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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/19/2010 CDCMINUTES THE COLONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 19TH 2010 PRESENT: Don Beckel - President STAFF: Pam Nelson TeRon Lawrence - Vice President Keith Helms Lisa Leary - Member Kathy Neal Dan Mahle - Secretary Kathy Braby - Member ABSENT: John Sanders COUNCIL LIAISON: Allen Harris Stephen Sohn CULTURAL ARTS BOARD MEMBERS - PRESENT: Liz Ripperger - Chairperson CITY LIAISON: Kate Margolis, Absent Joan Lux - Vice Chair Jeff Scoggins Casey Kidwell Donna Arnold Kathy Costa Laron Cheek Joan Lux opened the meeting for the Cultural Arts Board (CAB). She expressed the appreciation of their board to be invited to meet with the Community Development Corporation Board to discuss the arts in The Colony. Don Beckel opened the meeting for the Community Development Corporation Board (CDC). He expressed appreciation to the CAB Board for attending the meeting. Though each board is a separate entity, by working together each board can provide better service to the community. The CDC has been involved in a variety of planning processes, and many times the board thought art should be a part of the project but the board was lacking in knowledge and resources regarding art. The objectives of this meeting are - • Open lines of communication between the boards • Discuss current projects and potential involvement by each board • Outline roles, responsibilities and processes for projects involving the arts • Build a foundation for future collaboration The overall theme tonight is the process, to work out a system or process of procedures so each board can work together. Don explained that the only funding the CDC Board receives is from the 1/2¢ sales tax; no money comes from the city's general fund. The board has a big list of projects, all of which are projects to enhance the community. Don opened the meeting to public input - Tonie Boaman, 5576 Squires, The Colony - She has lived here 11 years. The current community center can't hold a lot of people; not having a proper venue in the city to entertain is frustrating. We need to raise money to build a new center and she offered to help. Christi Martin, 5604 Longhorn Dr., The Colony - Her vision is to support art in all forms in the community. She brought other people with her to show the spectrum of people involved in art - young people to senior citizens. The community needs a cultural arts center and for several years the arts groups have had to compromise and make due; this has been recognized as a need since 2003 but keeps getting de-prioritized. Nancy Boren, 3 817 Shoal Creek, The Colony - She is a professional artist. She is concerned about the gateway into the city; the picture in the paper looks like a guard tower at a prison, it's boring, and she hopes other options are considered. She likes the entry into the Legends and the wire horse sculptures in Austin Ranch and thought it would be good to have those designs throughout the city which would create a theme. She also suggested putting flag poles out like Rockefeller Center. She doesn't think there should be advertising on sign posts as this looks cheap. She offered her assistance. Denise Feeney, 7336 Main Street, The Colony - She is the owner of the Stain Glass Shop in The Colony. She agrees with Nancy regarding the stone, but does think the kaldeidoscapes could be added. The time is now for an arts center. She offered her help. Harrison King, 5009 Pemberton, The Colony - He did not speak, but shared his opinion on a public input form - he thinks it would be great idea to build an arts center. It is very rough to put on a play with kids where there is no back stage or changing rooms. For the good of the community, we need to build an arts, multipurpose center. 1. RECEIVE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS - OVERVIEW OF THE CDC MASTER PLAN AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL ARTS MASTER PLAN - There is a section on the arts in the CDC Master Plan. The CDC Board thought arts and culture were important and needed to be included in the CDC Master Plan. There is a section about values and goals that talks about existing conditions and the organizations that are currently in existence or were at the time of this study; Lakeside Community Theatre, Lakeside Arts Foundation and The Colony Playhouse. It also references the Kaleidoscape project and the desire to use these in other public spaces. The CDC Master Plan also talks about other cities diverting 11/2% or 1% of their funding for any kind of public project towards the arts. Also mentioned in the Master Plan is the level of service for current and future conditions. The plan does talk about a civic/arts facility or a multi-purpose type facility that could be used by the performing arts groups, business community, classes, and rented for private functions such as weddings. In the Needs Assessment section is shows there was not enough support to justify a stand-alone facility, but does discuss a combination facility that would be built in conjunction with a recreation center that would have an element to be used as a multi-purpose, multi-functional facility that could house the performing arts. It also says a more in depth study could be taken through an Arts Master Plan to focus on the need for that type facility. The development of an Arts Master Plan and the creation of an art selection committee were very specific recommendations in the CDC Master Plan. The CAB members were given a copy of the RFQ - Request For Qualifications - that the CDC Board used when they were searching for a consultant for the CDC Master Plan. There is a prioritized task list in the CDC Master Plan. One of the items in the Priority 1 category is an Arts Master Plan; various funding sources are identified to facilitate the development of the plan. In the Priority 2 category list there is a Recreation Center/Multi-Purpose facility with an element to accommodate the performing and visual arts. It is a priority 2 because it is a very expensive project and there are no funds available this year or next year to do it. As directed by City Council, the CDC Board is focusing on projects they can pay cash for and to fix things that already exist and then to move on to new things. The CAB is interested in doing an Arts Master Plan. They are currently working on guidelines for grants and should have them for their June meeting, and then they can discuss a timeframe for the Arts Master Plan. This will be on their June agenda. They are requesting assistance from the CDC Board, Pam and Keith in the Master Plan process. • FM 423 SOUNDWALL ART PANELS AND DESIGN CONCEPTS - This is a city project with TXDOT. Examples of designs for the main and secondary entry features and soundwalls were distributed. The goal is to create a consistent theme and identity throughout the city. There has been discussion about including the Kaleidoscapes in the entry features. The CAB does want to be involved in the selection of the artistic design of the art panels in the soundwalls. Two members from the CAB will assist with this project. A decision was made to include members from the CAB to assist with other art related projects as they develop. • STEWART CREEK PARK - ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AND PUBLIC ART AT ENTRY FEATURE - A Master Plan for the park has been completed. Plans have been created for electrical upgrades to make it safer and more functional. There will not be a concrete pad for the mobile stage in this phase of the upgrades. We are trying to make the park more useable for events and festivals. Also included in this phase of improvements at the park are road improvements and the replacement of shelter covers. The old restroom building has been demolished. The CAB expressed interest is placing a piece of art in the park. A committee will be formed to assist with this. • ADDITIONAL KALEIDOSCAPES IN PARKS OR OTHER PUBLIC SPACES - The hope is to continue this concept at other locations throughout the city. The CAB expressed interest in putting Kaleidoscapes in other public spaces. They will add this to their agenda and a committee will be formed to assist with this. • KIDS COLONY PLAYGROUND REDEVELOPMENT - DESIGN FOR USE OF OLD NAME BOARDS- The playground is being redeveloped because it is old and unsafe and it will be done in phases. The design will be a nature theme that will include logs, stumps and a tree house. Pam and Lisa are in the process of taking an inventory of all the name boards in the park. The CAB expressed an interest to assist with the design/creation of an entry feature using the name boards; a committee will be formed. • OTHER PUBLIC ART PROJECTS AND PROCESS FOR COMMISSIONING/FUNDING ITEMS - The CAB wants all arts related projects to be commissioned/approved by them. The process for funding will depend on the scope of the project. • FORMATION OF A SUBCOMMITTEE TO PLAN AND OVERSEE JOINT PROJECTS - As briefly discussed earlier in the meeting, sub committees from the CAB will be formed to work on projects that may involve both boards. 2. ACTION TO BE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE WORK SESSION - The CAB expressed their appreciation to the CDC Board for meeting with them and offering their help with creating an Arts Master Plan. The CDC Board expressed their appreciation to the CAB for offering their help with art related projects. The boards are ready to work together to build a good working relationship with the goal to make the city a better place for its residents. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40p.m. Kathy Neal, Recording Secretary on Beckel, CDC President Liz Ripperger, CAB Chairperson