Parks and Arts Commission

THE CITY OF LIBERTY LAKE PARKS & ARTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MAY 18TH, 2020 - 4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: Chair Laina Schutz called the meeting of the Parks and Arts Commission to order at 4:00 PM on May 18th, 2020. ROLL CALL: Commissioner David Himebaugh Commissioner Laina Schutz Commissioner Laura Frank Commissioner Susan Morrow Unexcused Commissioner Tom Chamberlain Adjunct Bob Schneidmiller Commissioner Tom Sahlberg Adjunct Kate Laven Commissioner Tom Stanley Maintenance & Operations Director Jennifer Camp Student Commissioner Srikar Surapaneni Activities & Events Maintenance Worker Anita Eylar Administrative Assistant Tait Hunter APPROVALS: Commissioner Sahlberg made the motion to approve the March 2nd meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Laven and carried unanimously. CITIZEN COMMENTS: No citizen comments were made at this meeting. STAFF REPORT: Jennifer Camp elected to provide all updates and information during the action items portion of the meeting, by- passing the need for a formal staff report and new & unfinished business update. ACTION ITEMS: Jennifer Camp provided an update regarding the City’s financial status during the COVID-19 virus. She present- ed the City’s Financial Monitor model and briefly went over what closures have had impacts on the budget. Events through June have been cancelled and future events are in discussion. She also noted that the Pavillion mural will hopefully be mounted and completed by Friday of this week, May 22nd. Katy Allen updated the commission regarding events and programs for the City. She noted that we are currently following other city’s models for now, but that we are closely monitoring changes and information as we receive it to form the best reaction plan. Commissioner Sahlberg expressed his support for suspension of funds to go towards necessary spending. Commissioner Schutz raised the question regarding which projects could continue outside of the mural, including what can be done once things open up more. Mayor Brickner provided information to the commission regarding the City’s joint plea with Spokane County as well as our individual plea to be allowed to move to Phase 3 by June 1st, citing our small business’s needs and our low case count. Commissioner Frank asked whether donation funded projects could still continue, to which Mayor Brickner ex- pressed full support in those projects. Jennifer Camp noted that any projects that involving City staff could not proceed and that any donation funded projects would have to be fully on the donor/ commission. ACTION ITEMS CONTINUED: Commissioner Himebaugh expressed concern regarding the commission being placed on hold during the re- strictions, and stated the commission’s importance to the City and its residents. Mayor Brickner acknowledged the feelings of the commission and noted that any actions were made out of urgency and necessity and not out of personal malice towards any groups involved with the City. Commissioner Schutz raised question regarding the origin of the Liberty Lake Together initiative and whether this would have been an opportunity for the Parks and Arts Commission to be involved. Mayor Brickner informed the commission that this initiative was anonymously funded and again, it was an act of urgency to get the project started as soon as possible, thus the exclusion of normally included groups. He did note appreciation towards anyone who wants to help and any ideas that may come forward. It was noted that in-person meetings would not likely resume by June, but the commission decided to continue meeting via Zoom as needed to remain in touch with each other and the council. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 4:40 PM.