Keep League City Beautiful Citizen Committee

Keep League City Beautiful Committee Meeting Minutes for May 4, 2021 At 6:01 p.m. League City Communications Director Sarah Greer Osborne officially called the meeting to order. All committee members were present except for Jenny Carlile and Patricia Donham. Jason Makepeace attended via Zoom. There were no citizen comments to the board. A motion was made by Jill Reason to accept the minutes from the April 6, 2021 meeting. Beth Sears seconded the motion. Everyone present, along with Jason Makepeace via Zoom, approved. Katherine Gregor from Up Art Studio made a Zoom presentation sharing the findings from a Public Art Feasibility/Placemaking Study as well as recommendations and next steps for the City. Members of the group shared their thoughts on some of the ideas and images presented in the study, including art park benches from the Woodlands, underpass art, and streetscape art. Overall the group was happy with the report’s findings and next steps and did not recommend any significant changes to be made to the report before being presented to Council at an upcoming workshop. Discussion then began on the possibility of finding a location or utilizing an existing City building to create a working space for artists and a place where the community could experience and learn more about art, attend shows, workshops, and events, etc. Jason Makepeace mentioned Sawyer Yards in Houston as an example. Jackie Liddell brought up the City’s Blue Building which she had just toured that afternoon. Osborne stated that the Blue Building was supposed to be torn down soon, but that she would discuss future plans for the building with the City Manager and Director of Development. Osborne mentioned that she was working with the City’s Facility Director to create a rotating art display along the walls of the Civic Center lobby start in summer 2021 with art created by League City residents. She asked committee members that if they had a piece of art or if they know a League City artists(s) that has a work(s) that he or she would like to be displayed, to contact her. Osborne stated that the goal of the rotating monthly displays was not to necessarily sell the artwork but to bring awareness to the number of artists that reside in our City. Future galleries will include works from students at CCISD and Dickinson ISD schools. Dave Bowman mentioned an idea to develop yard signs or a program encouraging residents to beautify their own yards and that maybe it could be a citywide initiative that could highlight homes or neighborhoods each month. Osborne then presented a mission statement developed by her using some suggestions from a member of the committee. A discussion ensued, but ultimately the group decided to hold off on adopting a formal mission statement until the next meeting. Osborne asked if there were any nominations for a committee chair and co-chair, but the group said they needed more time to think about this and tabled it to the next meeting. Osborne updated the group on other projects related to beautification currently going on in the City including the new mural at League Park. Osborne reminded the group of the upcoming Council workshop on May 25 and asked them to all attend if they were able. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 by Osborne.