[00:00:02]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
ONE MINUTE AFTER, GOOD AFTERNOON.THIS IS OUR REGULAR MEETING FOR FEBRUARY FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU BOARD MEETING.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER SO THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM OF MEMBERS.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND DOING THE ROLL CALL.
WE CAN JUST STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE PACKET THAT WE SENT OUT.THIS WAS THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY.
GIVE A QUICK LOOK AT IT IF YOU HADN'T HAD A CHANCE.
JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES, CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS.
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING? NO? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY MEETING ARE RIGHT HERE.
>> I APPROVE TO MAKE A MOTION OF MINUTES
>> THANK YOU. TO THOSE AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES.
SCOTT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY MAKING ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS? I DIDN'T DO IT.
>> NO? NOBODY'S HERE. VERY GOOD.
LET'S GO ON THEN TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS AND SCOTT WILL
[6.1 Review Decision On Temporary Sunset]
TAKE US THROUGH WHERE WE ARE IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE STARTED LAST MONTH ABOUT SUNSETTING.IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST SHARE THAT.
KATHERINE'S NOT HERE GOING FURTHER?
>> SHE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS SHE HAD PUT IN PLACE WITH THE CITY.
SCOTT PICKED IT UP AND SOME OF IT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK EXACTLY THE WAY KATHERINE HAD LAID IT OUT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
SCOTT MICHAELSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
KATHERINE, SHE RESIGNED FROM HER POSITION AT PARKS AND RECREATION, SO SHE IS NO LONGER HERE.
THE POSITION OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR HAS BEEN POSTED BY THE CITY, AND WILL BE CLOSING MARCH 1ST.
BUT AT THE JANUARY MEETING, I'M BASICALLY GOING TO GIVE, ONE SEC, A QUICK A QUICK SYNOPSIS, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND WHAT WE WERE PLANNING ON DOING AND THEN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OPTIONS REGARDING THE WHOLE TEMPORARY SUNSETTING OF THE BOARD.
IT WAS AT OUR JANUARY MEETING WE HAD VOTED.
IT WAS IN JANUARY, THAT WE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO TEMPORARILY SUNSET.
>> DECEMBER, THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO TEMPORARILY SUNSET TO TAKE A LOOK AT BASICALLY NOT THIS BOARD, OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE LED BY RICHARD AND MAYBE SOME OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD TO BECOME A 501 C3 ORGANIZATION.
THAT WAS VOTED ON AND BASICALLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
[00:05:06]
THEN OUR NORMAL SCHEDULED MEETING WAS ALWAYS THE 1ST FEBRUARY OF THE MONTH, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIFTH.WE ACTUALLY PUSHED THAT BACK ONE WEEK, WHICH IS TO TODAY THE 12TH, BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO GO TO THE COMMISSION ON THE SIXTH.
WE WERE GOING TO PUT IT TOWARDS THE COMMISSION TO TEMPORARILY SUNSET THE BOARD AS IT HAD BEEN UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY THE BOARD OR APPROVED TO DO THAT.
THEN TODAY WE WERE GOING TO MEET AND GO AND POSSIBLY HAVE THIS AS OUR LAST MEETING TO SAY WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD.
ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 6TH COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
WE GOT WORD THAT WE COULDN'T NECESSARILY TEMPORARILY SUNSET.
WITH THAT BEING SAID IS, YOU COULDN'T TEMPORARILY SUNSET A BOARD AND THEN HAVE THIS OTHER AND IT'S NOT AN ORGANIZATION, GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TEMPORARILY SUNSETTING A BOARD AND NOT HAVE THAT IN THE SUNSHINE LAW, BECAUSE IT IS A CONVERSATION THAT WOULD DEAL WITH ACTUALLY SUNSETTING A CITY BOARD.
THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS GOING TO TRY TO BE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME, BUT OUR OPTIONS, BASICALLY MOVING FORWARD ARE TO, WE CAN'T TEMPORARILY SUNSET.
LET ME REPHRASE THAT. WE WOULD NOT SUNSET.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD SET UP SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS UNDER THE SUNSHINE LAW THAT WOULD BE POSTED.
THERE WOULD BE MEETINGS HERE THAT WOULD BE REGARDING SETTING UP A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD THEN TAKE OVER SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THIS BOARD AND THEN ONCE THAT'S ALL COMPLETE, THEN THIS BOARD COULD TECHNICALLY SUNSET AT THAT MOTION.
IF THE COMMISSION WERE TO AGREE TO THAT, THEY WOULD BE THE ONES TO ULTIMATELY SUNSET THE BOARD.
IS WE COULD VOTE TODAY AND WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
WE COULD TECHNICALLY MAKE A MOTION TO SUNSET THE BOARD AND WE WOULD THEN GO TO THE COMMISSION.
IT WOULDN'T BE A TEMPORARY SUNSET.
WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO IS IF WE MADE A MOTION IN THE SECOND AND THAT GOT FOR A RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND GO THROUGH THE LEGAL MATTERS TO BASICALLY TAKE THAT TO THE COMMISSION.
THAT'S ONE OPTION IS TO POSSIBLY JUST SUNSET.
THE SECOND OPTION WOULD BE TO WHAT I JUST SAID A LITTLE BIT AGO, IS WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THESE MEETINGS.
WE WOULD MEET IN A SUBCOMMITTEE BASED MEETING UPSTAIRS IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM REGARDING CREATING THIS 501C3 ORGANIZATION THAT ONCE THAT WAS COMPLETED, THEN WE WOULD POSSIBLY THEN BE ABLE TO SUNSET THE BOARD.
IF THAT WAS STILL THE WISH OF THIS BOARD, WE COULD THEN RECOMMEND TO SUNSET IT AT THAT POINT.
IF THAT 501C3 GETS OFF THE GROUND AND RUNNING.
THEN THE THIRD OPTION IS WE WOULD GO FORWARD WITH THIS BOARD.
NOTHING CHANGES AND THAT'S WHY WHAT I DID IS IN YOUR PACKET, YOU WILL NOTICE THE TWO ATTACHMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE.
[00:10:06]
IT'S BASICALLY AN ORDINANCE IN SECTION 70 REGARDING PUBLIC ART IN PLACES TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT, AND ALSO ATTACHED IN THE LAST RESOLUTION, THE GOAL IN CHARGE TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE BOARD.THE OTHER OPTION THEN BASICALLY, WE COULD GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REALLY HONE IN ON THE CHARGE IN TEMPORARY AND PUBLIC ART THAT THE BOARD WAS CHARGED WITH DOING.
SO IN MY EYES, THERE'S THREE OPTIONS, AND FROM THERE, I THINK THAT LEADS TO YOU GUYS HAVING A DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T THINK YOU NECESSARILY [NOISE] HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY, BUT THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE THREE OPTIONS BEING AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE COULD DO AT THIS POINT.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, RICHARD, DO YOU WANT TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION?
>> SURE. SO WE HAVE A FEW NEW PEOPLE, NOT MANY THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE STORY LINE.
BUT OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, THE ARTS AND CULTURE BOARD HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH ISLAND FOCUSED ARTS SUPPORT AGENCY.
THE MISSION STATEMENT IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S BEEN ALL ALONG TO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND FOSTER ARTS IN THE COUNTY.
THE REASON THE COUNTY WENT TO THE CITY ARTS COUNCIL BACK IN 2010 WAS BECAUSE THEY CHARTERED THEM TO BE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU.
WHICH MEANT YOU HAD THE MANDATE TO BE SURE THAT YOU ARE MANAGING ARTS AND CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY, NOT JUST THE CITY.
WELL, IF YOUR BOARD IS MADE UP OF SEVEN OF THE NINE OF THE 10 OR 11 PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WERE FROM CITY BASED ARTS AGENCIES, YOU HAD A KIND OF PATH THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH STAKED OUT FOR YOU.
EARLY ON THAT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.
BUT AS YOU GOT INTO THE CURRENT LAST THREE YEARS, AND YOU SAW HOW THINGS WERE CHANGING COUNTY WIDE, IT REALLY DIDN'T ADDRESS A LOT OF THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY.
I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO GO OUT TO CALLAHAN, TO BRYCEVILLE.
I VISITED ALL THE FIVE LIBRARIES.
I WENT TO HILLIARD AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO AND HAVE A FARMER'S MARKET.
I FOUND OUT THAT ARTS AND CULTURE NEVER SPOKE TO ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF THE ISLAND.
EVERYTHING WAS HAPPENING HERE.
THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE EVENTS WERE TAKING PLACE.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE ACTION WAS.
BUT I WAS ON THE BOARD AS THE COUNTY WIDE REP AND I JUST FELT LIKE, OH, WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS? I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY.
I WORKED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE SET UP A COMMITTEE TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS.
BRAD WAS ON IT, KEN WAS ON IT, PENNY WAS ON IT, AND WE WORKED TOWARD ANOTHER VISION OF WHAT ARTS AND CULTURE SHOULD BE.
WE FINISHED THAT DOCUMENT AND IT NEVER GOT TO THE BOARD BECAUSE WE WERE DEALING WITH SOME OTHER ISSUES IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND JUST NEVER BROUGHT IT TO YOU.
THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SEEN IT, THEY'VE MADE SOME NOTES ON THINGS THEY WANTED TO CHANGE.
WHEN I STARTED 2.5, 3 YEARS AGO, WE HAD ABOUT 17, $18,000 IN THE BANK.
TYPICALLY, WE MAKE OUR MONEY SOLELY AND ONLY FROM THE LICENSE PLATE SALES.
THAT COMES INTO ABOUT 22-$2,000 A YEAR.
YOU WRITE GRANTS $500 A PIECE FOR 5-8 ORGANIZATIONS, WHATEVER YOU MAKE YOU SPEND, AND THEN YOU SPEND MONEY ON ADVERTISING TO PROMOTE THE LICENSE PLATE SALES.
SO AS A RESULT, YOUR BALANCE NOW PROBABLY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FINAL NUMBER, BUT ONCE YOU PAY OUT ALL THE GRANTS IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, YOU'LL BE DOWN TO MAYBE $9,000.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOUR MISSION IS OR A COUNTY WIDE ORGANIZATION, WE'RE GOING TO FOSTER, WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE, BUT WE HAVE NO WAY TO REALLY DO THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
[00:15:05]
IT DIMINISHES THE IMPACT.GOAL NUMBER 1 FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN WAS SOLVENCY AND A FINANCIAL CHANGE.
YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT GRANTS FROM THE STATE, FROM ANY OTHER NATIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS AND YOU HAD TO GROW FINANCIALLY BEFORE YOU COULD DO ANYTHING.
IF YOUR MISSION STATEMENT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND FORCE THE ARTS AND CULTURE COUNTYWIDE, AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
ELEVEN OF THESE PEOPLE GOING TO GO OUT AND VISIT EVERYBODY AND SHAKE HANDS AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
JUST DON'T ASK BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY HELP YOU.
IT JUST BECAME A PROBLEM, AT LEAST FOR ME AND FOR THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS TRYING TO CREATE THE PLAN.
WE CAME OUT WITH FOUR STRATEGIC GOALS.
NUMBER 1, SOLVENCY OR THE ABILITY TO GENERATE FUNDING.
SCOTT HELD SOME MEETINGS WITH KATHERINE EARLY ON IN THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR AND WANTED THE RESIDENTS TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT RECREATION AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THINGS THEY COULD DO.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ARTS AND CULTURE THAT GREW A BLANK.
NOBODY HAD ANY CLUE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DID.
YOU'RE WORKING IN A TOWN THAT EVERYTHING IS COMPRESSED IN.
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE ALL THE ARTS AND THE PEOPLE HERE; THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE DONATIONS, BUT YOU HAVE COMPETING AGENCIES.
YOU HAVE THE TOURIST BOARD THAT THRIVES ON MAKING SURE THERE'S THINGS TO DO WHEN THEY BRING VISITORS IN AND THEY TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO BE THE ARTS AND CULTURE.
YOU HAVE A BOOKSTORE THAT CALLS ITSELF ARTS AND CULTURE.
YOU HAVE FERNANDINA, MAIN STREET THAT'S JOB IS TO WORK WITH THE PARKS TO MAKE SURE THE PLACE DOWNTOWN LOOKS GREAT, THERE'S THINGS TO DO, EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE IN SMALL AREA TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE THOUGHT OUR MISSION WAS GOING TO BE.
IF YOU FOCUS ON COUNTY-WIDE, THERE'S PLENTY TO DO.
IF YOU ONLY FOCUS FOR THE LAST 10-15 YEARS ON JUST THE CITY, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE STEPPING OVER EACH OTHER.
RELEVANCE, COUNTY-WIDE WAS THE SECOND GOAL.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE RELEVANT TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN HILLIARD? I WENT THERE, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHO WE WERE.
THEY ASKED ME ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS.
COULD WE HELP THEM WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA IF WE COULD PUT A MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THIS WALL? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND COMMUNITY HELP? YOU GO TO CALLAHAN, THEY'VE GOT THE RAILROAD DEPOT; IT CAN HELP US WITH THE ART EXHIBITS.
YEAH, THE NEEDS ARE OUT THERE BUT WE WEREN'T ASKING THE QUESTION.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO MATTER TO ANYBODY? IS ANYBODY GOING TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE CARRYING ON THESE EVENTS AND THESE THINGS COUNTY-WIDE IF EVERYTHING IS RIGHT HERE? THE LAST PIECE WAS AWARENESS WHICH GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WE HAD.
EVEN HERE WHERE ALL THE IMPACT AND ALL THE ACTION WAS HAPPENING, YOU STILL HAD ZERO AWARENESS EVEN FROM ACTIVE ARTS PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN OTHER AGENCIES, IN OTHER STUDIOS, AND IN OTHER THEATERS AND PERFORMANCE VENUES.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAME TO THE BOARD AND SAID, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN FIX THIS UNLESS YOU ACCEPT A 3-5 YEAR PLAN WHICH IS HERE AND YOU REALIZED THAT IN THIS PLAN, IT CALLS FOR THE STRUCTURE OF A 501C3.
I GOT THAT SAME INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, FROM THE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING PEOPLE.
I GOT THE SAME THING FROM THE CITY.
THERE'S A WAY TO FIX THIS AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FIX.
I TRIED TO GO AROUND THAT A DIFFERENT WAY.
I SAID, LET'S GO TO THE CITY AND SEE IF THEY'LL PUT $6,000 IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND THAT WE COULD STREAM THAT.
I WENT TO THE COUNTY AND SAID, LOOK, YOU'RE MAKING ALL THIS REVENUE FROM THE TAX MONEY YOU GET FROM THE HOTELS; THAT'S ABOUT $11 MILLION PROBABLY SOME NUMBER LIKE THAT, HOW ABOUT WE GET A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE TOURISTS GOING TO DO IF THERE'S NO ARTS AND CULTURE? ENDLESS SUMMER IS A NICE THOUGHT, BUT IT'S BORING.
MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD SUPPORT THIS FOR US.
THAT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. I SAID, I GET IT.
THE ONLY WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK, IF YOU WANT TO WORK.
LET ME PARK THAT; IF YOU WANT IT TO WORK.
YOU ALL CAN DECIDE, WE'RE LOVING WHAT WE DO, WE LIKE IT JUST THE WAY IT IS, WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME, GET OFF THE SOAP BOX.
THIS IS WHY WE CALLED THE VOTE IN
[00:20:03]
DECEMBER BECAUSE WE PRESENTED THIS SITUATION TO THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE; MANY ARE NOT HERE, BUT THEY ALL ALL AGREED THAT A CHANGE OF STRUCTURE WAS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.NOW NOW SCOTT'S BRINGING YOU BACK AGAIN AND SAYING, YOU CAN STAY THE WAY YOU ARE AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
THE CITY LIKES IT, THE COUNTY LIKES IT.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY GETTING ANYTHING DONE, BUT IF YOU LIKE IT, THAT'S WONDERFUL.
ME PERSONALLY, I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE AND WE CAN BE A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE AT IT.
SO THAT'S MY TAKE ON WHERE I WANT TO GO.
I'M MOVING YOU ALL VERBALLY TO TAKE UP THE IDEA THAT WE FORM A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.
LET'S JUST SAY FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, IT'S THE COUNCIL OF ARTS AND CULTURE, NASSAU.
NOW WE'VE GOT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ENTITY AND IT'S A 501C3.
WE WOULD FORM THAT THROUGH THE PAPERWORK FILING WITH THE STATE, GET THE TAX ID.
ALL YOU NEED IS THREE OR FOUR NAMES ON AN APPLICATION TO START THE PROCESS.
YOU CREATE THE EVENT AND THEN YOU ADVERTISE FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
I DON'T NEED TO TRANSITION YOU ALL INTO THAT. LET US BUILD IT.
SCOTT'S POINT IS YOU COULD HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT TALKS ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT IT IS.
YOU JUST FILE THE PAPERWORK, YOU SET IT UP.
I THINK HE NEEDS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THE BOARD AS IT EXISTS NOW WANTS TO PROCEED THAT WAY.
WE'LL DO THE PAPERWORK, WE'LL CREATE THE ENTITY.
IT MAY TAKE A MONTH, TWO MONTHS, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE STATE TO COME BACK TO YOU.
ONCE WE HAVE IT, WE WOULD THEN SAY, WE'RE NOW LOOKING FOR BOARD MEMBERS THE SAME WAY WE FOUND YOU ALL.
WE WOULD GO OUT AND REACH YOU AGAIN AND SAY, HERE'S THE NEW ENTITY.
THE DIFFERENCE IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE ITS MISSION IS SO MUCH LARGER, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A LUNCH CLUB.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A LUNCH CLUB, BUT SOME PEOPLE JOIN BOARDS JUST TO JOIN BOARDS; SOMETHING TO DO.
GO TO THE GYM FOR AN HOUR, GO SIT ON THE BOARD FOR AN HOUR, AND GO HAVE LUNCH.
THIS NEW ENTITY IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE IT'S GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER.
IF THERE'S 5-7 PEOPLE, EACH ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO BE ASSIGNED A DISTRICT.
IDEALLY, THE BOARD WILL NOT COME FROM THE CITY.
ONE WOULD COME FROM CALLAHAN, AND FROM ONE WOULD COME FROM BRYCEVILLE, ONE WOULD COME FROM HILLIARD, TWO CAN COME FROM FERNANDINA, ONE WOULD COME FROM THE ARTS MARKET.
NOW YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE SITTING HERE THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THEIR TOWN.
YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE FIVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY.
YOU'D BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD BUT TO ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COMMISSIONER.
IF IT'S GRAY IN YULEE, IF IT'S HUPPMANN ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND, IF JOHN MARTIN IS DOWN HERE IN FERNANDINA, THEY NOW HAVE MORE OF A VESTED INTEREST IN WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT'S HOW I SEE THE ARTS AND CULTURE BOARD.
I'M GIVING YOU ALL THAT BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WERE COMING FROM.
BRAD SAT ON THAT STRATEGIC PLANNING BOARD, KIM WAS ON IT, WE ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH, BUT IT NEVER GOT TO THE FINAL STAGES.
IF YOU AGREE, ONCE WE SET UP THE NEW COMMITTEE; THE 501C3 ORGANIZATION, WE WOULD THEN TAKE THAT STRATEGIC PLAN AND MODIFY IT AND PUT THAT AS THE DIRECTIVE FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE GOING FORWARD.
I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOR CHRISTINE AND MAYBE FOR LAUREN WHO HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF THIS HISTORY.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU WANT TO CHAT ABOUT IT.
JOHNNIE'S BEEN THROUGH IT, KIM'S BEEN THROUGH IT, BRAD HAS BEEN THROUGH IT, SANDRA, YOU'RE NEW TO IT.
LET'S GO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION.
>> YEAH. THE COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO ADD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF THAT WHEN THIS BOARD WAS INITIALLY FORMED THAT IT WAS A CITY ADVISORY BOARD.
IT REPORTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEN WHEN WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS THIS LICENSE PLATE MONEY THAT WAS OUT THERE, THAT RUNS THROUGH THE COUNTY.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE COUNTY THEN BASICALLY SAID THAT THIS BOARD WAS GOING TO BE THE LAA, LOCAL ART AGENCY.
[00:25:04]
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S WHERE IT EXPANDED TO THE TWO AT LARGE.ORIGINALLY, I BELIEVE THERE WAS TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS COUNTY, NOT CITY RESIDENTS THAT WERE ON THE BOARD BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN VOTE.
BUT THEN THAT ALSO GOT CHANGED.
THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY FOCUS ALL CAME INTO THE PICTURE.
ORIGINALLY, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WAS, BUT EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE YEARS, THAT'S WHAT TOOK PLACE.
I JUST THINK THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
WHAT RICHARD SAID JUST TO SUMMARIZE THAT, AND THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I HAD SAID PRIOR TO RICHARD IS, I BELIEVE IN THIS SITUATION THAT THERE'S OPTIONS.
LIKE I SAID, WE COULD KEEP THE BOARD AS IT IS AND FOCUS ON THE STUFF THAT WAS ATTACHED TO YOUR PACKET AND REVISIT THAT AND THIS OTHER ORGANIZATION.
BUT WITH THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A MIX UP ON THIS BOARD.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT A PART OF THAT, THAT WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE.
MAYBE THAT WILL GO WITH THE 501C3.
YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THIS BOARD, YOU WOULD HAVE THE 501C3 IF THAT GETS OFF THE GROUND, WHICH I DO FORESEE THAT HAPPENING.
>> IF YOU WERE TO GO THIS ROUTE AND SOMEONE WAS GOING TO START THE 501C3, YOU CANNOT SIT ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF THE SUNSHINE.
SO YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THIS BOARD IN THAT BOARD?
>> YEAH. WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS BOARD AND THEN LIKE I SAID, I DO THINK THERE WOULD BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT AND IF THEY WANTED TO THEN SIT AND BASICALLY DEVELOP THIS 501C3, THEN THEY COULD DO THAT AS WELL.
WE COULD GO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ROUTE AS RICHARD HAD STATED AS WELL.
WE WOULD STILL HAVE THESE MEETINGS MONTHLY AS THE BOARD, BUT THEN THERE WOULD BE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING THAT WOULD THEN MEET REGARDING THE CREATION OF THIS 501C3.
THEN THE THIRD OPTION WOULD BE TO PUT IN A RECOMMENDATION RIGHT NOW JUST TO SUNSET THE BOARD.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
THE BOARD DOES NOT SUNSET ITSELF, THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COMMISSION AND ALL THAT.
>> THAT'S HOW I THOUGHT WE LEFT IT IN DECEMBER THAT KATHERINE WOULD TAKE IT TO THE COMMISSION SO WAS TUESDAY, AND TELL THEM.
>> THAT IS HOW IT WAS GOING BUT IT WAS A TEMPORARY SUNSET, NOT A RECOMMENDATION PERMANENT SUNSET.
>> TO KATIE'S POINT, IF I WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE 501(C)3, WHICH I TOTALLY BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION, THE ONLY SOLUTION, THEN I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
YOU DO THIS ON BOARD AND YOU'D HAVE TO REORGANIZE AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
BUT I DON'T SEE THE POINT AS I'VE LAID OUT TO YOU, IT'S REALLY AN UPHILL BATTLE TO REALLY BE EFFECTIVE.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST PAY HOMAGE TO THE ARTS, THAT'S GREAT, YOU COULD JUST GO TO ONE OF THE SHOWS AND APPRECIATE THE MONEY.
BUT FOR ANOTHER BUNCH OF YEARS, REALLY DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
WE CAN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE CITY, REFLECTING SOME INFORMATION BACK TO THE COUNTY.
I JUST FOUND IT NOT A TENABLE SITUATION AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF IT, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.
BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU ONE THING OR THE OTHER, I'M TELLING YOU PRETTY MUCH HOW I SEE THE SOLUTION AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
>> OUR DUTY AS STAFF IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF ALL THE HISTORY.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE BOARD.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'RE HERE.
I THINK IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT TO YOU WHERE WE WERE, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, EITHER ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, THEY'RE BOTH DOABLE.
I TOTALLY SEE WHAT RICHARD IS SAYING.
[00:30:01]
IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE ATTACHMENTS, THAT'S THE BOARD WOULD THEN TAKE A DEEPER DIVE AND LOOK AT THAT.EITHER OPTION IS NOT WRONG IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, IS ONE OF THE CHOICES TO, YOU'RE SAYING, JUST KEEP ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU IN ALL OF ITS VERY LIMITED INFLUENCE AND POWER, IT WOULD JUST FUNCTION TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE MONEY, GET THOSE FUNDS OUT AND JUST CONTINUE AND THEN YOU WANT TO CREATE JUST A 503C COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND GET FUNDS? ARE YOU BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A GREATER [OVERLAPPING]?
>> BUT WHAT I DON'T REALLY SEE AS BEING SENSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY IS CONTINUING BOTH THINGS.
I REALLY DON'T, I THINK THAT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT WAS WHAT YOUR FIRST OPTION THAT YOU JUST.
>> FROM THE JUMP, YOU RULED THAT OUT BECAUSE THERE JUST AREN'T AS MANY ADVANTAGES TO JUST TAKING THIS GROUP AND REFORMATTING.
>> BECAUSE THE 501(C)3 IS NOT GOING TO LET THE LICENSE PLATE MONEY GO.
WE'RE GOING TO APPLY BACK TO THE COUNTY AND SAY WE'RE THE LAA NOW.
>> THAT OPTION IS MORE A LAST RESORT.
HERE'S THE WAY TO GET AT THAT IF YOU WANT IT, I'LL LEAVE AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THIS AND THEN YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
NO, SERIOUSLY, IT MAKES SENSE.
I DON'T SEE YOU SPENDING ANOTHER 3-5 YEARS DOING THE SAME THING WE'VE DONE FOR 15 YEARS AND JUST RUNNING THROUGH.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS IF FROM THE BEGINNING YOUR PROCESS WAS MORE JUST, THIS IS NOT FULFILLING FOR ME, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO.
BECAUSE I KNOW I'M CONNECTED TO A LOT OF ARTISTS, A LOT OF PERFORMING ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'M CONNECTED TO A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THESE CAUSES AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH VARIOUS BOARDS.
I OWN AN ARTS BUSINESS IN TOWN AND THERE ARE INTERESTED PARTIES THAT WOULD WANT TO ALIGN.
EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO, THERE WERE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT FORMING A 503C THAT WAS COMMITTED TO FINDING A PATH FORWARD IN TERMS OF GETTING A FACILITY, A BRICK AND MORTAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, A CIVIC BUILDING DEVOTED TO THE ARTS, AND THERE WERE PERFORMING ARTISTS, VISUAL ARTISTS UNITING AROUND THIS CAUSE, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY THE MISSION.
>> JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING THE OVERARCHING GOALS AND EVERYTHING.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE TWO ENTITIES, THEY COULD TECHNICALLY SERVE TWO DIFFERENT PURPOSES THAT DEVELOPING THAT AND THEN GOING BACK TO WHAT THE ORIGINAL CHARGE WAS OF THIS BOARD.
THAT'S WHERE THEY, ONCE AGAIN, AS BOTH ENTITIES COULD.
THAT'S RICHARD'S OPINION THAT HE WOULD JUST WANT TO HAVE THE 501(C)3.
BUT I DO THINK, AND THIS IS FOR OUR BOARD TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION IS THAT BOTH ENTITIES, THEY HAVE TWO SEPARATE MISSIONS ALMOST.
BUT THAT'S FOR A DISCUSSION THAT YOU GUYS WOULD JUDGE.
>> BUT RICHARD IS SAYING THAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO JUST KEEP THIS BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY AWARENESS OF THIS GROUP AND IT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR RICHARD, BUT I THINK WHAT HE SAID IS THAT IT WOULD BE THE 501(C)3 AND THERE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE A NEED FOR THIS BOARD.
>> IT'S THE SAME. WE PICK UP THE MISSION, WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S SO COMPLICATED.
PEOPLE ARE READY TO START ON THIS YESTERDAY AND WE HAVE TO SUNSET AND DO ALL THIS.
IS IT EASIER JUST TO LET THIS EXIST AND THEN [OVERLAPPING]?
>> THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY WITH THAT IS THAT THE COUNTY DECIDES WHO THE LAA IS. THEY DO.
EVEN IF THIS ORGANIZATION WERE TO START, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE COUNTY IS JUST GOING TO SAY, WELL, HERE YOU ARE NOW THE DESIGNATED LAA.
THEY MAY OR THEY MAY NOT DO THAT.
THEN THE CITY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY JUST SAY, WELL, THIS 501(C)3, YOU'RE NOW IN CHARGE OF TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT ART IN THE CITY.
THAT WILL BE THE CITY'S DECISION.
[00:35:04]
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT THAT STUFF IS ALL BASED ON THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, SO THAT'S NOT ALL SET IN STONE.>> I'M SORRY, GWEN. ARE YOU REALLY DONE?
>> NO. I JUST HAVE ANOTHER CLARIFICATION ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
ISN'T THAT AN OPTION AS WELL? DID I HEAR THAT PROPERLY?
>> YES. SO OUTSIDE OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS, THAT DISCUSSION AND HOW THEY WOULD GO ABOUT AND THE PROCEDURES OF BECOMING THIS 501(C)(3), YES, THAT'S AN OPTION THAT THEY WOULD MEET IN A SUBCOMMITTEE FORMAT.
IT WOULD BE A POSTED CITY MEETING, IT WOULD BE UPSTAIRS.
>> THAT KIND OF STARTED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I CAME [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, WE ACTUALLY, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THIS, WE WROTE THE PLAN, THE SUBCOMMITTEE, AND IT'S ALL IN THERE, WHICH IS WHERE THEY ENVISIONED ENDING THIS AND HAVING IT RECREATED AS A 501(C)(3).
>> SO IS THERE ANY VALUE IN TRAINING ANOTHER SUBCOMMITTEE OR IS THAT [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION AT A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING AND WE GO OVER THAT PLAN AND SAY IF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAME UP WITH A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION, THEN THAT COULD BE A CHANGE.
BUT I THINK WE BRAD AND I AND KIM, SIX MONTHS ON THIS THING AND WE PRETTY MUCH LOOKED AT IT INSIDE OUT.
IN ALL, LAUREN, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FORUM MEETINGS THAT WE HELD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, EVERY ONE OF THEM SAID, THERE IS NO MORE PARKING HERE ON THE ISLAND, WE CAN'T BUILD THE STRUCTURE WE NEED, THE COUNTY SAYS THERE'S NO PERFORMANCE VENUES MID COUNTY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE LIVING HERE.
WHILE I SAID, YEAH, WE GET IT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO CREATE AN ART SPACE.
ABBOTT AND I TALK ABOUT THIS ENDLESSLY, YOU ARE AN ARCHITECT.
WELL, HE'S BUILT TWO OF THEM IN ATLANTA AND IN ANOTHER PART THERE.
YEAH, WE SEE THERE'S BIG SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE TO COME IN PLACE AND WE CAN'T DO IT UNDER THE STRUCTURE.
>> I THINK THAT THIS BOARD MIGHT HAVE SOME SAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FACILITY, BUT THAT'S A LARGE-SCALE JOB.
THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THEIR INPUT, SOME OF THE INPUT INTO THAT, OR THE VISION OF IT.
BUT WITH A BOARD, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FUNDING A ART FACILITY.
>> NO, THAT'S A BIG PLAN, YOU NEED A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT THE FORUM THAT WE'VE CREATED WILL CONTINUE ON.
IT HAS REALLY NOT TIED TO WHAT STRUCTURE WE USE, SO MEETING THEM TWICE A YEAR, MOST OF THE ARTS PEOPLE, ALL THE ARTS LEADERS ARE ON THAT BOARD, INCLUDING ANY OTHER ARTS-RELATED, CULTURE-RELATED 501(C)(3), SO YOU'VE GOT THE FRIENDS OF FORT CLINCH, YOU'VE GOT THE PIRATES, [INAUDIBLE] PIRATES, YOU'VE GOT THE FAIR UP IN CALLAHAN, ALL THE 501(C)(3)'S, AND ALL THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE TOGETHER EVEN AS THE STRUCTURE CHANGES BECAUSE THEIR DEMANDS AND THE COUNTY DEMANDS REQUIRE A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF WAYS TO HELP THEM.
I CAN'T SEE HOW TO DO IT UNDER THE STRUCTURE WE HAVE NOW.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IN MY OPINION.
LAST THING,, EITHER WE'RE A COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION OR WE ARE A CITY ARTS COMMISSION.
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD BE BOTH.
YOU GOT TO FOCUS ONE OR THE OTHER, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN THE LAST 15 YEARS SUPPORTING THE CITY.
I THINK WE CAN NOW MOVE THIS UP AND THE CITY WILL BE FINE.
IN FACT, WE'LL OFFER THEM OPPORTUNITIES, I WOULD THINK, TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO DO SO.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FOR A SUBCOMMITTEE UNDER THIS CURRENT THING, NOBODY IN THAT SUBCOMMITTEE CAN TALK OUTSIDE OF BEING PRESENT WITH STAFF MEMBER, SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.
AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD LITERALLY BE, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TOGETHER.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO FILL THEM OUT?
>> WE'VE ALREADY WALKED, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
THE SIX MONTHS OF WORKING ON THIS THING TO GET US TO THIS [NOISE] WAS THE SUBCOMMITTEE ONE, AND FURTHER TALKING ABOUT IT, WELL, WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT HERE FOREVER OR WE CAN JUST FILL OUT THE FORMS AND BE DONE.
>> I GUESS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND THE THREE OPTIONS THAT I DISCUSSED,
[00:40:03]
ANOTHER OPTION THAT WE COULD DO, AND I KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO PUSH THIS OUT ANOTHER MONTH, IS I COULD GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, CAN I COME UP WITH A LIST OF HERE'S OUR THREE OPTIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED, IS THERE ANY MORE OPTIONS? ARE THERE TWO MORE OPTIONS THAT I COULD PRESENT BACK TO YOU AT OUR MARCH MEETING? THIS WOULD GIVE YOU TIME TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.I GET IT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS THAT WE'RE PUSHING IT ANOTHER MONTH.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE JUST TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS THOUGHT.
>> NO, IF WE DECIDE TO SUNSET THIS BOARD, IS THE CITY JUST GOING TO BASICALLY REPLICATE AND START WITH A NEW ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE LINED UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU GUYS WOULD RECOMMEND A SUNSET TO THE CITY COMMISSION?
>> BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC ART AND THOSE DECISIONS, WOULD THE CITY JUST GO AND THEN?
>> LIKE THE MOVIE THE REPLACEMENTS?
>> YES, THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
>> THEN MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT IS JUST FROM THE LA STANDPOINT IS THAT IF WE GO AHEAD AND SUNSET AND TRY AND GO, THEY JUST BRING IN REPLACEMENTS FOR US, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING] THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPETE TO TRY AND GET THE LICENSE PLATE MONEY.
>> THAT'S A COUNTY-DRIVEN THING.
>> PROBABLY STILL HAVE TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS, WELL, WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO END THIS THING, BUT ONCE YOU REALLY DECIDE TO END IT, THEY'LL HOLD THE MONEY OVER THE MONTHS UNTIL THEY VOTE ON RECOGNIZING THE 501(C)(3) AS THE ARTS AND CULTURE, AND THEN THEY'LL FUND THAT.
BUT THAT WILL BE A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO WHAT YOU CAN RAISE THROUGH GRANTS.
MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE MORE AMBITIOUS THAN SOME OF YOU WANT TO BE, BUT TO LAUREN'S POINT, THE HUE AND CRY FROM THE ARTS COMMUNITY IS WE NEED SOME PLACE TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
THE DANCE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO GEORGIA TO PRACTICE BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPACES FOR THE REHEARSALS AND RECITALS, AND THERE'S NO LAND HERE TO BUILD ANYTHING, SO YOU'VE GOT TO EITHER LOOK MID COUNTY OR YOU COULD TAKE OVER A BUILDING OUT ON 17 THAT'S HALF EMPTY, AND MAKE AN ARTS ACADEMY OUT OF IT.
THERE'S LOTS YOU COULD DO. IT'S UNFORTUNATE SFCG DOESN'T HAVE A THEATER.
COLLEGE IS LIKE RIGHT THERE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE A THEATER.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS KEEPING UP WITH WILDLIFE POPULATION GROWTH AND PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTS AND CULTURE OF MID COUNTY.
WAY DIFFERENT MISSION THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN ON HERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN RESPONDING TO THE 7-8 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES AND TRYING TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT OVER THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS AT THESE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD, WHICH WERE THE ONLY TIME WE COULD COMMUNICATE, YOU NEVER HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE ACTUAL ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING, WHAT THEY NEEDED, OR WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WHICH IS WHY THE FORUMS THAT WE INSTITUTED GAVE US A VENUE TO LET THEM TALK ABOUT SERIOUS ISSUES.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND VOLUNTEERS.
WE'RE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER TO RAISE MONEY.
HOW DO YOU BUILD A BETTER BOARD? WE DO WORKSHOPS AND CREATE INFORMATION TO EDUCATE THEM ON HOW TO DO THIS STUDY.
ALL THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HERE, BUT NEVER DID.
BUT THE FORUM NOW GIVES ME THE PLACE TO DO IT AND THE NEW ORGANIZATION WILL GIVE ME THE MONEY AND EFFORT TO TIE IN THE COUNTY WIDER ON THE SAME MISSION.
I JUST SEE EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING ON STEROIDS, BUT I NEED ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO DO IT.
THAT'S JUST ME, I'M ONE VOTE. THAT'S JUST ME.
>> BUT WE CAN'T FORM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION AND STILL BE PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
>> WELL, I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULD DO THAT.
>> I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.
>> I SAID THAT YOU CAN'T FORM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION AND STILL BE PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
[00:45:11]
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO THEN GO OUT AND CREATE A 501(C)(3), YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO DO THAT OUT ON YOUR OWN, THIS BOARD WOULD CONTINUE GOING IN THE DIRECTION.
IF MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THIS GROUP WANT TO START THAT PROCESS AND WORK TOGETHER, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD DO THE SUBCOMMITTEE STUFF.
>> EITHER ONE OF THESE VISIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT BOTH VISIONS, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER VISION, THEY'RE JUST DIFFERENT.
>> DOES EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION? I THINK AT THIS POINT WE EITHER NEED TO MAKE A MOTION NOW OR WE NEED TO COME BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING, I'LL REVIEW WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY IF WE HAVE ANY MORE OPTIONS, AND GO FROM THERE.
NOTHING IS SET IN STONE WITH WHO WOULD BECOME THE DESIGNATED LAA.
SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO ASK US THAT, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A DEFINITE ANSWER.
WOULD THIS BOARD CONTINUE? TECHNICALLY, THAT IS A CITY COMMISSION DECISIONS.
>> I ALSO BELIEVE, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WHEN YOU'RE SUNSETTING, YOU CAN RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COMMISSION WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THOSE FUNDS AND THE PUBLIC ART APPLICATIONS AND THINGS.
YOU COULD RECOMMEND ANOTHER BOARD TO OVERSEE THOSE APPLICATIONS.
AND WITH THAT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHAT WE CALL PRAC.
SOME OF THAT STUFF COULD GET PUSHED TO THEM POSSIBLY.
>> IS ANOTHER SCENARIO PART OF THE BOARD LEAVES TO GO START A 501C3 AND A PART OF THE BOARD STAYS AS IS? BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IN THEORY, LIKE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, HINTING AT IS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
IN THEORY, IT DOESN'T. IF SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO SAY, [OVERLAPPING] I WANT TO START THE 501C3, THEN THIS THING STILL EXISTS [OVERLAPPING] AND PEOPLE COULD STAY IN THAT SO PEOPLE COULD CHOOSE.
>> YES, SIR. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO GET NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO FILL THOSE SPOTS.
AND THEN IF THE QUESTION EVER CAME OUT ABOUT THE LAA AND WHO IS DESIGNATED THE LAA, WANTS THIS 501C, THOSE WOULD BE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN ONCE THAT'S ALL SET IN PLACE IF THE COUNTY WANTS TO LOOK AT NOMINATING SOMEONE IN THE LAA, BUT GOING BACK TO WHAT RICHARD STATED TO EARLIER, IS THAT THAT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
FACILITY WERE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, 9,000, SO YES, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT MADE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS ONE OR THE OTHER AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT CAN BE BOTH.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ONE OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU COULD PICK SIDES OR WHICH WAY YOU FEEL IT WORKS BETTER FOR YOU.
>> THE BOARD CAN'T JUST SAY, WE SEE THIS AS A NEED FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO HAVE A GROUP THAT IS COHESIVE AND WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION AND BLENDING.
AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A RESEARCH COMMITTEE THAT CAN'T GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT THIS AND SEE IF THIS WORKS.
>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
>> IT'S LIKE WE CAN'T, AS A BOARD, SAY, WE SEE THIS AS A NEED AND WE'RE GOING TO APPOINT A GROUP TO GO AHEAD AND EXPLORE THIS AND DO THE 501C THING AND SEE IF IT CAN BE ORGANIZED [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN STILL BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THIS BOARD.
>> RIGHT. SO THEN THAT'S WHERE THE WHOLE SUBCOMMITTEE IDEA COMES IN BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ULTIMATELY AS A GROUP ABOUT FORMING ANOTHER 501C3 THEN THAT THE BOARD WILL COME BACK AND RECOMMEND A SUNSET OF THIS EXISTING BOARD.
THAT'S WHERE THAT CONVERSATION FALLS IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING.
>> YOU'RE BETTER OFF JUST GOING AND STARTING THE 501C3 WITHOUT BEING HANDICAPPED BY THE SUNSHINE LAW,
[00:50:02]
INSTEAD OF TRYING 100 OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES.>> [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW. THAT SUNSHINE LAW THERE.
>> IF YOUR POINT IS THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEST, IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> YEAH. WELL, BEING INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE ARTS COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG, I'VE SEEN THESE GROUPS COME AND GO, AND THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME, IS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GROUP THAT WILL JUST FALL TO THE WAYSIDE AND WON'T GET ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
WE REALLY DO NEED A GOOD ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT HAS [OVERLAPPING] ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING.
>> RICHARD, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHEN YOU'VE BEEN OUT WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY VISITS AND WHATNOT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CONVERSATION WAS AVAILABLE TO COME UP, BUT DO YOU SEE THEM SAYING THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD REALLY STAND BEHIND? SO IF SOMETHING WAS INITIATED AS YOU SAID, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH ENERGY, DO YOU THINK, TO SUSTAIN?
>> YEAH. IF YOU COME TO THIS FORUM IN TWO `WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE THE FOLKS FROM CALLAHAN, YOU'LL TALK TO THEM.
WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM.
WE HELP THEM RIGHT NOW IN THIS.
SO CALLAHAN GETS IT TWICE A YEAR.
WE GAVE ONE TO HILLIARD, I BELIEVE, THIS YEAR THAT'S ON THEIR SITE, BUT MY POINT IS TO ALL THIS CONVERSATION, HAD WE APPROVED THE STRATEGIC PLAN? IT SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO FORM A 501C3 AS THE SOLUTION, WHICH IS WHY I THOUGHT WE WERE MOVING WITH THIS WHICH WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED ALL THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE YOU ALL SAID, YEAH, WE'RE GOING.
SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. [OVERLAPPING] THIS THING HERE APPROVED.
>> I'M JUST ASKING HIM IS IT EASIER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE JUST ROADBLOCKS.
>> WELL, YOU'VE GOT LEGAL ISSUES THAT THEY ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, BUT YOU HAD APPROVED THIS, WE WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN IN SYNC.
WE'D HAVE JUST USED THIS AS A DOCUMENT TO MOVE FORWARD, FILE THE PAPERWORK, AND JUST KEPT GOING, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
>> RIGHT. SO IT GOES BACK TO THEN LEGAL QUESTIONS COMING UP WITH THAT, IS YES, PEOPLE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A 501C3 THAT THEY WANT TO CREATE.
YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN'T BE ON THERE AND THEN SIT ON THIS BOARD.
SO LIKE MR. WELLS HAD SAID, IS YOU CAN DO BOTH IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD WOULD GO IN, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE CHARGE AND THE GOAL, BUT THEN IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS 501C3, THEN YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T BE ON BOTH BOARDS.
>> RIGHT. THEY BOTH CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, I GUESS, IS MY POINT.
>> I'M TRYING TO COME UP WITH A MOTION.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S I WANT TO JOIN THE 501C3, I WANT TO STAY WHERE I'M AT, OR NONE OF THE ABOVE.
SO YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE A YES OR NO VOTE.
IT NEEDS TO BE I WANT TO PURSUE THE 501C3, THEREFORE, I AM VACATING THE BOARD INDIVIDUALLY.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT AS A GROUP.
>> SO YOUR MOTION WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
AND THEN THE BOARD CAN VOTE TO [OVERLAPPING] GO WITH THE OPTION OR NOT.
AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE VOTES, THAT'S THE OPTION YOU WOULD GO WITH.
SO IT REALLY CAN'T BE A WHICH OPTION DO YOU WANT KIND OF VOTE.
IT NEEDS TO BE, I MAKE A MOTION TO SUNSET THE BOARD AND PURSUE THE 501C3 OR I MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE BOARD AS IS, AND THEN YOU WOULD VOTE\.
>> BUT THEN THAT LEAVES OUT THE SECOND OPTION.
>> YOU COULD DO ANY OPTION YOU WANT.
YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR ANY OF THE OPTIONS.
YOU COULD MAKE UP YOUR OWN OPTION RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU NEED A MOTION THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VOTABLE.
>> SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUNSET THE BOARD RIGHT NOW AND YOU DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT, YOU WOULD OBVIOUSLY VOTE AGAINST IT.
I THINK WHAT WOULD BE REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS A LOT EASIER IS IF THE CITY KNEW WHAT WE WERE PLANNING AND EITHER AGREED OR DISAGREED.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE CITY IN THE NEXT MEETING OR WHENEVER YOU CAN GET TO THEM AND SAY, WE HAVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO SUNSET THIS CURRENT BOARD AND CREATE A 501C3, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, WILL YOU LET US DO IT? AT LEAST WE WOULD KNOW WHERE WE STAND LEGALLY BECAUSE IF THEY SAY, ABSOLUTELY NOT, WE WANT IT THE WAY IT IS, THEN THE 501,
[00:55:01]
GUYS PICK UP THEIR BAGS AND GO HOME, THAT'S FINE.THAT STILL REMAINS THE OPEN QUESTION.
>> RIGHT. BUT THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED, IS YOU CAN GO AND CREATE THIS 501C3, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND I UNDERSTAND IS YOU HAVE A MEETING, HERE'S THE PAPERWORK, WE'RE GOING TO FILL OUT THIS FORM, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, BUT WE CAN'T STOP ANYONE FROM CREATING A 501C3 AND GOING THAT DIRECTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE POINT, BUT IF THIS BOARD WANTS TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS OF ULTIMATELY CREATING A 501C3 MIN EFFECT, IF THAT GETS OFF THE GROUND, THEN RECOMMENDING TO SUNSET A BOARD, THAT'S WHERE IT HAS TO FALL WITHIN THE SUNSHINE LAW.
THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO.
SO ULTIMATELY, I THINK THAT IS ANSWERED.
>> WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GO IN FRONT OF THE CITY LAST WEEK AND WE DIDN'T DO IT.
AND WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT? I THOUGHT THEY HAD SOME SAY IN SUNSETTING THIS BOARD.
>> BUT YOU CAN'T SUNSET IT TEMPORARILY.
THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MEETING IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, AND THEN ULTIMATELY ONCE THAT IS MAYBE OFF THE GROUND, THEN THE BOARD COULD THEN COME BACK AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO PERMANENTLY SUNSET.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.
THE ULTIMATE QUESTION HERE IS DO THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO GET OFF THIS BOARD AND CREATE A 501 3 AND DO THIS BIGGER LARGER VISION, OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE PATH THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN AND DOING THESE CHARGES AND WORK WITH THE PUBLIC CONTEMPORARY ART? THOSE ARE THE ULTIMATE TWO QUESTIONS.
THEY BASICALLY WOULD BE TWO TOTAL SEPARATE THINGS.
>> CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO VOTE ON IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE PROPER INFORMATION AND READY TO VOTE ON SUNSETTING AND ASKED TO BE UNANIMOUS THAN OPPOSED TO VOTE TO SUNSHINE?
DOES EVERYONE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT? YES?
>> I'M A LITTLE TORN JUST THINKING ABOUT THE ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO EXPAND ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA INTO NASSAU COUNTY MORE.
I DO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, SO I WOULD SAY YES.
>> THEN I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO VOTE TO PERMANENTLY SUNSET.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION, GO AHEAD.
>> SHOULD WE DO A MOTION FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO STAY? BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE VOTING TO SUNSET DOESN'T MEAN.
>> IF THEY VOTED TO PERMANENTLY SUNSET, THEN THAT MEANS THEY WANT TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT NO ONE IS CHOOSING ACTIVELY TO STAY IN THE FORMER STATE. NO ONE IS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS LEFT BEHIND.
I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE WE WERE FORCING EVERYBODY OFF.
BUT IF ANYBODY'S FINE WITH THAT, THEN THAT'S FINE.
>> I THINK WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR THE BEST CASE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOBODY FELT LIKE THEY WERE PUSHED OFF.
I DIDN'T GET THAT IMPRESSION FROM THE BOARD.
>> SO YOUR NEXT STEP IS TO TAKE THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL?
>> MY NEXT STEP IS TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THAT THIS WOULD GO BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT YES,
[01:00:03]
KATIE AND I WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PRESENT THIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION POSSIBLY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH; THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH POSSIBLY.>> I HAD SPOKEN TO KATHERINE ABOUT SHOWING UP, AND AND I'M SURE SOMEBODY'S GOING TO ASK WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ON IT.
>> YES. WHAT WE WOULD DO IS ONCE WE GET THAT EXACT DATE, WE WOULD THEN ACTUALLY PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION TO YOU ON THE DATE AND ALSO WHAT THE BACKUP STUFF IS THAT WILL BE FOR THAT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE CITY COMMISSION.
YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BE MADE AWARE OF IT.
>> OKAY. SO CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THIS?
>> NOT TO CHANGE THAT. MY POINT WAS WHY DON'T WE, BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING OF THIS ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE WE STILL EXIST UNTIL THE CITY TELLS US.
>> THIS BOARD STILL EXISTS UNTIL THE CITY COMMISSION AND THEN WOULD VOTE.
SO YES, I BELIEVE DEPENDING ON THE DATE'S FALL, WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN MARCH PRIOR TO THIS AGENDA ITEM ON THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> OKAY. MY RECOMMENDATION IS YOU ALL RELOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND COME BACK TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND ACCEPT IT OR NOT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE GROUNDWORK FOR HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
JUST LEAVE IT SITTING ASIDE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, YOU ALL SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING I'M TALKING ABOUT, OR BRAD KNOWS, AND KIM KNOWS WHAT WE PUT IN THIS THING.
TELLS US WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND IT GIVES YOU SOME CREDIBILITY TO OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE THAT SAY, WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT? THERE'S A 3-5-YEAR PLAN.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WANTED TO GO THE DIRECTION THAT WE WENT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IS IF WE WERE NOT GOING TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD WANTED TO GO BECAUSE IF THE BOARD DID NOT WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, THEN THERE WOULD BE REALLY NO NEED TO DISCUSS THE 3-5-YEAR PLAN.
FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, LET'S HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN MARCH, AND I'LL PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH IT.
>> CAN THEY GET, KATIE, AHEAD OF TIME?
>> YEAH, WE CAN ACTUALLY EMAIL IT OUT THIS WEEK, BUT THEN WE'LL ALSO ATTACH TO THE NEXT AGENDA.
>> BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE BACKBONE FOR THE 501C3, CORRECT?
>> AND THE TALKING POINTS ARE IMPORTANT SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW WHY.
SOMEBODY COMES UP TO YOU, SAY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? WELL, WE HAD A PLAN, WE WORKED ON IT FOR SIX MONTHS, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.
>> BUT I GUESS MY THOUGHT IS THAT IF WE VOTE AS A BOARD, IT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE THE BOARD'S GOING AWAY MORE OPPOSED TO JUST DISTRIBUTE IT TO EVERYBODY TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> I JUST WANTED IT OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO VOTE.
>> THERE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A VOTE.
>> YEAH. I THINK WHAT CHAIR RESTIANO WAS SAYING IS MORE OF AN INFORMATIONAL DISCUSSION.
>> BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S LIKE WE APPROVE THIS, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE DISBANDED IN SOME SENSE.
>> CORRECT. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THIS VOTE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU'RE DISBANDED.
>> THEY HAVE TO AGREE. THEY MIGHT SAY NO.
>> THERE WILL PROBABLY BE QUESTIONS.
>> GET ALL THAT INFORMATION OUT TO EVERYONE IN AN EMAIL.
BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS A MOTION AND YOU ALL VOTED, THERE REALLY CAN'T BE MORE DISCUSSION WHEN WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>> JUST LAST THING ON THE CITY. YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CITY.
THE CITY IS GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS THING.
DO WE REFRAME IT THAT THEY THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE CITY AGAIN FOR ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS OR ARE THEY GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S BASICALLY A COUNTY ORGANIZATION?
>> THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO MAKE A DECISION.
LIKE I SAID TO MEMBER WELLS IS THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE WELL, THEY VOTED THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CREATE THIS.
THEY THINK THEIR BEST WAY IS TO CREATE A 501C3.
WE CAN HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, BUT A DIFFERENT VISION OF THE BOARD MIGHT TAKE SHAPE.
[01:05:05]
>> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY YES OR NO IS BASICALLY MY POINT.
>> BUT IF THEY THINK THEY NEED A CITY SPECIFIC ENTITY.
>> WELL, I CAN SAY ONE THING IS THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA, THAT ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT ART, AND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU.
THAT IS AN ORDINANCE, SO THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE, SURROUNDING THAT IS, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT?
>> I THINK THAT BECOMES PART OF THE PURVIEW.
IT'S JUST IT'S STRUCTURED NOT ON THE CITY'S CONTROL GOING FORWARD.
IT'S NOT A CITIZEN UNLESS THEY CREATE A CITIZEN.
IN OTHER WORDS, I CAME INTO THIS THING UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU.
WHEN I GOT HERE, IT REALLY WASN'T.
IT WAS ARTS AND CULTURE FERNANDINA.
EVERY TIME WE TRIED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO BENEFIT THE COUNTY, THE THROWBACKS WAS, HEY, WE'RE SUPPORTING YOU.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CITY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S THE CONVERSATION YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE GOING FORWARD.
THIS IS A REPLACEMENT OF THIS SMALL ENTITY WITH A LARGER ENTITY THAT INCLUDES THE SMALL, ALL FIVE DISTRICTS INCLUDING FERNANDINA.
>> ONCE AGAIN, YES, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
>> THOSE ARE THE STUMBLING BLOCKS ALONG THE WAY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT YOU WOULD RUN INTO THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CITY DRIVEN THING.
WHEN YOU WERE THINKING YOU WERE OPERATING ON THE COUNTY LEVEL AND TRYING TO PUSH THINGS OUT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
[OVERLAPPING] MONEY WAS COMING FROM THE COUNTY, HE GAVE YOU NO MONEY, BUT THEY WERE LAYING DOWN ALL THE LAWS.
>> ONE LAST POINT IS THAT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THERE WAS A LADY WHO WAS OUR CHAIR, SHE WAS THE COUNTY NOMINEE REPRESENTATIVE.
THE COUNTY WAS THOUGHT ABOUT IN EVERY MEETING.
IT'S JUST WHAT WAS THE GOAL AND THE CHARGE OF OF THE BOARD? LET'S JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. I'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND LET'S MOVE ON TO 6.2.
>> GOOD. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW THINGS LEFT TO TALK ABOUT.
[6.2 Yearly letter to City and County]
I SENT YOU THIS LETTER.I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU SAW IT.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS IN HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE LETTER THAT MARGE POWELL, WHICH WAS THE PREVIOUS CHAIR FOR FIVE YEARS, SENT OUT EVERY YEAR TO THE COUNTY SAYING, HERE'S THE YEAR IN A NUTSHELL.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH THAT.
THIS YEAR, I EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON AND I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT THAT WENT TO THEM.
THE FIRST PART WAS, IN THE BEGINNING PARAGRAPH, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS WE HAVE MADE INVOLVED A STRATEGIC PLANNING THAT MOVES THE MISSION AND VISION TO A BROADER COUNTYWIDE PURSUIT.
TO THAT END, OUR PLANS AND THE STRATEGIC GOALS ARE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE BEGINNING.
THEN LATER ON THE SECOND PAGE, IT TALKS ABOUT WE WILL BEGIN THE NEW YEAR WITH A BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $8,000 AFTER ALL EXPENSES, AND FUNDING REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN CONTINUING IN THE SAME FINANCIAL SITUATION YEAR AFTER YEAR DOES NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY OR THE WORK AND SUPPORT OF THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT REQUIRE IT.
THAT WAS ON THE SECOND PAGE, RIGHT THERE, UP IN THE TOP.
THE RESULT OF THE SIX-MONTH WORK.
THAT'S HOW I SHARE THE INFORMATION TO THE COUNTY PEOPLE AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE INFORMATION WE TOOK OFF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE POSITIONING OURSELVES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? JUST FEEL FREE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU SAW THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? NO. WE'VE GOT THE STAFF COMMENTS.
[7. STAFF COMMENTS]
SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING NEW?>> THANKS, RICHARD. THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO ADD IS I BELIEVE RICHARD MAY BE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ART FORUM COMING UP, AM I CORRECT? DURING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? ARE YOU PLANNING [OVERLAPPING]
[01:10:02]
>> I DIDN'T GET TO THAT YET. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE COUNTY LETTER.
>> BUT THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO POST A NOTICE OF GATHERING BEFORE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AT THE COMMUNITY ART FORUM.
>> THE ARTS FORUM ON THE 26TH.
>> AS YOU GO INTO THAT CONVERSATION, IF YOU COULD ASK FOR PEOPLE IF THEY ARE GOING TO GO, THEN WE'RE GOING TO POST A NOTICE OF GATHERING.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN TWO.
>> SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THERE. GREAT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, STAFF COMMENTS.
BOARD COMMENTS.THE MAIN THING I HAD
[8. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
ON THAT WAS I SENT AN EMAIL OUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS ALONG WITH ALL THE ARTS LEADERS.THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE DONE THE BI-ANNUAL ARTS LEADER MEETING.
THIS TIME ON THE 26TH, I TOOK IT DOWN TO AMERICAN BEACH.
I WANTED THEM TO SEE THEY'RE ALSO A MEMBER OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
THEY ARE 501(C)(3) IN THE FRIENDS OF AMERICAN BEACH AND THE MUSEUM.
I TOOK THE MEETING DOWN THERE.
THE COUNTY ACTUALLY OWNS THAT BUILDING, SO WE CAN USE IT AS A MEETING PLACE WITHOUT ANY CHARGES.
THAT'S ON THE 26TH AT 10 O'CLOCK IF ANYBODY COULD MAKE.
I THINK I INCLUDED THE AGENDA WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL GOTTEN. RIGHT? COOL.
>> NO. [OVERLAPPING] IT'S ON MONDAY, 26TH.
>> MARCH THE 26TH IS ON TUESDAY.
>> YOU CAN GO THEN. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I'M NOT SURE IF THEY HAVE PREFERENCE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KATIE AND SCOTT KNEW WE NEEDED THAT TO BE POSTED AND THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE STAFF WOULD BE THERE FOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> AMERICAN BEACH, THE MUSEUM ON JULIA STREET, 1600 AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS GET THE LATEST VERSION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE ONE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE, KATIE, IF YOU LOOK FOR IT, YOU DON'T FIND THAT.
JASON PROBABLY HAS IT. DID YOU HAVE THIS?
>> IT'S GOT THE ONES THAT HAVE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS MADE, SO THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS.
IF YOU HAVE THAT ONE, THAT'S THE ONE WE SHOULD SEND.
>> GREAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? LITTLE WILD CONVERSATION WE HAD.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT ON THIS.
NOTHING ELSE? WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> MOTION TO ADJOURN ACCEPTED. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.