Cultural District Task Force Minutes

October 8, 2013

Present:	Commissioner Bob Schumm, Grace Peterson, Mike Logan, Jacki Becker, KT Walsh, Susan Tate, Brenda Nunez, Cindy Maude
Absent:	Mandy Enfield
Others:	Diane Stoddard and several members of the public were in attendance

Commissioner Schumm called the meeting to order.  It was moved by Ms. Walsh and seconded by Ms. Tate to approve the minutes from October 1. The motion was unanimously approved. 

There was discussion about the group sending a letter of support regarding the Burroughs Creek Trail and connectivity as input for the multi-modal 2040 plan.  Ms. Tate shared a draft letter with the group.  Ms. Walsh requested that the letter be modified to mention sidewalks throughout the entire neighborhood.  Susan Tate was requested to work with Michael Almon on additional language regarding the Burroughs Creek Trail and its extension north over the Kansas River and connecting to the west.  Everyone was encouraged to sign the final letter individually and send it to the consultant. 

Ms. Peterson reported that she spoke with representatives in Paducah, Kentucky.  They have a real estate model- a historic part of town that was falling into disrepair and was largely rentals.  The city foreclosed on a number of these properties for code violations, etc. and then the properties were redeveloped into artist residences.  There was $3 million in private investment.  There was a commitment by the artists to restore the homes within 2 years.  A community bank was involved in lending.  This created an artist colony.  They created a historic mural project depicting this area.  The area includes a textile museum and a number of the artists are textile artists.  She stated that there was displacement of some residents, but the city purchased their homes and built them housing in another area.  Paducah does not have a university, but it had a downtown area and a neighborhood combined.  Ms. Walsh asked about whether they could provide a description of the zoning category that allowed live-work units. 

Ms. Maude asked if the intention is to use these models to identify several possible funding sources to put in the report.  Commissioner Schumm responded that he thought that is where this was headed.  Ms. Tate stated that she thought that there needed to be a due date for reporting on other communities so that the report could be finalized.  Ms. Peterson stated she thought the intention of the Cultural Arts Commission to have three different elements of funding identified.  She thought that the models were more important than the visuals created by Treanor. Commissioner Schumm said that he agreed and saw the report as the backbone of this effort. Ms. Tate stated that she saw the recommendation about the City hiring a cultural planner should be a focus and that a planner could do more work on models.  Commissioner Schumm thought it was most important to put in examples from other cities and what the outcome was in order to provide possible examples of what could happen here.  He also agreed that the top objective would be to hire a coordinator.  Ms. Tate suggested several case studies to serve as examples.  Commissioner Schumm thought this should number not more than four and possibly provide varying communities- different geographical areas, a river city, a university city, etc. 

There was discussion about the difference between a planner and a coordinator.  It was discussed that the person should have a strong background in art and would coordinate the cultural district and lead the City in a city-wide cultural plan.  It was decided that this should be called the City cultural coordinator. 

There was discussion about placing in the report something regarding the use of the real estate model but on a smaller scale.  After discussion, it was decided that the report should be more broad and identify as a goal the preservation of historic properties in east Lawrence. 

Ms. Walsh stated that she had drafted a report in long hand, but hasn’t typed it yet. She did state that there were a number of concerns that came up at the east Lawrence meeting regarding working with Treanor on this process.  She said that there were a number of questions raised.  There was a unanimous vote from the East Lawrence against the Task Force working with Treanor.  Mr. Logan stated that he thought it was beneficial to work with the architects.  Ms. Becker asked whether there could be several architects that could work on this but she thought the visuals would be good.  Mr. Logan added that the visuals would be good assets.  Ms. Maude thought this packaging of the proposal is beneficial.  She agreed that we had to have substance too.  Ms. Walsh thought the main issues were regarding Treanor.  Commissioner Schumm stated that he wanted to emphasize the consensus of the group and not have disagreement with the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association. 

Commissioner Schumm asked if the Topeka Treanor office would be acceptable.  Ms. Walsh said it would to her, but perhaps not the ELNA.  Ms. Maude added that the Lawrence Treanor office is invested in downtown Lawrence as a cultural business.  She didn’t believe the Topeka architects would be as invested.  Mr. Logan thought that at this point, Treanor had committed their time.  Commissioner Schumm stated that he thought that it was important to address the vote presented by ELNA.  Ms. Tate stated that at some point there needed to be a good coalition with businesses, organizations, and the neighborhood.  Commissioner Schumm wondered if the task force really wanted a visual, the group should work on that soon, but perhaps a visual wouldn’t be necessary.  Commissioner Schumm asked about Hernly Associates and said that he would ask them if they have any interest in assisting with this.  It was asked if both groups could provide visuals.  Maude stated that she didn’t think it was a good idea to ask Treanor to do other things as they were offering to donate thousands of dollars of their time.  There was a consensus to not include a visual in the report as a result of the circumstances.  Commissioner Schumm didn’t want the visual to block the process from this point.  He offered to call the Treanor office to inform them of this decision.  The group also needed to reschedule the previously scheduled meeting times.

The next meeting of the Task Force was set for 4:30-6 pm on October 17. 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 pm.