Welcome everybody to the March 16th Mosquite Public Arts Commission meeting.

Okay.

And we'll do we have a we have a quorum.

We have five.

So we'll go to public comment.

Okay.

Oh.

Over to the screen.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm a representative of the uh mesquite iron cactus memorial.

And I know you're already.

Would you please say your full name for the record?

I apologize.

My name is Jennifer Andreson.

I'm part of the committee with the Mesquite Iron Cactus Memorial.

And you're all familiar with it, I believe, because Thomas Stark had been here earlier this month or maybe a little bit longer.

But uh where it stands right now, we have planted the memorial, and it is out front where it had been agreed upon, and we have it wrapped up.

And I just wanted to update you that we'll be doing the unveiling Wednesday, March 18th at 12 noon.

And I'm here to just extend a big invitation, and we would like to have you all attend the unveiling to support um our first unveiling of our uh first memorial.

Of course, there's gonna be others, but having all of your support would be greatly appreciated.

And that's really all I have.

Is there any questions?

How did I miss that when I was walking in?

It it's it blends because it's wrapped with this big green part.

How exciting.

It is, it's very exciting.

And I did go out on a post on Facebook uh Sunday and put out to all these different groups, and we've had a lot of great support and um great comments.

People said it, you know, they're excited about it.

Um questions about you know the recycling of the golf clubs, uh, the dedication that we're putting out there for the community of people that have been coming to Mesquite.

Uh you know, the impact of the economic uh, you know, jump to our community because of the tourism and everything.

So it's it's a really good way that we can kind of pay back to you know the past and the present and the future.

So um anything I can Are you having the show girls come?

I did mention it to uh Bronzy.

Yeah, uh, and I don't know if we're gonna be able to get him in because we're not sure exactly, you know, we're a grassroots, so it's not like we have a lot of uh loose funds or anything like that.

So I don't know how the show girls we can tie them in.

So I'm kind of waiting for like a DM back from her, but we're hoping maybe we can get something like that.

Yeah.

Uh we're trying to do a little bit of radio broadcasting.

Um it was kind of like on a short uh a short notice when we got this in.

So unfortunately, we kind of had a short timeline to like get the blast out.

Um so we're we're hoping that uh with the Facebook and the neighborhood and word of mouth and networking like that, that we're able to get a a good uh uh showing of people when we do our first unveiling.

Yeah, is what we're making.

Well, the date again.

It is Wednesday, this Wednesday, March 18th at 12 noon.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And um the mesquite showgirls are free.

Oh, oh, okay.

So and I could give you Becky Boyd's number, she's the one who runs it.

Um she is lovely and would love to support if if she can have girls be there, she would no, that would be great.

And and because I'm I'm really good friends with with both uh Bronzi and uh Linda because I know that they're the show girls, so yes you want to get that out after the meeting if this is the oh yeah, I'll give it to you afterwards.

I'll write it down so then from our yes, so then it's not public to everyone.

Why is everyone texting me?

No, I can get that from Karen, but no, I love that.

And like I said, I had reached out to Bronzi, and I was hoping maybe she'd get back with me on that.

But awesome.

That would be wonderful.

We could have we could have them there because uh everybody knows the show girls, so it would really, you know, brighten up the whole unveiling.

Yeah, so anything else?

No, thank you.

This is very exciting.

Wonderful.

We really appreciate your support, and we we appreciate it just so much.

Thank you.

Thanks, Jennifer.

There's that okay.

Anyone else public comment?

I guess this is where I get up and talk, right?

Oh, well, you're an agenda item.

Okay, I think we want to give you more than three minutes.

I didn't have the agenda, sorry.

Any other public comment?

Um, can I fill in the newcomers to the commission?

Um Thomas brought us this idea over a year ago for the iron cactus.

And um since then we've been collecting golf clubs and building, and there are now two completed cacti cacti.

Okay, one's still sitting in his garage, but um city council is the one that approved us putting the first one in front of City Hall, um, which kind of is a tribute to all the economic development and the monies that come in from the golfers.

Um, and we're working on the second placement now.

So if anybody has any other questions, let me know.

Okay.

Very cool.

I can't wait to see that.

Okay.

Okay, no other public comment.

Okay.

Um, we'll go to two, the consent agenda, and that's a consideration approval of the Monday, February 9th meeting minutes, and the Monday, March 16th public arts commission meeting agenda.

Move for approval.

No, any public comment.

Okay, for approval.

Okay.

Second.

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

I administrative items.

First Friday updates, Judy.

All right, Judy Cole White, the first Friday director.

And um just a brief report on First Friday and the progress.

The the first item that we have, we have a slight hiccup with um political parties being present.

And we are um Steve and Marco and I are researching to see what was actually approved by the city council for First Friday, and to make sure that we're within our boundaries to limit the political activity because it was our original when George and Steve and I sat down and put First Friday together originally, it was that it was a an art festival, and it was for arts and crafts and food trucks and that type of thing, and we didn't want it to become political.

So we will report back on what our findings are on that.

And the first Friday event, the wind blew a lot, but we had a great turnout, and it was a little chilly, but we had um the women at the gallery made had their food there, and the um uh one of the food trucks anyway.

He I can't remember which one it was was there serving ice cream and cokes and soft drinks, and then the band was actually really good again, and it was a Delta Strait band, and the high school honor society was there showing with a science with their science projects.

They had four or five kids there with projects, interactive projects for the kids, and we had about 25 vendors and the taste of mesquite, and the at the very beginning of the event was the dedication of the community piano, and that was really well received.

And Juan played for what a half hour?

Half hour, yeah.

It was it was really it was really impressive.

So, and the piano is there for anybody that wants to come play right now.

It's kind of fun, kind of a fun I idea.

And um we have the one coming up is March 23rd or April 3rd, I'm sorry, April 3rd, and it is um vendor deadline is the 30th, and then we have a planning meeting actually next Monday at nine o'clock.

If any of you would like to come to start off the October planning for the October where we change over to Saturdays, so and that will be um over at the art gallery, so we could have two additional people.

Judy is at nine or nine thirty.

What's that?

Is that nine or nine thirty?

It's at nine on this Thursday.

Do you think on on the um the 19th?

Uh 23rd.

Oh, the 23rd.

Next next Monday.

Oh, the Monday.

Next Monday, on the 23rd.

So are there any questions?

Thank you.

Okay.

I do have one for you.

At the last MORF meeting, um, the update on the I'm sorry.

At the last morph meeting, at the update on the financials, your thousand dollars went into an account there.

Um have all your bills been paid so far.

Well, you have any.

I've incurred a few more.

And um Martine has has indicated she will help me with those, but for signs, we needed signage.

Okay.

And um she's uh indicated that she will help with that, but everything has been paid up to that point.

Okay.

So I was just checking to see if we needed to talk to them at the next meeting about needing any of those funds right away.

Yeah, okay.

So okay.

Judy, thank you very much.

Doing a great job.

I have one question.

Okay.

So um so if MPAC has a table, MPAC fills out a vendor form every month.

Correct.

And I filled that out for and you'll fill that one out.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

Okay.

Yeah.

And we start they are requesting vendor forms from everybody simply because we have to turn that into the city.

It all of our vendor information has to be turned into the city.

But that did change from what we had originally talked about.

But that did change from what we had originally talked about.

Right.

Okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Judy, before you go, I I know um April 3rd or the next first Friday.

I can't be there, Karen.

I don't think you can be there.

No, I'm out of town too.

Um, who can represent um impact there?

Well, I'll be there.

So I will make that so don't we have our our tables side by side, impact and DDTG?

No.

No.

No, we're side by side with the iron cactus.

What we're side by side with the iron cactus.

Okay, so Dave, I've got the table and the and the signs, the banners, if we can connect some now between then and April 3rd.

I'll send you an email.

Okay.

Will we have maps?

No.

One more question.

Okay.

Were you able to use the lights then from the shared uh uh we didn't need them?

Didn't need to because of the change in time.

Okay.

And then it was getting too chilly.

We actually shut down at 6 30.

Okay.

Yeah.

So it was the lighting was adequate.

Okay, good.

Good.

Okay.

Thanks, Judy.

Thank you.

George Gault for the record.

Uh good morning, folks.

Uh I'm aware of a complaint about last the last first Friday.

Uh just sent it to you this morning, Steve.

I probably haven't had a chance to read it.

Oh, I've had a chance.

Pardon?

Yeah, I'll go ahead.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't interrupt, should I?

Um the Democrat Party apparently was invited by Mitzi, and then we're told they had to leave or couldn't come back.

So there's lots of confusion about the policy.

So I'm I'm suggesting that start a way to think about the policy, maybe in some different ways, and run it by the council and so on.

So um, I'd like to comment on that.

So when we started our first Fridays, when we started our first Fridays, and at the Jimmy Hughes campus, we were focusing on nonprofits, and the city supplied me with the nonprofit uh Excel spreadsheet.

So everyone got invited that was on that spreadsheet, and at that time there was no limitations, it was invite nonprofits.

Okay.

So in the invitation, the idea was that they in our invitation, the idea was that whatever nonprofit you are, please use your mission statement and find an artistic way to come and be part of our first family art walk, first Friday family art walk.

Okay.

So everyone was trying to find an artistic way to express their mission statement.

Okay.

So that's that's where that came from.

It wasn't a specific invitation to any specific nonprofit.

Okay.

So that's that's my statement on that.

So I hope that clarifies that.

Yeah.

And yeah, that I've spoken with the Democrats, and and they were there to do face painting and offer um voter registration.

Yeah.

Someone wanted to vote uh be registered.

And those folks were they'd been to the to Las Vegas and been trained and were they get a title, it's uh I'm I'm not sure what it is, but it's indicative of their training by the uh Secretary of State's office, I think.

So um that it was not as a partisan.

My understanding is they did not consider what they were doing partisan, they're just a simple voter registration they offer for convenience.

So and right, I agree.

So and I I I see community development in whatever party you are, you know.

I see I see that they had the community interest first when they're out in the community, you know.

So um anyway, it's hard to leave somebody out, right?

Okay, I I uh I guess that that my feeling is I'm not a Democrat or a Republican, I'm a communitarian, and I want what's best for my community.

And if that means being inclusive, then I feel like that that's what's best.

Now that the other party they can choose to, you know, not perform that way, and then they would eliminate themselves.

But anyway, inclusivity and what's just a good message, you know.

What are we what are we uh teaching the the children when they look at all of this, you know.

So anyway, thank you, George.

Yeah.

Marco, is it okay if I say where we're at with this right now?

Sure.

Okay, where we're at, I was aware of this on Thursday, and I told everybody who came to me that hold your horses, let me find out what was passed by the council, and that's what we're doing now.

When we find out what was passed by the council, then we'll address it.

But until then, going to everybody and their brother talking about it is uh I feel like a waste of time right now.

We will get with it, and we will let everybody know.

Thank you, George.

George, just to comment, it's strange to see on that side of the DS maybe on this side, but I'll answer that case.

Okay, next is um 3.2 discussion and possible action on creating a utility box art program.

And the idea there was um it's very expensive to get the wraps put on.

So what I did, I went back and I found out what Clark County Arts was doing, Carr County Rec and their arts department and their painting.

Okay, and I think they pay the artist 44 dollars a square foot, which comes out to a medium-sized box here, would cost us about I think about 14, 1500.

So what I'd like to do is get approval to move forward with this, at least on a planning stage.

Okay, I have a comment.

Um, when you go to painting, did they um give you information on the type of paint and the lifeline on the paint in our sun?

Yes, it's all more than maybe what we want to do.

Clark County has it all laid out.

Um it's it's quite expansive.

I think I have it here somewhere.

Okay, so we have the details on that.

Yeah, we we have in great details.

So the 44 dollars is for the artist.

How much do the materials cost then?

The artist pays for the materials, and that's included then in the 44.

Yes, the artist also pays for the covering that gets painted over the clear covering.

Okay.

There's a clear code, obviously they get to be painted on.

Yes.

And Clark County puts the clear coat on, but the artist pays for the paint.

So evidently the artists make money out of it, because I don't think there's any complaints down there yet.

Okay.

So this weekend on Facebook, there was a post on Sun City where somebody put a picture of a power box that was painted in a neighborhood in Ivons, and how cool would this be to do in Sun City?

So I wrote a nice four four-paragraph dissertation on how much this cost, um, how long it lasts, um, what you have to look for, who you have to get approvals from.

We are not Utah, we are Mesquite Nevada.

So there's been some comments back on my comment, but there are people who want to do this in their neighborhoods.

But that I suggested that they come to us first.

Okay, number one for approval of the artwork.

Number two, so that we can get in touch with OPD for them or with them to get the approvals on that, and then they get the approval through city council.

Thank you, Karen.

I must have missed that.

Um also I've been to OPD.

Yeah.

Okay, and and they're all for this.

Um, but they also want to know, and they they have some certain rules that would have to be abided by.

So there's a lot more work we before we can do this.

Um, but I think it's it's a possibility, and um so it's not like just random, like any neighborhood could just say, we're gonna get together this weekend, and like it would be approved, because then we could have some crazy artwork, right?

Like it would be approved by someone, it wouldn't just be like, oh, you just have free rain.

No, I think you you're gonna have to you the design has to be approved, and I assume you know we would have to approve it, and then the council would have to approve it.

Because obviously we don't want something X-rated.

Well, then there's like HOAs too.

It's just gonna say what about it?

What about HOAs?

That's on city and so forth.

And that's the other thing I added in there was that you first the first stops are HOA.

We did have a request probably two years ago from a gentleman over um in the subdivision that's across from enchantment on that road that doesn't have a through road.

Um, and he went to the HOA and they denied it.

So it was not gonna happen.

And and many of those HOAs north of the freeway, you have the master association and then the sub-HOA.

So there's two, there's you probably have to get approval from both.

Um so would this replace us re-wrapping the other what boxes that need to be rewrapped?

Like, is this what we would do for that?

No.

No, those would still be wrapped.

The ones that we've already talked about.

Yeah, we want to keep up, and Karen's done a really good job with that of fixing the wraps that are starting to work out.

I just didn't know if you were proposing for this to be the solution, or if this is totally different thing.

And by the way, Karen, you're gonna ask, it's it's um five years is what they so which is what the wraps basically are as well.

Um while we're on that subject with the wraps and the power boxes.

Um we the re-wraps that we already approved only came to like $5600, and the grant that we got through Morph was 10,000.

And so um Sam and I went out and we picked two more boxes to get a bid on, and one was um $2,640, and the other one was um $2,800.

We can't do both and get them into um the grant monies, I'm sure, about a thousand dollars.

So we need to pick which one we would prefer to do Dollar General or Dollar Tree.

Um Dollar Tree is the one that is at the corner of Falcon Ridge and Pioneer.

So which analogous um Dollar General is 2640, and Dollar Tree is 280.

Which one do you think is more damaged or they're both about the same, but I think that for visibility, more people are at that traffic light at Falcon Ridge and Pioneer than they are going up and down Mesquite Boulevard.

So my choice would be the Dollar Tree one.

And then the excess funds that we have left over.

So I would make a motion to add in the one for Dollar Tree, which is at Falcon Ridge and Pioneer.

All right, second that.

Staff is this agenda?

Is this part of the agenda item?

No, we're we're off.

If we see it fit as part of 3.2, um if not, we'll have to put it on next agenda for approval.

I don't know that we we've already approved doing these wraps.

So yeah, we have.

I just wanted to pick a location.

So it's pretty much pick your location.

Okay, I'll pick the location.

Okay.

I believe so.

For 3.2, I'm not I'm not really asking for a vote or anything on that now.

It's just if everybody's okay with it, I'll start doing more work on painting the boxes.

And um actually I'm a little afraid of the work because the paperwork that Clark County gave me is huge.

I don't know that I I don't know that I nor the city wants to get involved in that, but we'll have something that works.

I think we ought to continue on with the going after trying to paint them and having more individualized um art.

I mean, I Rochelle's art has been awesome, and she's been the mainstay of all the boxes we have in town right now.

Um, and with one more coming, and then I think the rest should be open to other artists as they see fit with approval from MPAC and then City Council.

Yeah, I agree.

I think it could bring it up.

Yes, and and this gives us an opportunity to be a little more um free with it.

Um, some of them that I think we could have sports related around the fields, we could have pickleball, um, we could have theater.

Yep.

No, I think it's a great idea.

Um, you know, them tumbling and like that.

So and out in the neighborhoods, it really you could have some really unique artwork done uh out in some of the neighborhoods that I mean you I see it could become kind of an interesting thing, especially up in Sun City.

This neighborhood has this art, this neighborhood has this on the box, you know, that kind of thing.

So yeah, it could be pretty cool stuff.

So I I will bring um more information next meeting.

Cool.

Okay.

Steve, before we move on, remind me, did you open this up to public comment?

I'm sorry.

Remind me, did you open this up to public comment before we move on from this item?

Um, yeah.

Okay.

Okay, 3.3.

Um Mitsi, discussion of possible action on proposal for a youth music opportunity program.

Okay, um so I I had a community uh person contact me with this idea.

And uh since this is the first idea that I'm presenting to uh MPAC, um I guess what I would like everyone to do is maybe uh think about it.

This is a very ambitious project.

Um I see this happening over a year's time.

So probably in 2027.

We use this year to write a grant, um, get the committees, get the um where we're going to have our practice rooms, um rent the uh instruments that we need.

Uh it's it's very ambitious.

And the point being is that we bring together groups of musicians in ensembles, duets, uh little rock bands or whatever the talent is that shows up, and the teachers uh and uh volunteers on the committees.

Um then we have a performance at the end, and uh just show our our year's work or six months' work.

Uh and the purpose of this is developing playing opportunities for young musicians, and um just giving them a an experience of of what it would be that they would not get um probably anywhere else.

And I thought that it was something that would be was doable, something that I would like to be involved with.

And so I thought we could talk about it and I would introduce it.

So Mitsi, we're going to do this a little backwards now, but I wanted to find out a little bit about what you're talking about.

Now we'll open it to public comment.

Okay.

No public comments, so let's talk about it here.

Mitsi, my my thought about this is I'm not sure that impact needs to be involved in this, because I think this is just let's get it done.

Okay.

I think if you have empax approval though, it goes a little bit further with the credibility.

That's the sponsorship.

That I'm asking for permission and support in what we're doing.

And with the support, then we can also announce it at City Council.

Yes.

And get it out there more vocalized, so to speak.

So I'm not I'm not really sure if I'm prepared to take this to City Council this month.

Today was just kind of a getting, you know, seeing what you all thought about it.

And anyway, that and that's why I thought, well, this this is probably something that would work well for our community, simply because, and we'll talk about it on the next agenda item, simply because our uh rising star program with the youth has has worked so well in this rural community.

Yeah, and Mitzi, I think we've already really got a great start on this with the Symphony Orchestra and the high school, and the high school band's been coming out.

There's a jazz band, I think now, and they've come out and they played it first Friday.

Yes.

So what are you really talking about?

You're talking about um making this a little formalized that we would have like um like art in the park, we would have the jazz band play it at Mesquite First.

Okay, so we're really looking at children that are younger than high school.

This would be starting starting children out with music lessons that maybe aren't in the uh school system at this time but would like to learn an instrument.

Um children may be going to a private school that doesn't have um you know this kind of an opportunity, and actually maybe it could develop into a music business, someone opening a music business here in the city where they are running instruments and giving lessons and a formal you know music program, and um I feel like that the symphony and the high schools would support a program like this because then they would get feeders going into their programs that would already have some background.

Yeah, I look at the middle school that doesn't have any choir choral, um, and they lose, you know, they go from elementary school and then they have this big gap of nothing, um, and then they go to high school, and high school is actually talking about eliminating their choral program all together.

So I think there's definitely a place for this for sure.

I would love to see this happen.

There's the the idea of providing opportunities for where they these little groups can play, you know, outside it talks about um having businesses uh support and donate to the program and having them come and play, you know, in front of their businesses or having them playing uh when the bell ringers play, you know, at our community events and and uh um like I say it it it's a discipline, the learning to play an instrument is a discipline.

So the fact that we're that we could uh give lessons now.

I I don't know if this will fly.

I don't know if I can we'll get people on a committee who would be willing to be part of this, but I feel like that there are adults who do play an instrument that would possibly be interested in donating their time to be a teacher and work with these little little groups that uh we we would just have to see.

Yeah, but but definitely I would want the impacts endorsement and the city endorsement on something this big and then I would like to know um where the best places are to go and and I'm I'm willing to write a grant, but I I don't know where to go to do that.

Um I have written a couple grants from the Nevada Arts Council.

Um so I just uh thought maybe there were some professionals, Steve, that you might know that you could help me with that.

Yeah, and let me I'll introduce you to um I have a friend, I have a friend, I don't even know her name, but we've talked a hundred times.

Um she owns a business called Rare Spark Lessons in Las Vegas, okay and they play at the for free.

Um they get to bring all their kids to play on the stage at container park if you've ever been to container park, there's a really nice stage there.

And can I get you in touch with her?

Yes, because I've talked with her, she said she would like to expand her business um up to mesquite.

Wow, that'd be cool.

So if if we could could demonstrate that there was an interest, then that would possibly encourage a business to come here.

And we probably can find room for them to hold their lessons between the theater, the steam center.

Yeah, I'm I'm I'm all for it.

What is that called?

The rare spark?

Rare spark lessons.

That's awesome.

There's another organization there too that does it called um oh um they they do they do rock bands, school of rock.

School of rock, that's it.

Yeah, there's a guy here who just opened what the one in St.

George.

Right.

Um, so I know he would probably be willing to help too.

Um he's very busy.

He is really busy.

Yes, yeah.

Um, so yes, kind of like a school of rock.

So that's why we would need a couple of practice rooms that would have a drum set and uh an amplifier just already staged there, and then just fill it up with uh practice sessions.

Yeah, the only thing with School of Rock is it is pretty pricey, so it's not really for this every you know family.

This would be totally uh well, maybe I don't know.

I I don't want to speak.

Yeah, it's hard to say that because will the will the instructors want you know to be paid, yeah.

Um, but um I can get you in touch with the lady who runs Rare Spark.

I think she doesn't make a whole lot of money out of it, but she's a person who can play every instrument.

The other person who would really be good, and she again lives in uh um St.

George would be Jackie Thomason because that was her background when she was a kid.

She sang, she was in choir, and she played the clarinet like forever.

So there's probably people who would be interested in getting something going.

Right.

Uh, but then again, this proposal is purely based on volunteerism in a city environment in a small rural city environment.

Okay, so this is based on volunteerism, yeah, and a grant, yeah.

So but uh so what uh well Steve, doesn't the arts and humanities um have grants that would cover music?

Um and even the Nevada Arts Council at Nevada Arts Council will and you know what?

Um let me also get you in touch with um well, you've probably met Brad McMullan, Brad McMullen from Nevada Arts Council would be a good person.

I was in Salt Lake, but I could talk to yeah, he's gonna be up here for the um next um brown bag okay in May.

So you may not want to wait that long.

I'll I'll get you I'll get you his information.

I think it's two in April, but so very cool idea though.

Any anyone else?

So I guess I just would like to know if we want to move forward or to get some more information or I don't know what do we need to vote on this, or is it just I I'd say Mitzi, like I'm gonna do with the painting thing, um, move go forward.

Okay, all right.

Do you're gonna bring back a formal proposal, or do we want to just go ahead and make a motion to approve this now where she can present it later to city council?

So what you're looking at in the um uh attachments here would have to be um all written for mesquite, you know.

So this is just a guideline, but I'd like to talk to a few people and maybe get a uh a nuclear committee, a nucleus, not nuclear, nuclear or radioactive, no, uh uh a nucleus committee of uh some uh people.

I I personally say um come back with something more tangible, okay, and that we can vote on.

And I'll I'll don't let me forget to hook you up with these people.

All right, I know you don't have anything else to do, Mitzi.

So you have plenty of time to do this.

I know, I know.

It's yeah, it's crazy, but uh but this just seemed to be the one, you know.

Well, it's it's another opportunity for us, sir.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay, um, 3.4 discussion and possible action on update uh on the Virgin Valley High School drama department's recent state championship, yay, and discussion on fundraising and community support options to help students attend the national competition.

Public comment.

Okay, Mitzi.

Okay, um, well, I saw that you had weighed in on this also, Steve.

Um, but this is where I would like to point out that, and I have uh some statements from uh the teachers and uh assistant directors who were involved with this project that feel like the Virgin Valley High School Theater Department has really been strengthened by the last five years of our youth program at the uh Virgin at the Mesquite Community Theater, and it's called the Rising Stars.

It's for children up to 18 years of age.

Uh parents want to know well, when can I uh put my child into your program?

And we've had them there at kindergarten age as long as a child can take direction.

So it isn't you you can just tell when they're ready.

They may not be ready at eight eight years old, they may not be ready till they're 10.

But there are children at five and six years old who can take direction and can speak and sing and perform on a stage and be part of a team.

Okay.

So um so the thing is is that what I wanted to point out was this is a good program for the community.

We're now in our our sixth year, and we now have data and personal uh testimonials that this program is helping to form children, and they're doing well in high school, and they're showing a product that is capable of winning a opportunity to go to a national stage.

Now, when they reach this point, it costs money, and it has to uh you know, but but we as mesquite and as uh a public arts commission, I feel like we need to do all that we can to put the word out to the public to support each of these children so that they can all go.

It is quite expensive.

How much is it, Bethany?

It's eighteen hundred dollars a student.

Eighteen hundred dollars a student, and how many students?

Um there are 22 students.

Okay, so that's a significant amount of money, but I I would like the opportunity here after you read through um the rising star um eco framework, okay.

It has to do with uh how they uh interface with the community and the two testimonials.

There's actually a third one that didn't get on the uh on the ballot or on the agenda.

Mit see, who did which of the you didn't put any names on the testimonials?

Okay, um it it did go in, it did go in when I had sent them in.

Um I wrote the first one.

You wrote say the second one and said Christie.

Yeah, like Christy, but it was uh so the directors isn't there, Wendy's is not there, which is we really need to add Wendy's because there were three.

Okay.

Thank you.

And she so Mark, I'll do you recall receiving that one from Wendy Kill and Joe.

I did not receive any from Wendy, no.

Okay.

I can I resend it and we can do an amendment.

Yeah, you can send it all can resend it as well to the rest of the committee.

Okay, let's let's do that because uh so again my question is um is it that I'm asking for support of the uh public arts commission and uh perhaps the city council go to them and just have everybody know that we would like them to maybe as a group as a nonprofit, they they get maybe a couple of nonprofits get together and support a child.

Um, you know, um maybe there's maybe there's um senior couples that would like to adopt a child, you know, sponsor a child, sponsor a star is what we're saying.

Sponsor star.

And so um is is this appropriate?

Is this a pro uh an appropriate thing to ask for?

I guess is my question.

Or is this something that we would get involved with?

Well, I think for sure, you know, they were already announced at the council meeting, the last council meeting.

Okay, yes.

Um they were they were here, yes, and they came up and they got their pictures taken and everything.

So see, this I submitted this before last week.

That's why it were ahead of the actually.

This is old an old item, I guess.

Yeah, I I don't know whether we can make a proclamation.

Of course, that doesn't bring any money to them, but impact make a proclamation, can pack make a proclamation.

You know, Karen.

I think um for well, let me ask you a question.

Who's in charge of the fundraising?

Um Wendy and myself and another mom, Ashley Oliver.

So there is a committee.

Well, it would be the high school director and uh through the Clark County School District.

That's who the money's going to, crack.

Yep.

So if you donate money, it's going to the Clark County School District.

No.

It's go ahead.

That that was my question.

Is it being collected up at the high school?

Like it is it, is it going through the high school?

Like if I wanted to write a check for $100, would I make it out to like Virgin Valley High School?

Okay.

Yep.

Um so they have the ability at the high school to segregate funds, but yes, if it's being done under the umbrella of the high school, then it's technically part of Clark County School District.

Right.

But it would go, yeah, it would go straight to them.

Just like just like if I made a donation to uh the athletic department um for baseball or whatever, they can segregate those funds, but technically I'm donating to the high school, i.e.

Clark County School District.

Yep.

Um yeah, I I mean there's probably a loophole around that if we you know, but I don't know if there is actually we do have a lot of um fundraisers plan, and so I would say the biggest thing is just to come support those, you know, like tomorrow we're having uh bake sale at Ace at eight in the morning to noon.

Um and that you know would be a great way.

Just look out for we've got I guess then the question is who's holding the money?

And if I donate, can I take it off on my taxes?

Yeah, the only it yes, you can.

You should be able to do that if it's going to the school district.

Um and the only way around that you'd have to form your own nonprofit kind of.

Yeah, which we had thought about, but um, I don't know if we have to.

That's not happening in this short amount of time.

So no, it's not.

So yeah, I think the the best way is just to make a personal donation.

I I guess yes, I guess that that was uh the message that I had thought about putting out was that you can have a big sale, but what about people just picking a child and supporting that child?

I think that maybe there would be a greater amount of money possibly coming.

Yeah, you know, oh yeah, for sure.

Okay, so where is your how do people know about these things?

What form of media are you?

Um we're using like Facebook, Instagram.

And uh they're just parents are you know, kind of blasting it from their personal things.

But yeah, we have put it on what's happening mesquite, um, the yard cell sites, things like that.

Um we're gonna put together a whole list of all of our ones and then put out that flyer, like at the library and you know, Steam Center, wherever we could do that.

Um so now when what is the date?

When does the money have to be in?

Uh we have a few dates that we have um that we have to meet, the deadlines we have to meet.

So for our flights to be the price that it is right now, um, which I think is like three seventy-nine a student or something like that.

Um we have a an agent helping us.

So that has to be done by next.

I think it they're gonna hold it for us until the 27th.

Um 27th of March.

So we have to that to get those rates, you know, because our world is crazy.

Um so that has to be then.

And then the the deadline to pay, I think is the 24th of April to pay for everything to um the Fezbees, the National Fezbees.

So it's crunch.

It's crunchy.

Yeah, so uh um I would encourage that you that your message be sponsor a child.

Yeah.

Sponsor child, you know.

But we also want, you know, um, we want these kids to be working for it too.

You know, we have reached out to lots of places because we want them to to work for it as well.

You know, that they we want to show and they've are I mean, all of them are so dedicated.

They're all they're out trying to earn.

Oh, yeah.

Well, of course.

They're gonna go on Wednesday to the dump and pick up trash bags um for the dump.

They're gonna the dump donates a certain amount of money per trash bag.

So yeah, every single kid is signed up for that.

Like they just they're really dedicated.

These kids are so dedicated.

Have you guys talked to Jerry at Eureka?

Yep, we talked to her brunch.

Yep, and they um are being very, very gracious and they're gonna help us with the flights.

Um they'll match whatever we make for that.

So yeah, no, they've been amazing too.

Because sometimes she does a brunch where a portion of the process.

Oh, brunch.

Oh.

She, yeah, she takes one of her Sunday brunches.

Okay.

And a portion of the proceeds from the brunch, um, goes towards your project.

Now, if she's already donating for your flight, she may not want to do that.

But yeah, it's, you know, a thought, or if the kids could go into like a restaurant and be, you know, the bus people or something like that.

I know they could help you, but I don't know what age-wise.

We do want to do a show.

Um, because we haven't done one for the for the town, you know.

I think this show is so worth seeing.

It's such a funny, funny, cute show.

Um so, and that would also be we have a few students that have been on our crew that um are gonna have to step in.

There's some students that cannot that have been in the show that cannot go.

And luckily we keep these kids on hold in our crew, so in case stuff like this happens.

So um, so those kids will have never performed in it.

They've you traveled with us to s to regionals and state.

So they will be filling in some of the pretty big roles actually, um, because the other kids can't go.

So um that would be really good practice for them to if you could um advertise the show um widely enough, you might be able to tie it into the thought of sponsorship if you if you could get a hundred people there.

Um that's true.

And then you know, somehow bill it as um sponsor a child, that kind of thing.

You might you might find people that come to the show, they see it, they laugh, and then they say, Yes, I'll contribute X amount of dollars to Yeah, that's true.

And then you could choose the teenager they wanted to support.

Um I really like the idea when I was reading the about the music thing of kind of doing a tour with it, you know, going it's it's the kind of show that uh you can take anywhere, you know, it's a very, very little set.

Um they're just little tiny pieces.

So I think it could be kind of fun to go to different places and perform it, you know, instead of just doing it at the high school or okay, guys.

We're we're kind of running out of time here.

Um I guess what I would like um Marco, I I haven't we haven't talked about um our financial abilities lately, but um I'd like to make a motion that MPAC um donates uh five hundred dollars.

That's why I don't know how much.

I have to go through city council.

Yes, realize then I second that okay if it's possible, yeah.

If it's possible, that'd be amazing.

Okay, well that's hanging out there, Marco, um, for a vote, but do we know what kind of money we have left?

Um I haven't gotten last month's financials yet, but I believe we do have that fun in definitely more than 500.

Yeah, I don't want to take us down to a dollar though.

Right, right.

We have 502.

I mean, yeah, I wouldn't have an answer for you right now.

Um do you want to pass that motion pending the funds or can we um I think we need a financial statement first um before I would want to vote on this?

Okay, so maybe we can take an email vote later.

Um, but I would like to see a financial from the last report that you gave us, Marco.

Got it with the ins and the outs if there's been any.

Yeah, you can do an email vote.

Can we?

But then the public doesn't get to see that.

Right.

So it's gotta be licensed.

Yeah, we can approve it pending that, and then we can decide a year and a then could we qualify it with as long as the five hundred dollar donation as long as that leaves at least two hundred and fifty dollars in, or yeah, you can make a stipulation like that.

Something like that.

I don't know.

Okay, one of the things, Dave, we don't have a whole lot of what funds we have in there.

Um it does have to be approved by city council to spend it.

Okay, number one.

Number two, um it's very difficult to for us to acquire funds.

So that's one of my reasons for wondering.

You know, we have spent some monies out of there in doing other projects, so but I would like to know.

I would like to see the financial first, and maybe we can table this to and till the next meeting.

Yep because you still have time.

Yeah, we would have time.

You still have time for the next meeting.

But if city council's got to approve it, though, it's got it's then after we approve it, it would have to be agendized for city council, and then you'd have to wait until after they approve it.

Well, we could get it on the next city council.

Yeah, I I can't I think I think that'll still roll along.

Well, so let me let me back out of that.

You guys are okay, and um, I I will just encourage everybody here to donate or challenge everybody here to donate a hundred dollars um to the school.

And I think we all ought to support all of the activities that they do for fundraising.

Yes, yes, not an option, huh?

I I've got a kid, yeah.

I know.

Oh, yeah, okay.

She's not she's one of the kids.

She's one of the kids that's gonna be replacing someone.

So she's one of the kids that's gonna be replacing someone.

So she's gonna have a pretty a pretty big part.

Okay, it's gonna be awesome.

Congratulations, guys.

Yeah, it's awesome.

So we'll move off a three dot four.

Okay.

Um we'll go to four commissioners' comments and reports.

Bethany, you want to go first?

Um I just want to say thank you for your support.

And then I also want to um talk quickly about the guys and dolls that is coming up opening weekend is Friday this week.

Um, this show is you it's gonna blow your socks off.

It is unbelievable.

The talent, the professionalism, the just everything is amazing.

So um first one is this Friday at 7 p.m.

Then Saturday at 2 and 7, and then next weekend as well, the same.

And you will not want to miss it.

I I promise you, it is amazing.

I feel honored to be part of it.

I'll be there for opening night.

Yay.

Karen.

Um, I have is on the piano.

Um, are we promoting this piano and letting the community know it's there to play?

Are we on Facebook?

Are we doing anything for it?

Is your hell doing anything for it?

Besides me doing it.

Besides you doing hey, I hashtag it.

That you hashtag it.

I don't know how to hashtag that.

Well, we'll we'll try to keep, yeah.

Okay.

I just haven't seen anything on Facebook.

Okay, because I would like to see more.

Well, I whenever I see someone, I've seen two people playing, and I have recorded it and put it on Instagram and cool.

So it's very cool.

It is okay, Mitzi.

I don't have anything.

Dave.

I don't have anything.

So you'll hear more about that as we work on it.

And that is all I have.

Public comment.

Okay, adjournment.

I move to adjourn.

I move to adjourn.

I second.

Okay, aye.

Okay, we're adjourned.

Thanks, everybody.

Thank you.