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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-26 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes COMMISSION ON CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT January 26, 2011, 8 am Council Chambers, City Hall Minutes Commissioners Present: Steve Ribble, Chair; John Rohman, Susan Carlisle, Sandra Blake-Leonard and Timothy Lo (Alternate) Excused: Susan Jonason Absent: Geoff Gratwick (Council rep.) Staff Present: Shirar Patterson; David Gould, City Planner Others Present: Scott Levy, Producing Artistic Director at Penobscot Theatre Company (PTC); Marci Bermucci, PTC; David Whitehill, Executive Director of The Bangor Symphony Orchestra (BSO); Sarah McCarthy, BSO; City Councilor Gerry G.M. Palmer Chair Steve Ribble called the meeting to order. 1. Welcome & Introductions Those in attendance introduced themselves. It was noted Commissioner Lo would be voting at this meeting to constitute a quorum. 2. Approval of Minutes from October 27, 2010 meeting A motion was made and seconded to approve the Minutes of October 27, 2010 as presented. Unanimously voted. 3. Cultural Commission 2011 Membership  Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair nd Steve Ribble was nominated for a 2 term as Chair of the Commission on Cultural nd Development. Susan Jonason was nominated for 2 term as Vice-chair. Unanimous vote. Steve suggested that it might be a prudent policy that we move to a format whereby in the last year of a member’s term on the Commission move to past Chair to advise an incoming Chair.  Expiring Terms and Update on Council Appointments John Rohman and Robert Zavaleta’s terms have expired; however, they are still members of the Commission until the City Council makes their re-appointments. Applications were due to the City for those interested in being members on seats for any of the open boards/commissions at the end of Dec. 2010. The Council is currently in the process of interviewing for that; they should be making appointments by mid-February 2011. Steve Ribble inquired as to when the new terms actually begin. Shirar replied that she’ll have to find this out and report back to the Commission. David Gould gave an overview of the appointment process: a person is appointed in one of three positions - regular or associate. Associate members who wish to obtain a regular position have to apply again to the City. If you have a 3-year term and serve 1 year as an alternate member and move up, you’re starting a whole new term. The City Council will appoint somebody to fill an unexpired term which may be less than a full term; so you don’t start all over when you get appointed. Commissioners had questions about their current terms and Shirar indicated she would send the term information out via email following the meeting. 4. Review Commission Financials Shirar Patterson reviewed the financials for FY 2011:  there was an carry-over from FY10 of $57,950  a grant was given to the Maine Discovery Museum in August of 2010 for $8,000  a grant was given to the Downtown Countdown event in October of 2010 for $2,000  Resulting in a balance of $47,950 st  One more grant cycle in FY 11 on April 1unsure if the Commission will be allocated funds for FY12 5. Grant Application Review &Council Recommendation  $25,000 Penobscot Theatre Company Scott Levy reviewed his application on behalf of the Penobscot Theatre Company for a grant in the amount of $25,000. This grant would be used to support their spring 2011 production of “To Kill A Mockingbird” as well as additional public programs involving community partnerships with the Bangor Public Library, the University of Maine, local schools in an effort to increase artistic access, as well as public understanding and appreciation of this work in its many forms. Project activities will take place February 20 – April 22, 2011.  $7,500 Bangor Symphony Orchestra David Whitehill reviewed his application on behalf of The Bangor Symphony Orchestra for a grant in the amount of $7,500. This grant would be used for their “Know Your Orchestra” voucher program. The main purpose of the voucher program is to ensure accessibility to the symphony. This voucher program is distributed through the public schools statewide through superintendent’s offices; as well as social service organizations and music studios. A student receiving a voucher can attend for free and can invite a friend or sibling for free and additional family members are $10 each. The voucher program breaks down one of the major distractions to attend the symphony which is affordability. On average at the concerts there are 70-100 people who attend on the voucher program as compared previously to 6-8 people attending on a child’s library card whereby the child would attend for free with a full price paying adult. Discussion continued by members on the various funding levels to award these two applicants yet still maintain a healthy fund balance in the Commission’s budget to carry forward into 2012. John Rohman added that he would like to see a revision in our grant review for the next fiscal year as we are only going to have $15,000-$20,000 for the next year theoretically. (John added that this is his last meeting as his term has expired – he’ll miss working with this group.) A motion was made by Sandra Blake-Leonard to fund the BSO’s application for $7,500 in grant money at the level of $5,000; and fund the Penobscot Theatre Company’s application for $25,000 in grant money at the level of $20,000. Susan Carlisle seconded. The motion was amended by Sandra Blake-Leonard to fund the Penobscot Theatre Company for grant money at the level of $18,000. Susan Carlisle seconded. Final motion by Sandra Blake-Leonard and seconded by Susan Carlisle: To fund the BSO’s application at the level of $5,000; and fund the Penobscot Theatre Company’s application at the level of $18,000. 3 in Favor (Ribble, Rohman, Carlisle Blake-Leonard); 1 opposed (Lo). With the approval of these two grant applications as stated above, there is now a balance of $22,450 in the Commissions allocaiton. 6. Sister City Monument Continued Discussion Chair Ribble gave some background on this item stating that there has been a request to put a monument for the Nangang District of Harbin, City in Helungjiang, China at the Bangor waterfront as a Sister City acknowledgment. The Commission had requested that Shadley Associates, (the primary landscape designer of the Bangor waterfront), review the Sister City Monument Proposal and offer their thoughts on both the design of the monument and its proposed placement. Pam Shadley of Shadley Associates responded back to the City as requested with her conclusions. She does not feel that the monument itself speaks to the importance of the relationship; that it should be something that is more inspiring and communicates why is this a Sister City and what do we have in common. She suggested as an alternate location Norumbega Parkway, in the heart of downtown Bangor, as it is a public park with a history of public and design (of which she included some sketches). Adding this particular monument would be part of the civic landscape of Bangor. Pam further stated that to honor the Sister City relationship, an artist could be retained to create a monument that informs and inspires the public, and which the visiting Chinese guests would see as part of the downtown, municipal landscape. Pam concluded that these sketches are offered as a suggestion and starting point and not as a final design for this monument. Discussion continued on monument concepts and locations. The design by Pam Shadley was liked but some board members felt the monument should be located at the waterfront. It was also noted that the process of making a final decision on this issue can take time. Planning Officer David Gould spoke to the Board on this issue (at the request of Councilor Palmer). He stated that at a prior meeting of the Commission it was brought up that the Planning Dept. had some concern about the proposal. David clarified that the Planning Dept. does not advise the Cultural Commission; they do have a relationship with Community Development and have seen the development of the waterfront from the beginning, but otherwise it is not appropriate to suggest that the Planning Dept. advised the Cultural Commission on whether something is appropriate or inappropriate – that is not their role. David added that early on as the discussions evolved, the Planning Dept. thought it was important that the waterfront landscape designer (Pam Shadley of Shadley Associates) weigh in on this proposal. In discussions with Pam, she related to David that as the waterfront becomes a more and more popular venue for Bangor you’re going to see more and more people that want to put monuments at the waterfront, and her view was the City should resist that; that she didn’t think it is an appropriate place to deal with monument after monument because as it becomes more and more popular everybody is going to see the waterfront as the place where monuments go. David added that, in his view, the waterfront extends from the Gomez monument down to the roundhouse site and he feels there is sufficient space for monuments. As to the design, he feels this is something the Commission needs to look at as to whether it fits in and is appropriate in the location. But relative to the potential to put monuments on the City’s waterfront, which is a very large space, I don’t see that as a particular concern. David added that what Pam has come up with is something that was generated after his discussion with her; but if the Commission feels this is an appropriate monument for the waterfront and that the design would be in keeping with the landscape design for the waterfront if it’s in an area where the City has done specific work (there are parts of the waterfront that the City has yet to touch). Steve Ribble concluded from this information that the waterfront is not an objectionable location and that the design could stand a little more refinement. John Rohman added that the board along with Gerry Palmer should sit down with a site plan along with all of the information they have been given on this issue in order to work out the details. John added that if we can get beyond the location, should then do a surrette. Steve suggested that Shirar Patterson schedule a meeting with the Commission members, Gerry Palmer and any others involved in this issue in order to get it finalized. 7. Other Items No other items to report. Meeting adjourned.