26 Arts Commission meeting to order and first item on the agenda is approval of agenda and minutes.

So do I hear a motion to approve the agenda?

Move.

Do I have a second?

I'll take it.

Second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Do we have a motion to approve the minutes from the March 2006 arts commission meeting?

I make a motion.

It's moved.

Do we have a second on that?

Approval of the minutes.

I'll take it.

Okay, moved and seconded.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

All right.

Oral communications.

Do we have sign-ups for oral communications?

We do have two oral communications today.

Okay.

All right.

You want to come out?

Who?

You are first.

Alex Zimmerman, you are first.

Very smart.

Sometimes my people are both everyone first.

Oh, I didn't read the script.

Do you want me to read the script?

Alex, can you wait just a minute?

We won't start the clock.

I need to read uh the script.

Um in compliance with Washington state campaign laws regarding the use of public facilities during an election.

No speaker may support or oppose the ballot measure or support or oppose a candidate for election, which includes your own campaign.

Any speaker who begins discussing topics of this nature will be asked to stop.

In addition, there are new rules adopted by city council limiting the topics about which the public may speak during our meetings.

Under ordinance 6752, the public may now only speak during public comment about subject matters that are related to City of Bellevue government and are within the power and duties of the arts commission.

Additional information about the new rules of decorum governing conduct of the public during our meetings can be found at ordinance 6752.

Thank you for your patience.

You may begin speaking.

You have thank that.

Okay, thank you very much.

Here first, my name is Alex Zimmerman, and I don't come talking to you because you look to me like a dirty Nazi fascist buster.

That's exactly who you are.

I come here because I need to speak to people, to Bellevue people.

First, what is I talk to a thousand times for many years?

Why don't show faces?

What is dirty trigger this?

Why are you doing this?

Only for Alex Zimmerman.

It's exactly what is you know this.

And I talk about this many times.

Number one, number two.

Twelve year ago.

They cata's freedom of speech.

Make a 30 minute in 10 people.

Is this in camera?

You know what is mean?

They did this because Alex Zimmerman bad boy.

My question to you, dirty Nazi pig.

You know what this means?

What this happened when one bad boy, you know what is mean.

Why 150,000 people cannot speak?

Can you explain to me you dirty Nazi buster?

Nobody answered me.

It's very interesting.

And right now I'll speak about something that is absolutely critical.

No one city in this planet.

Have a mayor.

What is we have a war?

Not in America, no in planet.

It's never happened.

Bell V1, number one fascist city in America.

What is have unique situation?

Absolutely unique situation.

120,000 slave.

What is working here in Mir?

Muhammad.

What is have Iranian citizenship?

If it's Iran, we have a war for 50 years, but right now it's very hot work.

In ski sedu prosecute me seven times.

All cases dismissed.

For last three years, they totally block my right, go to consul chamber and speak.

And I am candidate.

Mo Muhammad, you know what is mean.

This first in my history, you know what is mean.

He used more name Mount Use original name Muhammad.

Why he shame about this name?

I'm Alex, but I'm in everywhere.

Use Bort Amrum.

Because I am a Jew.

And I support Israel.

And I support Trump.

So what's happened, guy?

Why you all here?

Acting like a Dory Nazi fascist busted.

Why?

What is motivation?

You can explain this to me.

You use rules.

This new rules only for Alex Emmerman come last year.

Viva Trump.

We have a new American revolution.

Stand up.

Slap and happy.

Cow.

Thank you.

This I keep this for you.

You're very smart.

I do want to.

Okay.

Maybe if you would like to join us.

Here we go.

All right.

Hello.

Hello.

Okay.

My name is Bailey Fuentes.

I'm an artist here in the Bellevue in the Bellevue area.

I'm on the Eastide Artist Roster.

I'm here to just talk about an update with this project that I'm doing for the City of Bellevue.

It's the project grants for 2025.

I actually wasn't able to get my project done in 2025.

So they said it's all right for me to move into 2026.

So I'm hoping that this year we're able to just um get the project done.

And today I just kind of I sent a the everything on the desk here.

You've got a reference uh for a PowerPoint that I made.

So just essentially what it is.

Um that first page is just an overview of what I what they accepted me for.

So I had to type up a proposal for it.

And so it just says um make an architecturally intriguing mural um in the Bell Reds Art District.

And so that's what I got accepted for.

And so I'm trying to do my art that I do in the Bell Red District specifically.

Um, and I think that's a really big part of this whole thing.

So they gave me the extra a thousand dollars, and then I printed out more pictures.

So if you look there, um there's a reference that shows you uh what the location is.

It's the utility barn in on the other side of the the it's like a nature area right there in between.

Um you see it as you take the light rail from the spring district into the bell red, and I'm saying that I've got this idea, uh vision for the mural, and we're saying to do something just super extravagant.

Um, and I kind of been developing ideas here.

So in these next few slides that you look at, it's just kind of like what I have so far.

It's not in any way final, but it's just like concepts that I drew up.

Um I went down to there, I just like took some pictures, and then I drew it up um in VR.

That's how I I do my work is through the VR.

And so these are just kind of like ideas that I have, and I was just thinking like, oh man, something where it's like black and white, and then there's just like this like spray of like spectrum color.

And I thought that was really interesting.

I think like people something people would be able to really like resonate with something like that, where it's just so um unique that that it kind of like dazzles you when you see it.

So when you look at that, I think that's what it is, and then with my last 30 seconds, I'll just say I need to get approval from the city.

Um the city needs to just like it needs to have an internal conversation about um how that works, and then they need to update this right of entry agreement that they have.

The right of entry agreement essentially just says like I'm able to go down there, I'm able to do work, I'm able to spend time down there, and then they just like organize that time for me to be there.

Um, everything else, I need to get uh a liability insurance so that there if there's any problems, I get that.

Um, but yeah, that's what I'm doing for 2026.

So hopefully by next month, um, I got another update on what we're doing.

Right.

Thank you.

Great.

All right.

That's the last of our oral communications.

Great.

Then we will move on to action items, discussion items, and A's partner presentation.

All right, we have Ben uh online.

Um there we go.

Hi, everyone.

Hi, thank you so much.

Uh, can everybody hear me okay?

May want to speak up just a bit, Ben.

Oh, okay.

Uh, is this a little bit better?

We got you.

Oh, sorry, we turned it up too.

So we didn't thank you all so much for for allowing me to uh present.

I am so sorry that I couldn't be there in person.

I unexpectedly had a sick kiddo and had to race off to daycare, bring him home and do a lot of a lot of coordinating.

Um, but thank you so much for the opportunity.

I'm gonna share um try to share my screen here to see if I can properly work things.

Uh uh I am trying to get everything due.

Uh kind of um let's see if I can do this uh without so uh my name's Ben Brando.

I'm currently the interim general manager for KBCS.

Um for those who aren't familiar with KBCS.

We are the East Sides uh, I believe only um public radio station, or we sometimes call ourselves a community radio station.

So we are a um uh 501c3.

Uh well, actually part of the Bellevue College Foundation.

Um we're a self-support department of Bellevue College, which just means we don't receive direct funding uh from the college.

However, we are affiliated with the college.

Um we broadcast on 91.3, and then also you can listen to us um streaming online, kbcs.fm uh or through the KBCS mobile app.

Um we've been around, as you can see, since 1973.

We've had a lot of different iterations of the station through the years.

Um I'll just keep clicking through to give you kind of a broken down somewhat tour.

We're in a very humble house on the campus of Bellevue College.

Um, and I would invite um each of you, if you're ever interested in coming by for a tour, we'd love to have you um at the station so we can show you the station.

Um we've been in the current location uh, I believe for about 15 years, but the station has moved around a bit.

Uh it was in another house on campus, then it was in factoria for a while, and then um it made its way back to uh the campus of Bellevue College.

Um let's see here.

Uh just giving you a little tour.

We have a large music library.

We're actually in the middle of uh digitizing a lot of the files for that.

That's Bryce.

He's one of our music librarians.

Um we also, and it doesn't do it justice.

I wish I could kind of give you a panorama.

I should have uh done this from the station, but our vinyl library is completely filled with um vinyl records um that we've collected through the years.

Um so um, yeah, the station's been around since 1973.

It's funded by individual listeners, um, a few corporate uh sponsors, and of course, generous grants from like the one that we receive uh from Bellevue.

Uh the station uh broadcast, it's 1800 watts.

Our tower is located uh to top of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah.

Um it started out as a student-led radio station, only broadcasting about the range of Bellevue College, um, to where now in our current um iteration um up on um Cougar Mountain.

We really reached the entire like Bellevue Seattle Tacoma Metro fairly reliably.

Um so grown a lot through the years with um quite a great reach.

And again, um, you know, also a global reach now that we um you can stream us 24 hours a day uh either through the mobile app or website.

Um so for our format, um, we do offer a diverse mix of non-commercial music as well as news and public affairs programming.

Weekday mornings are mostly progressive news and public affairs programming with an emphasis on social justice.

Um weekday afternoons feature a mix of roots, rock and soul music, and include live and studio performances, and then weekday evenings and weekends are hosted by local volunteer DJs.

We have a really amazing group of folks.

We have around 30 volunteer DJs who um put together their programs each week and uh really run the gamut from Hawaiian music to Celtic to Latin to Bluegrass hip hop folk.

Um really uh we like to say that um like nobody likes everything on KBCS, but everybody likes something on KBCS.

And so that non-commercial format allows us to you know not have to worry so much about uh marketing and um and that as far as being able to share uh really diverse music and ideas uh with the community.

Um and if anybody has any questions as we go, feel free or we can wait till the end.

I'm just running through and uh kind of uh I was running with the kiddo, and so I'm just kind of spitting it all out.

Uh um so our flagship music programming centers around uh we call it Roots Rock and Soul.

It's hosted from one to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday with our music director Ian Hughes and our operations manager Greg Delia.

Um, these are some of the artists that we've had coming in through our studios as they're either local or they're touring Atmar Liebert, uh Amethyst Kia, um Um Aline and Wes.

Um, so a few just pictures from them.

Um this is Amy Ray uh of Indigo Girls.

She came in to do a um in studio with us um just a while back.

I was gonna play a video for you, just a real brief one to show you um if any of you all are familiar with um, we're not an NPR station, but it's certainly like a tiny desk um at KBCS.

And so it's just gonna share a little clip.

You can see the the snafu's of uh live radio here.

Um, unless you share with audio, the audio won't come through.

So got it.

And then when you do share with audio, the presentation lags really bad, I've noticed.

Oh, we can we can skip over um the the point being um it's a really small but uh warm space and um uh uh really a lot of Totshnot um uh top-notch musicians coming through um it because of KBCS's um can well-known and well-respected uh nature, especially in the roots and folk communities, um, but really all around.

Um weekend and evenings, as I mentioned, we have around 30 volunteer DJs that do all different types of programs.

So just a few um of our volunteer DJs do everything from Hawaiian music um to Bluegrass.

Um we have had uh the joy of being able to work with some of the other festivals happening in and around uh Bellevue, both the um Blues and Jazz festival.

I was able to announce um last year when we had Lee Oscar come.

Uh and then uh also we have often had a um stage at Wintergrass uh each year.

And so um always really happy to partner with different Bellevue organizations and become even more involved in um in live music and arts in Bellevue.

Um so um our other part of programming is our public affairs and news programming, uh 5 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

Um, the flagship program being a progressive talk um show called the Tom Hartman program that's nationally syndicated around the country with around 7 million um listeners.

Uh actually most of the listeners or a fair amount of the listeners that do call in though are calling in as KBCS listeners.

So Bellevue gets um you know a lot of uh recognition and name recognition um out to those seven million other listeners around the country.

Um also another flagship program, Democracy Now, if if you're familiar with that program with Amy Goodman.

Um for our listeners, we have around 60 to 70,000 unique listeners each and every week on the station.

Um that doesn't include those who are streaming through the app or through our web stream.

Um we've these are approximate um estimates.

So um yeah, we have um a decent amount of um folks uh listening all across the Bellevue Seattle Tacoma region.

And um one thing that's great about our folks is really that they listen for a long time.

KVCS is a little different in the fact that we're not like commercial radio.

Um people tend to kind of set us and then listen uh throughout the day.

Um it's a different type of listening, of course, no commercials and um a little bit more diverse programming.

Um yeah, sorry, I kind of um the day was a little crazy, but um that's uh that's kind of the the long and short.

I feel like I just went on, but if anybody had questions, I'd be happy to to answer any.

Yes, me.

Thank you.

So Ben, thank you very much for your presentation.

So I will I wonder what are the kind of challenges that you are facing as a radio station now that the streaming is all over around.

Yeah, no, that's a totally critical um issue.

So yes, I mean, you know, we do uh face the fact that there are a lot of different options for for where you listen, how you listen anymore.

Um, and so we are working as you know diligently as we can to look more into things like podcasting, um, which can be difficult because you can't have music and podcasts for for rights reasons, um, but also looking to other places like we're putting things up on SoundCloud, uh, we're uh putting uh things up on iTunes, um, or putting things up on mixed cloud.

Um, so while radio, yes, like it may seem like a more antiquated medium.

Um, the one thing that I think that is going for us is that we are seeing a lot of folks push back on what they're getting with the rise of AI, with um the rise of streaming services, the fact that KBCS doesn't have commercials is hyper local in a time where so many of our local media outlets are being bought up by large corporations, and basically that local voice is being taken away.

Um, we've seen for the past three years um our fundraising um hit records because I do believe that there is something that's being offered in community media that you're just not going to get through Spotify, which tends to create like an echo chamber, right?

You punch in a few of the songs that you like, but then soon enough you realize that um a lot of what you're getting is the same thing.

And um, with community media, it's more of a dialogue with folks in the community.

So, yes, we we um I would say the number one thing that we're we're dealing with is um the change in technology and making sure that we can reach people wherever they're at.

Um, but the good thing is that I think that community media and community radio are offering something that you really can't get anywhere else.

Doesn't even sorry I have the screen down.

Okay.

Uh thanks for the presentation.

I'm curious, do you have any um like community um like educational opportunities that bring people in and introduce them to like the technology you folks use?

I'm thinking like a lot of students um are at least with my son, like he's seven and he's ready pushing back on AI and a lot of things and really going towards like analog, like records and collecting things like that.

But um, are there opportunities to like um introduce them to you know DJing um or not just DJing, but like you know, how to host a show, how to be a um volunteer DJ in the future, I guess.

Yeah, absolutely.

So we have a full on um intake program for folks in the community who are interested in getting involved.

I mean, we we are unique in the fact that if you were, and we love all the all the stations in in the region, and so this isn't to say anything bad, but um as far as like radio stations go and public stations go, if you go to some of your bigger stations, KEXP, KUOW, KNKX, all in Seattle.

I mean, if you come and you knock on the door and you just want to do something, I mean, there's probably it's not gonna happen, you know, immediately with KBCS, there's a lot more accessibility.

So I would say um I would be happy to um pass along information.

We have an intake form that's readily available on our website for folks who are interested in becoming DJs or getting more involved.

All of our uh DJs have been trained um at KBCS.

So that's something that we do offer to people as hands-on training.

Um, you know, when you come to us, we have a lot of students involved, of course, being on the campus of a college.

Um, we have students that have done K-pop shows, you know, things that maybe we don't have knowledge about that, but that are really, you know, that are really popular and people are interested in.

So long story short, yes, um, we we do have opportunities, and um, I'd be happy to share my contact information if you want um more information.

And to your point, we do see a lot of young people um coming to the station more and more because of that pushback.

I think they're realizing what they're getting in the media is of a lot lower quality and a lot less thoughtful.

Um, it's about um how much quantity you can keep pushing, as in the you know, the never-ending doom scrolling with public media, you don't get that as much.

You get a little more time, a little bit deeper and meaning more meaningful conversation.

Ben, this is Charles uh McIntyre.

Thank you for your presentation.

I appreciate it.

Uh I'm a long time listener.

Um especially enjoy the uh Sunday morning folk hours.

Um and and um have also been a listener of the Bellevue High School station.

And so just thinking now about your term hyper local, I thought that is very uh interesting way to think about it.

And I appreciate um any effort to draw media into this, you know, local um local feel versus like you say, the the global Spotify takeover.

Um you're saying that you're that um obviously there's financial troubles everywhere, but you're feeling that there's no imminent threat to the station, or you're feeling this pretty financially comfortable.

Um I would say so, and um I should have yes, there are certainly um threats out there um for those familiar with the corporation for public broadcasting, um public media organizations that um were eligible and met the criteria in the past, and this is um public radio and PBS stations, public TV stations have lost federal funding.

And so we saw about a 10% cut to our budget.

We received around 120,000 each year from the corporation for public broadcasting.

And um that loss, yes, I mean, that's not insubstantial, especially for a small station like KBCS.

We have three full-time staff, um, a few part-time people, some students, um, and then we have around 30 uh volunteer DJs.

So funding is a concern.

Um, we just came out of a spring fund drive, a little bit slow.

And I mean, you can't blame people.

Gas is six dollars a gallon, groceries are you know, a good sizable chunk of a lot of people's paychecks.

And so, yes, there's a definite need um to um expand our sources for funding, and um it's so and we're so grateful to have um you know regular grants like we get through the city of Bellevue because those really do um allow us to um to budget to be um more thoughtful and to have funding that that you know we can hopefully assume is is coming.

I will say that um for KBCS, we're very lucky that we've been a very scrappy station through the years and we've been um fairly frugal through the years and done our best to um be financially pretty careful.

We are actually bringing on a new public affairs director.

I myself um am usually the development director, but we'll be bringing on a new GM at some point in time.

So um I hope that we'll have more capacity as we go.

But yes, um we think every day about about that, and um any ideas and thoughts about um funding is always welcomed.

Yeah, no, I uh I believe a 120,000 dollar cut in a budget is is substantial.

And uh if you have if you are brainstorming, you know, opportunities to replace that, um I I in particular would be very interested in supporting any sort of opportunity to um to help replace that deficit.

Thank you so much.

That that is so so very welcomed.

And I guess just well while I have you, I will mention one exciting thing that we're looking towards.

Um the house that KBCS actually we're in two houses on the campus.

Um there's a house across the street that has another studio, but is mostly used as offices.

For instance, my office is a bedroom in a house, very cozy and nice.

But um, when it's a you know a 1970s rambler that's uh kind of falling apart, um, we have some some issues.

Um our main uh studio over in the other house, you know, if we're mowing lawns or the campus ops people are mowing the lawns, it can be heard on air.

Um critters get into the houses.

And so um we are looking towards um hopefully in the near future a capital campaign um with a space located more interior on the campus so we can be more collaborative with, for instance, TV services, as we know, you know, video um uh as they say, video killed the radio star, but um video is an important element and uh we can certainly incorporate that in a way that would be meaningful for KBCS.

So I would love to share as we get a little closer to that, um, share with everyone a little bit about um our capital campaign that we'll be having coming out.

Ben, I just have a question for you with your focus on local programming, which again I think is so sorely needed.

Um, you know, one of the things we at the arts commission are fairly aware of is the lack of a really comprehensive community calendar that can sort of broadcast to the community local events.

And I'm wondering if you're coordinating it all with the Bell Red Arts District people who are working on that and just working more collaboratively to really have a megaphone for community events and community calendar.

Thank you so much.

I feel like all of your questions, I'm so glad that you asked because they're things that I should have just um been throwing out there.

Yes, we do have a community calendar on our website.

And um, so we um so if you um go to our website, uh there's a place to submit your um community calendar events.

They do have to be qualifying events.

Um, because KBCS is a nonprofit, we can't fundraise for other nonprofits, and then there is some language that we can't use that commercial stations can.

But um, regardless, um any nonprofit that submits a qualifying event to our calendar, we'll add them to our community calendar online, but we also have a process of selecting um uh different nonprofit events and providing free um spots for them for several weeks at a time.

Um and so please, uh, you know, any and I I've I've said this at a couple of our um um uh periodic um arts uh council meetings.

But if um nonprofits will submit their events, um, and you know, we being on the east side will prioritize east side events.

We love to be able to share, and that's what's great about it.

We're able to share all these great things that are happening on the east side with the folks over uh on the other side of uh the pond, so to speak, and um to make them more well informed about all the really cool things that we have going on.

So, yes, we do have a calendar and I encourage folks to put their events on there because um that's what we do use to create announcements and they're free announcements, and they're not small amounts, they're you know, several weeks we will concentrate on on events so it's not just uh performative, so that we're really giving some exposure to different nonprofits.

Thank you, Ben.

Thank you.

Hey Ben, this is Joy Deep, uh, one of the top listeners, other than KEX.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I mean, listen to you guys for Hole Hour during my commute from Seattle to Coma.

Thank you Tom Hartman, you know, I recognize his voice like behind my head.

So quick things I'm gonna not repeat what Erica and Charles had said.

Um yes, there's a lot of interest from young people to understand how can to be a DJ and volunteer.

Like my own daughter, she's 12.

She doesn't want to go to tech.

She's terrified of the whole thing.

And she uses a voice to do a lot of singing and other things, voice later.

So I would like to reach out to you to understand how do we get these kids to just understand how to be a radio host.

That's all they want to know.

And to be a DJ will be the next one.

Yeah, no, I uh we are um yeah, that would be great.

And yeah, I'd be happy to to connect with you.

And one thing a lot of folks don't know, and one thing that we're currently looking at, and you know, I can't promise anything, but uh right now a lot of folks aren't familiar with HD radio.

Um, if your car is um somewhat newer, not I mean, mine's a 2017 and it has it, but most radio stations are able to stream three two to three different channels.

And so right now, one of my um hopes and dreams is to potentially also have a very um student focused station in addition to um what we're doing on our more you know um global community as far as the entire region station that we have um to offer more opportunities for young people um at KBCS.

So yes, we would love we have running start students even that come and help out at the station.

And so um, yes, yeah, that's wonderful.

I do have a degree in radio physics.

So when I talk about radio, my daughter shuts me up like that's not the radio to talk about.

So yeah, you know, um the Bellevue College does not currently, to my knowledge, have a radio program.

Um, but uh they do offer there may be, I believe, a podcasting program, which is something that you know clearly we're eyeing very closely as so many young people are listening to podcasts and um looking to find music that way.

Um, but it's something where you know, we're hoping um a big part of the reason why I'm so passionate about this uh capital campaign is the houses that KBCS are in right now are not ADA compliant.

We cannot have instruction take place in those houses for credit.

And so this is going to be um a really important step for um, I believe the college and for KBCS to have an opportunity to bring potentially more um instruction and through KBCS.

So these students are getting, you know, a real world experience in a top 15 market in the you know Bellevue Seattle Tacoma Metro.

A lot of students can't say that that, oh my gosh, you know, I'm on air in a top 15 media market.

Um, and potentially that can happen here um at KBCS with them.

And so yeah, thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you for listening.

I have a quick question.

This is Mahavna.

Um, so I mean, I haven't yet actually heard your station, but most of the radio stations that I catch are either driving or I sometimes like to use some modern tech, like using um an Alexa device or something.

Do you guys kind of stream?

Do you still I know AI, we don't want to be with that, but like, do you use any of these other modern methods of getting your station out there?

Absolutely.

Yeah, you can um ask your Alexa to I I feel like if I say it right now in this room, it might start playing.

But you can ask her to play KBCS.

And and yes, yep, you will get KBCS.

Um, you know, we also you know, tune in.

Um, we're on, and so you know, we're not um we while we push back on things like AI when it comes to the creative process.

Like we have a policy, we're not going to play AI music on the station.

You know, it's really important that we protect our artists.

Um, we're not unaware that hey, we have to be with it and be where people are.

And so, yep, if if you do ask um Herc to play KBCS, you'll find us.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Any more questions?

Well, thank you, Ben.

Thank you for coming and presenting and really exciting.

Really looking forward to hearing more from you about your capital campaign.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate all of your time.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you.

All right.

So moving on on the agenda, the next item is night blooming deaccession.

Uh hello all.

Um, like Ben, I have some family things going on.

So I am also remote uh today.

I apologize for not being there.

Um today, uh, next slide, Monette.

So uh real quick, I actually um my name is Scott McDonald.

I work with the arts team with Lori and Manette.

Um I my title is Public Arts Specialist.

Um I work on a lot of things around the maintenance of the collection, um the longevity of the collection, and then I also work on uh major um commissions like Piloty, um, the Grand Connection Crossing artworks, um, and then a number of larger artworks out in Bell Red that we have or will be installing in the next year or so.

Um and then I also work on planning stuff, so you may see me in the future um talking about things that aren't specifically public art.

But today we're gonna talk about an artwork that is near and dear to my heart, uh, night blooming at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Um other than Pilode, I think this is honestly my favorite artwork in the collection.

Um and so it is with a bit of sadness that we bring this agenda item to you today.

Um today we will seek a uh motion to de-accession the artwork from the public art collection.

Next slide.

So a little background.

Um so the artwork is uh by two artists from Washington State University.

They both teach there.

Uh Taiji Miyazaka and David Drake.

Um it was originally commissioned by BAM uh for their 2016 um wood uh biennial, if you were around for that.

Uh it was a great show.

Um and you'll see, I think it's maybe the next slide, but you'll see a photo of it up on the roof of BAM, which is where it kind of came into our first awareness.

Um it was on the roof.

The the biennial was six months long.

It ended up living on the roof for about two years.

Um and in 2018, the artist offered to donate it to the city.

Um we scrambled, found uh uh absolutely beautiful site in the botanical garden and got a foundation poured and quickly moved it to where it stands currently.

Um the wood is local.

It's uh it's a spruce uh that came out of a very old barn in Eastern Washington.

Um and it's the form is inspired by the old grain silos um that you see, and specifically like the grain elevators.

Um and how it's put together is similar to how they would um build grain grain elevators throughout history, depending on where you lived.

Um and then the original expected lifespan was 10 to 15 years from that 2018 mark.

Um but uh you know I'm not great at math, but it's we're not we haven't hit that 10 year mark, but um we've had a lot of good use out of it.

So uh next slide.

So I'm this uh this agenda item is um a little bit of a memorial in a way.

Um so I'm gonna go through a couple shots and um of it in different iterations.

Uh that first shot was at the Bellevue Arts Museum.

This is getting installed on the Tatiyuchi loop trail at the Bellevue or at Botanical Garden.

And you see um the artist brought there's only two uh students in this picture, but there was I think up to 15 um students from the WSU architecture uh department that came to help the artist put the artwork uh in this new location.

Next slide.

It had um it got a lot of interest from the city.

The city was very excited to have it as part of the collection.

So we Bellview TV jumped on the installation and came out and um did a wonderful um interview with the artists, and we learned a lot more about the artwork via that medium.

I think we we do have a link if it after Ben's uh presentation just a few minutes ago.

Um I think I'll leave it up to Manette whether we try to play it.

Um next slide.

So here it is kind of growing uh into its somewhat beehive silo-esque uh form.

Um next slide.

And then you can just see that this is probably the last time this the these pieces of wood have seen light.

Um this is the very like top, the keystone piece, um, which you will then on the next slide see as it's installed from inside.

Um so the way that the work was put together is that there's little um slits uh between each board to allow um little light apertures to kind of come through.

Um and so when you go inside the work, it's like you're in a dark space, but it's really illuminated and it's a celebration of the light.

Um and it's quite beautiful.

Next slide.

And then here it is all finished and installed.

Um there's not been a time I've probably been to this artwork uh close to a hundred times since it's been installed, and I've not ever experienced somebody not stopping to look at it or even to go in it.

Um kids my kids love it.

Um it will be missed.

Next slide.

So this is that Bellevue TV segment if you want to try playing it, it's up to you.

I'm gonna attempt I couldn't hear you.

I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna stop and restart just a second.

This is about a two-minute long um segment.

It might be kind of janky, but we'll try Taiji and I have known each other for we're getting close to 20 years now, and uh we've done a lot of projects in the in the past.

I I'm interested in Timbagraneta bit as uh because of the quad when you enter the space.

Is this working for documenting and uh uh taking photographs of uh Tamba Granita Bedas?

And the one thing which I was impressed about them was the quad inside of the came of grenade of it does.

So that idea of the phenomena of light coming through uh in this old barns or something like this, what happens when a structure is falling apart and light is coming through it was something that was very interesting.

I think Bellevue Botanical Garden was a great choice because the intention is that the piece won't be conserved and that slowly over the next 20 25 years, it'll blend into its location and become even more a part of things, and that would be something that wouldn't be possible if it were in a traditional uh venue for um for public art.

Most of these timbers that timber grain elevators 300 miles away on the Palouse were constructed from most of that timber came from west of the mountains for us.

So, in a sense, what we're doing is taking what 50 years ago was considered a resource so cheap that you could build grain elevators out of it.

We're returning it back to the place that it came from and letting it decay back into uh uh into its surroundings.

I'm fabrication labs manager and adjunct faculty with uh Washington State University School of Design and Construction.

Uh we put together a team of students to help us out to actually get their hands dirty, in this case really dirty with uh you know sixty year old wood.

It's really fantastic to see them have that experience.

This project's an awesome project because uh it is constructed in a way that's very similar to how these crib silos were originally constructed.

So you've got these two by six, two by eights that are just stack sec.

And uh they they stay true for the original construction, I think, and then the lighting and the way that when you walk in and you see these little shimmering light exposures.

I don't know, it's beautiful from inside.

People look at this piece from outside.

Looks like uh kind of a old e4 building structure, but when they go inside, they can enjoy uh uh light kind of a show of the light.

Cool.

Thanks, Pennette.

Um second, we gotta read us out.

Oh, okay.

Okay, you good.

Okay.

Um okay, so fast forward to um last year um the botanical garden um let us know that there were some sections that were breaking down.

Um you can it's I apologize for the dark image if this was taken on the rainiest day I've ever experienced.

Um and this is that uh deterioration on the right image in front of you is um after we had actually chiseled out.

So it did it didn't look as bad as as that, but there were a few boards here and there that um had either part of it had broken off or they looked kind of spongy.

Um and so I I called the artist and we arranged to come out um and tackle these um you know couple boards here and there in maybe five-ish areas, and then uh I I was a little concerned because we've had another artwork um within the last six years or so um uh life cycle two, um which was installed maybe six years ago.

There was an original life cycle one at Chisholm Beach Park, which was made from spruce.

Um and that uh deteriorated uh quite a bit faster than other word woods we have.

Um and so life cycle two is actually made out of cedar.

Um if you do go out to Chisholm Beach Park.

Um but this being spruce and um always knowing that we had some sort of undefined time horizon on the on the artwork, um seeing the deterioration was not a great sign.

Uh next slide.

Um so here uh the artists and I went out to the artwork.

Um we started focusing in on those two to four boards, and you can see the light colored sections.

Um there's actually more sections that we replaced on the other side of the sculpture.

Um where you know they look like two to four boards, but when you really started getting into it, the area that was rotten was quite a bit larger, like that that higher higher section, about two-thirds of the way up to sculpture that I think we ended up um replacing like 25 boards in that section.

That I think we ended up replacing like 25 boards in that section.

And then that middle section actually stretches around to the door.

So the concern is that there's just things we don't know about.

And we're concerned about the integrity through another wet season next year.

Next slide.

And then I just want a point of clarification.

So on this recommendation, because this is a safety concern, the city, regardless of the arts commission's motion tonight, the city will still remove it from public view this year.

The de-accession is really a um a clerical one.

Um with the arts commission uh given the control of what is in the art collection and what is out of the art collection.

So there's we're we're bifurcating um the issues with this artworks simply because there's this is safety.

So even if you vote not to deaccession, we still have to remove it from public view.

Um and then there is the possibility, and we're looking at it um because the foundation it's an engineered foundation.

It was um roughly a $50,000 investment that the city made into this location.

Um we're looking at possible, like what are creative things we can do with it?

Could it be reused for another um art project?

Could it be a site where every few years we have an artist come work with this really unique foundation and and create something unique for the community?

Uh, but all those things are being explored, and we definitely want um the spirit of the artwork to live on and in this part of the botanical garden and also more broadly for Bellevue.

Next slide.

So um tonight um I am asking for a motion from the arts commission uh to recommend the decession of night blooming, and that would remove it from the formal roster of the public art collection.

Um in terms of next steps.

I will uh then work on um procuring a contractor to remove the piece, and then we'll start exploring ideas for a future life for the foundation um as well.

So and any questions.

Oh I'm so sorry, Scott.

I can hear the sadness in your voice as you talked us through this.

Um I'm wondering like, do I know we have like a session, like uh ceremonies and things like that.

Do we do anything for the de-accession process?

Um, that's my first question.

Um, I guess just to honor the artwork and the effort that was put into it.

Um and uh my second question is um, are we noting like the material materiality of spruce as you've noted, like you know, we've seen it deteriorate as a material faster than other types of wood types.

So, like um with projects like the grand connection and having um a lot of other things being built up bar, will we be discouraging artists from that material type?

Uh I love the the like almost like a seance or whatever, whatever, um whatever we want to call it, but uh a goodbye ceremony.

I think that's a wonderful idea.

Um, and we should absolutely explore that.

Um spruce, I think at this point, uh it's just going to be a material that we don't recommend for outdoor um application.

And so for outdoor works, I I think we just generally don't accept that from here.

Thank you.

Unless there's like a very specific project that's really about decomposition and doesn't pose a future safety risk.

But like, for example, like of the um the nurse log that's out on um the city hall plaza, like this idea of decomposition and regrowth being a part of a future proposal.

I could see spruce being um something that could be used for that, but anything that's um separate from that kind of those core ideas uh really is using the wrong material for um for their project.

Scott, uh Scott, real quick.

Once it's um uh taken apart safely.

Are you is it gonna be destroyed, or have you considered perhaps allowing students or other artists to repurpose some of that material?

Um it's in all in all likelihood it will have to be destroyed because there's so many screws holding everything together.

Um that one, just to remove all those to take it apart piece by piece would be very um uh time consuming and expensive.

And and then two, again, we anticipate we're gonna see a lot of um uh deteriorated wood um that will be unusable.

Um yeah, that's our current plan is to not reuse it, that it would actually need to be um destroyed.

Scott, like you, this is my favorite piece in the Bellevue collection, and I am really just devastated to hear that it's being deaccessioned, though I understand the reasons, and I think this maybe highlights the good work we all did creating a maintenance plan and asking these questions before we commission a piece in the future.

Um something I do want to suggest.

I saw your assessment of future opportunity that I would really maybe encourage the staff to think about is um recreating this piece and materials that might survive because it is a wonderful sculpture, but it's a fabulous experience, and it connects, like you've said, from very small children all through the aged people.

And something I'm wondering if you've looked at it all is a process called Shibori that they use in Japan all the time where the wood is charred and the charring prevents deterioration, and it's highly effective.

They do it in British Columbia, they do it in Japan.

It sort of maybe reconnects with our Japanese heritage in a really interesting way and would allow the piece to remain wood.

So I would really encourage while you brainstorm opportunities, you maybe brainstorm is there a way to make this piece that again that would allow it, you know, much more longevity and maybe explore that with both WSU, you know, as the creators, but but ask some questions that way because I think it's a very unique and powerful piece.

Yeah.

Um, you're talking about showsugiban.

Um yeah, yeah.

Um, yeah, that's a that's a good point.

Um I think at this point we're open to all ideas on what the next iteration is.

Um yeah, it's it's sad.

Um but I think if you were to ask me uh would I do this again?

I think I would recommend that.

Yeah.

Um just because the value and the love that it had created in the community um for a better production.

It was worth it, you know.

Um we'd make different decisions that could extend that life, but even the life that we got from it, I think was worth it.

So any other questions, comments.

Do I have a motion to deaccession night blooming?

Uh motion to de-accession.

And is there a second for that motion?

I second the motion.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

I think motion carries unanimously.

Thank you, Scott.

Thank you.

All right.

Next item on the agenda is update to the art commission bylaws.

All right.

So this is an item that all of the boards and commissions have been have seen over the past few months.

I am asking for direction tonight to bring back the recommended and updated bylaws for final action and adoption at the next regular meeting.

So keep that in mind as I discuss the different changes that are coming to your bylaws.

So you do have a copy in your packet of the red-lined version of our bylaws.

There's kind of three critical changes.

Again, all boards and commissions have seen this.

So Article 2, Section A.

This is a change clarifying the service, uh, your service on any board and commission is limited now to any board or commission at the city of Bellevue.

You are limited to two conservative terms, uh two consecutive terms.

Um so right now you're limited to two terms, but you could go and immediately be on the planning commission and then immediately be on another board and just kind of go through all of our boards and commissions.

Um right now, this is limiting you to two consecutive years.

Um you take off in between.

You can come back and serve on a different board or the same board.

Um, but there is now a very clear distinction that that break in between service um is required before you apply again.

Um another change uh is article seven, section E.

Um, this is uh regarding decorum, specifically um how long the uh exclusionary period is.

We're changing that from 60 to 180 calendar days, um, and then some updates to and clarity around what the appeal process is.

Um then some general formatting and language changes.

Um we did formally say he or she.

Um we're switching more to a gender neutral, they them, um, or themselves.

Um, and then just some formatting.

There was some strange capitalization or lack thereof.

Um and everything else will uh remain the same in your bylaws.

Um questions about these changes.

Um so again, tonight I'm asking for direction.

Um you need a motion, Manette.

Uh I don't think so.

Um, I think uh for direction, more if it's uh if someone has an issue uh before I bring this back.

Now is the time to speak on that issue.

Um otherwise uh I will be bringing this at a following meeting.

And this is consistent through all boards and commissioners, commissions for real quick.

So this is for us to approve next month.

You will have these bylaws.

Yes, in the future, I will ask for uh action, um, and then they will be signed and officially become your bylaws.

So maybe to step back a bit.

There's two kind of governing body or documents for the board.

You have your city code and policy, which is set by council.

So Bellevue City Code governing the art commission is set by council.

Your bylaws are something that you approve for yourself, although they are heavily um, I guess recommended and curated by your attorney, the city Bellevue City attorney.

So these are some recommendations coming from our city attorney's office, consistent for all boards and commissions.

There are elements of your bylaws that you all control pretty directly, like when you meet, things like that.

Um this is a couple times, it feels like almost yearly at this point.

We have some like uh system-wide updates, and I would put this in that category.

Yeah, like the Bellevue City Code changes, it affects your bylaws and then we make updates.

But uh if we approve these and the planning commission does not approve them, what happens then?

Then our attorneys get involved, and I don't know.

They're gonna have more in-depth sessions about these items.

Okay.

Depends on how much time you want to spend on bylaws.

Yep, right, right.

It looks like our next item on business is the next meeting.

Um, so we don't have enough items for May.

Um, so we're thinking uh June.

I know this is getting into summer break and school and everything.

So I wanted to confirm June 3rd is our scheduled uh first Wednesday of the month.

Works for you.

Does anybody have issues with June 3rd?

Everything will be remote or maybe not.

Okay.

Um we shall allow it.

We will note it may be remote email.

That's fine.

I may be remote.

Okay, just as long as you request remote before.

Um boy.

Um, well, that's a completely fair reason to not make it.

Um I will note uh every June we have elections.

Um so just keep that in mind.

I will warn you before to remind you if you would like to promote yourself to be a chair or vice chair or someone else.

Um the second thing on commission quick business is our capital facility allocation committee members.

Um so I wanted to confirm we have our allocations committee formally.

Those are usually for used for our art grants every year.

Those will change before the next art grants are will be reviewed.

Um we'll do uh committee assignments usually in September.

Um, but I wanted to confirm if the past allocations really the current, um, but those that reviewed art grants um for 2026 project grants, if you would also want to do capital facility um grants, uh those open um the 13th of this month and then close June 15th.

Um your review period would be in June.

Um we would likely also do interviews this time with uh applicants to learn more.

Um, have you ask questions?

Um so it'd be a little bit more than just reviewing and then talking about them.

You we might also pull you into some meetings.

Um the allocations committee for this year was Charles, Sandra, and um Erica, you were an alternate.

Um we can have a third person.

Um, I know you may or may not have a new okay, unless you're screaming to review some grants while you may have a child.

Okay.

So microphones.

So Chair Aldridge has uh volunteered for the committee.

All right, so Charles and Sandra, you are also okay with being on that.

I think all this activity would be in the month of June.

It'd be June and July.

Um we'd likely be coming back in September to the commission.

So all the work would have to happen before then.

I'm okay with that.

Yes.

Yes, we'll have virtual meetings, yeah.

Bigger applications but fewer applicants.

Yes.

Gotcha.

Yep.

I'm up for okay.

Perfect.

I'm okay to thank you.

Do we have any project update?

Uh we sure do.

Um, so like I said, the cultural facility grants program is launching on the 13th.

Um, tell all your friends who own arts and cultural facilities.

Um want to build them.

Yes.

Um, no major changes were made to the guidelines this year.

Um, there were a few tweaks here and there.

Um, but for the most part, it stayed the same.

Um, I will also note we have officially switched to submittable for collecting applications.

Um we were previously using SurveyMonkey apply, which all of you have experienced having reviewed um grants.

It's a very similar program.

It is a little bit uh potentially more user-friendly, which we're excited about.

Um so uh that's it's I think an exciting switch.

Um, and we hope it serves everyone well, including you all for your grant review.

Um there is a whole bunch of events here.

Um I will note there I did uh hear about one uh after this went out.

Um uh BISO has a masterclass series April 22nd and 29th at Overlake Church.

It is free um 6:30 p.m.

Uh, so just want to bring that to your attention.

Um, all the rest of these, if you look at the packet online, they have links.

Um you can learn about if there's tickets.

Um then I also included events in May since we won't be meeting in May.

Um switch to so a quick update on um some planning projects for the Bell Red Arts District.

The planning commission will receive an update on recent work of the Bell Red land use code update.

So if you remember, there's kind of two parts to updating the sub-area plans.

We have like that that neighborhood sub-area plan, and then we have the code.

Um, this has been a really heavy lift for the city.

Work is ongoing, but this is where the rubber meets the road.

Um, the planning commission will get that update on April 22nd here in this room at 6 30.

Um, public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

If you want to learn more about how they are prioritizing arts uses in the Bell Red Arts District, great time to come and see it.

You could also view those meetings live online, just like this one.

Um we also want to give an update on the Grand Connection Art Plan.

The staff is working with an artist to develop an initial draft of the art plan.

You're gonna get an update.

Uh, it's kind of tentatively scheduled for that June meeting.

We're looking like June's gonna be a busy meeting, but excited to see that moving forward as planned.

And then two studies are coming up.

You will receive in-depth uh study sessions on these later in the year, but we want to give you heads up that they are coming.

Um we are selecting a consultant to assess the needs and the feasibility of an outdoor purpose-built event facility.

So a lot of the conversation we had last time we met was around space and facility and things that we need in our community.

We do want to let you know there is some preliminary study happening in that space.

Um the scope of work for this outdoor venue uh includes significant public outreach.

You will hear more.

You will probably talk to these consultants as an art commission.

Uh, we're gonna look at market analysis.

Like, is there a market need to have an outdoor event facility?

Uh, what are those funding facility models, other elements?

Um, like I say, you will get a presentation on this later in the year, probably July or September.

Um, really excited.

We're kind of not saying park, if you'll notice there, I'm saying outdoor event facility.

We don't necessarily mean a band shell.

We mean something that is more um tailored for our community.

We see a lot of need for yes, outdoor concert performance, but also places for festivals, um, right places where you have markets.

Imagine the Bell Red Art District wanting to do an artist market.

There's not a great place right now to set up your row of tents where you have electrical built in, things like that.

You have easy load-in loadouts.

Um, so staff has been looking at models across the country and the world.

There's actually a great model in uh Australia.

Um couple acres, we're not talking huge.

We're not recreating Merrymore, but somewhere in between.

We have some amazing park facilities here in Bellevue.

They're not necessarily set up for these types of load-in loadout events, though.

Um, so early feasibility work.

The second study that we're going to be launching this year is um a market analysis operations validation and fit study around the major performing arts center.

You will get a very robust presentation on this as performing arts centers are part of your duties and responsibilities.

Um, as you are aware, we've had presentations in the past.

The Performing Arts Center East Side, in nonprofit here in Bellevue, has been studying and raising money towards a performing arts center for a set couple decades.

Um the organization is currently in a quieter phase right now.

Um, and at the same time, the Bellevue Convention Center Authority is looking at their expansion.

Um, so the city is taking the opportunity to look at the operation model of PACE and the physical model of some performing arts centers that could be a possibility at the Belly View Convention Center and see if there's an opportunity for combined effort.

Um, so it's unlike most studies where we do a lot of preliminary outreach.

This study is going to be more uh geared towards reviewing all of the previous studies for alignment.

Um say you will see quite a bit of information as we go.

That RFP is likely to go live here in the next month or so.

So we don't have um applications yet.

Um other updates.

We have in your packet under public art, no updates.

That is a lie.

Because Bellgate got taken out of the ground today.

So our one of our oldest artworks, uh, Bellgate by uh artist Leek Haley has been on the Grand Connection for a while, maybe the 90s, I want to say.

Um and the development on a group that owns the property that the artwork is on, has uh recently filed their demo permits and they're starting demolition to build a giant 600-foot tower.

Several of them actually.

There'll be three new towers on that site.

Um staff had worked with Ani over the years uh to hammer out an agreement.

Bellgate will be reinstalled on that property after the building towers are completed.

Uh so the artwork is being taken out a little faster than we had thought.

Um but uh in in good intention, it will be uh uh removed, stored by Ani on one of their properties.

Staff will have access to inspect.

We all get quarterly reports on the artwork.

Um, look, here we are.

Live video of it.

Come on out.

Um and then the artwork will be reinstalled uh along 106th Avenue, but slightly further north, so about halfway up that block.

Um that will likely be installed in I want to say 28 or 29.

Don't quote me, that might be 30.

Uh, we will be working with a development timeline there.

Um, but we do have contractual obligation to reinstall, so we are not worried about that part.

Um, it can't be there while it's a giant hole in the ground, though.

In uh temporary artworks, uh the artists working on the Bel Remuro have submitted their first draft designs and are now refining them.

Uh commission will receive an update once they are finalized, likely in that June meeting.

Um transportation department has selected a vendor to produce the designs for the creative crosswalks.

So artists will continue to refine their designs, um, and the commission will receive an update once those are finalized as well.

Looking at late summer, I think installation on those.

Yeah, I think uh July or August.

Yeah.

These are the crosswalks, the four crosswalks, yeah.

So, like many summers, we do a lot of prep work and then summer comes and there's a lot of install.

Let's see uh the final update in public art is that staff will be opening an application for emerging artists to apply for two public art projects, one in Lake Hills and one in Lewis Creek Park in Lakemont.

Two projects are following the models tested with the crossroads.

So this is our kind of scaling up, jumping scale.

We've called it a couple different things.

That project from a staff perspective, and I hope from yours as well, was incredibly successful.

We loved the artwork that we received.

It was very gratifying to work with an artist coming from studio scale into public art scale.

Um, so looking to recreate that model, uh, make it more of an annual, like uh regular program, probably every couple years.

Um application will be live in mid-April and close May 17th.

Um I have a question on this, and I think there was a post that the Bellevue um the Arts Commission or the Bellevue Arts Group put on um Instagram, and I saw a comment from somebody that's part of the Lake Hills community and asking about like what is their role as far as like um being able to steward like what art gets put in their neighborhoods.

I'm just wondering is that something we would invite them to council meetings and um, you know.

It's a great question.

Um and we do reach out to community groups when we are in neighborhoods.

So uh reaching out to that community group is part of the process.

It was very likely that somebody from that community group would be asked to sit on the selection panel with our art commissioners.

This, of course, selecting is is part of your all's role.

Um, but that is it's it's community voice.

Um beyond that, after the artist is selected, you as you're familiar with artists, usually have a lot of community input in the design of their artwork.

And it is a task that we build into their contracts to talk with and work with the community.

It can be a little jarring sometimes, I think, when our community doesn't necessarily know the process, and that's on us to help make sure that we're going to those going to their meetings to help inform them of the process.

And I believe that is it.

Any written communications or other information we have received.

Thank you.

Sorry, any written communications or other information we have received.

Not for this meeting.

All right.

Then it is 5 48 p.m.

And I am going to declare the meeting adjourned.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.