Commemorative Beautification Commission

CITY OF HENDERSON COMMEMORATIVE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, July 27, 2016 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman John Casanova called the Special Commemorative Beautification Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at 105 W. Basic Road, In the Parks and Facilities Management Conference Room. II. CONFIRMATION OF POSTING AND ROLL CALL Joanne Wershba, Recording Secretary, confirmed the Commemorative Beautification Commission had been noticed in compliance with the Open Meeting Law by posting the Agenda three working days prior to the meeting at the Facilities Management Building, City Hall, the Multigenerational Center, the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, Fire Station No. 86, the Nevada Public Notice Website, the City of Henderson Website, and by emailing a copy of the Agenda to everyone appearing thereon on the Agenda Master Mailing List. Present: Chairman John Casanova Debra Jacobson Vice Chairman Denise Olsen Lupe Trujillo Andrew Turcaz Absent: Jack McClary Shauna Walch Staff: Preston Goodman, Municipal Forester Doug Guild, Parks Superintendent Brent Gunson, Asst. City Attorney III Nick McLemore, Special Events Manager Annette Mullins, Cultural and Special Events Supervisor Joanne Wershba, Recording Secretary III. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were presented from the public. Commemorative Beautification Commission Special Meeting Page 2 of 4 Wednesday, July 27, 2016 – Minutes IV. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA (For Possible Action) (Motion) Mr. Turcaz introduced a motion to accept the agenda as presented, seconded by Ms. Trujillo. The vote favoring approval was unanimous. Chairman Casanova declared the motion carried. V. NEW BUSINESS NB-1 HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION For Possible Action. RECOMMENDATION: Approve Commission members will discuss the holiday decorating contest and recommendations they wish to make to the City, including whether or not to have that contest on Water Street, whether or not to solicit participation from business owners on Water Street, the voting medium that the public will use to score the contestants, whether or not to have a raffle for the voters, the raffle prize, the possibility of making the holiday decorating content winner's prize be a check to the local charity of their choice, the origin of the funds for the winner's prize, and the date of the ceremony to award the prize. Mr. Turcaz presented the ideas that he and two other commission members had discussed regarding alternate plans for the Holiday Decorating Contest. He suggested that they have the businesses on Water Street decorate the business fronts and name it “Winter Windowland”. The businesses would decorate their storefronts or inside window areas so that their decorations would be visible to the public. They would like to give incentives to the participants who decorate and those that vote. In order to give incentive to the voters, the proposed idea would be to give Christmas trees to those who voted. They would be given “voting tickets”. There would be “drop boxes” for them to deposit their tickets and they would keep half the ticket for a raffle. Then their names would be drawn to win the trees. Those who participate in decorating their storefronts would also have incentives to participate by getting donations for participating in the contest. They would then get a list of non-profit organizations to which they could donate the funds. Doug Guild, Parks Superintendent, presented information to the group that the Holiday Lighting Contest needs to continue again this year as it was last year. Since the Holiday Lighting Contest has already been slated to be published in the Henderson Happenings, the contest will be held as in previous years. Commemorative Beautification Commission Special Meeting Page 3 of 4 Wednesday, July 27, 2016 – Minutes Mr. McLemore interjected the idea that many people in the public enjoyed looking at the entries. Ms. Trujillo indicated it was suggested that a special committee be formed to come up with other ideas to replace the Holiday Decorating Contest. Ms. Wershba pointed out that the commission needs to select a theme for this year. Chairman Casanova asked if it would be acceptable to have conversation via emails whether or not the themes are acceptable. Brent Gunson, Assistant City Attorney III, pointed out that discussion can be held in groups of three, but more than that would be in violation of the Open Meeting Law. He suggested that the members email their ideas to staff and staff could compile a list of ideas. Mr. McLemore asked if the commission members had any ideas to change the nature of the contest or come up with new ideas. He also suggested that members come up with “fresh” ideas for the categories and themes so we may get some new participants. Ms. Jacobson pointed out that some participants of the Decorating Contest requested that the commission members spend more time viewing their displays. We may need to limit the number of participants. However, depending on the location and the number of entries, we will have to limit the amount of time spent looking at each home. Mr. Guild pointed out that the participants in the past few years did not give positive feedback. The winners were not happy with the trophies and the runners-up complained that the judging criterion was not fair. Ms. Wershba suggested that we change the categories which may get different participants. Ms. Mullins inquired whether we had conducted a survey from the participants. Chairman Casanova indicated that no one had given them that idea. Mr. McLemore mentioned that putting together a survey monkey would not be costly, and other staff in the City could assist with this project. Another suggestion was to video tape each entry and use social media, i.e. Facebook to publicize the entries. In addition, yard signs for the winners would be another positive way to advertise the contest winners. Perhaps the idea for having the merchants participate in a decorating contest may be a good idea for 2017 when Water Street has been renovated. The commission agreed that when the September meeting convened, a theme would be chosen for the Holiday Decorating contest and would be considered “New Business”. Commemorative Beautification Commission Special Meeting Page 4 of 4 Wednesday, July 27, 2016 – Minutes VI. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no comments presented by the public. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chairman Casanova adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Respectively submitted, ___________________ Joanne Wershba Recording Secretary