Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION September 14, 2022 The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) held a regular meeting on September 14, 2022, in the Second Floor Training Room of the DeKalb Police Department, 700 West Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, Illinois. Chair Brad Hoey called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. A. ROLL CALL Roll call was recorded by Management Analyst Scott Zak and the following members of the CCEC were present: Chair Brad Hoey and Commissioners Melissa Beck, Jeanine Holcomb, Helen Umbdenstock and Ellingsworth Webb. Absent were: Commissioners Kenneth Brown and Aaron Robertson. B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA – ADDITIONS/DELETIONS MOTION Ms. Beck motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by Ms. Holcomb. VOTE The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote. C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JULY 18, 2022 MOTION Mr. Webb motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Ms. Umbdenstock. VOTE The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No public comments were received. E. NEW BUSINESS 3. UTILITY BOX ARTWORK UPDATE With the expectation that Mayor Cohen Barnes and City Manager Bill Nicklas would arrive later in the meeting to discuss the mural projects, the Commission moved ahead in the agenda. CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 PAGE 2 OF 5 Mr. Zak shared the final designs recommended by the Commission for the utility boxes in the Vaughn Parking Lot and Palmer Court. He reported two additional photos had been taken of artist Rudy Galindo’s artwork for the Van Buer Plaza utility box, and Banner Up Signs had prepared two options for the vinyl wrap. The Commission agreed on the option that would not stretch out the artist’s work to cover the sides of the utility box and instead Mr. Galindo will be asked to choose the color to be used on the sides. Chair Hoey said efforts should be made to install the vinyl wraps this season to show the community progress is being made on public art. 5. PAINT-A-PLUG APPLICATIONS The Commission reviewed a Paint-A-Plug application for the hydrant on the northwest corner of Fox Hollow and Willow Circle. MOTION Ms. Beck motioned to approve the application, seconded by Ms. Umbdenstock. VOTE The application was approved by unanimous voice vote. Mr. Zak shared Bethany Geiseman with the NIU School of Art and Design had asked about NIU art students creating three Paint-A-Plugs; however, applications had not yet been submitted. In order for the plugs to be completed this season, they would need to be painted before the Commission would have the opportunity to approve the applications. MOTION Mr. Webb motioned to allow Chair Hoey to approve the students’ applications when they are received, seconded by Ms. Holcomb. VOTE The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. Ms. Beck suggested that paint left unused after a Paint-A-Plug project is completed could be passed along to future artists. Mr. Hoey said the option could be included in messaging to future artists. Mr. Zak noted there have now been a few instances in which Paint-A-Plug designs were submitted but an artist was needed. Chair Hoey said artists could be recruited in next year’s news release. 1. MURAL UPDATES Chair Hoey said since the Commission’s last meeting, he, Mayor Barnes, City Manager Nicklas and Alderman McAdams met with Danielle Casali, another possible mural artist for the back wall of City Hall. Mr. Hoey noted the CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 PAGE 3 OF 5 Commission had become familiar with the artist’s work in mosaic tiles even before receiving the T-Mobile grant when Commissioner Holcomb shared an article and photos of Ms. Casali’s mural in Hinckley. He said Ms. Casali received her Master of Fine Arts from NIU and wants the creation of the City Hall mural to be a communitywide effort with the work done a public space, perhaps a vacant storefront. Mayor Barnes joined the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Chair Hoey said Ms. Casali would also collaborate with the Commission and community on the mural’s design. City Manager Nicklas joined the meeting at 4:37 p.m. Mayor Barnes said Ms. Casali’s proposal checks all the boxes by meeting the goals of the Call for Artist that the mural incorporates the themes of belonging and DeKalb as a welcoming community. He said the budget would be up to $30,000, ideally with $20,000 from the T-Mobile grant and the remainder from the City. Ms. Holcomb said this mural could encourage future grant funding, and Chair Hoey said it is good to show a match from the City. Discussion turned to the possible mural in the Annie Glidden Road underpass. City Manager Nicklas noted some of the submissions received through the Call for Artist did not meet the requirement of having a welcoming, community pride and school spirit theme, while those that did only covered a portion of the underpass walls. Therefore, the City has been in discussions with NIU about completing the mural. However, the underpass walls are a difficult surface for a mural because of cracks and moisture. An artist who looked at applying vinyl wraps to the walls said they are not suitable for a wrap. City Manager Nicklas said the City may be able to prep the walls. Mayor Barnes said a possible option is to complete the mural in phases over multiple years but that has yet to be determined. He said the priority is that the mural is done well, and the Commission agreed. 2. DANIELLE CASALI PROPOSAL MOTION Ms. Holcomb motioned that the City pursue an agreement with artist Danelle Casali for the creation of a mosaic mural on the south wall of City Hall, seconded by Ms. Beck. VOTE The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 PAGE 4 OF 5 City Manager Nicklas said the Commission’s recommendation would be brought to the City Council with a contract on Sept. 26. Discussion turned to the proposed Veterans Mural on the north wall of the Plaza DeKalb building. Mr. Zak said a letter of intent was received from three artists interested in creating the mural and the artists were informed there would not be enough time to finalize the design and budget and prepare an agreement with the building owner before their proposed start date of Sept. 15. The Commission will stay in contact with the artists as discussions on the mural continue over the winter. Chair Hoey said it will need to be determined whether the intricate designs in the military branch seals included in the mural design would be possible. Ms. Umbdenstock said just incorporating the names of the service branches instead of the seals or printing the seals on vinyl wraps could be options. Chair Hoey said clarification is also needed on who the mural design included in the letter of intent belongs to. Mayor Barnes left the meeting. 4. VACANT CITY LOT AT FOURTH STREET & LINCOLN HIGHWAY Ms. Beck said the idea has been raised before about making the lot on the northwest corner of the intersection a community space and suggested making it possible for food trucks to pull into the lot and setup picnic tables. City Manager Nicklas said the City owns the lot but the Illinois Department of Transportation controls the access and is not interested in allowing access to the lot, which is near the railroad tracks. However, he said the City is open to ideas that would tie down the corner. Mr. Webb said he would like to see a sculpture park. City Manager Nicklas said a sculpture would need to be large enough to fill the whole lot and lit so its visible at night. He said a contest could be done to generate ideas for an art piece that represents DeKalb and it would be great for the Commission to receive proposals. Ms. Umbdenstock said another idea could be a large, climbable corn stalk. City Manager Nicklas left the meeting. F. OLD BUSINESS 1. OLD PAINT-A-PLUG PROJECTS Mr. Zak said he contacted the community members who painted the hydrants at First and Oak Street and Fourth and Oak Street, both which are badly faded and chipping. Neither was interested in repainting the hydrants. CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 PAGE 5 OF 5 It was suggested that the nearby VFW might be interested in painting the hydrant at Fourth and Oak. The Commission agreed the hydrant at First & Oak should be repainted red. 2. LET’S MOVE TO THE MUSIC Ms. Umbdenstock said the new owners of the Ellwood Steak and Fish House are excited about participating in the program, and there are plans to contact Blumen Gardens. Chair Hoey said he will provide contact information for Meta to see if they would like to contribute. 3. OTHER UPDATES Chair Hoey noted new lighting has been strung in the pedestrian passthrough and suggested an option for the grid to hang art installations could be to mount it on the existing lighting conduit. Ms. Beck shared the theme of an upcoming event on Dec. 3 by Dimensions Dance Academy and the Downtown Merchants is gingerbread lane and gingerbread items could be hung in the passthrough. G. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Ms. Umbdenstock motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Webb. VOTE The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Scott Zak Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission on January 17, 2023.