Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION FEBRUARY 21, 2017 The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in the Haish Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission were present: Chair Sue Johnson, Brad Hoey, Deborah Booth, and Michael Mooney. Brad Pietens, Cohen Barnes, and Bob Boey were absent. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Johnson requested a motion to approve the agenda. Mr. Hoey moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Booth seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Johnson requested a motion for approval of the minutes. Ms. Booth stated that a correction was still needed of the spelling of Poughkeepsie, New York. There was also a typo of Mr. Barnes name on page 2. Mr. Mooney moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Mr. Hoey seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There were no members of the public present. BUSINESS 1. Collaborating on a Community Art Festival Planner Michnick updated the Commission on the ARTigras event that is scheduled for May 6, 2017. The event has been held in previous years, but the format is changing for 2017 to replicate the Fall Art Walk that took place in 2016. That event was successful and received positive feedback from both the community and merchants. The ARTigras event is a spring showcase of NIU students and coordinated by NIU faculty and City staff. The fall Art Walk is coordinated by the DeKalb Area Arts Commission (DAAC). Planner Michnick recommended if the Commission wanted to collaborate on the Fall Art Walk, it would be best to reach out to the DAAC. CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION FEBRUARY 21, 2017 PAGE 2 OF 2 Mr. Hoey stated it would also be advantageous to collaborate with the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Artists from county wide could be recruited for the event, but the event itself would be held in DeKalb. Ms. Booth discussed the recent success of the NIU Art Convocation that took place at the Egyptian Theatre and how it was an opportunity for the College of Visual and Performing Arts to showcase the talent of NIU students to the community. Potentially, the Commission could support ARTigras as volunteers. In the future, if the Commission wanted to collaborate on the Fall Art Walk, a decision would need to be made about taking an active role in planning the event, or an ancillary role. The Commission discussed taking an active role in helping to plan the event, which was supported. Given that the event is coordinated by the DAAC, it would be necessary to reach out and discuss holding joint meetings in the future. Mr. Hoey and Ms. Booth stated they would be willing to reach out to the DAAC to discuss the topic and report back next month. Chair Johnson requested a motion to direct the two Commissioners to reach out to the DAAC on behalf of the Commission. Mr. Hoey made the motion to approve himself and Ms. Booth to reach out to DAAC to discuss collaboration on the Fall Art Walk expanding into a multi-day festival. Ms. Booth seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 4-0-4. 2. Future Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission Minutes This topic was tabled for a future meeting, as there were only four Commissioners present to discuss. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johnson requested a motion for adjournment. Mr. Hoey moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Mooney seconded the motion. The motion carried on voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner Minutes approved by the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission on March 22, 2017.