Mesquite Public Arts Commission Meeting - August 18, 2025
Mesquite Public Arts Commission Meeting - August 18, 2025
The Mesquite Public Arts Commission (MPAC) met on August 18, 2025, to discuss public art projects, the ongoing First Friday event, and coordination with the Eureka Casino Resort’s competing First Friday plans. The meeting included a consent agenda, discussion on mural repairs, and commissioner reports on new murals and statues.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the June 16, 2025, meeting and the agenda for August 18, 2025, unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the designated public comment periods.
Discussion Items
- First Friday Coordination with Eureka (Item 3.1): Gerri Chasko, representing Eureka Community Initiative, explained that the Eureka planned a competing First Friday event, initially offering $10,000 to move MPAC’s event to the Eureka. She clarified it was a goodwill gesture, not an attempt to take over. Several commissioners expressed a desire to keep separate events but coordinate timing to allow attendees to enjoy both. A motion was made and seconded to continue discussions with Eureka on holding two separate but coordinated events. The motion passed unanimously.
- Mural Repair at the Theater (Item 3.2): Commissioner George reported that artist Miles is researching the correct topcoat but is currently working on a project in Turkey for Disney. Repairs are delayed due to heat and Miles’s availability. The need for a lift rental and cost responsibility (to be resolved with City staff Randy) was noted. Repairs are expected in the fall.
- First Friday Mesquite Update (Item 3.3): Judy (event lead) provided an update: the event runs 4-7 PM at the Art Gallery and Jimmy Hughes Campus, with $10 vendor fees ($10 to city for vendor license, $10 to venue). Efforts to secure food trucks were ongoing (3 of 4 needed). Sponsorships totaled $150 each from several sponsors plus one $250 sponsor. Discussion included clarifying vendor rules — non-profits can have informational tables without fee, but selling requires $20 fee. The venue will emphasize live entertainment (bands and performers). A city email (impact@mesquitenv.gov) will be used for inquiries.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of consent agenda (minutes and agenda).
- Unanimous approval to continue discussions with Eureka for coordinated but separate First Friday events.
- No formal action on mural repairs; staff will coordinate with Miles and City officials when he returns.
- First Friday event logistics were clarified: contact for vendors is Chris (Art Gallery) and Mitzi (Theater); flyer to include city email contact; live entertainment wording adopted.
Commissioners Comments and Reports
- George reported on a new stucco mural at First North Street with glitter that changes appearance in different light; the artist also works with Ace Hardware, which may sponsor a mural. Another mural design is being developed with Reliance Connects.
- George noted the "Dance Mesquite" plaza project was approved by the City Council, but still needs funding.
- Nevada Arts Council’s America 250 grant was announced, matching artists with communities for 250th anniversary public art. Commissioners were encouraged to apply.
- Three statues (including a girl in a wheelchair with a ball and glove) were unveiled; a bench donation from Baja Imports was acknowledged. Thank-you notes have been sent.
Meeting Transcript
Monday, August the 18th at 10 a.m. And we'll open it up first of all to public comments. 1.1 public comments. Do we have any public comments at this time? Seeing none, we'll go on to uh item two, the consent agenda 2.1 consideration of approval of the Monday, June 16th, 2005, Mesquite Public Arts Commission meeting minutes, and the Monday, August 18th, Mesquite Public Arts Commission meeting agenda. Do we have any public comments on that? Okay, we have a discussion at all. Okay. I move to approve. A second. Okay. Administrative items. Oh, sorry, we have to. Okay. Approve. Aye. I okay. Administrative items four number three, administrative items. 4.1 discussion from Jerry. Chasco regarding First Friday. Jerry, you want to come forward? Hi. Jerry Chasco, Eureka Community Initiative. Can you get a little closer so we can hear? So given all the emails and phone calls I've already had. I'm sure that everybody knows what I'm here for. So the executives and the marketing department are just offering. We're doing a competing event on Fridays, and it was planned what long time ago. I did not actually know about it because it goes at a different level. So they just were offering you 10,000 to see if you wanted to move your events to the Eureka. It was it was a nice gesture, not like a mean gesture because I got a lot of really weird phone calls. Are you going to go into detail about what they could be uh offered again? Right. So we have a new event planner, and these discussions started back when she was in New Hampshire. So uh they want to do a first Friday, and since I'm the only person who actually touches mesquite, they had no idea that this event was going on. So when I brought it up, they said, Oh my goodness, we'd love to have joint together. And then they said, Well, please offer them 10,000. And you know, at the Eureka, we have all the the permits and the alcohol and the electricity and the people, and it was just to make it easier. Uh, because in in our defense, your uh event was often on a couple of times, so that's we didn't know it was a for sure, but they um they will probably continue with their event. And it's not really competing because it's a different kind of event, or is it more like a first Friday kind of a party? So am I okay to ask questions? Yes. So Jerry, so they're gonna do it. You guys are gonna do it anyway. And it's gonna be called first Friday. No, I I we're gonna do it anyway. I don't know what they'll do. They'll probably um I can't, I don't know. I'm not the event prep planner. But they're gonna they will, yes, most probably they will continue with their planning.
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