All right.

Okay.

So yeah.

So I guess I will officially call the meeting to order.

Um my name is Benny Guzman.

I am the new chair of the public arts commission.

Yes.

Oh, and I'll turn, sorry.

I can't watch myself.

Um and yeah, we'll just go around real quick.

This is being recorded just so everybody knows.

Um and just introduce her yourself if you want to actually.

Good evening, Saisha Bird Commissioner Parks Wax and Youth Programs.

Manuel Carter.

Maggie Levis.

Lisa Lambert.

I'm a reader.

Good.

Thank you all for being here tonight.

Um yes.

So just so everybody on the commission is aware, and for anybody who's watching at home or watches the recording, um, tonight we do not have quorum, um, meaning that we can't vote on anything.

Um we can't actually have official business.

Um however, there are still things that we can discuss about.

Um, we do have this time and space.

Um, I don't want to take too much time because I do understand like if we're not voting on anything, we're not actually moving business forward.

I don't want to spend like we're not spending an hour and a half, we're not spending two hours, like, but there are still things that I wanna talk about.

I know we haven't met in a while.

Um, this meeting even got pushback due to Veterans Day.

Um, so I wanna kind of start us off on a decent foot so that way we don't continue to drag behind.

Um, and then just going through your agenda, we've already done attendance.

Um we do not have them, do you have the minutes from the previous meeting?

I do not have them with me.

That's fine.

I think either way we can't approve them, so that doesn't matter.

Um we do have a um application, but again, however, um, because we can't vote, we've talked to the artist, Allie Walker, and they will be in um in December, uh, in the December meeting for us to vote on.

To come through in December, please.

Yes.

Um, but yeah, on that note, I think kind of one of the first things that I wanted to talk about was uh quorum um talking about kind of the spaces we have on the commission.

Um I think uh to start, we do have one open position.

Um Tina Segiva left that left one position open.

Um Shaisha, I know you said you potentially have one.

Do you know the situation there?

No, I someone just sent me a recommendation for a new uh commissioner, so I'll review it.

I'll you know get the information.

I don't know if they it's a appointed position via the mayor or just a community position.

I still gotta talk to you all to understand who's appointed and who's not.

Yes, because from my understanding, um, and Emmanuel, you may know this better than I do because I've only learned this as I keep going.

Um, but then certain pos so if I remember correctly, it's about five artist positions and six non-artist positions.

And if I I don't know if this is true, but they are appointed differently.

Some are appointed by the mayor, some are appointed by common council.

I think that's something that we need to clarify and confirm.

Um, because that's the other thing too is determining who was appointed as an artist, who was appointed as a non-artist.

Um, because I also think some of those roles overlap, especially arts educators, arts administrators, like many of us have an arts background, we just do administrative work or vice versa.

And so clarifying who's under what position would just be beneficial for us to uh be aware of.

Um the other thing too is um term limits, because truth be told, I'm not sure what my term limit is.

I think actually I go until 27 or 29.

Um, but if we can confirm that so everybody's on the same page of like how long you are actually on the term, um, when that ends, so that way two, we can preemptively plan for that.

You know, I think um we kind of knew Tino was stepping out, so we should have started to feel for okay, who's gonna step in kind of thing.

Um and again, that's just kind of for us to think about moving forward.

But I know that's probably somewhere in the back end of city government, and uh, but yeah, if we can pull out those records, um, that would be really great.

Um, the other thing that I kind of want to discuss more is the issue with quorum.

Um, because we have had a lot of moments where uh specifically this past year where we haven't met quorum because individuals are not coming.

Um and I understand too, like, we are all this is a volunteer position, nobody's getting paid.

Um but it becomes still an issue where things cannot move forward.

So I kind of want to just open up the discussion if people have thoughts, comments, feelings about what we could possibly do.

Um, I know that Shahis show, we've may need to go to the city itself to say this is a policy or a procedure that we are proposing.

Um, but yeah, I'd rather open it up rather than like this is what we're gonna do to kind of prevent this issue.

Um we tank like Ali, we could have easily gotten if we had an additional uh commissioner here, but that just didn't happen.

Um, and I know again we're busy, but like if this is a recurring thing, is there's a way we can um have commissioner step down?

Um what do those policies look like?

And so yeah, I kind of want to just open up discussion to see if people had ideas, thoughts.

Um possibly having someone as a subposition in for a voting as like an alternate, possibly for some of it.

If it's a standing person if they're out several times that we can have an alternate there that might not vote for the normal things, but with someone's out that they can take that position on as an alternate voter as a possibility.

Not a bad idea.

I mean, I I think I think one of the reasons why the and I it could totally be wrong, but I think one of the reasons why, because it's what an 11 seat total.

11 seats.

I think that was we they overshot the amount of people on the actual commission so much, so that like in the event that half of them couldn't come, we still could vote on stuff.

But it's getting to the point where like less than half are attending more often than not, myself included.

So like I'm totally in that same boat.

Um, so I don't know that the old while I do like that idea a lot.

I don't know that that is a possibility it coordinates with the bylaws, but I do think there should be some sort of well, I guess at least for me, like the timing of it was an issue.

And we talked about this before when Ann was here too.

Like having like starting the conversation of like, can you come, can you not come like that day?

Like we did that for the forum, and that really really stunk a lot.

Like, because people like so many people came with like proposals and ideas and stuff, and we couldn't vote.

That was like the most embarrassing thing.

So if there was a way at least to start the conversation of are you able to come sooner, I feel like that might be beneficial.

I just don't know how the best way to do that.

That was something I was thinking about as well.

Is well, so yeah, uh, this is like too loud, it's kind of making me crazy.

Um relatively new.

And I was like, oh, like when are they gonna message and ask if I can go or not?

Because like, oh, I need to tell them I I can't make this month or whatnot.

Right.

Um, so I agree.

I think I don't know if like a new email chain every time, because then it gets like lost in the email, but like one email chain like continuously can also get kind of crowded.

Um I think Tina's still on the one we're using.

Oh, really?

So not to propose like a whole other thing, but maybe like a group chat that's a more flowing form of communication, but I don't know if that would if that's an avenue that we're allowed to communicate on.

I think we would probably need to for the group chat question, we would need to confirm because again, I believe it would if we are talking about public art commission business, it has to be an open meeting law.

We cannot have a group chat with all of us because then we're talking about it, it's a violation of open meeting laws.

I guess email is not like a violation of the case.

She's saying it as a just a reminder though.

That's again, yeah, I'm saying like just uh hey guys, the meetings in one week, who can go, and then it just has like you know all of our messages.

But I do get what you're saying.

If you have a group chat that might open it without any issues, yeah, but just having that avenue open might people that oh well, what's on the agenda this time?

Oh, I was confused, I thought about this, and then all of a sudden people are discussing it, and that would not charge you.

I see.

The meetings are set a year in advance.

What I would recommend is commissioners put them on their schedules.

This one was different because Veterans Day landed last week.

But like all my meetings and everybody doesn't use Outlook or Google or maybe if they use a paper calendar.

Um, but ask and ask in the commission what's the best way you all communicate.

Is it January, you know, December, we give you this paper that says, hey, here's all the meeting dates.

Please put them on your calendar.

Um, and then you have them in maybe even I can send meeting requests to tag onto your calendar so they just pop up on your digital calendar if you use digital calendar.

Not a bad idea.

And I'm also wondering if we as a group determines some sort of limit as to like like can you let us know by EOB the day on Monday that if you're not able to come, like obviously emergencies barring, like everyone has like like happens, you get a car accident, whatever, kids get sick.

Um, but I think that's feels fair.

Um, because just think about Alley tonight, like getting, you know what I mean?

Like that it just kind of stinks for her too.

So uh do you think the end of business before the day before is a good enough time frame?

Or I was gonna suggest a week before.

Yeah, yeah.

Because if you have the whole year of the meetings, then hopefully by the week prior, you can know or um by the way, but you know, if there's an emergency, thank you for today because truly it did slip my mind, and I went and I oh, okay.

Sure, and then happens.

Yeah, because my schedule gets so crazy with everything I'm doing, right?

That it totally slipped my mind.

It wasn't that I couldn't fit it in, but it was like, oh, okay, thank you for reminding me.

Because I'd like to suggest a couple things.

One is that as we bring new members on, I think it's important that we make it clear that this is a function of local government.

Okay.

Um we're not a club uh or a few friends getting together.

Um we're here to advance things that need to be done that need to be approved or not by local government.

It's a it's a government function.

So that as people are invited onto the commission, I think it needs to be clear to them, this is not an honor uh uh or again a friendly gesture.

Your your presence is really uh tied to whether or not this commission can function as an arm of local government.

Um I I think the other thing is I'm I'm on the Central New York Regional Planning Board and they send us probably two or three times a year the as a reminder, the list of all the meeting dates.

Okay, uh, and sometimes some of the um big upcoming issues that'll be on the table in in one or more of those dates.

Um you know, uh you just gotta remember that it's you know, if if if this is this the second or the third, I guess it's the it's the second Tuesday of the month, you know, if you're committed to doing this, it's the second Tuesday of the month, unless again, you know, your car breaks down or gotta take a kid to the hospital or something.

Yeah, and I I think too, we can all agree that like we understand life happens, emergency happens, but to your point, man, you're like this is a form of local government.

We are moving things forward, we are a part of that process.

So if commissioners are unable to hold that responsibility, that's an issue overall.

You're also taking an oath when you're signing up to do this.

You are taking an oath that you are gonna be here, and that you are.

I mean, that's why they have you take the oath is to make it truly know that it's important and that you're honoring this commitment that you're making.

So right now there's uh is there like track do we track you know how many absences or anything?

I assume not.

Right, as of right now, no.

I think what we again, this is something that like it's been more of a press, like even I don't think before this year it really wasn't as much of an issue this year in particular.

It's been significantly like more consistent.

Um, and again, I don't know if it's life, uh, you know, things get crazy, just who's on the commission.

Uh circum and I I will say too, like, for me in particular, like I know this past year I wasn't consistent because I was also completing grad school.

So like I had classes on Tuesday from 5 30 to 7 30, which is the exact time.

Um so I understand that like just circumstances happen.

However, I think I'm bringing up this conversation so we can plan and develop something um so that we all can be held accountable to that as well.

Like, if this is what we're gonna do, let's and again too.

I'm I'm bringing it up in this discussion so that when we have quorum, we can propose this is something that we have discussed already, open to other people who were not in that conversation to provide feedback insight, etc.

But then that way we can officially like I don't want to drag out like let's not have this conversation because we don't have quorum because it needs to happen.

Okay.

One other thing, um, and I don't know if we can do this, but with the regional planning board, because it's five counties, um there are certain people who can attend by Zoom.

Okay.

Okay.

So we'll have a meet situation where we've got people from five counties all around this big table, there might be four people on a screen.

etc but then that way we can officially like I don't want to drag out like let's not have this conversation because we don't have quorum because it needs to happen one one other thing um and I don't know if we can do this but with the regional planning board because it's five counties um there are certain people who can attend by Zoom okay okay so we'll have a meet situation where we've got people from five counties all around this big table there might be four people on a screen um just because you know again the it is it isn't that they can't make the meeting it's it's they they don't have the time to drive to Syracuse right so they participate from where they are sure uh and as a result of that we we have not had any problem with quorum right um you know most of the people we meet like was it what is it one to two thirty those that's the official time in the meeting and it's every six weeks um and the constant reminders of the dates is important because it isn't like the second Tuesday of the month or something like that.

Right it's every six weeks so it's an odd spread but um but people do know that if for any reason they can't get from you know uh you know the city of Oneida over to here um in time for a meeting that they can they can they can zoom in and that participation is considered legal and they can vote from that location.

Well say if that were an option I would have been able to attend the last two meetings.

If if that were an option if the zoom was an option I would have been able to attend like through Zoom the last two meetings because I was like on physically on the road so I could just gotten it on my phone and just got for it.

So if that was something we could I do I remember having this conversation before and hearing that we had to be here in person but I don't know how legit that was I think we can look into that.

Because that's the thing is I think we do have the technology that's the thing is and I think to the so I think realistically to um the part of the reason also I want to push for this meeting is this is my first official meeting as chair um thank you but also this is one of the first or not the first but like we still don't have a public arts coordinator and so that is something else that we need to kind of be prepared for of like if we have if we're having a public arts coordinator come in what is their role what is their responsibility what are some of those things um how do they fit into this equation as well what's the expectation on both sides on yeah because I think that's the realistically like we've had a significant shift in this past year not in a negative weight it's just a shift and so kind of stabilizing ourselves making sure that everybody's on the same page of like these are expectations these are things that we want to do moving forward um I think is important for us.

I think to that point so aren't we I thought I had read somewhere do are we only required to have six meetings a year I believe so because if attendance is an issue I'm wondering and we're if we're only required to have six meetings a year depending upon applications or like present applications.

Yes then do we really have to meet every month like is that you know what I mean like obviously during the summer that's really when we started to take a hit because everyone was traveling vacations whatever you know what I mean um but then summer is when everybody wants to do things but that's exactly it.

So we started that's where the quorum issue really started to pop up is because we were getting applications heavier in the summertime in the warmer months than we were and but like nobody rolled through because everyone was chilling.

Right.

So well like if it's less people like in January there's nothing on board for January or I mean I know it's something's for December this will be but that we could take a month off and just say okay we don't have nothing stay in block yourself from the weather whatever cozy right and but we're no that we're gonna be calling on you right in those other areas times.

So there's that so that's the amount of meetings per year and then also like do we really want to be as and I'm not mad at this but this is just a question do we really want to be as firm to be like of those let's say we determine six is the minimum let's say we determine we have we want to do at whatever 10 a year right if you can't commit to attending eight of those 10 or something like that then maybe you should reconsider your membership or we whatever I and I don't want to be too much of a hard mouse but like if that's really what we're talking about do we want to like set numbers or talk about numbers like that?

That's something that I I definitely think we should just because like it puts it firm it puts it in writing and it's also something less um it's less ephemerable.

It's straight up 10 like can you show up to numbers don't have an opinion.

Exactly like if we and I I would even say like a minimum of six because like that's saying that you can attend the minimum required meetings that we need to have as a commission.

I'm not mad at that um and again maybe we can sorry so just confirm like we are required that's okay if we have six and then again if someone is not able to commit to those six either reconsidering or again on the other half if because life happens you know things you get a you get a big project in a year that takes up a lot of time and it happens to be on the Tuesdays.

Um just a pin in that real quick.

We are not required to have Tuesday meetings.

I think that was a date that we established a while back, and we haven't re-looked at that.

So just another option.

I just we can put it, we can talk about that a little later.

But again, if you are unable, if you're saying you're gonna do it, and then for some reason this year you are booked, you're busy, you're blessed and booked and busy.

Like, um, what is our protocol for having either someone step in, step out?

Like, I think they contact in in the event of an emergency, like I mean, if you did get into a car accident on your way over here, God help you.

Um, like who do you do you text?

Do you call?

Is there like an because obviously, like, I mean, even when you sent that email, I was closing up shop and I didn't see it until like 10 minutes, you know what I mean?

Until I was about to leave, which is totally I'm not and that's totally fine.

I did send an email last week postponing the meeting saying we would meet correct this day, and I know a manual respondent, like I'll be there.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I think I yeah, I did I was able to do that too, which is awesome.

But like, I guess if I had gotten to a car, it's not my way over.

Do I text you?

Do I call you?

Do I call Saisha?

Do I, you know what I mean?

Like, who do we reach out to in the event that we're not able to?

Yeah.

So I guess I don't know.

No, I think again, these are questions.

I don't think we have to have an answer yet.

And again, we cannot officially vote and say, like, this is what we're doing.

Sure.

So these are things that we can bring up at our next meeting with quorum.

Um, yeah.

Any other thoughts comments?

Um, I as far as the art public art coordinator position, I'm just waiting for it to be posted so that we could get candidates so we can interview.

Okay, sounds good.

Yeah.

Um I I think also we need to clarify the relationship of the commission to the public art coordinator.

Yes.

Um, you know, if the the planning board, for example, you know, there's the planning board, and then there is staff.

Okay.

Staff reports to their director or commissioner.

Yes.

Okay.

Um, I think we were trying to slide to where we were having the commission manage the daily work of the art coordinator, um, which I think is not the way city departments work.

Right.

Okay.

And so we need to be comfortable with that.

Yeah.

Um at the same time, although our meetings, the need for a quorum is is partly to vote.

We also need to have a critical mass of the commission available for meetings when perhaps the public art coordinator is talking to us about things that they're doing through the parks department uh to advance projects.

Yeah.

Um, and um, so we uh we've rarely had meetings where at least since I've been on it, we've rarely had meetings where the coordinator actually gets to talk to the commission about well, I'm working on blah blah blah, and uh want to let you know that this is where we are, and yeah, we might need a little more of this, or I or what whatever their issues may be, but uh but we also need we need as a quorum to be able to receive information, yeah.

For sure.

No, and I think that's something that um and Sh and I you and I have kind of briefly discussed this, like the interplay between the public arts commission, the public arts coordinator, and parks in general, um, what that could look like, what that can mean.

Uh, because I do think again, this first year was the first time there's been a public arts coordinator.

Um, and then also to commissioner, you are new in this position as well, so like there's a lot of learning curves across the board.

Um, there was just a lot of new.

That's just the truth.

This past year there was a lot of new.

Um, so fine-tuning what those things look like, what those mean.

Um, because I do think too, like understanding, I think there was maybe confusion on what the public arts coordinator role was in relation to this and how we kind of work together.

Um, because in some ways their primary job is still parks.

It is so what does that look like from our perspective?

Because that's the thing is if if they're related, but they're not the same thing.

That they may be like cousins, but they're not like in the same household.

This is the truth, you know.

And so, what does that look like?

Um, because I do think um kind of talking about kind of future ideals.

Let's talk about something positive for a little bit.

But like I would love to see more public arts in the park and what that looks like.

Um, what does that mean uh beyond just kind of like the physical tangible things, but also performance as well.

Um, because that's something that we've talked about as the public arts commission is like, um, and again, not to discredit any of the muralists.

We love the muraless, we love the the those projects are happening.

We're up to our nose and murals, but there's also like only so many limits, there's so many wall spaces.

What else can we do?

What else can we leverage?

Um and also um to be aware also that TNT, we have allowed for $2,000 for each section of the city towards the arts, and it's not always being used per neighborhood, per neighbor, yeah, per uh section and stuff.

So having that relationship to say, you know what, we'd really like to have this thing.

Would you guys have the money to get us to help us get the funds to have you uh some of it?

Like a dance performance in the park, poetry, music, yes, man.

So I mean, we don't know trying to connect the different things where the funding are to connect the events and the community, and that's a big thing that we need to navigate and try even with the schools, navigate those events and stuff.

And that's a role that the public art coordinator could play.

Yeah, it's helping those connections.

Well, and I think that that was a big source of confusion, at least for me, because I'm still relatively, I mean, I think what I'm on this is just about the first year that I've done this.

And a hu a huge part of the conversation when I first started was the $35,000 in the capital improvement fund.

And it's like this mystical magical number that like we had access to, but did we?

Do we don't we?

And it like it was this it was a constant source of like confusion, at least for me, because I'm like, well, hold on a second.

Like, do we got the cash?

Should we not have the cash?

Like we either have it or we don't.

And so the confusion is a it's not cash, B, it is capital planning money, and it is parks money.

Um, so uh I can get you more information on that, but it's not like accessible cash we can just go spend, it's very specific.

So do you it just real quickly, do you like a specific in what capacity?

Like what could that be spent on we could you could have moved the sculpture with it, you could have placed the sculpture with it.

Um it's cat it's larger capital projects.

I can bring you a description, there's a specific description for the month.

That's awesome.

Yeah, and it was actually put sorry, it was put in the plan by our um, I mean, obviously by the city, but at a request, Josh was Josh Wilcox was working with our art commit with the public art coordinator to ensure that there was some money to do some right big larger project with cool.

No, because I think it's again under it's also again the public art coordinator, and also I think us understanding what that looks like as well, because um, and again, I understand how uh like I I do art administration, I understand how like things get crossed, things people don't always talk to.

Not everybody knows kind of the behind the scenes detail.

Um, however, for us to all be aware of what's going on, so we can support those initiatives too that way we can say, okay, well, there's this artist, there's this thing that we want to support.

Um, because two, what happens is, and again, kind of jumping shit, but I feel like they're all connected with the application process.

How do we go about um streamlining that a little bit?

Um making sure that artists understand what that looks like, making sure that organizations, nonprofits, 501c3s, the schools understand what that looks like.

Um also if I could, if I could just real quick, sorry.

Um, if I could while I can appreciate that the public art coordinator's primary function is a parks department employee, there is still a level of expectation in regards to communicating with the public that I think that we struggled with a little bit in the last year as well.

Um, just because things were kind of so all over the place that people, you know, were either submitting things or they weren't it just seemed like that there was a lot.

I think more of the story, just expectation for us, expectation for the public arts coordinator, realistic expectations, I guess, would be very helpful so that people are getting upset, or if they are frustrated for something we'll have will be able to on the ready, be like, well, listen, here's the jam, like I can appreciate your frustration, but like this is the this is the deal, you know what I mean?

Do we have anyone looking into like grants and stuff that we could use as funding for say the art commission sees something that we would like done like that as a possibility?

I guess I question, and I have to do more education.

Is that the role of the art commission?

Is that the role of the public art coordinator to seek you know, great opportunities put it out to the broader artists world, or is that the work of the commission?

I think we have to discuss what is the role of the art commission.

Is it just approving?

You know, looking at art, not just that's a big job to approve a large mural in this community that community wants to see, wants to be a part of, wants to take place.

Is it getting that information out into the world?

Is it um seeking and finding funding for the actual commission or for artists that want to do the work?

Well, if I could, I guess again, just being kind of a newbie still, I feel like that was a huge source of confusion because again, it's just like roles and expectations kind of all over again, right?

And it's like I don't there's a lot of things that I would love to be able to do.

Um there's a lot of like, you know, there's tons of grant opportunities, there's tons of coordination, there's tons of events that we could be tabling, there's tons of different forums and meetings that we could be holding.

There's tons of festivals and stuff that we could be attending or advertise or help propagating, or all of these things, but I think there was a lot of confusion as to whose job was what, and I'm gonna be completely honest.

I don't know if I felt ever felt comfortable saying like, well, I'll just do it.

You know what I mean?

Because I didn't want to upset anybody, or you know what I mean?

I didn't want to like step on anyone's toes.

I also don't know the bylaws and the the like legislation well enough to be able to make, am I allowed to do this?

Is this permissible?

I think what we should plan, everybody has jobs, but maybe a few hours where we have like art commission, art coordinator 101 where we go through bylaws again.

That would be incredible.

We read through everything, we read description of the art commission, description of um the ordinance for the art commission so that we clearly all understand the that's a really great idea.

I'm here for that for sure.

No, and I think um so going because I from what I understand, um, in terms of the fundraising part, I don't think we can because we're not official 501c3, we're an ordinance, so any funding would go through the city, which is a whole like I don't even want to that's we're not even gonna get into that because that's uh yeah, that's a headache and I have to that's a bigger beast than I wanted even think about potentially doing what we can we need to remember that um uh we could also do things through the Syracuse Parks Conservancy.

Yes, which is I think they're willing to work with us.

Right.

Okay, so but I again to like understanding what those relationships look like, what those and what are the expectations and responsibilities of the people.

Like I believe they're also offering having people have a list saying that these are places that you can maybe go to find grant money.

We have to as that more even for some of these artists or people who come up with ideas that would like to present it just to help them a little bit.

Yeah, I think that is part of what our role could be.

Connecting.

Maybe it's not necessarily what we I think we've wanted to do.

That have we been a successful?

I don't know.

It's hard to kind of measure what that looks like.

Um, but I think that could be something that, again, talking about roles, responsibilities of the commission, of the coordinator, how does that fall under, like what whose purview does that fall under?

And which way do we support the work of the coordinator, the work of parks, um, the work of the conservatory as well?

Like, how do those things all kind of interplay together?

Um, and I think again, kind of jumping shit, but related, I think this all comes down especially to the welcome packet.

Yeah, like what are those expectations and responsibilities of this person, uh, both on the commission, but also for I think the public art coordinator to understand what the role of the commission is in terms of that.

Um because I think again, they're connected in some way.

Like the public arts coordinator is connected to the commission in some way.

So Benny, you just gave yourself homework and the commission too.

I think we need to read through what was developed and make edits to it so that if we welcome in a couple weeks a new commissioner, yes, that we're prepared, you all who all, whoever's in charge of doing the welcome is prepared to to utilize that information to properly welcome.

Well, I think one of the reasons that we developed the task forces is because a lot of the information that had been issued was either inaccurate or out of date or it not applicable.

Like so, like the master plan, for example, it's very long and very flowery and very and it's fine, but I mean a lot of the stuff is very out of outdated.

And so even if we did sit down and review the information that we've already been issued, I'm not entirely confident that it's still applicable for a lot of the things that we discuss.

And as such, like that was one of the things that we started doing when I first started was trying to review and get some of those changes made like more permanently.

No, and I think too possibly what it comes, and I'll say this publicly, I think maybe the master plan needs to be put aside for now.

Oh, start oh no, start fresh.

But but specifically talking about like what is because the master plan is not a legal thing.

No, it's not it does help kind of outline at least what we're or it and maybe doesn't have to be called the master plan, but developing some sort of outline that like clearly determines the role of the public arts coordinator versus as it applies to the commission.

And I also think that we should end in there the artist's responsibilities too, not just with like the application process, but like I mean, as far as insurance is concerned, and like you know, like the FAQ stuff, some of that was in some of the documents that we agree before, but it's not all in the same place.

No, for sure if that makes sense.

No, I agree, and I think part of what we can do is let's see what is officially like legally on the books.

Start from there and then pick those pieces from the master.

Because I do think I agree with you.

Like, I think there's a lot of things that like these are ideas that we've had, these are conversations we've had.

Um, but how do we kind of formalize what that looks like?

And again, too, like if that means us going to or even if it's just me going to or not wash uh the mayor's office and be like, hey, this is what we need, or common counsel say, hey, this is what we need.

Can we get this approved so that the commission is fine and dandy and that it's in legal writing, right?

So there's no confusion.

We can't be like, oh, well, this person said this, and this person said this.

Nope, this is what the law says.

Yep.

Um and again, I know that's a lofty process too.

It's not like we we call tomorrow and like it's all set and done.

But I think then some of the stuff it probably wasn't as complicated, you know what I mean?

Because I don't know, I feel like some of it could be simple.

Right.

If we just have to do it.

Yeah, yeah.

Um I think that we want to have um again, I'm as as a person who's been a city planner for 51 years.

Um I uh what I've seen uh uh uh not only here across the United States but even in other countries that you'll have a planning board and then there's planning staff, and then there are projects that staff generates, and there are projects that developers generate, right?

Everything the developers generate, the board has to say yes or no to things that the staff generates are are run through the board as well, uh although the the board usually has some sense of what staff's trying to do, right?

And often staff and the board kind of agree before a formal meeting about those things.

And so I think if we can develop that kind of agility that um well then you know what I'm wondering if if if that's if that's and I completely agree, and if that's the case, then I'm wondering if it this is a great time to elect a secretary because if staff is going to be relegated specific, do we have a secretary?

She is the secretary officially, she is a secretary.

Oh, I didn't realize that.

She's rarely okay.

So then maybe we reevaluate or have that conversation because if if the coordinator is going to be relegated and their primary function is going to be a parks employee, then that's perfect and great, and that's a heck of a job, and may the Lord bless and keep you.

That's that's allowed to do.

Um, but if they're not going to be able to, I don't know.

I I guess if if we're not going to be able to accomplish the things that we as a commission want to accomplish because that position isn't um available to us as often as we might need or require whatever, then that's where that secretary person I think probably would come into play.

Am I wrong?

No, I think that yeah.

Well, uh, yeah.

Um at least in in my observation is what usually happens is the the chair is the liaison with the department.

Okay.

Um I I because I I think we one of the things we have to keep in mind, I think we who are all here tonight get it, that we don't have most of you have day jobs.

Okay.

Come on.

Um I'm I'm retired, but which is a new condition for me.

But that's that's a good choice.

That's a really great choice, of course.

Believe me.

Uh but um usually in cities around the world, the board is not in a position to manage projects.

Yes, you know, it's all you can do to get through your daily lives on your day jobs and with your families.

Um we need to what we really need to do is to have a relationship with parks in which we have faith that the parks department does things in good faith.

Yes, okay, and comes to us for approval of specific defined projects.

If they're outside, in those if they're artists generated, then they do they do the applications and they come to us and we say yes or no.

Traditionally we've almost always said yes, okay.

I was gonna ask if we've ever denied anybody.

Hardly ever.

Oh, yeah.

Um, if they're generated in-house at parks, and keep in mind a lot of things Sparks does are also in coordination with planning and public works, right?

Okay.

So um it in our meetings, one we probably need uh uh uh uh uh a line item in each of our meeting on the agendas that uh you know what's going on at parks, like public coordinator report, yeah.

We were getting that for yeah, we were we were getting that and um developed that was at the end of our packet almost.

I mean the last few meetings that I went to that she was in there, she was she was doing it.

There was a few yeah reports, yeah, yeah.

But I I do agree with you.

I think there maybe could be a deeper connection of like the commissioner with our uh not the commission, yeah, the commission with um parks, the public art coordinator.

Um I think too, it could be because I think it could be both chair and vice chair, um that way it's an equal distribution of power, it's not just like well, you don't want this, I want this, there's a third person mitigating that at all times.

Um look at that, three branches of government that works no no, but I think realistically, so it's like this is not necessarily just about personalities, eagles.

I want to do this project, I'm gonna do this project.

It's like what are the the the commission and how does that play out?

Um that's a thing too.

It's also about then taking that information to the the rest of the commission to then also distribute to public as well.

I think that's part of um the conversation as well.

How do all those things kind of interact?

Yeah with the with the regional planning board.

If we if the if commissioners have an idea of something they want, um then has we we have to say, okay, uh the folks at Cayuga County planning, um do you have the staff skill sets to do this?

Right, uh do you have the staff time to do this?

And is there a budget for this?

Uh you know, um, so if we want to advance something that is going to take some time, then maybe the first issue is does this look like something we all want to move forward with?

Secondly, do we have to get the money or is the money already somewhere in place?

Sure.

All right, and then on a day-to-day basis, it's professional staff that makes the thing the world.

Okay, and so but that doesn't mean that we cannot generate ideas from the commission too.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, I think that's cool.

Or volunteer here and there when you have the time.

Well, that's what I was gonna say.

Like a mural that part maybe maybe an idea, for example, came from you all, and you're like, we really want this thing.

The public art coordinator is like, yeah, we would love this thing too.

You know, I'll work on the back end to get it going, but hey, this thing is happening on Monday this day.

You all you're invited, like be there, volunteer, pitch in, but it again, you work full-time jobs, right?

Some of us, some of us are so lucky to be retired.

It's hard to manage a a large project or a project when most of your life is working, or like for me, it's kids, and so we never want to put that pressure on you all.

And I can I can definitely appreciate that, but I guess I will say, having been this isn't this is probably the third or fourth board that I've been on, and this is the least amount of work that's been asked of me on any of those boards I've ever been on in my life.

And I mean, and I guess if we're talking about really reevaluating the relationships we have, not just with arts not or parks, but are also with the arts coordinator, but also I think like there's no reason why we can't have homework, even there's no reason why we can't sign up for stuff.

There's no reason, and I guess I I would be really excited about those opportunities, like, yeah, we're busy, we're all busy, but but we're busy, and also it's gonna be fine.

I serve on three professional boards, right?

I don't get much work when I want work, I sign up for a committee.

So I'm on the board, the board is the board, right?

I meet every month, right?

I want it more out of one of them, so I signed up for two different committees.

So now I'm out doing things when I can, but it's I didn't do it on all three because it would be overbearing.

Creating these task force or these committees is one of those ways.

Yeah, I think so.

I had a question actually about the task forces that were listed in the welcome packet.

Are those active ish?

Okay, ish is a they're active in the sense of they have been talked about and exist.

I think part of also what it came down to was open meeting law, and then we can only have two individuals working on a single task force at a time, and again, to quorum not being always available, so if the two do not always link up, um things fall behind in that task force, or it comes down to kind of one person.

Two individuals from the commission, but could it be can you recruit from outside?

Yes, so that is the other part too is discussing.

I think realistically, we need to clean up house first before we start inviting people in.

Hey agree.

So I I agree.

I think, and maybe to the the task force, because I was thinking about um some of the I was so I'm in the like the social media communications.

I think I'm thinking we might even just get rid of that, because realistically, this is also um it's not our stuff, it is the city's social media account, it's a city's website, and so there's legally ethically things that we cannot do.

Um that again, like that could even just be reduced to one person's task, or it could be something where you know we figure out a way in which cars could possibly help out with that.

Because again, that's a city thing, it's not necessarily us.

Um, because I took the training and I understand why some of those things are the policies for like running the Facebook and Instagram, but a lot of those come down to legal, what the law is, um in terms of like what is posted, what's not posted, how do we keep track of that?

Um, there's a lot of legal things behind there that we have to keep in mind of.

And again, if you don't do like internet law, you don't know these things, and so it can become like it's a training process and a learning curve.

And so again, that's very specific example, but like even thinking about the master plan.

If we're gonna kind of maybe blow it up or kind of take parts and bits of it, maybe we don't need that task force, and we can kind of develop a different task force that does other things.

Um, maybe too, there needs to be a parks task force because now that we are under parks, maybe we have a um a task force that specifically focuses on like what are the things we're doing with parks, how are we developing those relationships?

Um, etc.

etc.

Um again, these are all like I think like structural review, I guess.

Yeah, yeah.

I I again I think we're at an interesting new juncture.

So we have the possibility to imagine, but we kind of have to clean up house and see where things where the parts are, so that way we can really put things together the way we want to.

Um I do also uh because I know we're getting close to an hour and I don't want to keep y'all too long.

Shai Show, what is your role?

Because as of right now, we do not have a public arts coordinator, so you are really our only connection to the city.

So I but I also want to be aware that you're a director.

So like you have a whole portfolio kind of underneath you.

So I kind of want to ask, like, what is how do you want your role to be?

What would make most sense for you to like not overburden you?

Because again, too, like I understand you have a lot of other things going on, and I don't want us to all have to be like, Sh I Shaisha, like this is going on.

Like, what what would you think would make the most sense for you?

Well, I think what's happening right now, like typically I communicate with you if I need anything from other commissioners.

Um I send an email.

Um I will invite folks to be on the interview in the interviews with whoever applies for the public art coordinator.

So I would ask that you all play a role in that.

And I've talked to a few folks about it that may be available because they're maybe retired.

Um so that's um one part.

I have no problem set like tonight stepping into a meeting until we hire that public art coordinator.

Um, I want to be supportive.

I want to make sure that folks like Ali gets her applications, you know, presented and through.

And you know, although I'm not an artist, uh well, maybe I could I'm a crochet.

I'm a fiber artist.

Um, so I am a part of your world mostly, and I I really I was always artsy as a kid, but I really support the arts info like Syracuse um is coming alive with all the art that has come about in our city lately, and it's beautiful to ride by a mural or ground painting or a light pole box or um and just see color again with specifically on days where it's gloomy.

Um so yeah, I'm I have no I know I'm I'm a commissioner parks, I have a lot under my belt.

But I will also make time to be supportive until we can bring and not even when we bring on the public art coordinator, I will still be a presence.

I am that person's supervisor.

So whoever comes on, I directly supervise them.

So yeah, no, and again, it was more just making sure that like we're not gonna drive it crazy.

Yeah, we're not gonna throw everything at you.

Um, but just understanding of like we're crazy anyway, so it's okay.

That's a normal thing.

No, that's just but that's the thing, it's like just being mindful of like what can we expect, what can we not expect.

Um, so that way, like moving forward, we just know like okay, this is where we're at for and especially to just more right now because there is not a coordinator.

If we had a coordinator, it'd be a different situation.

I totally understand.

Um continue to communicate with me.

My goal is to get a public arts coordinator hired as soon as the job is posted.

When that job gets part of the the I we have a job description, um we might have some edits to it, or we had some edits to it just to improve the position.

Um as soon as that gets posted, I will let the commission know that it's posted.

Um, we'll get interviews in, we'll make sure we get that person hired, um, and then we'll move on from there.

I will always probably attend a few meetings.

I won't be at every one of them when they're hired, but I will be here when I can be here and as supportive as I can to the commission.

So yes.

Again, I'm just trying to be mindful of time.

Uh, but any other things that people want to discuss, bring up any confusion, questions.

I guess I would ask if we so we kind of we one of the things that it's a little bit of a pet peeve if my boss does it to me all the time is that we have to have 5011 conversations about one thing before we can make a decision.

And I while I can appreciate that this is a public setting and we're volunteers and you know, and everyone's got but I guess so tonight we talked about really important things, which I think was really awesome.

Um, and I've jotted down some specific ideas.

What is our plan or what are some ideas for a plan for our next meeting to like solidify these things that we've discussed and like keep it pushing?

Yeah, those would next okay, sorry.

So, yeah, so because I know that we I want to confirm um one commissioners in general, like who's on it, who's in what role, see if we can get that 11th person.

Um there was so much.

Oh, I have it all here.

Okay, I have it all here, term limits.

Yes, term limits.

Um look and see like the ordinance to see if there's ways in which we can adjust what term limits look like, how that looks like um the number of meetings, number of meetings for sure.

Um day of the week, day of the week zoom potential, zoom potential, day of the week.

I know that we can change because I think we would just need to vote on it here to adjust it, and as long as from what I understand, the only kind of requirement is that we have to announce it a month in advance.

We can't just be like, oh, like yeah, and at this point until we hire a public art coordinator, I don't mind being the emergency contact.

So I'll send everybody.

I mean, you have my email out, yeah.

I don't think you have my phone number about okay.

I think those are kind of the core things.

Um, and I think too, what we can plan for next meeting, once we have some of this information, get a little deeper into the commissioner role, the welcome packet, because I think the welcome packet is a part of defining those responsibilities a little bit more deeply, explain the expectations.

Um, because we can't define the expectations of the commissioners unless we know the expectation of the commission.

Yep.

Um does that sound fair to everybody?

No, that's fine.

And then too, we can again we can adjust what that looks like.

I think once we have more details about what the commission um legally can and cannot do, um, and what kind of are some of those things that we can adjust?

Uh, because again, if we can define like you need to attend at least six um um six meetings, people accountable, yeah.

To to and put that in the welcome packet, like this is part of the accountability, like you were declaring this.

Yeah, the excess expectation, like if you and if you can't do it, that's totally no worries.

It's like it's totally okay.

But like we understand life changes, and maybe when you're appointed, because you're appointed for so many years, exactly.

If you know that something's coming up or something comes up and you can't do it, then you should be able to you can resign very easily, or even the question what is resignation look like from that commission?

What we would need to look at in renewal of and renewal because they're renewal in resolution, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, so yeah, really just clearly defining some of those like the commissioners roles, not the commission, some of those commissioner roles things as well, because that will then dictate the welcome packet, the expectations, um, what are processes of like breaking those expectations?

What does that look like?

Because again, I think those are our part, those are all part of the conversation of what we and how you see each of our positions, because you are the leader of this is true, yeah, of everything.

How do you see the role playing?

Even if you made a list and said, This is where I'm thinking that this person I'm hiring is gonna do this, and this is what I'm expectations for you guys, because you're gonna you basically are our boss when it comes down to so how well but I would yeah, I mean, no, but just again, I think Lisa brings up a good point.

What is it?

Like, because the art coordinators underneath you, yeah, in some ways, we are also underneath you.

So what is what do you expect from us?

What does that look like?

Um, and again, like how we all kind of fit in those things together.

Um and again, maybe we can even expecting this by you know Christmas, yeah.

No, and also too, like I think vague general, like this is what I'm expecting, and then we can flesh out those details together.

Right.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Anything else?

Quick random question.

Um, if we are appointed, some of us by the mayor and some of us by the common council, what happens when there's a change in the mayor?

I think you're still good because that's only years.

It's it's it's by the office of the mayor, not necessarily like the mayor.

It's not like Ben Walsh picked you kind of.

Yeah, yeah, that's what it's gonna be.

No, yeah, I mean, because I understand that.

Um, because there's some positions that are like tied to the right specific mayor person, yes.

Those are like jobs, not commission like positions, but yes, yeah.

Um, but yes, you should be there.

The term is still the term.

Uh so that's the thing is defining those terms for everybody.

Um because too reminding, because I don't know when my terms are.

I was just thinking that when I can start branding start together.

I don't have the the I don't have it with me, and I don't want to be on my phone, it's fine.

There two of the two of the commissioners uh are up this month.

There's two that their last month is now, really, and so what would happen is the mayor's office would send a letter asking them would they want to renew um their membership as a commissioner and they would respond yay or nay.

Yeah, you know, and then it would come before you all.

And then we would vote on it, or no, I mean if they quit, you can't vote.

I mean, but like do we have the desire approval?

Do we have is there like an approval?

No, we don't have to do that.

We don't approve it, it's the person itself either saying yes, I will or no I got and if that's a no, that's something where we would then need to find it.

Yeah, and but it's unless there was a conflict, right?

If you all were like that person ever shows up, and so we'll have to talk through those.

But that's the thing is down to you then making that decision or the more that's the thing.

No, I'm saying that would be like the di her as the representative for the city making that decision saying, you know what, your time is up, and I think we are I don't know if she can do that.

Because that's but that's the question.

It's like yeah, pointing.

Because if let's say, like, because tankly I am appointed by the office of the mayor, right?

So does that mean Sha Isha can then say no, you are not longer appointed.

Does it then have to like can we vote on it?

Does it have to go to council?

Do I have to go to the mayor?

Figure that out.

But that's what they'll get those answers.

How is it renewed?

Yeah, yeah.

All right.

Yep.

Especially if there is an issue with someone.

Because it probably would be the same as it would be for the planning board or the landmarks preservation board or you know.

Um I just have never known what it is specifically for.

Yeah, and I think that's the thing is we need to make sure we get specific, also like resonations, typically it's a letter.

Like, say you're you're like, I'm I'm just tired, I can't make these meetings anymore.

It's a letter, you know, resigning from the board.

Um, one last thing before we get a motion, because I do want to end this.

Um, we don't have a current vice chair.

So just thinking about that.

Um, if you want to nominate someone, nominate yourself for that position.

Um, and again, I'll make sure if you can just let Devana, Elias, Takara, Blondine, and Sophia know, like, hey, we still do need a vice chair.

So if anybody's interested, um, yeah, because I'd rather have someone want to step up.

Um in that case.

Yeah.

Do I do I have a motion to adjourn?

Maggie, Lisa second, all in favor.

Aye, yeah, yeah.

I don't think that really counts either, but yeah, no, either way.

I don't know, open meeting laws are weird.

All right.

If anyone's interested, the valley's having a tree lighting on December 7th.

All right, thank you.

If anyone's interested, oh my god.