into order at 6:30 p.m. Uh, staff leazison Jordan, would you like to? >> Yes, I can. Um, Tom Sonic, >> Carrie, >> Ashley Perfect, Sharon Clark Williams >> here >> Rosco Garcia >> here >> we're all here. All right. Thanks everybody. Um All right. We uh everybody get a chance to take a look documents for tonight. Anybody want to move to the agenda? the motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I carries approval of minutes. Everybody get a chance to take a look at the minutes. >> Changes. Anybody want to recommend before? >> If not, we'll look for a motion to approve. I move to approve the minutes. >> Carrie moves. >> Second. >> Second by Ashley. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. All right. Uh meeting open to the public. >> Got anything for us? She's all good. No public hearings, commission business, and action items. So, uh we have uh subcommittee updates. So, let's get started. Apologize I don't have this up yet. Um, do we have uh so I think our first thing is like our public art area. Excuse me. And we have like a do we have any updates in that area? I'm thinking about like the uh >> Well, let's I get this up. But like the the brand is is that brand done for the concrete when the for public works? >> No. No, I guess I submitted it before I was out and I have not followed up so I will follow up. >> Oh, okay. I think this is not the right one. >> Um, any other updates on it >> on the brand or on >> or on that whole public art area? >> Um, I think we're just waiting to do our presentation to the city council on the 17th. Yep. >> Uh, Tom is planning to also come to that and has built a presentation. And Tom, have you sent your PowerPoint to Jordan yet? >> I haven't. I'm going to add a couple more pictures and I'm going out of town this weekend, so I'm going to get it to you by uh deadline. What is it? March 10th, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So, that's my plan. >> Awesome. >> And I'm going to stick to it. So, I I got to just uh make a couple changes yet and then I'll get it over to you. >> It looks really nice. Everyone's going to be blown like their socks are going to be outside on the street because it's such a good PowerPoint. >> See? He's so good. You guys didn't even open the PowerPoint and the socks are off. So, >> is there a limit of of how many of us can attend? >> No, of course you can all be here. Yeah. Anyone that wants to be here, please join. >> It's It's uh St. Patrick's Day. >> So, wear greens. They don't >> I don't know if there is there a law against having green beer out in the uh >> It's okay in the parks. >> After we >> Right. Yeah. after we present then we'll go and sit and drink. >> Nobody will know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Please, please. So, it's March 17th is when we're presenting, >> correct? Yeah. Is there anything else the penny press needs before then? >> Um, not that I can think of. I've had Ken review the staff report and I think we're all good. It's in my sections in the packet. So, I can add the PowerPoint and we should be good to good to go. >> Okay. Do we get to see the staff? Um, I think when it gets published, I can send it over to you guys. >> Okay. Um, great. >> We also, so, um, you know, I had on the list here too, Sidewalk Poetry. Is that still a thing? >> Yes, that was on our list for next year or I guess now it's this year to look at. But because the penny press didn't happen in 2025 and it's kind of eating up our 2026 budget plus a little bit outside of our penny press >> budget, then I think we need to figure out and maybe that's a good discussion just for the commission as a whole looking at our budget because you know if we've eaten up all of the penny press in our public art, you know, we're at negative in there. We've still got our art cart, utility box wraps, murals, branding, and then the art nights. We've combined art cart and art night together and I can give an update on that. But I guess what else do we want to make sure we accomplish? I know the mural team is working on something. I know we had tried to do the passport food um activity. Maybe we need to pivot into a different kind of activity. I I don't know. I guess we need to >> let you know about that when it's my turn to speak. >> Oh, well, excuse me. Okay. Thanks, Sharon. >> Yeah. So, are we saying so looking at the budget here is it this looks like the the penny the penny press is the entire budget, >> correct? Yeah. >> Okay. Um Yeah. So, we'll have to think on that. >> Yeah. So, it feels like at least for this year, we've exhausted our budget. So, it doesn't feel like we have the b the room to do more things since there's no money for it. But the sidewalk poetry was on our list for next year. And it's really cheap. Like you just buy this stuff and when it rains it shows up. It's really cool. >> Oh, this is not like uh stamping it. >> Oh, we could do that, too. >> Uh >> that was another Yeah, we have the both of them. >> Like a hidden Mickey kind of thing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And then Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I've got write ups on those going. So, >> okay. Um any mural subcommittee updates? We're saying no. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Sure. >> Um utility boxes. So the Casey Park is the is the the uh hands. What do we call it? >> Heart hands. Yeah. >> Is it warm enough for them to do that yet? >> Um I think it needs to be maybe about like 60 to 70, but I can double check with them. um on like an update or just kind of where we're at with it. >> Feel like we're there. >> And then uh Sharon, what were the other spots? >> Okay, so I have drafted the call for artists for the photography one. I will get that to you and that will go at Casey and I mean, not Casey, I'm sorry, Silver Lake. That's for Silver Lake. >> And then um there is one other one that is going to be more open and that will be the Good Life in Minnesota. I need to submit to you the basic outline to get the approval for the way it's set up. And um yeah, that's it. With the utility boxes, >> where about at Silver is that one going to be? Is that by the tennis >> court there? >> There's a nice >> Yeah, that's a good spot. Yeah. >> And that'll be Minnesota nature photography is the theme of that. >> And so I'm sorry. And then you said the the uh the third one was where did you say? >> Um there isn't a location for that one yet. >> TBD location. >> Yeah. And the theme of that one is the good life in Minnesota and it's a open medium. Cool. >> I just get happy every time I have to go to North and see the veterans box. Thanks for doing that. >> Yeah, I really see that one all a lot. >> Yeah. >> And is it is it Gino's what was Gino's last name? >> Oko. >> Oh, okay. It's confusing him with somebody else. Okay. Uh, I'm just making taking notes on all this so I I don't sound like an idiot every time I come up with this. Um, do So, do we have I wanted to make sure, Ashley, that I got you covered. You joined a couple subcommittees, didn't you? >> I am on the art nightcart subcommittee. >> Okay. You're on art cart. Art night. Oh, yeah. And those we kind of combine those subcommittees. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. Uh so that's utility boxes. Um art cart any >> Yeah, we um we uh talked about the uh proposal we got from Kid Create Studios. Um we reached out to them and they do a thing. It's like 300 bucks. They send a teaching artist out with all the materials and for two hours they will come and work with whomever shows up at the art cart. Um, so we're going to h or sorry, we would like to recommend that this body hires that group for the two music in the park night. So that would be $600. Um, Jordan and Ken would like us to vote on that so that that can go to council for review and approval. So, um, as our subcommittee, we reviewed that and decided that was a good use of time. We will still commit to having a commissioner be in attendance as a volunteer. Um, >> love it. >> Yeah. So, that was our proposal for the um, music in the park nights. >> And so, that's two music in the parks. Mhm. >> Um, and is I'm I have June 14th as the city night at the car show. Is that right? Or do we even know yet? >> It's not on here. >> But >> yeah, is that December is July 10th? >> July 10th. >> Oh, July 10th. Oh, it's later this year. >> Oh, okay. only going to do car show every other week instead of every week. >> Yeah. And but we seem like we always did the big truck night um early in the summer. Okay. So July 10th, uh it's the city night at the car show. Big truck night. Um we have two music in the parks. Is that all of the Do we have other art cart uh events or is it those three? Um, then we will have the art cart at the autumn arts festival. And so we haven't fully decided on what we want to do for that yet, but since we have until September, we are still thinking about that. We thought as um commissioners we could handle coming up with an activity for big truck night, whether we did the kindness rocks again or some other activity for the time capsule opening. It sounds like Ava is already planning some 70s dance moves with an instructor. So, I think um that can be the art event for the time capsule opening. Uh we don't do anything for the fall roundup parade. And then Holly Jolly night. Um because that is already a pretty busy night and the kids are so keed up from singing outside at the bonfire and meeting Santa and watching a movie and having popcorn and drinking hot cocoa, we suggested, hey, how about we order a case of like four pack of crayons you get at a restaurant and we're just going to print off a bunch of coloring sheets so kids can either do the coloring sheets there as an art activity or take them home with them. So >> that's a good idea. We've ordered those before. Those >> Yeah, it's like a hundred bucks for a case. It's not a big deal and I'm sure we could use it for that in other events. So, that's what we've accomplished with >> um so one one question I do have um from a city council perspective is looking at the budget, your budget for the art cart is only $500. >> Oh, sorry. >> You're talking about doing the two art night or doing the two music in the parks with the art cart. That would >> Yeah. So if we So one of the things we talked about last month, Troy, was combining the art cart and the art night. >> Oh, okay. >> Because we realized that >> I mean without a man, like not that none of us are great. Like all of us are artists in our own right, but without having Amanda here as like a, you know, LLC artist, it's more difficult for us to come up with these activities on our own and lead them and volunteer at them. Fair enough. >> So we were looking to get some vendors to come in and help us with these events. >> Perfect. So, one of the So, we thought we would combine the art cart and the art night. That gives us a combined budget of whatever those two numbers added together are. Um, minus the $600 for this summer's science or kidre studios. Um, they've got a really nice u list of activities they do like snowman themes and other things. So, um, we gave Jordan a couple of options that we thought looked good and she's going to figure out what works best. And then that gives us a little bit of budget remaining for the autumn arts festival because again, you know, all of us are pulled in so many directions at that event. It would be really great to just hire out somebody like she does for the face painting and the balloons and everything else, you know? I mean, we can do it, >> but if it's already growing into such a big event, why not? >> Yeah. I think for the autumn arts festival, I think that's a whole separate budget anyway. So that's >> so for the um when we talked to the attorney last time, he said if we wanted to rebucket things, Jordan, that we didn't have to get approval. So for clarity purposes, would it be good for us to update our budget report to show those two together? >> Um we can. Um I don't know if it maybe is more best to keep it separate or for me it was more clear to keep it separate just that we know that they're combined ourselves. But we can I can probably combine them and just do like a slash art night just for this year and the next year. >> I apologize for >> No, no, not at all. >> No, that's that's Thank you, Troy. I'm sorry. I >> rolling into the art night update at the same time. >> Yeah, sorry. I I do all the things at once as you know. >> Is really hard to work with. >> I'm the worst. >> But Raquel, you had a question. >> Well, two things. just that we kind of decided to mold them together because the processes are now turning into the same thing. >> Yeah. >> You know, hiring artists. Um I had a question though about the events. So, >> are we now expected then to be at some of the other city events that Ava is doing? because I'm having a hard time distinguishing like are these things that we're telling like Ava that hey we'll be there or are we getting requests from her to be there? >> I think it's a little bit of both. She asked us to have like I think last year she asked us to do an art thing for Holly Jolly night and we were kind of not able to pull something together at short notice. >> The future though then are we going I mean >> well I'll plan to be there. I mean, I I'll already be there for >> Well, yeah, but just so that we can actually plan for that and she does ask, be like, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, we have something that we can do with you." >> Sure. >> Yeah. I think if you look over uh if you look over it, it says all as able. I think that's just if if any of us are able to join that. >> Well, and I was wondering where those notes came from too. Is that all is able coming from staff or from us? >> I think those were my notes. I think I asked to add that in there because it made sense in my head that that's I mean we always try to go to big truck night. We're all at the autumn arts festival. We all do the parade. The time capsule is new this year and I know she mentioned last year that she wanted some kind of art feature included. So I think that's why that ended up on our calendar. I don't know Jordan you made the calendar. I I just put that as there is like keep in mind that's a thing if you guys want to participate. That was more why I put that on there. I could have been a little bit more clear I guess about that. I think the like like the music in the parks for sure I think are seen as like the commission has like some sort of involvement but you know it can still run if it's not doesn't work for you guys since you know we've gotten rained out and it's still kind of gone through. Um, big truck night's another one and autumn arts for sure is one that's kind of seen as uh super important for the commission. And then I think most of the other ones are kind of if you guys want to participate, I think it's more optional. Um, but yeah. >> Yeah, I'd say like >> Holly Jolly and uh time capsule opening are more optional unless are we doing something at the time capsule? I mean, she is looking at doing a dance lesson or something. So, I I mean, that sounded cultural to me. >> And I can remove that because it doesn't if there's no like interest for the commission to participate, it doesn't have to be on there. It was just if Yeah, if you guys had ideas or if you wanted to >> clarification, >> yeah, fine to see that as a reminder. But, you know, most of these if if it's not if it's not an ACC joint, then it's optional, you know. So obviously the art nights, those are our things. So we have to have someone there and those names are called out. Music in the parks is really art cart what we're saying there. So whoever's uh monitoring or controlling the art those nights, >> uh big truck night is just always that's been a tradition where we've tried to have as many commissioners there. Autumn Arts Festival is like for sure we got to have as many commissioners as possible there. The other ones Yeah. I mean, if it's something that we own, it's kind of a we usually have a name there. >> And Carrie, did you mention that they wanted us to do a motion and a vote for Kid Create? And that's the name of the >> Yeah. >> So, uh I move to approve the uh $300 is it >> um $300 per event. So, 600 total. >> $300 per event for the uh art cart uh the lead activities for the art cart at music in the parks. >> Make that motion. Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. >> Okay. So, we got that for art cart. And then anything else as far as art nights then? >> I think then we would just need someone to volunteer for the two music in the park nights. I know Raquel is going to be very busy this summer. So, if someone else could step in for those, that would be great. And then we did have our first art night. So, this is one of my mugs. I gave my mom the other one. So when we have our weekly phone call, I can call her and we can have our coffee together. So >> did you have to fire it at all? >> Did I have to fire my mom? >> No, your dog. Your mom >> Oh, you bake it. You You do it and then you put it in a cold oven and you turn it on at 350 and then you let it get up to temp and then you let it sit there for 20 minutes and then leave it there overnight >> and then it's all set and now it's top rack dishwasher safe, baby. So >> nice. It looks great. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, I did have a question about the art nights or for the upcoming ones outside or after the March one if we wanted to keep the registration price to be $10 still since those ones are pricier for the cities, but since they're normally $10, but I know we upped it for the chunky knit blanket one last year. So, I didn't know if you guys wanted to keep it at 10 or raise it or looking for some direction. Do we have attendance records on how the different like one uh classes have been going? >> Um we do and then it's kind of difficult too because sometimes the instructor sets limits or we set limits based on what our budget is. So, like if it's a, you know, $30 per person that they charge us, we set it at this number of people because we don't want to waste spend all of our money on one event and miss out having other events. But yeah, the I think the April one is expensive because it's the cookie flooding and that's a pricier activity. Um, October is pricey because of the pillows. Um, okay. I I can take the July 9th. >> Oh, thanks. >> Music. Um, >> I could do the May 22nd. >> I can't do the May one, but And but we generally do. So, both of these we're going to have uh an artist. >> Yeah, this would be guided as well. Yeah. >> So, we really only >> You just have to like bounce it or like open the thing up and whatever, >> which is which is actually kind of great. >> Yeah. All right. You can enjoy the music. >> Yeah. >> Um I guess I didn't have reference on >> volunteer for the May one. >> I can do May. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Sorry. >> It's really 5 to 6:30. That's what time those things are. >> Yeah, they're not >> seems so early though. >> I think that's right. That first one seems a lot earlier than I remember. 4:30 to 5:30. They usually >> It's the kids one, right? >> I can double check. Um, I think I pulled these from Ava's event calendar, but I can definitely double check and see if there's maybe any updates since >> Okay. Um, okay. Anything else? >> Jordan has a question about the $10 registration fee if we want to keep that or >> I was going to ask since you mentioned the cookie flooding and the pillows were more expensive, does that then make registration more expensive? >> No, we keep them at $10 to make it affordable and so that everyone can have an opportunity to participate. So on the budget side or >> yeah whatever >> and I think we increased the the what was that you did blanket >> remember how much that was it 30 >> and that was because of the material so like you needed all that yarn so we were like well it's a little more so let's do a little more but >> got a whole blanket a little bit >> nice >> we love ours >> a yay good I really like that we keep it that was the first thing I noticed because like doing art in the community is great And if you look at other cities, they tend to get pricier and pricier. Yeah. >> So, as long as that we're being economical with our budget, like I like the fact that it's accessible because there's a lot of things that, you know, bumping it up to $20 may not sound like a lot to us, >> but to someone who may not have some discretionary income to just do fun or creative things, um, I think I think, you know, as long as we're being economical with our own budget, but I like the $10 personally. >> Right. I think if we don't have to, we shouldn't. >> Yeah, >> it's in our budget then. >> I don't think because where does the money go when it's collected? >> That's what I'm saying. Like if we don't need to, then why would we? >> I think it just goes Yeah. to this general city budget if I'm wrong, Troy, or anything. >> I will play devil's advocate though. On the flip side, if we do, you know, not that the money will not that I'm looking for the money to come back to the city, but if we know that we're booking Yeah. So like for the cookie flooding, we know that's, you know, $750 or we know that's so much per person. If we charge more back to the p to the people, we can get more people at it. You know, we could potent potentially, you know, it would that be an option to say, hey, instead of 10, we're going to be able to do 20 because instead of $10 per person, we're going to charge you $20 per person. That kind of thing. >> Yeah, it really >> assuming that there's room and assuming >> Yeah. Yeah. there. It doesn't work for every project because some of the teachers are like, I can only handle 15 people anymore and I'm gonna tear my hair out. So, >> yeah, that's a good point. I mean, that's something to consider. But maybe we can look at the enrollment records for the last >> Yeah. I mean, if >> can we pull that data >> if they're consistently full? >> Yeah. >> I mean, maybe it's, you know, we look for opportunities to expand out the where we can anyway expand out the number that we can reach out to. And that's a good point for when we schedule for next year because I know there were a couple who were like, "Okay, it's this number per person." And I was like, "Well, let's only do this many because I don't want to have like a billion people." So, okay. >> Yeah. I can uh pull the rosters for the attendance records. I would we say we want to do like from like 2025 to now or I could maybe do earlier? Not 100% sure, but So, would we like to table this until those rosters are presented? Or do we just make a decision now? >> I guess I would say no. For this year, let's keep it at $10 for everything, >> but let's look at it for next year. >> You know, for those things that, you know, can accommodate more people. >> Do we charge more potentially and say, and this is all theoretical. I'm just >> propo just proposing. >> Yeah. No, that's a good point. >> You know, just so that we can get more people in the classes. >> It's difficult with art classes. That's one thing. >> Yeah. Gosh, it is really hard managing a group as the lead artist. It's >> and to give each person the attention which they paid for. >> I'm not leading into a discussion of that. I'm just letting you know. >> Yeah. No, that's a big factor in the way there because paid >> to work with this artist and they're entitled to that. >> Yep. And I guess it would not be on us to push them to say, "Hey, you say you can only do 10. We're going to we're going to say you're going to do 15." It would be on them to say, "Hey, I can do 10 to 20." >> And if we're historically do 10, maybe we can do 20 or maybe we meet in the middle and say, "Okay, let's do 15 and try that." >> You know, just so that you know, open up the opportunity to more people in the community. >> I like that. Yeah. >> So, >> and Carrie, normally with our artists that we hire, is it do we get charged per person just I know it's kind of different per each case, or is it more a flat rate and you know, if 10 out of 15 show up, we still get charged the same amount? I think that's a good Jordan question. >> We um we ask for their rates and then we I guess guarantee that we'll pay like a max number. Like for example, like >> they charge a certain amount for 20 people, we are going to pay for 20 people no matter what. >> That's what depending on if anyone if it's only 15 shows up, we're still paying for 20. >> Okay. Y >> and if there's a cancellation, we pay them like a cancellation fee, right? >> Yeah. I think it's like half of what's in the contract. >> Sorry to talk over you, Ashley. >> Oh, no. That was fine. But just for like clarity, everyone, we're all good with the $10 for >> we're good for with $10 for 2026. We'll revisit that for 2027. >> Perfect. >> I did have somebody ask if we can open the registrations earlier for um the I know we're kind of doing it month by month. >> Um I don't know if that's possible or something other people are interested in, but that was some community feedback I had received. And this might be a next year question, but um would it be possible to open up like um scheduling an instructor for two sessions in one night so we could start a little earlier to get maybe the younger families to come and then a 30 minute break to like reset and then have a new set of people come in because they fill up so quickly that I've missed opportunities too to learn stuff like the blanket. >> Yeah. like one that one that we're anticipating will be a huge hit. >> Yeah. >> Like maybe can we intentionally do two sessions >> and then with two maybe they give us a discount from the instructor side um is that we're scheduling two so >> save a little. >> Sure. >> I guess I'm just looking at ways to expand out to more people. >> Anything else? >> I think we're done. Sorry, Tom. Just want to make sure we're covered. Anything from you, Raquel, Ashley? >> No, I just want to uh Carrie's done a great job reaching out to u the different, you know, artists and things like that. We've got some really good leads on some things. So excited to kind of build build a pipeline, you know, not speak in corporate, but >> build some relationships uh with some artists. It's been really great. >> Okay, we have nothing for Autumn Arts Festival. Uh, we do actually. Um, nothing. >> That's what the map is. >> Kind of major, but >> um, so I had printed out this screenshot of the city parking lot on 7th and Margaret and this is looking like it's going to be the next Autumn Arts location >> for real. >> Yes. Um, I'm not sure if it's a 100% confirmed, but it's pretty likely. I was given enough okay to share at this meeting. Um, so with that, obviously there's going to be a lot of changes, um, a lot of things to work out. Um, so Ava is ask, as far as I know, Tom, you're the only one on that subcommittee currently. Or am I wrong? >> I guess I am. >> Um, so Ava is asking for the troops to assemble essentially and um, to have this subcommittee, I guess, kind of situated and become a bit more robust. um and having that figured out ideally, I want to say by maybe next week or so. Um because she is going to be planning on reaching out to the subcommittee to start working out some of the finer details. >> Looking for volunteers. Anybody want >> Oh, you Ed's gonna do it. >> You Ed, want to join? Okay. Anybody else? >> I'll join Tom. >> Ashley, are you sure? You're on a couple already. No, >> just one. >> All right. >> The joint one. >> Ashley and you, Ed. There you go. >> Perfect. I will let Ava know and if anybody else would like to join, I believe one more commissioner is able to join, just send me an email and I will forward that to Ava and she will be contacting the subcommittee. >> So it's the plan then is to have all of these activities in that parking lot. >> Yeah, that is some of the things that I think >> okay >> the finer details that haven't been ironed out that she maybe wants to discuss. Um, >> we keep doing everything in parking lots and taking away all the parking. What >> I was going to ask if she knows like size comparison wise like >> she might um I might be able to use like a one of our mapping softwares to like loosely measure that might I kind of wish I did that before this meeting. That would be nice to know. But yeah, hopefully by that next meeting I can maybe bring that up. But >> and was this just more from feedback like to get it closer to the downtown area or >> parking? >> Parking. Yeah. >> Um, as far as I know, it's a mix of things. Um, kind of it's mostly out of staff's hands. Um, as to like the decision being passed down, but it's from my understanding, it's a mix of different things. So, I >> mean, I could walk there. I'm not complaining. So, >> what >> I said I could walk there. I'm not complaining. So, >> I just curious We got to take over the old uh K&J and get that stage going. Have the performers right there. >> We could work with them. >> Parking lot right behind >> Trey. Can you get a key for that building and let us in? >> All right. Well, that's news. Um, anything else on Autumn Arts Festival? >> That was all I had. >> Okay. I think that uh does it for the subcommittees unless anybody else send >> we still have one the formerly the passport committee. >> Oh okay. What is that committee called now? >> Formerly the passport committee >> committee formerly known as >> commission. It's catchy. >> I like it. >> What's the update? >> Okay. So, uh, we had an idea for a community project and it's evolved a little bit since I told talked to you guys with it and the initial thought was instead of doing a passport, we went we wanted to do something the community could participate in. So, the idea was to do a poetry slam. I brought this up with somebody who has experience with that and they said for a city event, don't do a poetry slam. Do a a spoken word event so that you would have um control over it >> and people would have to submit >> whatever their spoken word is in advance. So we would know and not get surprised by what people were saying or doing. We would we would know and because they would already submit themselves either performing it or a written copy of it. And um the idea was to have it at um either the well I guess our first thought was to do it at the big truck night to just have a small a mic and small speakers and right up next to where we do the art projects with the kids. It would give older children, young adults, anybody an opportunity, provided they let us know in advance, to present it. It's not a fully fleshed out idea, but I wanted to put the idea out in the universe. I will write a thing up and get it to you >> perfect >> pronto because that's coming up fast if we want to do it this year. But it's something that wouldn't require significant budget, but it would be yet it's an art event that the community could participate in. I love it. That's so cool. >> And could you Sorry, I'm not familiar with poetry slams. What would be the difference then between a poetry slam and just a spoken word? >> A spoken word event it's a somebody writes something, they're able to submit it to us and we know in advance because we've either watched a video or we've read it. it's met our criteria for, you know, not political, not religious, not offensive, that kind of thing. Poetry slams are can be impromptive and they can start with a phrase or something and then go off on a tangent in any direction depending upon the rules of the poetry slam. But if we know exactly what they're going to say in advance, then there's less opportunity for us to be surprised because then we can say, "Hold it. We I'm looking at what you said you were going to say off the stage. Doesn't that's not where you said you were going to go and so it gives us a little more control over it. We could pick the topics and require it stay within the topic and that sort of thing. And we set the time limit. We don't have to give anybody the hook because we know that what they submit it falls within the time frame in advance. >> So exciting. >> Unless they speak really slowly. >> Yes. Well, if they if they submit a video of themselves doing it, then we know the tempo. Well, when their time's up, you know, the time that we set for each each presenter, then we'll say time's up. You hold up the card, time's up. Oh, >> but it it would be an opportunity for people of all ages, all pent up poets and to give them a give them a chance to have an audience. like it. >> See Ian Mckllen's speech on Co Bear. >> No, >> you didn't. You saw he did this. >> Wow. >> I've never felt so judged. Tom, >> I know. >> Not not judging, but just be like, "No, because you got to see this." >> Okay. >> So, it's Ian Ian Mckllen >> on Co. I think it was Cobar, but he does a Shakespeare speech. So, he steps out of the chair and goes out in front of the audience and does this Shakespeare speech and it's uh it was it was found to be have been it's believed to be have written by Shakespeare, but it was from the play about Thomas Moore. And the whole speech is he because all these people are asking for we got to get rid of all the immigrants. And so he comes out and does this speech about like, okay, you want to get rid of the immigrants and so what happens if this applies to you then and you have to get sent somewhere else and how how is that going to work for you? It's just it's so perfect. I mean, you can't believe that it's 400 years old. >> Um, and then you have one of the greatest actors >> Yeah. >> in the world reciting this thing. And then for it to be also so timely also at this, you know, it's it it was just like this perfect moment. So, go YouTube that thing when you get home and check it out. So good. So good. Um, no, I the only I only gave that reaction because I thought everyone had seen it because I'm like if if I saw it, everyone must have seen it, right? Um, because I'm a little slow to these things. >> But, uh, >> got him for big truck night. >> Oh, yeah. >> Highly recommend. Yeah, I'll I'll do the speech at the at the spoken word. >> Yeah, you have to submit it, Tom. see how many words and if it falls within guidelines. You're not getting >> it's too long. You can't do it. >> No favoritism commission. >> You'll have to disclose your allegiance to the arts commission. >> I would, >> right? >> Do I? >> I don't know. I'm just making up rules now. >> I'll get the draft, too. >> Fewer rules so we can get moving on that and find out how everybody else feels about it. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Anything else from subcommittees? Okay. Old business. Anything? >> I don't know if it's old business, but I do think it would be worthwhile for us to try to and I talked to you about this a little bit too, but I think um knowing that he's on his last year and we can have two student commissioners. It I think it would behoove us to try to recruit for somebody before the end of the school year. So, I know you had said that he would help me get the word out at North, but if Ava could also help get the word out, especially as summer is ramping up and our activities are ramping up and people are going to see what the arts commission does, perhaps that will garner some interest from some additional young people in joining our crew. >> All right. Yeah, I can send uh let her know. >> Awesome. Yeah, it looks like it's still up on the website. So, that's it. Thanks. >> Okay. Reports from staff. Jordan. >> Um, one thing, um, I think Carrie and Ashley already kind of touched on this because I gave them a little bit of a preview in an email last week, but just on purchasing procedures. Um, this might sound a little mechanical because I'm going to read from this just to make sure I get everything. Um, last meeting, the city attorney noted that any official action, especially regarding purchases, um, recommended by the commission, should be recorded in the minutes in some way, just for recordkeeping purposes. Um, I'm going to request that the commission make kind of like a formal vote or minimum like a clear verbal consensus on contracts or purchases over $200 to make recording the minutes clear and pretty transparent. I think what um Carrie and Ashley the example they set today was pretty was great. Um, I think that was perfect. Um, and then purchases under $200 or like that aren't contracts, um, formal votes won't be necessary, but should at least be mentioned or discussed at a high level just to make sure that everyone, staff, commissioners, general public are all on the same page on what the commission is uh, purchasing. Um, and then yeah, this is just to help increase transparency and formalize the procedure for spending um, so it's more aligned with the recommendations given by the city attorney um, from the last meeting. So things shouldn't necessarily change too much other than just you can't vote too much I guess on things. Um and then also I think this might help this is an option to help with maybe a little flexibility and maneuverability is that the commission you can like pre-approve let's say art nights like oh we're willing to spend $500 on each class or as a max number like pre you know setting up a number just you're giving that that approval pre in advance of us making those purchases. So, that's also something we're able to do, but that is um yeah, all I got. >> Cool. All right. Reports from commissioners. Ashley got anything for us this month? >> Um, no, not this month. >> Okay, Sharon? >> No, I did not have anything. Gary? >> Nope. >> I'm good. Liza, >> none for me. Laura, >> no updates. >> All right. Well, that covers that and we have reports from reconiliation. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot our student commissioner. Uad, you got anything for us? >> Um, oh, here we go. >> Okay. Oh, well, I can say that I've been working more on starting a nonprofit. >> Nice. And that we also recently had our BSU excellence performance at North. >> What was it? >> Uh BSU excellence performance. >> What is that? >> Student Union. >> Oh, okay. >> I didn't know what BSU stood for. Sorry. >> Um yeah, it was to >> Yeah. Just perform and show um black excellence. I liked it a lot. >> This feels a lot like a school board meeting updating about school. >> Yeah. Um, and that I've been, it's March, so I'm getting closer to the day I find out if I got into Minnesota Youth Council. I applied to that. >> Nice. >> So, I hope I get into that cuz it's only like 48 people out of the whole state. >> So, if I get into that, expect to see me on TV every day. Um, I can say I've talked to other people from other school boards, see what how they're doing and see what we can do as school board representatives. And in personal life, I'm never been more stressed out about finals. I have to go home and read 50 pages of a book, finish a packet at least three times thicker than this. It's very thick. >> Are you a junior? >> No, sophomore. >> Oh my god. Okay. >> Hey, you got to be president somehow. >> That's right. >> We'll try and wrap up. >> He's on the accelerated track. >> But you had was showing me um his the work that he's doing for his to establish his nonprofit a 501c3. >> He's on it, man. He's great. Yeah. I can't believe that, you know, and this is our second student commissioner. The the quality of the kids that we're getting is unbelievable. So, >> big shoes to >> that says a lot for the future of North St. Paul. All right. Um, anything else you add? >> No. >> Great. Thanks for the update. All right, Troy. Sorry. >> Um, I really don't have anything. We had our uh uh city council meeting last night and um I'm trying to think what we talked about. Um oh, uh the finance director, Dan Winnick, came in and talked about uh our 2025 finances, how we did with our audit and everything. We came in really well. Um we actually overbudgeted in a couple of areas and so we have little extra money to kind of put back into the pot. Um so we're hoping to do good things with that and you know not have to raise our ter our um uh raise fees and stuff like that next year. Um and >> were there any audit findings? >> No. >> Nice. Good job. Oh, we are in terms of city governance and city finances, we are like A+. We're doing really well. So, um and I attribute all that to well most of that to Dan. >> Our finance director is phenomenal. So, >> um other than that, um I apologize for missing the meeting last month. Um but you know, I was helping my mother-in-law, so >> no worries. No worries. >> Uh all right. Thanks, Troy. Um, and then if there is nothing else, anybody, I move to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. >> I learned that last month that we don't have to take a vote on that one. >> There we go. Just gonna end it. >> All right. Thanks everybody. Have a great month. >> Yeah. >> Are you talking to me or just anyone or anybody who wants