not going to be in the building this year? >> I believe it's supposed to be in the building. >> What's going under this art tent? >> Oh, that's for the uh face painting and balloon, animals, things like that. >> Got it. >> Right. And then I have Tom and Sharon for placing the signs around the city. >> Um I believe there is a map that was supposed to be sent out to you guys. If not, I it might have been attached to the email that I got from Ava, so I can send that to you guys because I see >> I don't think I got that. >> Okay. Um I do have um the signs and a list of where they need to go. So if you guys want to pick those up today, that would >> okay >> work or if you guys want to come in later. Um >> and when do we want to put those out? >> Um she said by at least Monday, September 18 or not 18th, 8th. Um but even better would be Sunday, September 7th. But um either one of those days work. So if you guys Yeah. want to grab them for me after the meeting or if you want to wait, that also works. >> Great. >> So the sign should be put out this upcoming weekend. >> Correct. Yep. >> Um so yeah, after this Saturday since all them signs say Saturday. This Saturday. Um and then Ava needs a >> Can I just interject here? Um Tom, I'll have to do that with you. I do not have a vehicle. >> Oh. So, and nor a wagon to pull them around in. So, uh >> I'll be and I'm I'm out till uh Sunday afternoon. I I'll be out of town. >> Sharon, if you want I'm I have a car and we can go out if you want. >> Okay, that sounds good. >> All right. Um, Ava will need a volunteer to pick up helium balloons from city hall the week of September 8th and then fill them the morning of the festival at the Dollar Tree and arrive at the festival before 10:30 with those. If there's anyone who knows that they can volunteer for that or otherwise you can get back to Ava. How many balloons are you talking? >> That's a good question. I'm not sure. >> That is a good question. >> Depends. Yeah, might I could if my car fits them, but car. So, >> if it's a lot, I might need a SUV or something. >> This was the balloons we were going to put at each station to indicate where everything was. So, I can't imagine it's like a hundred or anything, but good question still. >> Okay. Right. Um, and then I suppose just reviewing the event tab, the roles, day of schedule, and volunteer times that is uh listed in this packet. um just making sure that they're correct or everything works. Um and then she did want to point out it's on the last page under the assignments on the right side, the before, during, after. It's in uh purple. Um so she says that you guys um she would love if you guys would be willing to delegate tasks to volunteers if they're looking for jobs to do. um they're going to create uh she's going to create a volunteer group chat to handle uh work and tasks that come up throughout the the day cuz she was explaining to me that during the last one um some people had kind of free time and didn't really know what to do and so and she wasn't necessarily always available to delegate. So, some of these stuff on there, like she's like, if you guys see people who want to do something or are asking, um, and if you see that these are things that need to be done, just feel free to tell the volunteers to that those are tasks that they can do. Um, and then lastly, as just any questions, comments, or suggestions um, before next week that you would like to get back to Ava or that you guys have? I'm still curious where this group chat is happening and if we're all going to be in the group chat. Is it like a team's type of deal or you know good question this is I did not think of that to ask Ava. Um I can ask her. >> Okay. [Music] >> Lovely. >> Um sorry I skipped one. So, the last thing is just a quick one um to make sure um you all say going on the your personal Facebook and repost event information. >> Got it. >> But yeah, that was it for that. Uh can you ask Eva to send me the vendors and which booth they're at list so that I can direct them the right places? >> All right, sounds good. Um, does uh is there a place or how are we expecting the performers to load and unload? >> Um, I am not sure, but that's definitely something I can follow up with Ava about. >> I mean, maybe it's just the band that would have more, you know, the piano and the amps and stuff. Yeah, they'll be coming throughout the day. So, they'd have to be able to come in and probably unload right up near that city tent area. >> We can't have them driving through the parking lot. >> Yeah, they can't drive under there. >> They'll have to drive through here. >> We're going to have them drive on the trail then >> if the city allows it. >> That is something that I don't know if has been thought about, but I can definitely follow with Ava and it's a good catch. >> People on that where it says art vendors, that's going to be humans. >> Yep. So, >> um, am I supposed to take the signs down, too? >> Yeah, we have set up and take down. Yeah, I think. >> Yeah, if you're able to. Otherwise, I think Sarah might be able to. Or we could get volunteers, but >> Well, we can let Sarah do it. >> Um, could you also ask I mean, I can email Ava as well. has she sent out or what type of setup instructions do the vendors have for this kind of setup? I would have opinions. I'm not sure what exactly she sent. I know she's sent out >> I don't know if you've been CCed on any of the emails, but she's definitely sent out some stuff, but I'm not sure >> frequently for for this type of layout and since everyone's like on the in the parking lot, what I would get is that you can drive up to your booth spot, unload your car, um but then you're asked to put your car in parking and then go to set up the tent like not to set up anything until you move your car so that we can get vendors >> flowing throughout. >> Mhm. That makes sense. >> And then same thing with tear down. You're supposed to tear down your tent before you go get your car. Gotcha. >> Yeah. I was copied on the the first notice to the vendors, but I haven't I haven't seen the updated one, I don't think. >> Yeah, same. >> Oh, wait. F. There's volunteer instructions, but that's not the >> But we can help with vendors, too, and just say >> move it along. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yep. In fact, I'll probably like position myself right at the start, like where the fork in the road is, I guess you could say, on the parking lot, and I'll check in vendors there and tell them where to go. And >> yeah, you're doing the vendor check-in. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, if I can catch them on their way in, then that should work. >> Just out of curiosity, are they assigned a number on the map? Yes. >> We're not fighting over spots. >> Anything else on the marks festival? >> I will reach out to Ava. I was not here last meeting and so I'm like I just want to be useful. So I will see what um >> be happy to have you feel. There will be a lot of things that day where we think too like, "Oh, nobody's set up for this. Can you go do that?" >> I'm not assigned for anything either. So, >> sounds good. >> I I never I wasn't last year either. >> What's your availability? >> Um, I can do like either like morning or afternoon the whole block would be >> okay. >> Good. So, I feel like maybe the afternoon since it looks like maybe there's >> few >> Yeah. There's a lot of morning. I'm like I could do afternoon. >> That'd be great. Yeah. So >> awesome. >> There will be plenty to do. >> I found out last year. >> Great. Anything else? Okay, let's go to subcommittee updates. So, I think public art project is our first one. Any updates this time through? >> Oh, shoot. I didn't know Laura wasn't going to be here. I don't know where we are with the public works. Do you know with the stamp? >> She did not. All she sent me was a picture of her. Okay, >> baby. >> And how many um I should have emailed you for an update. How many signs do we have left? >> Um I think around 60. >> Okay, so those are still going strong. All right. >> No other updates from us on Do you have anything? No. >> Okay. >> Murals. >> I don't think we really have an update. We are still open to creating a mural or another work of art before the snow flies and we're going to get to work on that. And we're looking at some topics. I think the bench is probably the biggest thing we've looked at is placing a bench somewhere around the city. Then the mural will be on the bench and that way we don't have to try to convince somebody they want to paint a mural on their building. and um but we don't have a subject matter yet or an artist. But >> yeah, >> I think we're we're getting there. I I don't know if you had an opportunity to look into any kind of pricing or anything yet, but I think we're we've got a good concept. >> Yeah. Seen a range of pricing. It's just going to be a matter of finding something. If we go that direction, I think we should that'd be a good opportunity to try this form. >> Yes. um that Jordan has and um talk through that with the city um and then finding benches that would be uh easily painted. >> So, are we segueing into the form and simultaneously this >> Okay, we can get >> because I thought this that would be a great time to ask a few questions about it in regards to >> We'll get through the rest of this stuff first, but and then I don't know if everybody even knows that the historical society mural is put on hold. >> Oh, >> yeah. We're not moving forward with that one right now. >> That's a bummer. >> Yeah, >> just some concerns about the uh feasibility. So, um but hopefully probably most likely something there next year. So, they're they're still interested. >> Don't be sad. There's always an opportunity for a different work of art, you know, rise from the ashes thing. >> Um utility boxes update. >> I had a question actually about murals. >> Yeah. Do we have any jurisdiction over like, you know, the stub walls of like the bridges and the overpasses? And like could someone do like a little, you know, just a banded mural like on the bottom of, you know, whatever. I think it's like CMU or something. >> Yeah. So, we'd have to just talk to the city manager about that. It kind of probably depends on who who who paid for the the bridge or the you know so it could be it could be city property like if it's the Margaret Street Bridge or something like that or if it's over Highway 36 then it could be a state property or it could be you know it just depends >> because I'm wondering if we can explore you know options to do you know >> three foot high two foot high murals on the bottom of those >> walkways. days at all. Just a thought. >> Sure could. >> That >> okay. Utility boxes. Does do we know was I know the one the new spot at Casey had to be sized or something. Does anybody know if any progress was made on that? >> Yeah, we received an estimate. Yes, I was just waiting for approval um from the subcommittee before I move forward and tell them that we're good and then I'll get a template and then I'll send that to Laura and she can >> get the images on there and >> hopefully we can get I think we can have a good shot of getting it done before winter. So, >> the estimate went way up, right? >> Yes, it it is. I feel like one and a half times the cost of our previous boxes. But isn't this a larger >> From my understanding? Yes, it is a larger box. >> It's a larger box. It's and it's going to So, it's a lot of the images will be included >> on this particular location. >> I make a motion to approve the increased cost. >> Same. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, are we good to go? Do we need Do you need subcommittee approval or this committee approval? >> If needed, like if there's not enough money in your budget, it sounds like you can steal some from the murals. >> For sure. >> There is enough money within the utility box budget to do it. I just had not heard anything from um Laura. I didn't want to, you know, she she's really led that up and really got that going. So, I was just waiting for what her impression of it was. But I personally don't have any problem with just moving ahead. I mean, she's got it all together. It's ready to go. I think that we should just move ahead. I do. We take a formal vote if we override a subcommittee. >> Okay. Is this something? >> Whatever we need to do. I don't have any problem. >> Okay. Well, why don't you have us Why don't you uh >> let's let's motion to move forward with the the Heartands mural at the new location at the at Casey Park um along with the increased cost for the uh the wrap. >> I move to do that. >> Gary moves >> second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I third. >> No, not not enough. I don't think I think Laura was in favor of doing it. Yes. Right. >> Yes. >> She has not expressed any need >> like no let's not do that. >> So, yay. So, that will be two beautiful utility boxes. >> We got the utility box for the Veterans Park on the day before the 15th anniversary. So, it was kind of crazy. We had I had no idea and they had no idea. I was out for a walk and they were working on it. Oh my gosh. >> And they just happened to um the guys who uh are running head up that Veterans Park just happened to be going to the park to put in some lastm minute finishes for the actual celebration and we were like you're here >> and he was able to complete it within one day. >> Wow. So unfortunately the artist was not able to come because I had to see if they were going to do it. Then I had to walk back and it got done. So by then it was late in the evening. So by the time I was able to email the artist and say yes, it's actually there now. So um if you want to come see it tomorrow, but it received a very very positive response from the veterans community and everyone who was there. So yay. >> That's fantastic. I'm happy. Good job. >> Awesome. >> And that's it. We don't have any other boxes um in process right now. >> Okay. >> Art cart. We have an art cart. No, we don't have Do we have an art cart coming? No. Well, we have the autumn Arts Festival. That's next art. Okay. Any >> Anything else with art cart? >> We have a great project planned. >> Great. >> Finally nailed that down. >> Are you going to tell us or is it going to be a surprise when we get there? Um what what what are we calling them? Um >> corn. >> Well, we're making corns, fall corns out of beads and um >> like pipe cleaners. >> Pipe cleaners. That's what that's called. >> So they'll have to string them all together and add their beads and make a little corn husk. >> Not corn husk. Perfect. Corn cup. There you go. >> I'm at a loss for words today. It >> be like the fall harvest corn with the multiolors. Autumn Arts Festival. >> Oh my gosh. >> Beautiful. >> So on brand. >> It'll be great. >> Like we planned it. >> The kids will love it. >> I had one question. Did we want like a visual that people can see like what is kind of being made at the art cart or if like you guys want sample one made or >> I was thinking morning of I'll just quickly make one. Hopefully it won't take that long and I'll just have it on the table for them to see. >> Okay. I didn't know if you need the supplies beforehand, but it sounds like it's all good. Well, well, we'll have a day of Yeah, it'll be fine. >> I think there's enough supplies to do that. Yeah, >> we purchased we >> asked for beads and pipe cleaners to get purchased, too. >> Okay, >> so we did use a little bit of our art cart budget. >> Fantastic. >> Now, Sheronical, like we haven't touched it at all this year, so there's plenty of room in our budget. >> We had a lot of rain early on, though. That kind of >> Yeah. >> these projects. So, this fantastic. It's not going to rain. >> Oh, speaking of which though, um, do we anticipate it being like windy at all? And I don't know if we're going to set up the tent that our cart has, and if we do, do we need to get those sandbags filled? >> Uh, I sent one that question to Ava along with all my other stuff last month, and she was going to talk to public works about getting weights for all of the city tents. Okay, that's it. Okay. Okay. Art night. We have one of those coming up. I know. >> Mhm. Yep. We're going to do watercolor bookmarks. It's going to be great. >> Cool. >> Do we How many >> bookmarks? Okay. >> Looks like greeting cards or something. That just >> Oh, maybe it is. >> There was the uh the >> It's watercolor something just came out. >> I think it's greeting cards. >> Dang it. I was so close. >> Yeah, it is. >> Jordan, how many Sorry. How many >> bookmarks are we? >> Really? I missed the bookmarks. How many people have signed up for that one? We have not gotten anyone so far. >> Are you serious? >> I think Ava just made a post today. So hopefully we haven't checked since like this morning. So >> Oh, so maybe it's early days yet. >> It was in the newsletter today. >> Usually they fill up like that. >> Well, I signed up for the October. >> Okay. >> I'm going to get >> You're making your blanket. Yeah. >> That I tried signing up a couple days ago and it's closed again. >> You know what's going on with the blanket? >> Is the blanket sold out? No, we I talked to Sarah about it and we decided just to close it until a month before like we did with all the others since I think it was honestly I think maybe when she talked to me about it for some reason you were able to get through but like she said it's it should be closed and it was so I don't know maybe your account has privileges I don't know >> that's a nice thought but the account that I went in through was my own personal email >> so it wasn't anything associated with the city it was the account I already had. >> Mhm. >> Cuz yeah, it was open and I was like, "Well, no, I'll just wait cuz >> Yeah, it was open because I sent it to my sister and my daughter and they both looked at it and said, "Well, I'll get back to it." No, they can't. Haha. >> But in a couple weeks. >> Yeah. >> So, on Monday, >> when when is the date of the next >> We had to move it for the parade. So, I think it's the 23rd, but I feel like that's wrong. Also, >> correct. >> Oh my god, I got one thing right. >> Okay. >> Yeah. 923. And then 10:16 is your blanket night. And then 11:20, I don't remember what that is, but that's the final one of the year. >> Mandala coasters. >> Mandala coasters. Oh my god. For real? >> I can make her a coaster for her new baby. A >> They have to get signed up for it. >> Yeah. You can get lots of coasters for >> I feel like previously it might have said the date because I put reminders and sent invites to the women in my family for these. And so that's how I was able that's how I knew August 1, get out there sign up for the blanket. >> So I don't know if that's true or not or if I just kind of randomly picked those days instead. Looks like >> I had it in my calendar, too, cuz it said on the website it opens August 1st for the >> So, I had it in my Okay, two people. >> Yeah, I must have just gotten set wrong or mistakenly. Yeah. >> Oh, okay. That's just FYI. >> All right. >> Okay. Um, Autumn Arts Festival. I think we've covered that unless anybody has anything else. Um, uh, food passport. Is does anyone do you know anything? Have you heard anything? So I will take full responsibility with I have switched devices which is a cardinal sin with getting into my email. So I haven't been able to check my email. Um last that we were still kind of waiting on the lawyer um to give feedback. Um however we noticed that the parks department is doing their own like park passport. So we kind of worried is there like going to be too much redundancy like >> I don't think so. fatigue from running around and getting >> well there for the park for the record it's you're you're taking a photograph of yourself by the entrance to the park with the signage to the park and for ours it's getting a stamp. So, >> but it's kind of the same concept. >> Yeah. I don't I I I think it's really two different >> things. I I wouldn't see it as being too much of the same thing. >> Sounds good. So, once I am back into my email, I will do some followup to see where we're landing with like the legal stuff since I know there were still kind of working through that. >> Yeah. And I've talked to Brian a couple times about it and I I haven't heard anything recently. I think the last thing I heard from him was National Night Out, but >> um >> Have you heard anything, Troy? >> I have not. >> Okay. Um, let me just I'll give them another poke and um see if we can't get going on that. >> Thanks. So, that is our nonupdate. So, thank you to also my co-committee members Laura and Sharon for being fantastic people and their patience. So, yeah. >> Okay. Um, so I think that gets us through all of our subcommittee updates, right? Um, so old business, anything old? If not, we'll go to the reports from staff and Jordan, you want to walk us through the, uh, project proposal form? >> Yeah. So, I had a little blurb at the beginning. Um, so this is a draft project proposal form that I had Sarah and Ken review. And so the intent is that you guys are able to fill this out to the best of your abilities. Obviously, not everything's going to be be able to be filled out for every project. Um, but the intent is just kind of to give staff as much information in one consolidated place as early as possible so that we can can review it. Um, kind of act as a starting point um, for projects and kind of help with big picture planning for staff and the commission. Um, and the nothing on here is necessarily set in stone. Things are obviously subject to change, but it's just like a starting point. Um, and then these are all a lot of frequently frequently questions that I get asked in regards to some projects. Um and yeah, so ideally um I think I would like proposals for all the projects submitted um by Monday after the December meeting. So that is December 8th so that we can ideally maybe review them um or staff has time to review them between the January meeting and then they can be discussed at the commission um meeting in January. so that I can include them all or what we have um in the packet so we all can kind of have a visual representation and just give it the final send off or um you guys can receive staff feedback if there is any. Um that would be the uh ideal plan that I think I would have for these. >> Have you repeat that? So for 2026 you want all proposals submitted by what's the day? um December 8th and I can send an email out so that this document is attached um with all that information and kind of consolidate in one place and somewhere for you guys to reference. >> And then yeah, if you have any questions I see >> just one question. >> Go ahead. >> Um is this going to be kind of like a working document with you? like will we be able because clearly like you said everything's going to be not going to be we're not going to know who the artists are. We're not going to know what what is their idea before we tell you hey we want to do a mural here in 2026. Well, we won't have selected an artist yet. We won't have what their subject matter how they interpret our idea yet. So, is this going to kind of be like um a a SharePoint type document where we fill it out and so you can keep up and say, "Okay, so this is where they are. This is what they're telling me." How do you see us making this work for the best of everyone? >> Um I initially saw it as a just like initial starting point that you guys fill out kind of once and then send to me. I'll be frank after that it's kind of a we'll not we'll see but we're kind of I'm trying to figure out this process as it as we go see what works best for everyone. Um so I definitely think that would maybe be a good good idea. I was thinking just maybe an initial start point. Um I'm not sure about it being a living document how useful it would be but maybe I haven't thought that far ahead to be frank. Well, I was kind of thinking it would keep everything together because some I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm asking you the same thing again >> and if we had a I don't know if it was recorded in one spot then we would all know, hey, okay, so this is this is what the budget was. Oh, this was the estimate we got for this utility box. It's all right here. >> You get what I'm saying? >> Yeah. I think it would definitely be useful. Once I saw it, it was like, "Oh, maybe she means this to be something that we continuously work on together >> for each project." Because I mean, how many projects do we have? It's not that many. >> But it keep us from emailing you the same question two months down the road. >> I definitely think it'd be maybe good to have on SharePoint so that we can be referencing it and updating it. I was going to say I second that because I do love a good living document and as a project manager I love a good proposal. So I'm like oh this is nice. Um I was wondering so it's like the art topic um and like art location aspects are very much like with like physical media art. I know that we've talked about doing other types of art, you know, dance, other types of like programming. Would there be the ability to like maybe add questions like that to account for different kinds >> or or maybe project topic and >> yeah like >> you know maybe because we are the arts and culture commission so maybe I love how you did jazz hands for that. Yeah. So maybe broadening that a little bit so it's not specifically about you know we only work on on art or visual art. We we can do performances or >> cultural events or >> we can change that. Yeah. >> Uh Jordan, couple questions for you. So like um I'm just when I just go down our list of you know projects from 2025. Um I'm seeing that there were like five projects really. So in that's if we don't count the art cart and the art night, would you need these forms to be filled out for those things? >> This was something I debated um not having, but I think I would like to try to have the form filled out for that those even though I know a lot of it isn't necessarily applicable. >> And again, some of this stuff if you don't really have an answer or it's not applicable, you can just write an A on there or >> Okay. Um, but I I would like to try with those ones. Um, ideally when I have a little bit more time in the winter and maybe when this initial form evolves, I would like ones for make specific proposal forms for like at art cart or murals especially and utility boxes since those are very concrete um processes that have already gone through and like we kind of know the common questions that keep coming up and just kind of have it all in one place >> because the art cart and the art night I mean there's they're so established and so and really kind predictable in a lot of ways that once those dates are established it's kind of like >> I like that it's helping not help not forcing us but it's making us I guess think a little bit further ahead >> rather than what we do sometimes and I think that's what's going to help Jordan going forward and so if like for art night >> we give our lists of artists that we'd like to have and dates ahead of time we can get that started in January. And same thing with Art Cart. If we can decide our projects for the full year, then that's not something we need to even think about during the summer when we're doing the actual projects and everything. >> But and I think that's kind of like the art night. That's what we did this year, wasn't it? >> Art Night. We got done pretty well. Yeah. >> So, okay. Um, any other thoughts or questions about the form? >> Can uh I really like the living document. I really like being able to see what's going on. I think it'd be helpful for all of the commission members to see all the projects, but does that break? >> Uh, no. No, we could be meeting if we if I if I am looking at >> uh what's happening with uh what is it the community art project? >> I'm just I'm just reading an >> reading what's going on. >> Yeah, I'm not participating. >> Reading law, >> right? Thank you. >> Yeah, I don't know if you all can edit it. Maybe I'd have to look in if the subcommittees are the only ones that can edit and if other people viewing it >> is okay. I think that should be, but I'm not 100% sure. I can definitely look into that though. >> Maybe I'd suggest only you can edit. >> That way you're the one you're seeing every change that's going in. >> Oo, that's a good idea. >> I think Yeah, that's a good idea. >> So, could you initiate these five different shared documents so that all of us because I think sometimes when I start something in SharePoint like I'll send it to you and you and Ava will be like, I can't see this and I I'm 100% sure it's user error. So, if you could help us out by starting the document and then we can fill in the details or email you with the details to fill in. >> It depends what kind of document you make too because again, if we're using Microsoft, they've got like the notes, the one note, and that everyone can edit. you can see a history of the changes and it'll tell you Raquel stood is actively in this thing and or it'll have a time stamp right by it. So, I mean I guess it just depends if it's a word doc. You can still see the history but you don't know when it was changed. >> But I'm not sure everybody has every software on their computer 365. I mean I do but I'm not sure everybody does. >> I see that's my problem. with our normal email though. >> But then why can't I start a teams? >> That's a good question. >> Teams might be different. >> I thought the video Microsoft was all just one big >> Well, whatever. >> You have to have a for each seat. >> They have to pay a license fee. >> Yeah. >> So, it's possible that our license is for Outlook only. >> Yeah. and outlook only because that gets kind of spindy getting a license for every seat for everything and sometimes we can view documents >> right >> but then we don't have access to it >> which in that case Google is a good free everybody should have Google >> I personally have Google >> has Google Docs is very friendly >> and Google sheets yes they're the Google Slides, all of the Googles, >> we have to be careful. I mean, not to be a deboner, but for security purposes, we have to be careful about what we access in regards to the city, >> and we don't want to find ourselves in the situation as some other cities around that have recently found themselves in. >> Good point. Yeah. I was wondering, Jordan, is there like a like any rules or guidance around using like like a Google Docs with the city? Like >> not that I'm aware of. Um I know like Ava uses Google Docs for all of her spreadsheets. Um I can definitely ask just to be sure, but not that I know of. >> There's definitely rules. >> It's one thing for the staff within but we're different because we're public entity. I was going to say if there's a way to check on that, that'd be good. So, we kind of know what is along. >> We've gone through this before, Carrie, from the very beginning. >> Well, we had a Gmail. We did all of our smart sheets in Google. I maybe shouldn't be >> admitting that, but when we started out, >> how >> because um >> I would love to have some official like documentation. >> Lisa >> Lisa >> talked to whomever when she was in Jordan's position and they were like, "Oh, yeah, that's fine. So that's why we have those business cards with the Gmail. I still check it to make sure nothing important comes in. But >> well, something to look into, Jordan, if there's a shared location where we could store those documents so that everyone can access those just to remember at least what's in them. Um, and then if changes are made that they could be updated, we could kind of figure that out as we go. But just finding out uh where a shared document location might be and how we could keep those forms there. Anything else on the forum? >> Okay. Um >> I do have one more thing that I wasn't able to get on the packet. Um so when I was emailing with the wrapping company, they also did the um trading cards and he was saying or he sent me an invoice that wasn't being that hadn't been paid yet and that was the trading cards. Um, so unfortunately that's going to have to come out of this budget >> from last year. >> Um, yeah. >> How did we not pay that? >> It just was not I think it was just from staff turnover. The invoice was sent the same month my left. So I think that got lost. I don't think anyone received the email and >> that's too bad. >> The exact number. >> I need to find it. Do we know what that came out of? What project that was? >> It didn't. We're ending in communication most likely. >> Oh. >> Yeah. And then um so presumably are we going to hand these things out at the fall roundup parade this year if it happens? >> Yes. Yes, we are. >> Um but my question is that it is $1,514.95. >> Wow. >> Um so it's going to be coming out of your general pot. Um but I just wanted to know what you guys wanted to subtract it from for our own accounting. Um, take branding and communications and any remaining can come from the art cart because I we're done spending money. >> I was going to say that. >> And the last $10 from the art night. I mean, might as well. >> Yeah. >> Spend that down. >> That's big money or >> I know. >> You're so generous. >> Woo. Look at me. Gums on me, guys. >> All right. That answers my question. So, that is all for me. >> Okay. Any other questions or updates on the budget report, then? Okay. So, last we'll go to updates, reports from commissioners. >> Amanda, you got anything for us this month? >> If you want to see any other art festivals, I'm at three others this month. >> Wow. >> Three in a month. >> Well, and there's a fourth one the first weekend in October. Um, Adina Fall into the Arts is at Centennial Lakes this coming weekend. September 20th and 21st, there's the Excelsier Apple Days. That one would be a really good one because I think that one is set up like we should do it as far as using the downtown streets. >> Um, and then last weekend of the month, I will be in Hudson for the St. Croy Art Festival. >> Oh, which that was the 30th, 29th. >> 27th and 28th. >> Okay. Chair, you >> I do not. >> Gary, >> no. Are we also going to have candy for the parade? Can we have candy for the parade? >> I'm not sure. I can imagine they're >> I hope so. And are we are we walking just as one city and like conglomerate? >> So I think there's one for one float for city council and then one for commission. >> Okay, perfect. That's great. Awesome. >> Thanks. >> I just wear our t-shirts. >> Yeah. Everyone get a Eliza, you got a t-shirt, right? >> I do have a t-shirt and I'm like I got to dig it out again. I'm very excited. Okay, perfect. >> Yeah, we got to have candy though. Yeah. >> Um, >> I'm pretty sure there's candy. >> There be candy. >> It's not a parade without candy. >> Uhuh. >> All right, Eliza, you got any updates? >> I'm very boring. No, I have no updates. >> Raquel, >> did we skip Carrie? >> No, I don't. I just asked about the parade. >> Oh, >> sorry. >> No, I'm There's nothing new here. >> Okay. And uh the only thing I have is to don't don't forget the Autumn Arts Festival next Saturday. Not this coming, but the one after. >> It's gonna be great. >> Um, okay. Uh, reports from council leaison. Troy, you got any updates for us? >> Um, not really. We had our city council meeting last night. We talked about, uh, budgets. Um, I think this is our last budget meeting for the year, which kind of feels good. um talked about the potential levy for 2026 and talked a little bit about the uh community center and plans for that. Um what kind of had three things in to discuss. One is the library itself. What you know what should we what can we do with the library? Um the community center building, what is the plan for that? And then the um or sorry the building and the site I guess you know what do we do with that and then also the grants what could we do if we reapply the plan is to reapply for the grant and if we get approved for the grant what would that go toward um so we kind of brainstormed some ideas with that so >> I'm sorry why would we reapply for the grant >> because what we decided in July, no August was to decline the grant as it stood because the way the grant was written, the grant application was written in such a way that it was very limiting for what it could be used for, right? And so we basically have to decline that grant, reapply for the money as a different um and I know Brian has been uh sorry the city manager has been in contact with the grant people at the state and they said yeah we have a lot of people doing this so it's shouldn't be a problem. You'll hopefully you'll get it you know get reapproved and be able to get the money and then what if we do get reapproved what do we use that money toward? What kind of projects and things like that? So, >> I thought it was an appropriation from Betty McCollum. >> We got um support from Betty McCollum and support from um uh some of our other state representatives to re to do the application, but I don't think it was an appropriation. >> Gotcha. from them. >> So, >> so if we get a a new grant that has less um >> stipulations and restrictions, I >> is there potential then that we would still do something with that building as a community center? >> Probably not. Um >> what would be the intention of of getting a new grant? >> We've we talked about a few different things. Um the main stipulation that resides with any of the getting the grant in any way, shape or form is that it has to be spent on a single project. >> And that still is a bit of a limiting factor for us. Um so one of the proposals that was put forth was to actually use the money. So in 2029 >> in the future >> um we are planning we need to buy a new water tow we need to replace water tower at at Tower Park. >> So the thought would be take the grant and use the money toward that which isn't necessarily a community type thing but what that would do is free up the money that we're setting aside for the water tower to be used towards other projects. And so, um, council member, uh, uh, totally drawing a blank. Anyway, so we were talking about it last night and one of the thoughts was that we if we were to tear down the building, the uh community center building as it stands now um and it it's about a quarter of a million dollars to tear it down. Then we'd have to relocate some of the um the generator and fiber optic facilities that exist there probably into our public works building. If we did that, then that space were available. We would still need to find out something to do with the library. Um, one of the proposals that we had was to put a a big open air building essentially like a big uh Morton building, big pole shed, whatever you want to call it, um, in this in the space that we could use for things like autumn arts festival, things that we could use for farmers markets, things like that. >> So, that would be one option. Um the other option, um we talked about uh using some of the money toward Mcnite Field renovations. So the you guys are probably familiar with the parks, uh plan to redo Mcnite Fields. >> Yeah. >> Um Oh, Eliza isn't. So >> I can do research later, but I was like I'm like there's Mcnite Fields projects. >> So you know where Mcnite Fields are? >> Yes. where Okay. So, where the baseball field is now, um, well, where the baseball field is, not where it is now because it's going to stay there. Off to the west of that is another baseball field called Little Con. Little Con is kind of been in disrepair. The parking lot there is in disrepair. The tennis courts there are in major disrepair. And basically, all of that just needs to be demolished. And so one of the proposals, the way a Mcnitefield proposal stands is it's broken into two phases. Phase one is basically the way I look at it, east of or sorry, west of that road that goes towards the batting cages. So what that proposal is is about I want to say $6 million. Um, but it would tear down Little Con, tear up that parking lot, tear out the tennis courts, put in a turf soccer field, uh, better parking, and put in a I and this is the proposal that they have. Um, but basically put in like a a skate skills park, not necessarily a skate park with like jumps and things like that, but a skills park. um some form of uh I don't want to say amusement parks, uh gym equipment, you know, for like teens kind of thing. Not little kids, uh but you know, like more teenager type. >> Um and then a couple like little pavilions, you know, places where people could sit and, you know, have picnics and while they're at the baseball games. Um so that is phase one. Phase two is major renovation east of that line. Basically taking out the two north fields of the quad, what's called, you know, basically there's the the quad and then the pin wheel in the middle or what they call the pin wheel. Um so basically taking out the two north fields, putting in soccer turf soccer fields there that are lined also for so for softball and then doing something different potentially with the um batting cages. But that's that phase is like $9 million if I remember right. So anyway, so so we could use some of the money towards that. Um we also talked about maybe doing something around Silver Lake. Uh there's been talk about doing a walking path around Silver Lake. So could we do something there? So kind of throwing out ideas. So basically it wouldn't have the by by I guess what this buys us is um by spending the money on the water tower the money then could wouldn't have to be spent in one big chunk towards one project. >> Sure. >> We could use it towards you know a million dollars here and $3 million there. >> Makes sense. >> So >> sorry long-winded answer. >> No but thank you. That's very helpful. That's a lot of good information there. Appreciate it. Um, other than that, um, yeah, nothing. >> That was plenty. >> That's good, though. I mean, I think there's there's a happy medium in there, and I'm I I'm intrigued by the idea of the kind of open air uh facility there that could be used for multiple different purposes, >> farm market. >> Yep. And that's Sorry, I apologize. It was Jason Norby that kind of kind of threw that together. He gave a presentation several months back about, you know, his proposal, this proposal, what it would cost, what it would look like, things like that. Um, it basically just be a big a pole building probably like with big barn doors on it. Um, so maybe not completely open air, but barn doors so that it could still lock it. So, um, it could be opened up for certain events. Uh, concrete floor. So if we had, you know, we wouldn't have to worry. So my thought anyway on it is, you know, a lot of people use Casey Lake um the Casey Lake facility. A lot of people use Howy Park facility, but they're very limiting and you have a limited amount of space and you're kind of set with the way you can set things up. Whereas with this, you can put, you know, vendor booths here. you can put, you know, if you really wanted to, you can pull a food truck in there probably if we if it's done right, you know, things like that. Um, so and it's right near downtown. So, um, kind of to Amanda's point with some of the other arts festivals where they're in the downtown area, this would be closer to downtown and provide you a facility that you could do it if it is raining or something and still have those functions, too. >> Good. Anybody want to keep going or somebody want to adjourn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second by all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Meeting is adjourned at 7:25 p.m. >> Thanks every