001meeting will be broadcast live on CTN cable channel 19, at channel 99, and online at a2ggov.org. back slwatchctn to speak at public comment. Please call and enter meeting ID 92 932 or join via Zoom using the link provided on the agenda. Um, I would like to call to order our meeting tonight everyone. Um, welcome to the Wednesday, October 1st electronic meeting of the Anna Public Art Commission. This is being held electronically, but we intend to conduct this meeting similarly to an in-person meeting. Public comments will be via telephone or Zoom to speak during any of the public comment opportunities. Please call 206337-9723. Enter meeting ID number 932 81120347 or join via Zoom. This information is also available on the published agenda in the public um notices section of the city website and on broad and
002the broadcast of this meeting on CTN channel 19. So, this meeting is being called to order at 7:02. Okay. I'll now call roll. Uh, please say hear and from when you're dialing when your name is called. Commissioner Harrison. I'm sorry, Council Member Harrison. Okay. Commissioner Buford. Okay. Commissioner Buison Neil here in Ann Arbor. >> Let me let me let me change that. Sorry about that. Commissioner Thiefs >> uh present in Grass Lake. >> Commissioner Kotarski here for Ann Arbor. Commissioner Porter >> present in Arbor. >> Commissioner Fuller has share her regrets that she'll be unable to join us. Commissioner Ver Leonard >> here from Ann Arbor, Michigan. >> Okay. Commissioner Jordan Jordan >> here from Michigan from Ann Arbor >> and Commissioner Carter >> here from Ann Arbor. >> With that we do have quorum.
003>> I think you have Commissioner Buford here as well. >> Do I? >> Yes. Well, I can see him. He may not. >> Uh, Commissioner Buford. >> Jamal Buffford, President Ipsi Township. >> Thank you. Welcome everybody. Uh there are two items on the consent agenda. Approval of the agenda and approval of the minutes. Are there any modifications to the consent agenda that people see at this moment? The consent agenda includes the two attachments that you received both the minutes from last month and tonight's agenda. I hear no modifications. Uh, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? Uh, Peggy and John second. >> Yes. >> All those in favor, please say yes. >> I. >> Yes. >> Any nos? The consent agenda is officially approved. So this is the public comment um
004portion. Do we have anybody in the wings? >> Uh no. >> not at not at the same time. >> I challenge everybody. I challenge you all to pick someone to come comment. Let's try this out. Um I don't know about reading that phone number and that ID. Is that somewhere? Can we like put that somewhere so people can see it? >> Uh yeah, that I believe that information is available on the newly edited uh Ann Arbor public art commission website. >> Heck yeah. Okay. So um and refer to the website for that information. All right. So we are now kind of moving into our agenda here. Um, I do have a question though, Chris. At what point can we welcome our new commissioners? >> Uh, I would say, yeah, now now it's a good a
005good time to uh welcome the uh to new commissioners. They've been fully vetted by uh city clerk's office, so they're very official. >> That's exciting. Um, well, welcome Jenna and John. >> Thank you. >> Hooray. Very exciting. >> Happy. >> Thank you all. >> Have them tell us a little bit about themselves. Can we do that? >> It's frozen. >> Can you guys hear me? >> Okay. Sorry, the screen froze. I don't >> Can we have them tell us a little bit about themselves? >> That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Yeah, if Jenna and John would take a few minutes, we would love that. >> Yeah, I can start. Um, I'm Jenna Jones Carter. I, uh, went to grad school here in Ann Arbor, 2006 to 2009, um, in landscape architecture at what
006was the school for natural resources and environment. Uh, moved around a bunch and then moved back here in 2019. Um, I've been working in landscape architecture since then, um, in mostly in the public sector. So a big part of my practice is uh creating outstanding public spaces for people. Um my firm site design group is based in Chicago. I work remotely. Um but we do landscape architecture and urban design all over the US. Um, yeah, I uh I was saying this to John and Marionetta at the beginning, but um really just interested in becoming a bigger part of the Ann Arbor community and also, you know, public art is so integral to what I do in my profession that it's feels like a a a nice fit to be able to sit here on this
007commission with all of you and contribute to all of the great things going on in the city. So, great. >> Thanks for having me. >> Welcome. I guess I'll take it from there. Um, yeah, John Jordan. I am a native Ann Arborite, newly returned in 2020 during the pandemic. Uh, I'm an architect, also a graduate of the University of Michigan, uh, and Yale University, uh, both my ma my my undergraduate degree from Michigan and my masters from Yale. Uh I have over 20 years of experience in architecture and I've lived in several large cities since my grew up in Ann Arbor. Uh and came back from China during the pandemic uh to work here um mostly in Detroit uh with various clients. um really excited about what's happening in in southeastern Michigan, especially in Arbor
008and Detroit area and excited to be a part of uh the art commission. I've also done a lot of public art projects across the world uh in my career. Uh I think that's part of the reason why I was invited to join and uh yeah excited to make an impact and be a part of you know what what we can do together to make to make the um art commission actually you know have some success in the city and also create more public art that you know can have impact and I'd say kind of you know agitate public space in a way that is a benefit to Great. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Yeah, that's great. Welcome both of you. Um certainly I'm sure you'll have a lot of questions and um feel free our
009our meetings are very conversationbased. Uh we used to meet in person. We've been meeting over Zoom since um the pandemic. Um there is talk of maybe going back to person, but I think everybody is enjoying the this format right now. So um yeah, feel free to chime in if you have questions throughout the meeting. It's it's it's really fine and um we can schedule a time to get together. We did find out that we could have a an informal maybe orientation or hangout. I forget what we're supposed to call it where we the commission could meet um to welcome the two of you sort of um in a unofficial way, right Chris? Kind of. Yeah. So, uh maybe maybe we can figure that out so we can all uh get to know each other in
010person a little bit more. So, we're happy you're here. Um Okay, very good. Oh, yes, I have it here, too. So, we're moving on to business and we do have um last month we had a pretty lengthy discussion about the the budget cuts for arts across the state of Michigan. And the commission feels very passionate about lobbying to the city as much as possible to stress the importance of uh the the creative voice in our community, the impact that arts have made in county and specifically Ann Arbor. Uh John Qatarski took the lead on creating this draft. uh we all kind of collaborated on the information that's in this uh recommendation. There's a lot of facts that pertain to uh the state but also uh local numbers uh in terms of jobs and um the
011the idea was to present this to council at the last meeting. Um, additionally, I drafted a letter that was even a little bit more personal, um, speaking from a perspective, um, from the commission's perspective and really asking city council to think broader about creating a a a permanent public art plan for the city of Ann Arbor. Uh, we used to have a percent for art. uh the millillage did not pass um just under a decade ago and so the public art commission has been really just acting as an advisory board to different departments of the city that are interested in doing public art. We've we have members from the community that come to us seeking information. We manage the public art collection for the city of Ann Arbor and um Chris has been working on
012our website. So there is a bit more content for you John and Jenna if you haven't visited the public art commission website just to get a little more information about what we do. JohnQatars is excellent at sharing the history of the commission. He and I have had lots of coffee chats where um he's really just he's a wealth of information. He's uh and Allison too who has chaired this this commission, you know, both very knowledgeable of kind of where the body has come from and and now we we really just we are kind of new spirited. We have um some ideas of where we want to take the commission. Uh and this to us, this piece of legislation, um it the the fact that we could lose so much funding for the arts um would
013affect the city of Ann Arbor dramatically. So Sarah Fuller, the vice chair, and I, we went to the last city council meeting, but we didn't sign up the proper way to get into the public comment. Just so you all know, you have to call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Um, in order to get on the public comment list, you I've been told to call directly at 8:00 in the morning because it fills up very fast. So, we were turned away. Um, and that was kind of a bummer. We were very fired up. We had statements. We had a couple other people with us and we were really ready to rally. So, we're now seeing that the the budget did not pass. The state of Michigan is um presently um
014I think has a provisional budget to keep the to keep the government open. Um so maybe this statement is still relevant. Um Chris, when is the next city council meeting? >> Uh yeah, it should be I believe uh the next one is the 6 and then we there should be another one on October 20th. >> Okay. So the I have a I have a conflict personally on the 6th. Um I would not be able to present at that meeting. Um but if anybody else is interested, this is a very well put together uh draft here. Um in addition to the letter that I wrote, I can share. Um it's not in the agenda tonight, but uh Deb Pollock, who is the former executive director of Creative Washa, actually um helped me draft it. So it
015is full of some just really good facts around um how this fun these funding cuts would happen in Arbor. So, just putting that out there if there's anybody that does feel passionate about this and wants to bend City Council's here Monday, October 6th, um calling 8:00 a.m. in the morning to get on to that list and then being present for the meeting at um right at the beginning. So, we have some we have some time here to discuss. Are there any thoughts or reactions to this um this letter or any thoughts that people think should we should we proceed? Should we should we pause? Should we pull back? What do folks think? >> Um I was wondering Cynthia, is there a way for you to bring this forward at that meeting as our liaison? I
016saw Cynthia just joined. Yes, I I would give things to >> ago. I was sitting in the waiting room or what have you. Um, and I just had to walk away because my dog was barking about something. >> No worries. >> Sorry, there's a lot going on right now. What What was your question? >> So, we drafted this letter for uh city council about um how we're really wanting, you know, the state to support the arts and are discouraged by the potential of funding being cut >> and wanted it to be shared at the next city council meeting. and wondered if you could in your capacity share it in some way. >> Let me see if I can do that. Yep. Just uh send it to me and uh Well, let's see. What is today?
017So, I'm sorry. This is a letter that you're trying to >> You wouldn't have to read the whole letter. >> Well, I wouldn't be reading it. I just um I'm for some re Can you scroll? I'm just trying to I The top is cut off for some reason. So, this is um yeah, I'll I'll see I I I'll see if I can add this to the agenda. >> Great. That would be fabulous. >> It's a statement basically giving some uh meat to why the arts are important and what it would affect uh the budget in Lancing, a local kind of take on it. So that uh it's it's it makes good business sense, not just a uh warm and fuzzy art sense. >> You should also email it to us to city council. I would
018do that tonight. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um yeah, email it to us. So >> Cynthia, is there a there's like one email that goes out to all council members, correct? >> Yep. It's city. Let me uh I don't want to give you the wrong It's like city council. Let me pull it up. I don't use it often. Let me put it in the chat before the end of the meeting. >> Perfect. Yeah, that's that's great. >> Thanks. >> Is there someone that would like to volunteer to send this to council members tonight? maybe with an introductory paragraph. >> Well, should it come from Chris or from you or >> Yeah, that's that's a good question. Chris, is this best coming from one of us? >> Uh, it can uh there's there's no specific reason. Um,
019I can also send it or uh someone from from this commission can send it. It's it's not a big ask. So, uh whatever you guys decide. Christopher, why don't you send it out? How about that? >> Not a problem. >> Thank you. >> Chris, is it too late to also include the other onepage letter that was drafted that has a little bit more specifics towards the city of Ann Arbor >> and the impact? >> Are we Are we referring to this letter? >> How did you get that? I'm just kidding. I'm totally kidding. Yeah, that's the letter. >> Okay. >> Just >> Yes, I believe that's it. >> Yes. Yeah, because I personalized it at the beginning. Correct. Okay. Um, if you would like to include me on that as the chair on on that
020email to council, I'd be happy to to be on that email with you, Chris. >> Yeah, not a problem. I I'll send out the communication. >> Wonderful. appreciate it. Um any other discussion around this type of ad help the council and help our elected officials help the council and help our elected officials uh uh speak with some some sort of relevance about uh the issues impacting uh Ann Arbor. This is a good role for us to play. I think this uh is u uh should be wellreceived and we should continue to do it. Uh if everyone is okay with the language, uh I would recommend this body make a motion to recommend this letter uh and its contents to city council as a recommendation item. >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. [Music] All those
021in favor? >> Oh, >> what? I >> I >> opposed. >> Okay, the motion passes. The next order of business and we have a guest tonight, Paul Matthews. Thank you for joining us. Um specifically to address winter maintenance of uh public art installations. I I think specifically um a roundabout installation, but I'll I'll give the floor to Paul. All right. Yeah, thank you for inviting me tonight. Um, so I want to start with just by saying that that mural really turned out great. Um, I think it looks really nice in the in the neighborhood there. So, uh, we took a look at the installation and evaluated it for winter maintenance. That is one of our, you know, key intersections in that neighborhood and a route that's heavily traveled by children as you know. So, um,
022with that, we we definitely treat that, um, every single time it snows, whether it's salt only or, um, plowing and salting. I think, uh, the best option for us is we plan to drill into the expansion joint, which is where that mountable curb meets the island where the painted surface is. And then we'll install uh 4 foot driveway markers. We use them kind of all over town on the bumpouts um and things. So our plan is to outline the entire island with those so that we can easily see it in the middle of the night or in a snowstorm because uh curbs and things like that disappear in snowstorm. So they're hard for people to see. And you can even see some uh plow damage that's in in that mountable curb already from, you know,
023previous winter events. So, we're going to do that and then we will train our staff this winter when we do our snowplow operator training later this month. We'll make sure everybody's really aware of that location, what to do, how to avoid it, uh visual cues to look for, and um we'll make sure that we avoid it with plow blades. I think the one issue we will have is there will be some salt that gets on that mural. Um it will be unavoidable just from bounce and scatter and um so we're going to do our best to keep salt off the surface. I think when I read about it um it looks like it's a pretty good material that was chosen the Rustoleum stain concrete or concrete stain. The one thing that was recommended is that
024there would be a sealer or top coat applied to it. And I'm I'm not sure if anyone on the call knows if that was done once the mural was completed. >> Nice. This is the upper white roundabout. >> Very nice. Very cheerful. >> Oh, beautiful. >> The um there is talk of even before the winter going in and doing a little bit more maintenance on it. I think it's just going to be an annual an annual project. But I I do agree partnering with the city is going to be very helpful. Um a couple of the neighbors saw some of the street sweepers going over it with the um the textured blade, not blades, but the textured um front that they have. So I This is great. I think this is really great. >> Okay.
025Yeah. I wouldn't expect them to be mounting up on top of the artwork. So, we'll definitely have that discussion with them to stay off of the top. Um there really is no reason for us to go up there. So, um we'll definitely have that discussion with the street sweepers too as well to um have them stay off the surface. But what we'll do is we'll have it outlined where the color meets the light gray. Um, so that's where that expansion joint is and that's where we'll apply the uh the large markers. Well, they're not large, they're just tall. Um, and so we'll do that around the perimeter. And we'll install we normally install those um around the very end of October uh to the very beginning of November because we tend to get large, you
026know, heavy snow events early and so we try to beat those. So, we'll make sure that we get this installation outlined pretty early in our uh efforts to mark obstructions in throughout the city. >> Those um they're not quite ballards, right? Those are the ones that are flexible that kind of flop over if people drive. >> Yeah, they're they're thicker than a pencil, but they're >> Oh, okay. They're they're similar to the driveway markers that most plow companies use. Ours are just a larger, taller fiberglass, heavier duty item that we can use from year to year. >> That's really outstanding, Paul. We appreciate that so much your your help on that. >> Do you put them up in the winter and then take them down or are they permanent? >> Yeah, they're they're something we
027install at the very beginning of the year and then we take them down. Awesome. >> So, all of the little bumpouts throughout town in neighborhoods, we we place them along the grass in those locations, too, just for a visual cue for plow drivers to know where a curve is when it snows. >> Great. >> Um, Cynthia, are you okay? um using my hand. I >> Oh, no. >> Yeah. I as So, as if you heard some frustration, it was because I just had like right >> right as you were asking that question. I had a little bit of an accident here at home. So, >> Oh, girl, please. Yeah, please. If you have to go, please. >> So, I may just I may just uh I might sing it. I may just have to go
028in listenon mode. If you see me disappear, >> do >> take care of yourself. >> Thanks for your understanding. Kind of a weird accident that just occurred. >> They're the worst kind. >> Yeah. So, I my apologies. Just um I will um you know get try to get that on the the agenda, but if you Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Cynthia. Are there any other uh questions for Paul at this time or any other thoughts that folks have? Are there any other public art projects that um Paul could help with that folks also see maintenance being an issue with? Any other >> for showing up? >> Yeah, thanks for being here and >> really appreciate it. Yeah, not a problem >> for troubleshooting and helping us figure out how this is going to work. I
029mean, I think the only other project that I would think is similar similar is the basketball courts, but I would assume they're not cleared during the winter and so it's not the same kind of issue. >> Yeah, I would agree. That would be a parks maintenance item, but I can certainly help to connect if if I need to. But, um, I do not believe that they clear any basketball courts in the winter. I I have one question, Paul. Uh the dry cidle project, I I I get an email about every other year from from the fellow that installed the pumps and uh are the pumps working? Uh do you turn them on and off? Is there a problem? Are the lights working or are you familiar with it? >> I don't think I'm f No,
030I'm not familiar with that one. >> Okay. Um, is there any way we can Christopher, can you get an update on the Do you know that what the dry cidle project I'm talking about? It's it's at city hall. It's a rain garden and it has uh some sculpture and and lights and water and stuff like that. Uh, so >> if if if you could, I would appreciate it because this guy just has got my name and he he keeps asking. >> Don't give him mine. >> And uh yeah, right. So, uh, just, you know, is it working as we expected? There are pumps that flow water around when there's water available. So, it's it's really it's not a fountain. It's it's a conceptual idea that it looks like a fountain even when there's not water
031flowing. That's very hard for people to understand, but there are pumps and when there is water flowing, the pumps will flow over this piece of sculpture. And there are blinking lights that should blink whether there's water or not. So, those two items, if you could find out for me and let me know, I can pass it along to this guy that emails me all the time. >> Yeah. Yeah, not a problem. Uh, for what it's worth, I did observe uh it around August or uh that it it was uh working properly, but uh I'll circle back just to get a confirmation on that. >> The water shouldn't be flowing in August. I'm surprised. But but in any event, if you can just double check that it's it's doing that, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Christopher.
032>> Yeah, not a problem. >> I can give one update to the group. The manhole arc project that uh you all worked on a long time ago now. Uh the third and final manhole was printed this spring. So that is now being deployed throughout the community and the father of that third artist actually came and he purchased one for his son to to give him a a full-size rendering of his art. So all three of those are out and we um you'll soon see that third design on all the new installations that went in this summer. So >> more followup Paul with that. Is there any way to map where those um uh manhole covers with the art on them have been placed? Is there any way that that we can do that? >> Yes.
033And I believe they should all be we should have that in our GIS now. any art lid that was installed. Um, which is what we use to attribute maps and and locate things that have been put in. Um, I can check and make sure that that carried through, but no matter what, we'll be able to tell you where they all are. I won't be able to tell you which design was used in each location, but we would in theory be able to say these are all art lids. Um, we tried to put different versions around city hall. I don't think we've substituted any of this third design into any of the storm lids there, but um, just a good reminder for me to ask people to do that. So, all three are kind of on
034the same campus. This this has been a project that we and hoped would be popular enough that we could uh have another sort of competition and get my understanding is is it doesn't cost the city one single penny if you provide a digital artwork makeup. And uh if that's true, then uh could we my understanding is is that you're about to to finish this third trunch of lids and uh could we maybe make a plan next year to have a competition? And do you consider it helpful? Uh do you do you like it? What what what do the employees think of it? What do you what feedback do you get? Is this something we should continue? Um, I, you know, I haven't heard feedback from staff necessarily. Um, I like I think we like the
035lids and we like the designs. I don't know that the vendor would necessarily be up for free again because they take each one of these is a casting. So, storm, sewer, and sanitary. So, they're now storing nine castings for the city of Ann Arbor to run our to run these every time. Um, and it, you know, we had to wait two to three years each time because they have to recoup their cost for castings and things. So, I can check with them. I don't know what it would cost um to to make new castings, but I certainly think it makes our manhole structure stand out and and it was a fun um community activity. So, I can I can follow up with that and provide Chris some information from the vendor about what it would
036take and um kind of discuss logistics on their end. >> Great. I was chair when they started this and so what what we got back from the vendor was exactly what you said we can't do this every year >> but you know if if you can stretch it out for like two years that's what it ended up being is two years. So if you can make an order for two years worth of lids you can change that design because it's just digital for us and uh that you know we wouldn't want you to do it every year. So they agreed to two years if they want to stretch it to three, you know, but whatever you can do uh to continue this program, I think it is in everyone's interest. It it you know, >>
037John, how long has this program been going on? John or Paul? Like >> it's been it's uh three, four, five years. Allison, do you remember what what year it started? >> It was like eight years ago. >> Eight years. Okay. I come upon the manhole covers here and there and I'm always nicely surprised. Does anybody have the three designs that were chosen and have been used or no? Are they? >> The Anna um art center ran the call and so >> I think it's still on their website the three designs. >> Oh, I'll go look. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And Paul Matthews has said that we're going to try to get a map. So, if we can get a map that we can put on our website, it can say, "Look, you know, look for
038this artwork around town." But, um, that >> there's at least one of each design on our map that of our public art design like >> Excellent. >> Yeah. >> Here, I believe I found them. Um, Paul, >> am I correct? Are these >> Yeah. I mean those are that's what's in the center and then around them it's where they say like sewer etc. >> Yeah they say sewer storm or water >> right I would say you know Paul we're all very obviously excited about this project. It went really well. It was a great way to highlight the city and include artists and I think it was kind of like a simple concept for people to wrap their brain around as far as public art goes. So, we'd love to see it happen again and if
039we can support that in any way, um, let us know. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thanks for pulling those up, Chris. >> No problem. >> Okay. >> Great. Well, thank you for your time, Paul. >> Thank you, Paul. >> Yeah. >> Appreciate you. You're welcome back. You know, anytime. >> Sure. Thank you. All right, I gotta plug my computer in. I think the before I lose you guys, next is um staff comm or communications from Christopher. >> Yeah. Uh so the main the main thing I would like to uh kind of introduce uh I've made some updates to the public art commission website. Um nothing um nothing too drastic but mainly I wanted to ensure that most of our uh most of the information uh that this commission has is rarely available uh via uh legisar.
040So all the meeting minutes and and agenda are are published. I backtracked uh some of them uh and I think up to now we we should be fully in compliance. So all of our meeting minutes and uh and agendas can be found online. Uh and then we have some information about the newly established public art commissions atgov.org. This will be a space where uh people uh who wish to uh provide public comments in the form of emails can send out emails to public art commissions atgov.org. The only thing that's being redacted is information pertaining to individuals uh um private information, particularly contact information, stuff like your residential address and phone numbers uh which tends to be information that people have as the signatures uh in the bottom of their emails. That information typically gets redacted
041for private uh for privacy reasons. Other than that, any email that gets sent to the public art commissions will be available uh uh and I would attach it to your agenda as public comment. So in case I get any email or I think uh there's there's any information that this uh entire commission would benefit, you can send it uh to this email and then I can make it available uh to the general public. Um, then we I also have my contact information in case anybody wants to uh wants to reach out. The um as far as I know, we only have one Instagram page. The the link will take you directly to that page. Uh we have the uh this the Zoom meeting information here. uh you can just in the event that anyone wants
042to join, they can just click on on the link and it will take you directly to uh this this webinar. Um the Golden Paintbrush Award, I do have some very good updates. Last time I checked, we were at 15 nominations. Um that's 15. Yeah, which is a a good progress from our previous number, which I believe we were at maybe three. Uh so the deadline for that was today. So with with that said, I I h I think sometime uh probably uh by by November I'll be uh I'll be bringing this uh the 2025 Golden Paintbrush Award to this commission uh so that you guys can uh speak and uh speak about it and nominate uh someone for the for the award. Um and then we are currently uh uh in the process of updating
043the virtual art tour. Uh this was uh uh something that was established my by my uh previous uh predecessors. Uh the goal is to update this with uh the current uh um public art. So, if you have uh if you stumble upon any uh specific projects that you believe uh should be uh should should be added, please send me an an email. Uh I I think I have a a a good understanding on what's missing, but but then again uh in case in case I'm not, please feel free to uh to to reach out to me. Uh this will likely be updated within the next months. Uh I'm working with it to make sure that the virtual tour is uh is up to date and and working as it should be. Um and yeah, there's
044some information about how to get involved. Uh our our public art commissioners are here and all the reference material such as ordinance, bylaws, and annual report can be found all the way at the bottom. So yeah up at this time those are the most uh the most notable updates that I have and yeah >> well three cheers >> great >> for you Chris. >> Yeah >> I feel I feel so organized. >> You look so wonderful. >> It's really great. >> I I I have a question uh regarding the the paintbrush award golden paintbrush award. Uh, Christopher, are is that being handled by a work group? It used to be there was a group of commissioners that reviewed all of this stuff and then kind of brought it with recommendations. Is that going to be
045the case this year or >> Yeah, I I'll have to circle back with our communications team. Uh, they were initially the ones that uh started this program. So, I I'll have to circle back as to what is the the expectation. But uh as far as I uh I'm aware the nominations will go back to this commission and then this commission will ultimately select uh a a a nominee. But >> yeah, I think we have >> I'll find some more information as to the the specific details of the process. >> Yeah. Okay. And maybe we can meet too, Christopher, because I know two years ago when we did this, we had an actually outside jury panel that reviewed all the entries and then brought them to the commission. >> Yeah, I think you guys picked like
046a group of art folks, >> art people from the community. So maybe that is our um the work group or special projects. You can go back to your source and then maybe the special projects group can meet. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Not a problem. Uh, one thing that >> touching talking about the Golden Paint Brush Award, I wonder if it makes sense on our website or to link to um a list of all the winners. >> Oh, I love that. Yeah. >> Past winners and then maybe even an image of the art. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> that would be great. >> I can definitely work towards uh making something uh like that. I can't remember what the deadline is that we're going to we were going to present the the winners
047at city council. Is that in the new year? So, do we have a bit of time here? I don't have that information in front of me, but it is spelled out. Like I don't know if do we need to move quickly on this or do we have some time? I guess that's what I'm asking. >> I think we have time. find find a a a a small agenda at that city council so that we it can be prominent. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Uh and and just let the nominees know that this is a process that's going to take place and you know and I would like to see it be a big deal at city council that you know a party kind of thing. >> Yeah, sounds good. Oh, and one last thing. I did
048hear back from uh city council. I uh uh I'm sorry, not city council, the city clerk's office regarding the working groups. I remember last time we had some concerns regarding uh working groups and uh whether or not they can be they would have to be made available to the public or not. that distinction is made whether or not you guys have um three. So per your b by bylaws if you have uh three or or more members you have full quorum for if if you do not wish to make your working groups public then you have you you cannot have quorum in those working groups. So those working groups cannot be made out of uh three or more members. So for for working groups uh if the work if the hope of this commission is
049to continue meeting uh in people's private residence uh then the those working groups cannot have a quorum that was the direction I was provided by city council >> by city or less three or less is okay right >> so two or less correct two or less is correct three or or is not okay and will will require a formal uh for this to be treated as a formal uh subcommittee because per your bylaws there is no clear distinction for staff of what uh of the differences between bylaws and working groups. I'm sorry I am I am sub there there's no distinction per your bylaws of subcommittee and working groups. Um I I would advise that now that we're we're ending the year, that might be something that this commission would like to uh kind of
050make a little bit more clear uh the distinction be uh um surrounded those working groups uh in your bylaws. You guys are more than welcome to uh to do that. And my understanding, Christopher, you said in our home because our home is not a public place, but correct the group could meet online >> just fine. three members, four members as long as published ahead of time and all that sort of thing. >> But >> correct, >> we couldn't have people over to our house physically because that's not a public place. >> Correct. Yeah. So, uh, essentially LA last time we met, I kind of got the sense that uh there were there were some commissions uh or some working groups that were happening uh within uh people's private residency. So if you guys want to
051continue doing that, you cannot have quorum. If you have quorum, they have to be made uh publicly available. >> And I'm sorry, three people is quorum. There's so many of us. How is three people forum? >> Yes, I believe that was in your bylaws. But here, let me let me pull >> Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say, can you >> Yeah, of course. So we could potentially change the bylaws to increase the number of quorum because I feel like this is a very limiting feature for us. Um typically when we've met as working groups there's at least three of us and >> um sometimes four. So, and then my other question is, can you just explain the protocol for making it public if we are to have forum or more? >> Yeah, just bear
052with me one second. >> I think a quorum is a majority. I'm I'm not sure. And maybe because the commission shrunk, but now we've enlarged, so we have more members. So maybe a quorum is larger. And uh we could get around that merely by going online. It's the the idea is your home is not open to the public. So therefore, >> but there has it's I think it's more than that. I think it not only has to be online, it has to be a public link and it has to be posted within I think they can I don't know a certain amount of time >> and probably CTN has to be involved as well. Would it have to be then recorded and published? >> Would it have to be recorded? It has to be published.
053I think I I think the agenda has to be published and the availability has to be able to get into it into the meeting to be public. >> Yeah. >> So just correction, I was mistaken. It's five members. So >> I think we're good. I think we we've tried to keep our working groups to four or less because of this rule. >> Okay, good. All right. So, we're good. >> Yeah. >> So, we can we can meet at the pub. >> Yes. [Laughter] >> Like we were. >> Yeah. Okay. So, quorum is five. So, our working groups um >> four can it can less than five. Five requires >> less than five. Correct. >> Less than five. >> Okay. Um the next >> I guess just for just for knowledge though, if we did want
054to have a working group with five or more people, how would we do that, Chris? Like >> Yeah. Yeah, of course. So, um let's say you guys want to make a specific working group and ensure that that working group h is re readily available to the public. Uh I was I was instructed that we need to provide notice of 40 uh 48 hours ahead of the meeting time. Uh notice uh can be published by uh by me uh using legisar and updating it in our uh public art commission website. I can provide uh uh further information on that. But essentially let's say you have a working group. You you want to make it public. you would send me a an email uh saying, "Hey, Chris, um today is Monday. We would like to host a
055working group uh on on Wednesday or Thursday." And then as long as the the meeting notice is published within 48 hours, then we should be good to go. >> And and do you do do you post uh the link for that meeting or I mean who does that then? >> Yeah. Yeah. So I I can be present dur uh if needed during those meetings uh where I will facilitate ensuring that the uh similar to how this uh meeting is run ensuring that it is publicized and recorded or again you guys can also just uh do the the same thing that I'm doing. uh if you wish you can uh host the meeting and just make sure that you provide me with the meeting information so that I can make sure the the general public can
056access the meeting. Does it have to be a certain format like Zoom or could we do Google Meet or any type of >> Um I I believe I believe it um historically has been done has been done using uh Zoom. Um now >> I'm not sure you can record with Google Meet anyways. Yeah, I I would advise that that if you guys are going to go that route, uh stay on stay on Zoom and or if you you can also meet in person too. Uh you just have to provide the location and ensure that it is a public space. Um but yeah, and take minutes. There has to be some kind of documentation. Could be just three sentences, could be the minutes, but that's that's a recording gets around that that there is the minutes
057of the meeting. But if you know you have to say >> agenda and what >> the working so the working group or subcom or subcommittee does not require the creation of agenda or meeting minutes. It just needs to be available to the public. Um so you guys can have the meeting and um but there's no expectation that that meeting uh will have an uh an agenda or meeting minutes uh similar to the way the large the larger art commission meetings uh have them. >> Cool. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Yeah, >> not a problem. Uh, next is um commission member communications. Um, is that just updates from personal personal updates from commissioners or >> uh Yes. So the uh commission me members communication. This uh this is just uh if any commission member is also
058a part of a different commission that would like to provide updates, they can be uh they can be personal or geared towards the uh the uh larger uh public art efforts, but this is just a space for you as commission members to provide any communication you would like to express to the general public. >> Okay. Does anybody have any general communications that they would express like to express to the general public? >> I can share a couple things coming up that we're do involved with. So, um, the Guild of Artis and Artisans put is putting on our last outdoor art fair of the year next weekend, A2 Arttoberfest. It's on 4th Avenue and an >> um so come on out Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday 10 to 4. Should be a lovely day with
059um 90 artists, some food and beverages. Um we're partnering with the city of Ann Arbor's sustainability um office and Bold Reuse to use reusable cups at our bar area. So you can drink out of a reusable cup and throw that in a recycling bin that will they'll take it and clean it and use it at another event. That's something cool we're doing at the event. So I hope you all come out and enjoy that event. And we're also putting on our um third fundraiser which helps keep the Ann Arbor uh summer art fair free to the public as well as fees low for our artists who participate at those events. Um this is going to take place on November 1st. It is a boozy brunch at the Ipsellani Freight House. We're going to have um
060potters doing a a throwoff and uh there'll be raffle prizes, a silent auction. You can win art making activities or art itself. Um there's going to be Anna stealing bloody mary bar, some mimosas, food from lots of local places. So, um I hope you guys will join me at that as well. >> That could be a fun place to get all the commissioners together. >> Yeah. >> Or maybe the Maybe the >> I don't know if the October fest art Arttober is too soon, but that sounds really fun. >> Um, >> all good things. I'll be at the bar if anyone wants to come see me at Arttoberfest. >> Wonderful. Anybody else have event or art updates in general? Any anything coming from you, uh, John or Jenna? Anything? But currently, >> I'll just give
061two more shout outs. There's two openings on Friday. Um, gallery openings on Friday in Kerry Town area. So, the Gutman Gallery is having its youth art exhibition opening of Sounds. So, we have a bunch of youth art up in the gallery that's over on Fourth Avenue. And then there's a new gallery, which I just found out about today. I'm going to say the wrong name. I want to say it's called Catalyst, but that's not what they're called. Um, let me look it up. They're opening on 307 North Main Street and it's two University of Michigan alumni are opening that up. It's called Cluster. Um it's so a new galler that's opening up on Main Street um right next to where the Ann Arbor Community Foundation offices are um across from the gas station there. So
062two openings tomorrow night um and not tomorrow. It's only Wednesday, Friday night. >> You're like PJ of >> the kind of day I had today. Friday night in an armor. So you guys want to check those out. I'll be there. >> Heck yeah. Follow Allison for fun. >> Yeah. >> One of the groups that I'm involved with is Embracing Our Differences of Michigan. And they're the group that sponsors the big banners at the corner of Gettys and here in Parkway. And if you haven't been out to see the banners, they're pretty amazing. the beginning of July, they were taken down with the storm that it was a really freaky thing. This there was a storm that went through Ann Arbor. Didn't really cause much damage, but really kind of twisted and anyway took the banners
063down for about a month, but they're back up and they'll be up till the end of October. So, I was um they do offer tours if you go to their website and you have a group you want to take a group and do a walking tour through. And um you know, it's in Gallup Park. This is a beautiful time of year to visit Gallup Park. So you can just walk through on your own. They're very thoughtprovoking and I think well done. So take a little walk out there. >> They're right by the Canoe Imagine, like around the corner from the Canoe Imagine um fan >> Yeah. >> sculpture. So if you want to go see some of our public art collection and then go see that >> banners. Yeah. Cool. Okay, last call for commission
064member updates. Um, next we have reports from working groups. So, John and Jenna, right now we have five working groups. Uh we have a capital improvement project working group, a communications and outreach, fundraising, nominations and leadership review, and special projects. Um any updates from any of those five working groups? Or maybe we could just go through them and just just um explain what each one does. So if there's anybody from the capital improvement work group that would like that's um Sarah Fuller, Allison, myself, and then we have a non- voting member um >> David Isa, >> right? Um so the capital improvement projects working group we review the CIP list capital improvement projects that the city puts together every year and um identify projects that we think should have art enhancements so to speak. So,
065um, a recent one, I think all the housing commission ones have been tagged to have public art involved in them. And I was just hearing recently that I think the project that you're really involved in, Jamal, they're going to have some public art um, as part of that project. Um, so that's actually going to come to fruition. So, I would say more recently um, than in the past, our recommendations are actually happening. The city is taking our recommendations and making them a part of their projects. Um, this is the only way right now we can make public art happen directly. Um, we don't have our own budget. So, we just say basically this is the bud city's budget and this is where it's spending its money on all these projects and these are the projects
066that we think should have money allocated towards public art projects as part of the projects. So, generally they're enhancements as opposed to like an add-on, but sometimes they are just an add-on. Like, I think the fire station project that's coming online right now, it's it's they're just doing a call for art and it's going to be um something on the facade or it could be a sculpture or something that they're doing with the piece um as opposed to like having an extra design on a fence or something like that. So, um, that's what we do is we review the projects that come online every year and say, "Yeah, these ones should have, um, enhancements or shouldn't." We generally recommend a 1% allocation towards the enhancement, which is just based off of what the um, percent
067for art was previously. Um, and so one of the the documents that Chris added to our website is all of our current recommendations. Um, so you can see that there. and we work with one of the city staff people to um actually have all of our recommendations then they're put into their system so that behind the scenes that the city folks when they like a project comes online they see that it's been recommended for an art enhancement what that budget is and they kind of kind of flag that it's going forward or not and sometimes we're involved as it goes forward because they come to this meeting and talk to us about it like they did with the fire station and sometimes they just make it happen. Um, so that's one of the things that
068we're kind of hoping to be more involved so we can provide our expertise. Um, because I think we have a wealth of it here. Um, but I'm just happy that when it happens. So that's kind of what we do. It's a annual thing. So the CIP already came out previously and we made recommendations and we're so we're kind of like done. Our group doesn't really do anything in the interim. >> When when would you be meeting again? Would that be in 2026? The last time we met it, there was snow on the ground. I don't know, Chris, when is the next CIP list coming out? Was it like January or February? >> Yes. So, it I would say probably January uh would be a good time to revisit the uh the new active uh CIP
069list and see which uh capital projects um qualify for uh some sort of public art integration. Great. >> And there is room on that working group if um if I believe there's room on all of these working groups moving forward if anything sounds um interesting to either of you, John or Jenna. Jamal, can you speak a little bit to the communications work group? >> Communications is um kind of like our outreach um utilizing social media. So, we just uh started a new Instagram, which I believe uh Chris tagged on the website. So, not a lot there yet, but we can use our social media outlets to get the word out. Um, one area I know I want to um, step up in that I have yet to is our connection with youth artists and potentially
070getting young people part of the as non- voting members uh, part of the Antar Republic Art. Uh, so connecting with youth artists is part of communications. Um, yeah, just building relationships in general with artists in in and around uh, Ann Arbor. So, um, Allison mentioned one of the projects that I'm connected to, which is the, um, Dunar Tower, which is getting built pretty fast down there on Fort and Catherine. Uh, we will have a bunch of artists, uh, public art in and around the building. So, as that develops, I hope to be uh liaison for this group and those artists in some way to just uh stay updated on what's going on there. Um, yeah. Am I missing anything? Anybody? >> That sounds great. I mean, you helped get the word out for the Golden
071Paintbrush Award, you know, in using social media. And Jamal did send out the Instagram email and password to all of us and so that we can all participate in posting so we can share that out with our new members, our new commissioners. Thank you, Jamal. The fundraising workg group has been working on a miniigrant concept. We have been notified about a year ago that that we are able to draw from the interest of a an account that is at the Ann Arbor Community Foundation. It is um Chris, correct me if I'm wrong. Is it's a city foundation account. Is that correct? >> Thank you. It's an endowment. Okay. And we have a little bit of bank. Uh we have about 27,000 of um unspent dollars. And for a few months now, uh we've been actively
072meeting, the fundraising work group has been actively meeting to design a mini grant program. uh right now it's under review um through the city city attorney's office looking at the feasibility of it you know how it would be managed uh what the role of the commissioners would be what the process would be um for getting the call out so it's still at the very early stages but it's an exciting new arm of the public art commission that every year we would have uh money available to um to bring in more public art to Ann Arbor to collaborate with local artists and uh just to help the public art commission be more seen. Uh an the city of Ann Arbor being more active in supporting public art. So there's a lot of wins there. Now for
073years we have not had any funding. So it's um pretty exciting that we can kind of move forward with this. So, we have a little bit of extra money now, but then every year we'd have an additional 5,000 to grant. So, there is lots of space on the fundraising work group. And I think especially when we do get the the mini grant kicked off, um we will need some dedicated commissioners to help um manage that in some way. Um, when we learn more about what our roles will be, um, nominations and leadership, uh, really like reviewing the applications that had come in, um, selecting the new commissioners, you know, we went through that process and, uh, looks like it works. Looks like that process works. So, we're happy you're here. And it's nine members Chris
074is our maximum amount. Is that correct? Nine or >> should be fine. >> Uh here just one second. >> Yeah, take your time. You can uh report back too. No problem. And then finally, we have the special projects workg group and that that one has the golden paintbrush. Um the city flag. Does anybody else want to speak a little bit more about that? >> Um we've got Jamal, Peggy. Jamal and Peggy are the only two active members on that right now. You're muted, Peggy. >> Some more people. We could use some more people. So yeah, basically we take project that maybe usually the city comes to us um with an idea although the golden paintbrush I think originated with our commission didn't it John John can speak to the history of it and then we
075uh we reintroduced it a few years ago we um advertise that it's every other year and the public can nominate a public art or something that they think is, I don't know, worthy of uh recognition. And so then we have this jured competition and they receive an award at city hall, the the group that's in char that wins. So yeah, it's pretty cool. They're very specific projects and yes, we did the city flag design. We ran a contest where people could citizens in the community could enter designs for that. Previous to that, yeah, we did the I voted stickers. So, they're very like specific projects, but they're I think they're meant to like engage the community in public art. >> Yeah. Thanks, Peggy. >> Sure. So, that kind of wraps up the five working groups
076and any other thoughts around that any before we move on? So very quickly, >> yeah, >> the the max number is nine currently per your bylaws. That that can change uh according to you guys. >> So that mean we have one opening. >> No, that means that you guys are fully at capacity. Council member Harrison does not count as a a commission member. She's a technically a non- voting member. >> And Sarah's not here. Who? >> Sarah's not here. >> I'm sorry. Yes, Sarah. >> Okay. >> I was just gonna ask, so for the working groups, I mean, they all sound interesting. I definitely want to join at least one, but how do I like I just say I'm interested in this one and Okay. Okay. >> Exactly. >> Tell Mary what you want to
077join and she'll connect you. >> Okay. Cool. Well, and let us know if you have other questions or want to hear more about them. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Are there any working groups that feel like they need to meet in November or sorry, October? Are there is there anything pressing that we're kind that needs to be moved forward right now with any of the working groups? >> Well, I was going to contact Christopher. kind of feel like we need to move forward with the golden paintbrush because we need to get judges in place and we need to go over all the criteria for that. So, I mean, it's not a rush, but I think we have to have the the winners of the Golden Paintbrush and I think there's usually two or three. Correct me
078if I'm wrong, Chris. We have to have those names come forward in the new year. So, I think we need to meet. Do you feel that way, Chris and Jamal? can maybe Zoom or something. Okay. And if either of the new commissioners would love to like to join us, we'd love to have you. >> They're thinking about it, Peggy. No pressure. >> I know. No pressure. >> Yeah. >> Also, um end of year, we should be good. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead, Chris. I'm sorry. What' you say? >> I was just saying as long as we submit the nomination by end of year, uh I think I think we should be good. So either January uh but I would say probably uh within the next uh three months we should work towards uh
079getting the uh the nomination and we can make it uh publicly known on January or December. Um but yeah, that's kind of the timeline uh that I'm uh expecting. >> Okay. I was going to say um not to put more on your plate, Jamal, but lowhanging fruit for the Instagram would be just literally like taking the pictures and the descriptions from our public art tour and posting those like every once in a while. >> Randomly. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Well, we're nearing the end of our meeting and um this final item here before we adjourn is if any commissioners have any items for the next agenda. Anything that we want to carry over, anything new business? Okay. So, Chris, do we have a meeting scheduled for this Friday for you, Sarah, and I? Oh, Cynthia
080has her hand raised. >> Yeah. I just I want to share. My finger is not broken. It's like >> Oh, good. Good. Good. >> My hand. >> Okay. >> My you know, it's uh I Yeah, I think it would be I think I would be in a lot more pain. >> I'm It's painful, but >> Yeah. So, just It's just swollen. I'm still icing it. So, thank you all for your understanding. >> Of course. Of course. I'm sorry that it's not broken. >> Oh, we say that again. >> I was just saying happy to hear it's not broken. >> Yes. Me too. Me too. So, thank you all for a great meeting tonight. >> Yeah. Thank you. I agree. Thank Thank you everyone for a great meeting tonight. Um Chris, do we have a meeting
081this Friday to discuss the agenda? Is that or we haven't scheduled anything or >> uh I don't I don't think we have an active meeting, but I can I can put one up. Uh >> yeah. >> Or we can survey Sarah and myself and figure out when we can get that next agenda going. I'm available. Oh, okay. Very good. All right. Well, thank you everybody for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you, John and Jenna. We look forward to getting to know you more and hearing your voices more. And if there isn't anything else, I would like to adjourn tonight's meeting. Um, >> So moved, John. Thank you. Second by Allison. Um, all in favor? >> I I >> I All right. I don't see any nays. You all are wonderful humans. Thank you
082for your time and um carry on. Make art not war. >> Miss you all. Thanks for having me. >> All right. Good night everybody.