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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-15 - Minutes -CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS MEETING MINUTES Fayetteville Arts Council Meeting June 15, 2022 6:00 — 7:30 p.m. Room 111 and Via Zoom Video link: https://accessfaVetteviIle.qranicus.com/planer/clip/8136?view id=14&redirect=true Members: City Council member Sonia Harvey, Arts Council Chair Jessica DeBari 06/30/24, Dwain Cromwell 6/30/23, Abby Hollis 06/30/2022, Cindy Morley 06/30/22, Barbara Putman 06/30/22, Robert Stafford 06/30/22 City Staff: Interim Staff Liaison Alison Jumper, Director — Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Guests: Rob Reno, Peter Nierengarten 1. Call to Order and Roll Call The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:13 pm. In Attendance in person: Jessica DeBari, Abby Hollis, Barb Putman In Attendance via zoom: Dwain Cromwell, Robert Stafford Absent: City Council Member Sonia Harvey, Cindy Morley 2. Approval of June 15 meeting agenda Stafford made a motion to approve the agenda. Second: DeBari The motion passed. 3. Approval of the May 18 minutes DeBari made a motion to approve the agenda: Second: Stafford The motion passed. Mailing Address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 4. Ozark Off Road Cyclists mural — Guest: Rob Reno Reno described the past project and presented the proposed new walking stick mural. Reno said this is the second of three wall ride murals. The OORC board and the Parks and Recreation Advisory board also liked the walking stick. Reno said they'd like to do more of this on other areas of the city. Putman asked where the murals are located. Reno responded the park is located behind McDonalds. Stafford said he is amazed how well the mural has held up and he loves the artist's ideas. DeBari asked if he would like their input. Putman asked who is paying for it. Reno said the OORC is. Putman asked how much it costs and Reno said $4,500. Stafford said he would like to add their support the project. Hollis asked if the staining technique is a Jason Jones specific technique. Reno said that was the first time he tried it. Hollis suggested that it could be used as an educational opportunity to learn a new medium. DeBari asked if Jones might be willing to have someone video his technique. Hollis asked if there would be a third mural and Reno said yes. 5. Ramble Update City of Fayetteville — Guest: Peter Nierengarten Nierengarten gave a brief overview of the project and described it as a downtown revitalization project focused on activating public space, creating destinations in our urban core and revitalizing the downtown. The project was a 2017 Walton Family Foundation Design Excellence project. $1.8M was awarded for initial design. Nelson Byrd Woltz was selected to design the project. Design work was completed before the bond went to a public vote. Voters approved $32M for construction. Nierengarten then gave an overview of the entire project and shared construction photos and noted the public private partnerships for the buildings on the north and south ends. Stafford thanked Nierengarten for coming. He asked about the buildings. DeBari asked how many stories the building is. Nierengarten said 7, which what Main Street Center allows. Stafford asked if there was only one response. Putman asked if the one response was selected without any further submissions. Nierengarten said yes, the proposal met all the criteria and the next step is to take it to Council for approval. Cromwell asked what is directly behind the proposed building. Nierengarten responded DeBari asked if there is any proposed retail or is it only hotel. Nierengarten responded yes, there is some retail proposed. Putman asked as a broad question, initially there was supposed to be some performance support space in the building. Nierengarten responded he is not aware of that as a requirement. There is performance support space included. Putman asked if there is any public art in the building. Nierengarten said Mr. Sharp would like to talk with the FAC about opportunities for public art in the building. Stafford commented about the interaction of the two spaces. Where the two spaces meet, it doesn't seem like a lot of thought has been put into it. There's no termination point of the space. Nierengarten responded he agrees with his comments and has been working with the team to iron out the interface of the two spaces. Stafford said one of his concerns is where the stage space is located with nothing behind it. DeBari asked if it's a final draft. Cromwell asked about the trees shown and if they would be brought in as mature trees. Nierengarten responded that some will be larger, some smaller. DeBari asked if the existing grotto with spring/stream going to be incorporated? Nierengarten responded that space is going away. DeBari said it doesn't make sense to her to destroy the grotto and make a fake stream. Nierengarten explained the grotto was also man made and the new water feature will use the same pump to run the new feature. DeBari asked if the water feature is interactive and available for people to access? Nierengarten said yes, it will be interactive. DeBari noted the landscape is designed that blocks other business. Nierengarten responded that at the street level there is much more porosity. DeBari noted the spaces looks extremely flat and doesn't seem to create spaces for amphitheater, etc. The design needs to have more interest. Stafford mentioned they are creating features around the water and other differentiated spaces. Nierengarten responded there are a couple of feet of elevation change. There was detailed discussion about the topographic change of the site, the stage, etc. DeBari asked if the same company did the Fay Jones Woods design. Nierengarten responded yes. Stafford mentioned it will be used as festival spaces, so some flat space is needed. DeBari asked about the structure west of the Walton Arts Center. Nierengarten said it is a shade structure and is still being detailed. DeBari asked is there any plans for swings or other seating areas, etc. for people to engage with. Nierengarten responded yes and explained where in the plan they are included. DeBari asked if the City is expected to have regular markets and festivals there. Nierengarten listed who the city has talked to around how the space could be used. DeBari asked what is planed for the area near the train tracks. Nierengarten explained they are more ornamental areas. Putman mentioned the 7-story building seems like a hard stop on the cultural district. What will invite people down to the Fay Jones Woods? She feels like it's a non-verbal division. Hollis mentioned additional curvature could be beneficial. Stafford stated there needs to be more thought put into the transition from the plaza to the businesses at spring and west etc. Putman asked about the parking for the hotel and asked if it would be underground. Nierengarten responded they are working on their valet plan. Stafford mentioned many people are concerned about the parking. Stafford asked if the Arts Council can get involved in the planning of programming for Fay Jones Woods. What he would like to see is the stakeholders to look at programming holistically. Nierengarten said yes. Jumper added we expect the Arts Council to be fully involved. Hollis asked if the installations are intended to temporary or permanent? Nierengarten responded they are intended to be a mix. DeBari asked what the process has been like to discuss ideas for the plaza? Did you model after anything? Nierengarten responded they looked at many other examples and operators to learn. DeBari asked about what the process is for people to get involved in the layout/input. Nierengarten said they looked at many models and parks and tried to learn from those examples. DeBari asked if there will be other opportunities for the public to have input on the layout and buildings. Nierengarten said City Council will be an opportunity. Schematic design has been done for plaza and now working on details. DeBari asked who does he consider the primary stakeholders? Nierengarten responded potential programmers, users, neighbors, T2, WAC, etc. DeBari asked what level are people able to influence the design? Nierengarten explained things like the location of the waterway is set, but details around it are still fluid. Stafford elaborated on what is detail vs. fixed. Nierengarten responded they are working through what materials are being considered. Stafford said there's no purpose or reason at the termination. There's no focal point, could there be a fountain or termination? Nierengarten said public art was considered and may still be part of the conversation. Cromwell asked if there is any funding for a focal point. Stafford answered no. DeBari asked what input can they offer that would be valuable. Nierengarten responded the south building as that design is much more fluid. Stafford asked if the FAC will be able to see it before the LOI goes to Council. DeBari mentioned the original idea of the arts corridor was artist housing, etc. as part of selling bond. Nierengarten said artist housing was not part of the original vision. Putman thanked Peter for his work on the project. She said she feels like there's still a way for them to be a part of project. DeBari asked Hollis if there is anything she has thoughts on the details. Hollis asked for clarification on what is set vs. not. 6. Theatre Squared City Council Proposal Stafford offered a brief description of what the T2 proposal is that is being presented to City Council. Putman asked why do they need the funding? Stafford offered his perspective and does not think it's a good idea because it's not a fixed cost. He also mentioned the subject of parity. He feels the Arts and Culture Director should be on board before making a recommendation. Dwain asked if T2 is going to not be able to afford utilities. Stafford said yes, they plan to offer additional more programming with the savings. Hollis mentioned T2 is doing their thing really well, and there may be other organizations that could offer that programming. Putman said Community Creative Center would also be thrilled to have utilities paid to help them do more, Arts Live, Mt. Sequoyah, SONA, etc. that need help. Stafford would advise to staff and fund the position of the Arts and Culture Director. Hollis agreed. Cromwell asked if they were voting on an opinion tonight and the response was no. Cromwell noted he is against it. Stafford asked if there was an update on the hiring process. Jumper responded the City should be making that decision very soon. Stafford asked how long will it take to get the position. Jumper responded they want to get someone on boar ASAP. Stafford thanked Putman for her service. They discussed the history of the Arts Council and how it has progressed. 7. Other business and public comment There was none. 8. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:53 pm