Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION JANUARY 17, 2017 The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) held a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in the Glidden Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission members were present: Brad Hoey, Deborah Booth, Michael Mooney, and Cohen Barnes (Acting Chair). Brad Pietens, Susan Johnson, and Bob Boey were absent. Also present was Bessie Chronopolous. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Acting Chair Barnes requested a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Booth moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Mooney seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Acting Chair Barnes requested a motion for approval of the minutes. Ms. Booth stated that a correction needed to be made to spelling of Poughkeepsie, New York. Mr. Mooney moved to approve minutes the minutes as corrected. Mr. Hoey seconded the motion. Motion carried on voice vote. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Ms. Chronopolous requested information on the status of the City’s logo use on the homepage of the City’s website. Mr. Barnes stated that the topic had been discussed with City Staff and the reason that the current graphic in the upper left corner of the website was being used to distinguish the City of DeKalb as being in Illinois. The City receives calls from individuals trying to reach out to other municipalities named DeKalb throughout the country after using internet searches and landing on the City’s website. BUSINESS 1. Follow Up to December Meeting with NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Planner Michnick asked the Commission for their feedback and thoughts on the December meeting with Dean Kassel from the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts. Ms. Booth expressed her main takeaway from the meeting was if students are to be incorporated into City projects, the projects must be included into the curriculum of their CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION JANUARY 17, 2017 PAGE 2 OF 3 programs. As a City commission, there is little to be done to influence the curriculum of the Arts programs at NIU. It will take time and persistence from the City to become engaged in the curriculum. Mr. Hoey stated that students are not required to be engaged in the community unless they are student athletes; however, there is an effort to get students more engaged in volunteering. Despite the lack of requirement for volunteering, NIU has scored highly in the past for offering service opportunities. An example of this is the Northern Pact that encourages students to support each other and the community. Mr. Hoey also mentioned that there are specific faculty engaged with their students in the community on an individual basis. Mr. Mooney asked about the process of getting into the curriculum if you are an outsider to the university. Ms. Booth stated changing curriculum was difficult and takes a formal process. If a project fits into the current curriculum, it is easier. Mr. Barnes asked if Dean Kassel mentioned a timeline for when student engagement in the community could be included in the curriculum. Planner Michnick stated it likely would depend on the project identified. One project was mentioned in the previous meeting was a City monument sign. Mr. Hoey discussed the “string project” at the alumni center as a project that could potentially step off campus. Dean Kassel stated he supported the mission of engaging students in community art but could not commit to a specific project at this time. Mr. Hoey stated they also talked about the fall Art Walk and continuing to support that event. ARTigras had a good start in its first year but fell back last year. Mr. Hoey also asked if the fall Art Walk was an event the Commission wanted to support and focus upon. Mr. Barnes stated it would desirable to find something that could involve the school district as well as NIU. Mr. Barnes asked if it would be possible to get all parties in a room at once to discuss a collaborative art-based event, such as Art Walk. Ms. Booth stated that we could reach out to Billie Giese at NIU to discuss supporting that event. Mr. Hoey asked if that initiative should go through the DeKalb Area Arts Council. Planner Michnick asked if there would be support for ARTigras, as it was sooner. He stated he was going to be involved in the planning process for the event and could share more at the next meeting. Ms. Booth stated she had previously spoken with Billie Giese about the Art Walk and more volunteers were needed. CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION JANUARY 17, 2017 PAGE 3 OF 3 Mr. Hoey stated a large community art event would need to involve multiple organizations, and it was too much to put on a single group. There could be great ideas, but it would lose steam without support. Rather than spreading the Commission too thinly, he recommended concentrating on one event, perhaps a weekend festival. Mr. Barnes stated the previous Art Walk had too many things going on, it could not be viewed in one night, and he supported an expanded concept. He also asked how to get more people involved in the discussion and develop a vision and assignments. Planner Michnick stated community events and public art were a great synergy that incorporated multiple items in the City’s 2025 Strategic Plan. The next steps could be to call a special meeting with multiple organizations if the Commission could identify who to reach out to. The Commission named several organizations, including DeKalb Area Arts Council, NIU, District 428, ARTigras Committee, Kishwaukee College art program, and downtown merchants. Planner Michnick stated he would investigate the process and interest and report back at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chair Barnes requested a motion for adjournment. Ms. Booth moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Mooney seconded the motion. The motion carried on voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner Minutes approved by the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission on February 21, 2017.