Athens Cultural Affairs Commission

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Athens Cultural Affairs Commission Meeting Minutes Meeting Name: Monthly Athens Cultural Affairs Commission (ACAC) Meeting Meeting Date: 13 March 2023 Meeting Called to Order: 6:06 PM EST Location: Lyndon House Arts Center Virtual? In-person meeting with virtual (OWL) access available for guests Public Input Requested or Received? Meeting was noticed and posted; no public input received. Attendees: Members Present in person: Madeline Blankenship; Kimberly Davis (secretary); Helen Kuykendall (chair); Montu Miller; Victoria Prevatt (vice chair); Esra Santesso; Darcie St. Onge (treasurer); Serena Scibelli (departed at 7:29 pm); Jan Bush (ex officio) Members Absent:; Jesús Rubio (ex officio). Scibelli Advisors / Staff Present in Person: Alex Bond (Assistant Director, A-CC Leisure Services, departed at 7:02 pm); Niki Jones (Assistant Manager, A-CC, departed at 7:07 pm); Kent Kilpatrick (Director, A-CC Leisure Services, departed at 7:07 pm); Stephanie Raines (Leisure Services Arts Administrator); Tatiana Veneruso (A-CC Public Art Coordinator) Advisors / Staff Present Virtually: Madhuri Angadi from SPLOST Guests: Students from a University of Georgia journalism class. Items Discussed: 1. Chair’s Report (Helen Kuykendall) ● ACAC Member Donna Brumby resigned. ● Kuyendall’s term on ACAC has expired; will remain on as ex-officio to shepherd the new ACAC website.  ● Discussion of Athens Cultural Affairs Commission roles, responsibilities, and process with Assistant Manager Niki Jones. ○ ACAC sought clarification on what we are allowed to do regarding our budget and funding. What are the rules? ■ Jones clarified that ACAC is an advisory board. ■ ACAC members expressed an understanding of this role, but further requested clarification on our processes with regard to allocating funds from our approved budget. ○ Commissioner Esra Santesso voiced the need for a clear, written division of labor. ○ Vice chair Victoria Prevatt requested that the ACAC be moved up on the priority list for boards and commissions training that has been in the works for more than a year. ○ Jones suggested the possibility of moving the ACAC budget under ACC Leisure Services to give the ACAC more operational funding flexibility. ■ Jones must check to make sure that is a possibility before the ACAC can consider further. ■ Jones will also look into other potential scenarios for ACAC to allocate funding. ○ Kent Kilpatrick stated that staff would ask for and provide to the ACAC written rights and responsibilities, and process. ○ ACAC requested that when this information is finalized that we receive it one week before the meeting where it is to be presented. ○ 2. Leisure Services Staff Report (Tatiana Veneruso) ○ “Frequency” repair and replacement . ■ County is working with the artist to replace the three pieces that were damaged. ■ Local contractor will install after items are shipped to Athens. ■ Requested up to $15,000 out of ACAC capital funds to pay for repair and reinstallation. ■ Vote is recorded below. 3. Treasurer’s Report (Darcie St. Onge) ○ Discussion of budget implementation. ○ Operating funds must be used before the end of the fiscal year. ■ Vote is recorded below 4. Project Reports (Tatiana Veneroso) ● Firefly Update: both trailhead and intersection projects approved by mayor and commission. ● Bishop Park site and type approved by mayor and commission. ● Arena calls have been issued, with an April 7 deadline. ○ Discussion of timeline: ■ Selection panels will be held on April 19 and 21 with times TBD ■ Three finalists for each site; four weeks for finalists to build proposals for review by selection panels; panels will review finalists and score and select one project for each site.  ■ Veneruso will send updates with times for each panel meeting. ■ Follow up will be in late May. ● Poet Laureate ○ April is National Poetry Month ■ Laureate Jeff Fallis will open April 4 mayor and commission meeting with poem ■ Dial-a-Poem with poem from Fallis ■ Poetry tent at Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade, April 1 at 8 pm at Dudley Park ■ Reading on April 29 at 2 pm at Boulevard Woods Park ● Call for new commission members yielded 11 applicants ○ New Member Committee: Madeline Blankenship, Jan Bush, Victoria Prevatt, Esra Santesso, Montu Miller. 5. Announcements ● Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade, April 1 at 8 pm at Dudley Park Votes Taken with Motion / Second / Results (Unanimous or Number of Yes / No Votes and names) (if applicable): ● Madeline Blankenship moved, Esra Santesso seconded, the acceptance of the draft February 2023 meeting minutes. They were approved unanimously. ● Madeline Blankenship moved, Victoria Prevatt seconded the approval of spending of up to $15,000 for repair and replacement of “Frequency.” Motion approved with 7 votes in favor and 1 abstention (Esra Santesso). ● Kimberly Davis moved, Madeline Blankenship seconded the authorization of funding for the operating budget as presented by the treasurer with changes (Darcie St. Onge). Motion approved unanimously. Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 pm EST. Minutes Drafted By: Kimberly Davis