HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/2017 - Minutes RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
July 11, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Ben Andrews, Bill Huls, Dave Samek, Jerri Everett, Marsha Rollinger, Mary Clymer, Neil Sheesley, Samantha
Goetz-Granquist and Su Gow
Members Excused: Adrienne LaFaye, Evelyn Reingold, Mitch Shepherd
Staff Present: Elizabeth Higgins, RMAC Staff Liaison, Chip Vincent, Administrator - City of Renton Department
Community & Economic Development, Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Administrative Assistant
Guests Present: Kimberly Patterson (Applicant for open Commissioner position); John Collum, City of Renton
Department Community & Economic Development; Drey Hicks, City of Renton Neighborhood Programs; Carrie
Nass, City of Renton Community Services Department; Paul Hebron, Arts Unlimited
Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Vice Chair, Mary Clymer at 6:10 pm.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the June 6, 2017 meeting were accepted as read. MSC (Bill/Samantha)
Correspondence and Announcements:
The new school-based health center operated by HealthPoint, will begin serving Renton High School students at
the start of the 2017-2018 school year. HealthPoint will be funding a “creative space” as part of their offerings
and have connected with the RMAC (Sam) to discuss their plans.
Renovations and maintenance on the marquee continue at the Renton Civic Theatre. The theatre will hold a
gala on August 9 to unveil the improvements.
New Business:
*Utility Box Wrapping – Drey Hicks offered support from the Neighborhood Small Grants program to facilitate
the RMAC utility box wrap project. The idea was proposed to create a neighborhood-based competition to
select art for utility boxes around the City. Marsha and Evelyn volunteered previously to coordinate this
project. The RMAC agreed to meet with the Neighborhoods Division of the Community Services Department
and collaborate on building out the program and discuss combining funds.
*Summer Fest, July 15, 2017 – Drey Hicks presented the details of Summer Fest taking place in Downtown
Renton on July 15. The event will feature local art vendors and musicians and is open to the public. The
decision was made that the RMAC will host a table at the event to hand out the self-addressed postcards
developed for citizens to answer the question “what type of art do you want for the City of Renton?”.
*Multi-Cultural Festival – Carrie Nass presented the initial marketing items for the Multi-Cultural festival and
thanked the RMAC for their sponsorship of the event. She asked that the RMAC consider hosting an interactive
table at the festival on Saturday, September 23. The RMAC was invited to attend the event planning meeting.
Sam agreed to attend the next meeting on Wednesday, July 12 on behalf of the RMAC.
*Arts Unlimited Funding Needs – Paul Hebron presented the current funding needs of Arts Unlimited and
expressed the need for capital improvement funds to support the completion of the Griot Gallery. It was
decided that Paul and Elizabeth would work together to create a proposal that illustrates how the Gallery fits
into the City’s Arts Master Plan in order to submit the proper paperwork to the Finance Department for release
of the funds earmarked by the RMAC for the project ($5,000).
*Galvanizing Art –
*Park(ing) Day Pop-Up event – John Collum presented on the City’s plans to celebrate National
Park(ing) Day with a Pop-Up event that features 6 parklets in Downtown Renton the weekend of
September 15. The RMAC has been invited to participate and to take the lead on the design,
implementation and funding of one of the parklets. Bill, Su and Sam agreed to attend to the first event
planning meeting on July 12.
* Holiday Tree Lighting – The RMAC has been asked to participate in the Holiday Tree Lighting in Downtown
Renton on November 25. Neil agreed to attend the next event planning meeting for more information.
* Renton River Days: 7/21- 23, 2017 – The RMAC will not be participating this year due to a lack of coverage at
the proposed RMAC booth.
* Smart Communities Award – The City of Renton has been awarded a Governor’s Smart Communities Award
for their partnership with the RMAC to fund the Galvanizing Arts Projects. The award will be presented at the
August 14th City Council meeting. The RMAC has been invited to attend to accept the award. Marsha, Mitch
and Mary will receive the award at the Council meeting. A reception, hosted by the CED Department will follow
the Council meeting in the 7th Floor Conferencing Room.
Old Business:
*Seattle Opera Scene Shop in Renton has been closed. The facility will be used to store sets previously housed
in another rented facility; saving the Opera $500,000 annually. The future of the space will be reviewed in
several years.
* Access for All Vote– August ballots have been mailed out and include a bill for Access for All (prop 1). If
voters pass the bill, King County will provide residents will access to arts and science organizations using a .01
percent sales tax on non-essential items that will provide. Fliers, email templates and training to participate in
the call-center are available through SoCo.
* Dragon Project – Marsha and Elizabeth will present the artwork and budget to the Community Service
Committee on 7/17/2017 as it may be possible to use 1% For Art funds to complete this project. The
Community Service Committee’s funding recommendations will be reviewed at the following City Council
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Evelyn Reingold, Mitch Shepherd,
RMAC Secretary Chair