Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Page 1 MINUTES OF the Arts and Humanities Council (A&HC) of Falls Church approved May 16, 2024 PURPOSE OF MEETING: To discuss arts and humanities matters across the City of Falls Church. DATE OF MEETING: April 18, 2024 (Next Meeting: May 16, 2024 at 9:30 am) PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Room, City Hall 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Laura Connors Hull at 9:35 am 2. THOSE PRESENT: NAME LIAISONS Member: Laura Connors Hull, Creative Cauldron Jessie Labukas, MRSPL Member: Elise Bengtson, Chamber of Commerce Regan Davis, FCCPS Member: Ron Anzalone, Victorian Society Justine Underhill, City Council Member: Ellen Gross, VPIS Ed Henderson, Historical Commission (virtual) Member: Katharine Stewart, Friends of Cherry Hill Keith Thurston, CATCH Foundation Member: Lapha Havan, VLAC Member: Nikki Graves Henderson, Tinner Hill Staff Member-at-Large: Ari Autor Holly Irwin Member-at-Large: Mary Sellers Emily Basemore, CPEDS ABSENT Member: Maureen Budetti, Falls Church Arts Member-at-Large: Russ Mardon TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: . 3. Organization Round Table Members or liaisons representing World Art Day, MRS Library, VPIS, Victorian Society, Chamber of Commerce, VLAC, Friends of Cherry Hill, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, FCC Public Schools, and the Historical Commission gave updates. 4. Minutes for Approval For the March 21, 2024 meeting minutes, there was a correction to page 3 for the location of one of the 4 electrical boxes. It is near the W&OD Path at the corner of North West Street and Park Avenue. Elise moved to accept the minutes as corrected; Ron seconded. Unanimously approved. 5. New Business A. Presentation on Process to Update the Demographics Chapter in the City’s Comprehensive Plan Emily Bazemore of the Community Planning and Economic Development Services (CPEDS) office gave a presentation on the Demographics Chapter in the Comprehensive Plan. This Chapter was last updated in 2019; the 2024 review process is expected to finish by the summer. The Chapter covers overall population, housing, and employment trends with 5 key trends identified and discussed in more detail. See the draft on FCC website. Emily also reviewed the 2040 Vision Statement in the Comp Plan. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711). Page 2 Staff from the CPEDS department will have a table at Mr. Brown’s Park on April 24 and 25 to share information about the proposed revisions as well as at the Farmer’s Market on April 27. Members asked how accurate were the 2019 projections? How does our % of multi-family housing compare to other jurisdictions? Has that multi-family housing contributed to ethnic diversity? Members commented that most of the images communicate the ‘small town character’ of FCC, but as we all know, the City is evolving and now has close to a dozen multi-floor, multi-use buildings. What images convey the City’s ethnic diversity? could images be more current as far as retail, restaurants, and services? Founders Row I is a good example of multi-generational diversity with apartments, units for adults 55+, an ethnic diversity of restaurants, and a public gathering space. Emily will take our comments back to CPEDS. B. Review of AHC’s Strategic Plan & Goals Laura led a discussion that focussed primarily on funding. The only change to guidelines for applying to the Arts & Humanities Grant Program are that the fiscal sponsoring organizations can be in District 8 now. Laura pointed out that funding has been flat for several years. If funding remains flat, but the number of organizations that can receive a grant grows, some of us may receive a smaller grant in 2024. Council members discussed advocating for making boundaries narrower for where fiscal sponsor may be located and giving more guidance to the review committee. Justine clarified that the FY25 budget includes a total of $48,500 for the Arts & Humanities Grant Program ($44,000 plus $4,500 from VCA). There is a separate line item of $25,000 for the Levine School. Ron proposed asking for a 5-10% increase for the Grant Program. Also, $40,000 for the “Art Reserve Fund” for public art was removed from the 2025 budget. There are several possible projects that this fund could be used for: o Adding storm drain murals and bump-outs, o Maintenance costs for existing public art in the City, o Funding for the annual World Art Day Festival in FCC, o Communications and publicity support for the A&H Council, and o Free public performances. Katharine moved that the A&H Council send a letter from Laura on behalf of the A&H Council to the City Council to request an increase of $10,000 to the Grants Fund and that the $40,000 for the Art Reserve Fund be returned to the budget. Ron seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Katharine drafted the letter that Holly sent to City Council. Ed Henderson, Laura Connors Hull, Katharine Stewart, and Joe Wetzel (on behalf of Falls Church Arts) went to the City Council meeting on April 29 and made remarks in support of the request. 6. Ongoing Business A. City-Initiated Art Projects Update Holly reported that the theme for new art in the City Council Chambers will be ‘governance’. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711). Page 3 The A&H Grant Application Program begins for the next round in May. Reimbursement paperwork for current grants is also due in May. At the A&HC May meeting, Cindy Mester will attend to talk with us about streamlining the current process for developer-initated projects and giving our feedback. 7. Adjourn Ellen moved to adjourn, and Nikki seconded. Unanimously approved. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 11:33 am SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: Katharine Stewart The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).