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Agendas and Minutes

Public Arts Advisory Committee (View All)

Public Arts Advisory Committee Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023
Regular Meeting
4:00pm–5:30pm, Siskiyou Conference Room
51 Winburn Way
Minutes

I. CALL TO ORDER

Introductions
- Jamie Blankenship, City of Ashland GIS technician
- Eco Fields, member of the Housing Committee
- Susan Smith, public participant
- Stef Seffinger, new Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Parks liaison to PAAC
Quorum count – quorum achieved

Committee Members Present	Liaisons & Staff Present:
Chair, Ken Engelund	Councilor Gina DuQuenne
Stanley Smith	Brandon Goldman, Community Development Director
Tessa Elbettar	Jennifer Chenoweth, Associate Planner
Heather Warden	Stef Seffinger, Parks and Rec Commissioner
Cassie Preskenis

Committee Members Absent:	Liaisons & Staff Absent:
Laura Bloom
Snow Panneton - resigned	Special Guests:
	Jamie Blankenship
	Eco Fields
	Susan Smith

II. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“We acknowledge and honor the aboriginal people on whose ancestral homelands we work – the Ikirakutsum Band of the Shasta Nation, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today. We denounce the egregious acts of the colonizers and government and recognize the horrific impacts that still exist today. We honor the first stewards in the Rogue Valley and the lands we live and depend on: Tribes with ancestral lands in and surrounding the geography of the Ashland Watershed include the original past, present, and future indigenous inhabitants of the Shasta, Takelma, Athabaskan people. We also recognize and acknowledge the Shasta village of K’wakhaha - “Where the Crow Lights” - that is now the Ashland City Plaza.”
Read by Chair, Cassie Preskenis.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

August 17, 2023 regular meeting

Chair Engelund motioned to approve the draft August 17, 2023, meeting minutes with no corrections.

IV. PUBLIC FORUM (for items not on the agenda)

Eco Fields, Chair of the City of Ahland Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee, attended the PAAC to meet members and collaborate on potential projects. Fields presented the following ideas:

1. Collaborate with PAAC to enhance new emergency shelter to improve building aesthetics and provide art as form of therapy.

2. Collaborate with PAAC in looking into creating a marker of the origin of the Almeda fire.

V. LIAISON REPORTS

Liaisons: City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne; Community Development Liaison, Brandon Goldman; and APRC Liaison, Leslie Eldridge

1. City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne – attended the City Council business meeting roundtable. The meeting with local business owners discussed flexibility for businesses, upcoming accessory dwelling units pre-approved plans, events to increase community activities to make more vibrant, streamline permits for parades, events at the bandshell, and races and runs, etc.

2. No updates from other liaisons.

VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a) City Council Annual Committee Update Presentation, October 3 – review and discuss items to be included in the report to council

Ken sent a draft to all PAAC for review and comments. Any comments should be sent back to Ken via email.

b) Public Art Installation Story Map Project: Jamie Blankenship, City of Ashland GIS Technician, to present draft new version of the story map to the committee for discussion and feedback
Jamie shared the draft new version of the self-guided Public Art Walking Tour GIS Story map. Comments included adding a “potential projects” tab with a donate button; showing user location on the map; should art text read ‘media’ or ‘medium?’; set up schedule to revisit StoryMap for future updates; and standard art / utility boxes art separate tabs (utility box art could eventually include crosswalk art).

c) Statues for Equity Project: Review and discuss the project and a possible task group to evaluate funding source for public art
After much group discussion, the group consensus is to not move forward with this.

VII.OTHER BUSINESS AND UPDATES

a) ODOT Controller Boxes

1. Motion to authorize members Preskenis and Elbettar to appoint selection panel members for first three boxes

2. Motion to authorize Task Group, Preskenis, Elbettar, Finkle to appoint 5 person selection committee for first 3 boxes in timely manner.

Motioned by Smith, seconded by Preskenis, All AYES approved. Motion carried.

b) PAAC MAP II Task Group: Motion to authorize PAAC Task Group to develop a proposal to APRC for a long-term goal of a minimum of one work of Public Art in every park site installed with some public art funds and donated funds, and to include APRC and PAAC criteria for such works.

Motioned by Chair Engelund, seconded by Preskenis. All AYES voice vote. Motion carried.

c) Update: Haines & Friends Grant was submitted on August 29, 2023; grant awards to be announced early November

d) Update: bids for Public Arts Collection rack cards – cards printed and ready for distribution.

e) Update: bids for prep and seal of ODOT controller boxes – three painters contacted, two will be providing bids for prep and seal.

f) Update: Golden Connections Medallions Installation – Public Works looking at locations this month for the remaining four that need to be installed.

g) Update: Micah Blacklight “Ancestors Future - Crystalizing Our Call,” Say Their Names Project – fundraising continues, looking at MLK celebration event to engage community.

h) Update: John Pugh Mural “Where The Crow Lights,” Elks Building – fundraising continues, outreach with native communities underway.

i) Other items discussed not on the agenda:

1. Chamber dinner on October 5th asking PAAC to contribute art.

2. Chair Engelund motioned to approved that PAAC create a committee to explore and create “Enhancing Crosswalks Project.” Motioned by Elbettar, seconded by Smith, all AYES voice vote. Motion carried.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT - Next Meeting Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023 @ 4:00pm

Chair Engelund requested a motion to adjourn the meeting. All AYES to adjourn.