Good afternoon and welcome to the community culture committee hearing for Thursday, April the second, two thousand twenty-six.

Let us stand for the Pledge Allegiance.

Frederick is I move by Director of Recreation Bob Smith and Director of Special Events Office of Special Events, Jen Martin.

Welcome to the afternoon, Council Members.

Uh Bob Smith, Parks and Recreation.

Well, Jen Martin, uh, development and fundraising program manager for the Office of Special Events.

Um today I'm going to talk to you a little bit about our office and how we work with celebrate Frederick.

Uh Celebrate Frederick is a five oh one C three nonprofit organization with a fifteen member board of directors, nearly two hundred volunteers who donate over four hundred plus hours a year.

We start in mid-May with the beyond the garden gates garden tour.

And we round out uh mid September with In the Streets.

The first two weekends uh weeks in December.

Um most of them have been around for over four decades.

Uh, that began in 1978.

And I mentioned that because I think it demonstrates how deeply meaningful these events are to the community.

Um, they've become personal traditions to many folks, um, and we take that very seriously.

Uh, we also see how significantly they uh contribute to the quality of life here in Frederick.

So, our vision and hope for these events are that they create uh shared cultural experiences for those that attend, that they strengthen the quality of life here in Frederick, and that they promote tourism through large-scale signature community events.

Um, how have these events remained such a cornerstone for so many decades?

Um I think one large reason is the strong unique partnership between the City of Frederick, uh, the Office of Special Events and Celebrate Frederick.

So just a unique or quick rundown of what each of those organizations are responsible for.

Um, the City of Frederick provides in kind professional staff support in the form of the Office of Special Events.

Um our office is 2.25 employees.

I'll explain.

So my role is to work directly with the board of directors to support their initiatives.

I also am responsible for fundraising, mainly in the form of sponsorships.

And I also market the events and the organization, everything from social media to electronic uh newsletters, uh press releases, um, traditional media, those sorts of things.

We have a full-time events coordinator who works directly with the events committees and is responsible for um all the logistical details.

Um, and then our point two five employee is actually a recreation supervisor, um, and she manages the volunteer program, um, typically the day of event volunteers.

Um the city also provides logistical support from other city departments that um achieve you know public safety, street closures, sanitation, those sorts of things at the events, and of course, uh city facilities for meetings and hold the events.

Um, the Office of Special Events.

I did sort of touch on this when I talked about staffing, but our responsibilities are to raise the funds to ensure that the events are financially independent from the city to market and promote the organization and the events and then to manage the event logistics.

Okay.

Uh for its part, Celebrate Frederick is responsible for recognizing the city as a major sponsor for recruiting and training volunteers to serve on the board and the planning committees.

And these are really the leaders in the organization that make the events possible.

The board also, or celebrate Frederick also assists with fundraising and sponsorship with their time and also their connections, and of course, they operate within the bylaws and policies and procedures of Celebrate Frederick.

As you can imagine, Celebrate Frederick has a hefty policies and procedures document.

Um, but I did pull out a few key things just to give you an idea of the sorts of um things that that document does address.

Um, for instance, volunteers, uh, that portion of the manual does discuss uh the volunteer committee ways we recruit volunteers, how we recognize and thank them, um, how we address a violation and a policy and possibly terminate um ties to a volunteer and our conflict of interest policy.

Um for fundraising, we identify sponsorship levels, um, we address how we handle individual giving and grants, um, our first rate of refusal policy during our renewal period, um, and also our preference to work with local companies when at all possible.

Um, for entertainment, that portion addresses how individual artists can apply to perform at one of our events and how our volunteers pick those performers, um, our booking and contracting, um, what we require in terms of insurance and a cancellation policy.

Our booking and contracting, what we require in terms of insurance and a cancellation policy.

And for the events, we do have policy, individual policies for each event because they are unique and nuanced in their own way.

But we do address things like accessibility, how we manage vendor selection, the different admission or fee structures, and then how we deal with possibly canceling events.

So our long-term vision for celebrate Frederick is to continue to evolve and expand our events.

And whether that's expanding current events or adding new ones, either either is a possibility.

Increasing inclusivity with programming and booking updates, continuing to appeal to different audiences within our community.

Diversify funding streams to further strengthen the nonprofits financial stability.

And finally, just plan for additional staffing and resources to support the organization being able to grow and expand the events within the community.

Thank you.

Any questions you may have?

We'd be happy to do the best we can to answer.

Can you go back to the first slide, please?

If you don't mind.

Second slide.

So we see most of these events, of course, happening in our downtown area.

Correct.

And I think now, particularly that we move to the district form of representation of government and for our respective council members who represent those districts.

How can we have more events as our city continues to grow as our council representation represents their respective constituents?

How can we ensure or ensure?

But how can we now expand so that we're able to have these types of I'm not well aware of such things as industries or summer concert series in terms of that?

I think the other part about the summer concert series is we start talking about our possibilities on others parts of our city as we want on the West Side in particular.

How can we how are we able to expand these events?

And what do you need in terms of?

I know some of that may be financial, some of that may be personnel, some of that may also be collaboration with our council.

But what are some ways in which we can expand some of these events?

Right.

I'll let Jen elaborate a little bit, but I know that's something that we that we always think about, um, you know, trying trying to expand um, you know, not just the office of special events and those events, but uh expand all of our recreation, park and recreation opportunities across the city.

Um, I think Jen will continue to work with her team, we'll continue to work with celebrate Frederick to maybe be able to identify some areas.

I know Westside Regional Park uh is at a very very exciting area where we uh we could definitely look to expand some events as we continue to add the amenities there.

Um there there's certainly some other opportunities around the city.

Uh I spoke somewhat recently about some of the pop-up programming that we do on the recreation side of things as well, where we're bringing smaller events to parks, movie nights, uh, you know, craft night, other uh other opportunities like that.

Um I think um I think the key there is is is what we can do within Westside Regional Park.

Um, you know, we have that action plan that I spoke of a few weeks ago.

Uh there are some areas in the park that that are still open, you know, some possible areas for some event uh type programming stuff.

And as we continue to look at those opportunities, uh, you know, they would obviously require some funding.

Uh the magic end all be all.

Um, you know, but but I I think there's there's definitely some opportunities there.

I don't know, Jen, if you want to elaborate on that.

Um I just would echo that I think Westside Regional Park is a venue that has a lot of opportunities for these kind of large-scale community events.

Um I think that's definitely an exciting place for us to look to expand.

Um, you know, resources are always, you know, a challenge, but also finding um venues that can support some of these larger events um that go beyond the pop-up, smaller pop-up things that the rec department is working on right now.

Yeah, I would like to draw attention to uh the lake at Whittier.

I've spoken with some residents there, and there is definitely interest in that community to have you know park concerts.

They may need some infrastructure upgrades.

I don't think they have power out there.

And one of the challenges of Whittier Park is unlike Westside Regional Park, there's not a lot of of parking or transportation out there.

And so a lot of the people who come are going to be residents up there.

But Whittier is a pretty large community.

Uh so I don't know, put that in your in your uh I don't know if you have had conversations with folks up there.

Um I've had some conversations with with the HOAs um and and the NACs as well.

Um, you know, the opportunity to uh to I guess activate that that lake um you know through some fishing derbies or through other events like that.

There's a small pavilion.

You know, you mentioned some of the challenges, but I think those are some challenges that we can get around.

Um, you know, as we continue to add parks towards the north side of you know uh of the city, I I think we'll be seeing some more opportunities.

Kellerton Park or you know, some of the some of the new parks up that way.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

And Bob, if you don't, Director Smith, if you can, I know for my colleague, I know of course we talk about Carroll Creek.

And the attraction it is because of this location, also because of this foot traffic, also in terms of this location to how many per persons uh of course uh uh are within the downtown corridor framework.

Can you walk through the Carroll Creek um rental policy again, please?

I think that's so important as we now enter into this season.

Right.

I think it's so important for us to understand and be aware of.

Right.

Absolutely.

Um we revised the policy uh back in uh late fall, opened up that window.

Uh the window was a little bit late, but the window will run from December 1st to December 31st.

Um during that time frame.

We accept applications.

Uh once the time frame is over, then we sort through the applications.

Um I don't have it all in front of me, so if I miss a few pieces, I apologize, but I can get you the information.

Um we go through that.

Um we have uh put in uh a tier system, if you will, uh where nonprofits are actually the City of Frederick it is the first tier uh MOU holders, downtown Frederick Partnership uh would be that second, then nonprofits and then for-profits.

Uh so when we go through, we grant requested time.

Uh and that registration window, as I spoke, covers the entire calendar year.

So it goes from calendar goes from January 1st through the end of December.

Uh so we'll go through.

Uh we identify uh based on um organizations' requests, uh and then we grant time.

Uh within that, we've created basically uh like a third, so three different reservation windows.

And during that reservation window, during each reservation window that encompasses a few months, only a certain number of for-profit markets are permitted to be held on the creek.

Uh so that that limits the number of those, obviously.

Um what it also does, some of the concerns or or um uh I guess feedback that we heard was that there's something on the creek all the time.

And can there be an opportunity when the creek is a little more quiet?

Uh so that also allows us basically to allow one uh weekend uh blackout window, if you will, during those three registration periods uh where we uh cannot have any, I guess, formal activities on the creek that that that allows for a little more open environment.

Um I would say everything all in all worked out very well this year.

Um we got all the applications, like I said, based on the time frame we were working with.

It was a little later, so we were under a little crunch, but during the winter we don't have as much usage.

Um so we were able to grant organizations the weekends they were looking for uh based on the feedback we heard.

Uh we're able to limit the amount of for-profit markets uh that are in each reservation period, uh, as well as like I said, maybe some some open time on the creek as well.

Um after those reservation windows, then it is first come first served for reservations, but all of the parameters that I talked about with the for-profit market still have to be adhered to.

How many rentals were last year on a creek?

You know?

I'm gonna have to find that out for the I'm I'm not sure off the top of the phone.

And is that expecting you now that we revised the policy has been revised, you expecting more or just around the same number or I would think that that based on on the the you know, I guess guidelines that we've put in that that that we can expect about the same number each year.

Yeah.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Thank you.

Appreciate your time and then thank you for the information.

Thank you.

We certainly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Our pleasure.

Thank you.

Next turn on our agenda is discussion about our work plan, which will be upcoming as we have now journeyed through our respective kind of overview.

Let me just say this as the chair of this committee.

One of the things I wanted to do or try to do for our council members was kind of give an overview of current status of respective departments and ordinances and policies so that anything that is already in motion that we can support or anything that you may add on, want to add on to or even change.

Of course, council members had the right to present those legislative measures.

Also, in terms of what in particular that you may be thinking about in terms of an ordinance or policy and where does it fit.

And so that's one of the things I know we've covered some territory, and um if you like Councilmember Hempler Ronnie, I can kind of go through kind of an overview or kind of a review of what I've heard in terms of our respective conversations, but also in terms of our interests.

And so we first started with our equity accessibility work plan.

And one of the things we we talked about, and I know we have interest in is downtown and private facility accountability enhancements, which includes grant to small businesses to upgrade facilities for greater responsibility for those with disabilities, of course, um, accessible wayfinding features to improve navigation downtown in the public parks, and um grants to possibly retrofit housing and other buildings to allow for aging in place.

If any and if anything I I missed or anything you want to add, please feel free, but this is kind of where we're kind of heading, so we have some idea and understanding.

Um we're gonna look at is inventory of city buildings, city of Frederic buildings, current accessibility features, and identify methods of improvement.

I know both you and Councilmember Taylor have both talked about, particularly um from sidewalk measures also to frontages, I mean frontages in terms of accessibility for walkers for those uh who also may have other mechanisms in terms of transportation wheelchair, those who have walkers and to ensure that and also um just since um from a standpoint of make sure our signage and frontage also indicate that, particularly within our city framework.

Um parking outdoor accessibility enhancements.

Um I've talked about here um for a number of years is outdoor public Wi-Fi, particularly in our public parks, as we well know, um our parks are an amenity, and then the other part about that, we have so uh so many uh persons who utilize our parks.

Um I think this would be an another tremendous way of inviting people, but also allowing people to use parks for a number of for meetings space, particularly, I mean for meetings for a number of different dynamics.

And I've uh just wanted to have some conversations around public Wi-Fi, um evaluation of inclusive playground equipment, which I know you you talked about in the facilities and public parks and other uh public areas, um, outreach and engagement with our diverse communities, our uh deaf community ombudsman and community outreach and strategy to our deaf community.

Um one of the things that I I want to look at is uh interfaith community commission.

Um as we look at our community being uh diverse as it is.

Uh I think another important component for our community is our is our as our is our interfaith um um leadership and and and uh residue residents, but interfaith um population.

I think this also allows an opportunity for particular some of our policies and some of our discussions that take place to bring these entities together and have those discussions and uh as from a coming from an advisory standpoint um to allow us to um just just to be more in tune and more aware.

I'm examining the use of technology to increase the ability of non-English speakers to engage in City of Frederick resources.

One of the things we um I know we've had some discussion around is um how do we it be inclusive in terms of our meetings from the standpoint of allowing everyone to participate, whether that be um from an in-person but also from an online mechanism?

How do we look at possibly um our technology being used for public comment?

This committee should have that conversation and what that may look like with our communication department.

Um then partnerships with our IEC to promote um expanded services for immigrants.

One of the things we talked about is community creative use of our public prop public property.

Um we we had a conversation around inventory of current City African properties and how they are being utilized and other long-term plans.

I think that's gonna be an ongoing conversation that we can be involved in.

Um identify key sectors the city wishes to support long-term on city land and properties and develop justification statements for the proposed uses.

Um we talked about affordable housing on those affordable studio space and also child care.

And of course, identify long-term programming goals and action plans for each of these.

And then coming up, I know our manager of public arts and culture program is just is on maternity, but she's also has some other obligations.

They will be coming before us at the first of May.

And so just in terms of making ourselves aware of that.

But I'm sure we're going to have some very robust conversation around what that department does, how we can assist and support that.

And then of course, one of the conversations we just had was our policies and to encourage community events in all areas of our neighborhoods.

One of the things I I shared with our economic development team was that we're going to have some conversation coming up is looking at, particularly around our downtown corridor, about possibly shutting down those streets in terms of transportation and then making those those avenues of travel from walkability and bicycle, and see that how that is from an economic development standpoint, but also just from a tourist standpoint, but also just from an amenity standpoint and a vibe standpoint, if you will.

So I think that provides a conversation for us to also be innovative and creative with our downtown area as well.

And so one of the things we looked at, of course, previously was our workforce training strategic plan, our city apprentice apprentice program updates, of course, our youth center, our re-entry work training plan, um, people with disabilities, workforce training, and return ships.

And I know we did have some conversation, and I know me and you are very interested in this about our internships, and so we can also revisit that.

That is just a status report in terms of where we're going to be heading.

And so any comments, any thoughts, any new items.

I'll make sure you get this.

I'll I'll it's kind of in a preliminary form, but as we um as I receive input from both you and Councilmember Taylor, then I will be sure to ensure that this also is available for public documents so the public can be aware where our committee is heading.

This obviously shows like how well you have been listening and you know, putting together synthesizing all the things we've been talking about, all the things that that you know has have come up during the campaign and and with the the mayor's budget and and all of this.

So thank you.

Uh I I wanted to comment on the outdoor public Wi-Fi.

So I lived in Pennsylvania for a short time and spent a lot of time in Pittsburgh, and in one of their public parks, they had sort of like an outdoor cafe, and um that was a Wi-Fi spot.

And so there were tables and chairs and people gathered there, and you know, they used their Wi-Fi, but it was also a place where people met.

It was a a third space, and it sounds uh kind of like what you were describing.

And then like a coffee cart would come or like a food truck or whatever to serve that.

Uh anyhow, it was a really cool thing to, of course, during warm weather months, which is shorter in Pittsburgh than here.

Uh, but I think that's a fantastic idea.

Uh we we've all talked about the the deaf ombudsperson uh, and I'm not sure because we haven't gone through the whole budget yet if that has been budgeted or if that's going to be something for the future.

But I think it's something that all of us have responded really well to.

Along with that, we can schedule is with our deaf community leadership and residents.

We can have them come in and give us an update and then of course um talk about needs and how we can support and from that angle.

So I appreciate that.

And the bringing up the interfaith commission, or I don't know what you called it.

Yes, it interface, something interface.

I'm envisioning an inner interface, let me say interface council, and I'm not sure commissioner.

Interface council.

Um something like that.

There was, of course, you know, we we we live in a very complex and diverse world.

And oftentimes uh in those uh in the complex and diverse world, um, our faith leadership sometimes provide um input, provide strategy solutions which are beneficial to to governmental sectors.

And so I think also just from a means of communication, um, we oftentimes see when um situations happen within our community that faith leaders may not be able to talk to each other, but talking across each other.

And I think this is an opportunity for us as a city to bring those to have that ongoing dialogue often, even some ongoing recommendations, particularly as a council, how we can look at maybe legislation and policies as well.

No, I think that's a fantastic idea.

And especially our faith leaders are caring for members in our community that may face issues that we don't know about.

And I know we've talked a lot about uh constituent services and communication and community engagement.

I think that's a really great way to engage with segments of the community and and especially with all the services that a lot of faith groups provide to in to our residents.

Um I mean a lot of uh faith groups are are doing food and collecting donations for HHS, and so there's a lot of overlap in that that care of the residents.

Um so I think that's really important.

I just kind of reminded me we talked about, particularly as we are as we are now integrating into our budget conversations, um as we are aware of our budget may be a little more constrained this year than we may have been in previous years.

And I think the more partnerships, the more collaboration that we can have, particularly for the the most vulnerable of our communities, because as you as you mentioned, many of our faith institutions are providing a great community service um to our to our residents.

And so I think it's just I think it's important that they be invited to the table.

And also for us to see how we can partner and collaborate um with these because you know, as we well know in these um trying times, it's going to take all of us working together.

Um entity can do all this work alone.

And so I think oftentimes say this that government um can't do everything.

Well, one of the things the government can do is it can't it can't lead those efforts and bring in per and bringing partners and institutions or organizations together to see how we can we can all um work together to ensure that all of our residents' needs are being met.

Yeah, that's fantastic.

And we already have a lot of really good faith-based uh charitable organizations like the the Living Water Shower Ministry, and I think there's a there's a bus with laundry.

I'm not sure if that's uh from a faith-based organization, but um I know the Salvation Army provides some shelter.

And so we already have a lot of uh really great things happening, and it it's um I think it just helps all of us if we know what one another is doing and who we're serving and who we're missing.

I think that's a a key thing that it's always it's not always clear to us whose needs are going unmet.

And I think along with this, just this goes uh particularly when it's coming about community and culture, about how do we have a living out, have a vibrant community for all, but also the culture and and what I mean by culture is um I always said this since I've been in office is it's it's not an outlier, but this is how the city does its work.

This is how the city operates.

There is no question in terms of how the city wants to be inclusive, how we serve a very diverse community, and how our services should be available to all residents.

And so I think it's so important that we um that this is expressed and explained, but also that persons are our entities are invited to the table, so see how we can we can work together to to do what needs to be done.

Another thing I wanted to add was I know we we've all had received commerce uh conversations, we all see emails around uh I had talked about our city attorney um around looking at our noise ordinance and reviewing that.

Um we have received information in terms of emails, and so that would be also a conversation we will be having uh in the near future.

So one of the other things that's that stuck out to me is this idea of closing off streets, and I know that there are pros and cons to it.

And uh one of the things I love about pilot programs is that we can try it out and gather some data from that.

And I know that during the pandemic when Market Street was closed periodically, it was really enjoyable to eat outside, partially because of the noise.

You know, there was it was quiet and uh that we had these long tables in the middle of the street, and that maybe doesn't have to be permanent, but to do that periodically and give people kind of a break from the the noise and the chaos of of traffic, which is something we hear people complain about all the time.

So I I love that.

Um I love that you use the word vibe, because it's something that it it's hard to quantify, but but when people go to a place with a vibe, with a good vibe, you feel it and you want to go back.

And um I I do think Frederick already has kind of a vibe, but we can we can bolster that uh whenever we bring people together.

Um also I know that uh we've talked a lot about the the workforce development and apprentices and uh anyhow I'm excited about all of these things.

Like where do where do we start?

Like, what is the next the next right step?

Well, what what I'll do is in these um uh kind of in this listing is some conference we've had is what I'll do is I'll I'll send us out.

We can prioritize this in terms of what we see is in terms of what you want we want to address first.

Um and then we can we can go from there and move it into those directions and um kind of lay out the direction around that around those.

So what I'll do is um with uh Council Member Taylor on being able to day, I'll make sure that she has this list.

I'll formalize it more um in a comprehensive kind of context.

What we can do is prioritize and then we can we can move forward and this also uh allows the public to know where this committee is looking at and addressing and be involved and engaged in as well.

Sounds good to me.

Yeah.

Yes, I'll do with you in a second.

Thanks for coming out.

I met Peter at a fun reader.

We can read it at our neighbor's house.

Okay.

Peter?

I live on East Patrick Street.

I love East Patrick Street.

Which is part of this question.

Uh three twenty seven.

It's like near like the end of Carroll Creek when it starts turning into one.

So probably probably go to the city website.

It has that.

Yeah, but if there's also a tool in there that will help you put in your address.

Right, I got my mom said the same thing.

She's like, and I started working on the computer that's what they fail, you know?

And then like so far so good.

I haven't had that issue with the butt you're out.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

Uh those lights.

Okay, so I can't.

Does anyone know if there's Wi-Fi?

Uh there should be a Wi-Fi.

Um I haven't tried it.

I'm a journalist for the Frederick News Post, and I want to be able to like you know be able to access my notes.

Is it over?

Like if you use power too.

It should be like City of Frederick's public C O M public or something like that.

It's not popping up.

It's all right.

Wait, C O F public.

Yeah, COP is the Wi-Fi password over there.

Uh I think it is just Frederick.

It's I think it's Frederick and it might be capital F, but I don't know.

I'll try it.

Um, everything I see is password protected.

Yeah.

That's great.

I'm working every day on it.

Yeah.

But pretend to have more teachers when you said that talking to the neighbors that mark it to the end.

Oh look at the front straight over towards very dense.

Oh yeah.

Oh, I don't know.

Okay, so we already have to say that we get something.

I did not want to stay.

Um, I was freaking like so.

I've got a jump down.