[00:00:07] >>> TODAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2025, 6:00 P.M., CITY COUNCIL HAS A QUORUM. WE DO NOT HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, ITEM FOUR, THIS IS INPUT. COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN, NO ACTION TAKEN [5.A. Annual Update from the Arts and Humanities Commission.] DURING CITIZEN'S INPUT. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? >> NO, SIR. >> ITEM 5, WORK SESSION, 5A ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION. WE HAVE CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION, KATIE, AS WELL AS LAURA, DIRECTOR SERVICES. >> WONDERFUL PUT TOGETHER. >> YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAND BUT YOU CAN ALSO SIT. >> OH, GOOD. >> I HAVE BEEN TEACHING ALL DAY. JUST TO FOR EVERYTHING ON HERE, YOU CAN READ IT FOR YOURSELF. WE WILL GO THROUGH WHO WE ARE, WHAT ALL WE DO, PLANS AND GOALS WE HAVE FOR THE FUTURE, NEW INITIATIVES, SOME THINGS WE MIGHT BE SHUTTERING AND WHERE WE ARE STANDING WITH EVERYTHING. SO, THIS IS OUR CURRENT MEMBER LIST, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE RENEWING. I BELIEVE ONLY ONE MEMBER SAID THEY WILL NOT BE RETURNING. THIS IS LAST YEAR? SORRY, THIS IS OUR NEW ONE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE STILL HAVE ONE MEMBER WHO SAID THEY WILL NOT BE RETURNING, SO, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO, FOR ANYONE ELSE THAT IS APPLYING FOR THESE POSITIONS, AND WE ARE HOPING EVERYONE ELSE WILL REAPPLY THIS YEAR. WE HAVE HAD A VERY ACTIVE AND DEDICATED GROUP, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS GROWING, NEW IDEAS, AND REFINING SOME OLD IDEAS. WE PROVIDE CULTURAL GRANTS, SO THESE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES OLARE ROE.WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO SUPPORT A GRANT THAT IS LIKE, GARLAND WANTS TO APPLY TO HAVE GARLAND'S THEATER DO SOMETHING, UNLESS THEY SAID WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONLY ROWLETTE CITIZENS. THEY MUST DEMONSTRATE HOW FUNDS WILL PROMOTE ROWLETTE, THEY HAVE TO AGREE TO CERTAIN BENEFITS FOR US, AND FOR THE CITIZENS HERE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE AWARDED AND WE WILL CONTINUE THIS GRANT. IT ALWAYS HAS APPLICATIONS. YOU SAW ONE OF OUR PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FUNDED BY THEREAT GRANT. ALL RIGHT. ARTS AND EDUCATION GRANT. WE HAD WHAT COUNTS FOR ARTS AND EDUCATION, WE WANT IT VERY TARGETED AND NOT, YOU KNOW, FUNDING COPIER PAPER FOR THE SAKE OF FUNDING COPIER PAPER, ALTHOUGH THERE IS DEFINITELY ARTIST NEEDS FOR COPIERS WE WE WANT TO BE SURE WHAT WE ARE FUNDING IS PROMOTING THE ARTS, IN ROWLETTE, ISD SCHOOLS, MERIT, VALUES, FEASIBILITY, WE ARE NOT JUST SHOOTING FOR THE MOON HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS RIDICULOUS, WE DO TWO AWARDS, AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS GRANT AS WELL. WRITING CONTEST, WE ARE ON TO CONTEST AND SOME COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT WE PUT ON TO ENRICH AND PROVIDE THE ARTS TO ROWLETT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OPEN TO DALLAS AND ROCKWALL COUNTY, IT HAS BEEN DOING VERY WELL. LAST YEAR WE HAD 137 ENTRIES FOR THE THEME OF "CAN'T STOP ME NOW." WE HAD TO INCREASE OUR PAYOUT TO JUDGES BECAUSE WE CAN'T TO IT WITH MORE THAN ONE JUDGE. ZEE HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS ON WHO IS GOING TO BE READING THESE, TYPICALLY IT HAS BEEN LISA READING ALL OF IT AT 137 ENTRIES NOW. BY READING, SHE IS NOT THE JUDGE BUT MAKING SURE THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE, SO SORRY TO CLARIFY THAT. MAKING SURE THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE DISQUALIFIED. ADD THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BRINGING IN OTHER PEOPLE TO ASSIST HER IN THAT AS IT IS 137 ENTRIES. AGAIN, THIS SHOWCASES WRITING, POETRY, LOTS OF DIFFERENT AREAS, AND FOR ALL AGE GROUPS. SO, HOPEFULLY THIS IS ONE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. WE HAVE THE YOUNG ARTIST EXHIBIT, A NOTABLE ART EXHIBIT AMONG GISD, MOST ART TEACHERS ARE AWARE AND [00:05:01] PARTICIPATE . THIS IS ONE , AGAIN, I KEEP SAYING ROWLETT BUT THIS IS ONE THAT IS OPEN TO GISD AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND WE DO ALSO ACCEPT HOMESCHOOL. YOU CAN ENTER ON YOUR OWN AS WELL. SO, TEACHERS CAN BRING IT IN, EXCEPT ME, I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THAT PROVIDE AS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR MY STUDENTS, WHERE THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND ENTER THIS ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE I WILL NOT ENTER THEM INTO THIS CONTEST. WE HAVE ROWLETT SINGS, WE HOPE TO VERY MUCH GROW BECAUSE IT IS AN INCREDIBLE EXHIBIT OF THE TALENT OF ROWLETT AND HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND PUT ON A SHOW. WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULTY FINDING A HOME FOR IT. WE ARE, RIGHT NOW, AT THE MERCY OF ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY ARE PLANNING, HAVING US TO COME TOGETHER LAST MINUTE, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE HAVE THAT SPACE AVAILABLE UNTIL WE SHOULD BE TAKING AUDITIONS, AND IT IS KIND OF CONGESTED OUR TIMELINE . WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE PERMANENT HOME OR MORE COMMUNICATIONS WITH GISD SO WE ARE NOT BEING SCHEDULED THE LAST MINUTE. THEIR EVENTS, THEN THEY CAN PRIORITIZE OURS. WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH THAT, I CAN SAY QUIETLY, SOME SORT OF CONFERENCE AREA WHERE WE COULD PUT ON PERFORMENS THAT, FROM THE CITY, WOULD BE AWESOME. BUT THAT-- THIS HAS CONTINUED TO GROW. THIS WHUN WE ARE CONTINUING TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT AND WE HAVE THIS ONE, WE CALL THID ALL HANDS ON DECK, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR SHOWCASE PIECES. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE IT AND HOPEFULLY GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND JUST CONTINUE TO SHOW WHAT ROWLETT CAN DO. I HOPE NOBODY MINDS I AM NOT READING WORD FOR WORD. PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST, THIS HAS JUST WRAPPED UP, THIS IS AN ALL-AGES, IS IT? >> YEAH. >> IT IS ALL AGES. SORRY. ALL AGES CONTEST. AGAIN, YOU NOTICE THE THEME IS CAN'T STOP ME NOW. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A UNIVERSAL THEME TO CONNECT OUR DIFFERENT CONTESTS SO THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR THEMES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THAT YEAR. THAT IS A NEW DECISION BUT WE LIKE THE UNITY OF IT. AND WE HAVE THE ONE-YEAR DEADLINE. THIS IS A WAY TO NOT JUST SHOWCASE TALENT BUT THE BEAUTY IN ROWLETT, SOME PLACES ARTISTS MIGHT WANT TO GO TO BE INSPIREDED. MAKES A GREAT SHOWCASE AND A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TO COME SEE OUR LITTLE CITY, SEE WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE. THE CALENDAR, VERY, VERY POPULAR, WE GET REQUESTS FOR THIS, STARTING VERY EARLY IN DECEMBER, WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE OUT? THIS IS WHERE WE TAKE SOME OF THE WINNING ART, WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS, PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, WE PROVIDE A CALENDAR THAT HIGHLIGHTS, NOT JUST OUR EVENTS, OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS WE HAD DATES FOR. ANYTHING WE CAN GET PUBLISHED THAT MAKES SENSE WITHIN OUR BUDGET WE TRY TO GET IT ON THE CALENDAR, IT IS A GREAT SHOWCASE FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A VERY POPULAR ITEM. WE GIVE THEM ALL THE WAY VERY, VERY QUICKLY. ALSO, I BELIEVE LOCAL BUSINESS WE USE FOR THAT. CORRECT? >> YES. >> WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS TO KEEP IT IN HOUSE. THIS IS A, ONE OF OUR NEWER INITIATIVES, ROWLETT ARTIST EXCHANGE, RAX FOR SHORT. THIS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO GATHER TOGETHER AND DISCUSS DIFFERENT ARTISTIC TOPICS, HAVE DEBATES, LIVELY INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER. WE HAVE ALSO USED, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, SOME OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND TO PROMOTE THAT AND TO BRING PEOPLE TO THOSE BUSINESSES. IT HAS BEEN A VERY NICE INNER, SORT OF COMMUNITY GROWTH OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE HOPING AS WE GROW THIS IT MIGHT BRING ATTENTION TO OUR [00:10:03] COMMUNITY, MIGHT BRING ARTISTS IN FROM AROUND THE METROPLEX TO COME SEE THESE EVENTS, COME PARTICIPATE. RIGHT NOW EACH HAD A INDIVIDUAL KEY NOTE SPEAKER, WE HAVE HAD MY KID COULD MAKE THAT, WHICH IN THAT CASE WE HAVE AN ARTIST TALKING ABOUT ABSTRACT ART AND WHAT MAKES SOMETHING ART VERSES WILL MY CHILD DROPPED THE SPAGHETTI ON THE FLOOR, WHY CAN'T WE FRAME THAT AND PUT IT IN THE MET? THESE ARE HAVE ALL BEEN VERY TOPICAL, INTERESTING, HOTLY-DEBATED TOPICS. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE HAVING GROWTH, SO WE DOUBLED 5-10, BUT WE HAD MORE THAN THAT AT OUR MOST RECENT ONE. IT IS A NEW PROGRAM AND WE ARE SEEING GROWTH ON IT. WE ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THIS. AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY TO BRING ATTENTION TO ROWLETT IS BRING IN HOPEFULLY OUTSIDE ATTENDANCE. >>> THIS IS OUR ORNAMENT DECORATING EVENT. THIS IS WHUN THAT WE PUT ON FOR TWO YEARS, AND IT DID VERY, VERY WELL. HOWEVER, IT WAS TIED TO THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVENT, AND WITH THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS NOT HAPPENING THIS YEAR, WE ARE SORT OF SCRAMBLING TO FIND A WAY TO STILL HOST THIS EVENT. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN TALKS TO HAVE IT RUN FOR TWO HOURS DURING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE EVENT. IF THAT IS DOABLE. WE THINK THAT WHILE WE KNOW THAT THE EVENT ITSELF LASTS LONGER, WE THINK THIS LIMITING ONE TO TWO HOURS WOULD MAKE IT MORE FEASIBLE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT A LAST-MINUTE SORT OF SITUATION. WE DID NOT REALIZE THE 12 DAYS WEREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL THIS LAST WEEK. IT IS A VERY SUDDEN CHANGE. AS YOU CAN SEE, LAST YEAR 20 ADULTS, 29 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED. IT IS AN INEXPENSIVE EVENT, IT LETS THE CHILDREN DESIGN AND DRAW AND MAKE THEIR OWN ORNAMENTS, THEY CAN DECORATE OUR TREE, THEIR TREE, THEY CAN USUALLY DO TWO EACH, AND SO IT IS AN INEXPENSIVE GREAT WAY TO BRING ARTS AND CRAFTS TO THE COMMUNITY AGAIN AND GET A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. FOR A VERY LOW OVERHEAD. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE CONSIDERING IS PARTNERING THAT INTO OUR SHY INITIATIVE, WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A LITTLE BIT. TROMBONE THANK YOU, I KNOW MANY OF Y'ALL ATTENDED THAT LAST YEAR, A UNIQUE TO ROWLETT EVENT, WE HAVE TRUMBONISTS FROM ALL OVER THE METROPLEX THAT SHARE THEIR MUSIC WITH US. AGAIN, WE ARE HOPING IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE EVENTUALLY PUT ROWLETT MORE ON THE MAP AS A COME AND DO THIS DURING THE HOLIDAYS EVENT. WE ARE NOT COMPETING TOO MUCH WITH TOO MANY CHRISTMAS THINGS BECAUSE IT IS A THANKSGIVING EVENT, AND IT IS WONDERFUL MUSIC. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DOING THIS AGAIN. WE ARE DOING THIS ONE AGAIN, AND HOPEFULLY Y'ALL WILL COME SUPPORT US IN THAT. WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW THIS. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH, STARTING TO BE ANOTHER WE WILL HAVE TO BUDGET A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR, SO WHEN I PRESENT TO YOU MY BUDGET NEXT YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING AT COPYRIGHT COSTS, AS IT GROWS, WE HAVE TO PUT MORE MUSIC FOR MORE PEOPLE. BUT IT IS DOING GREAT, AND WE HOPE THE AUDIENCE CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGH THIS. PUBLIC ART. SO THERE WAS NO NEW PUBLIC ART FOR THE FISCAL 2025 YEAR. Y'ALL KNOW HOW THINGZ WORK TO GET ALL OF THE TS CROSSED, I'S DOTTED, WE ARE REVIEWING WHERE THE PUBLIC ART SHOULD BE PLACED. WE HAVE HURT FROM CITY MANAGERS, THE DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE. WE ARE TALKING WHERE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE PUBLIC ART, WHAT TYPE OF PUBLIC ART PEOPLE WANT TO SEE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE SORT OF IN THE PUTTING OUT FEELERS, SEEING WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHAT IS COST EFFECTIVE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SPECIFIC REQUESTS AS WE DID WITH THE 9/11 MEMORIAL. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE SAY CAN BE DO THIS? IT ALSO MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DRIVEN. RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF WHAT IS BEING DEVELOPED, WHERE IS IT NEEDED, WHAT IS GOING TO BE MOST COST EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET. ART, DIGITAL BUDGET FOR THE PUBLIC ART. WE ARE WAITING FOR FURTHER DIRECTION ON THAT WHOLE DOWNTOWN SITUATION. ALTHOUGH, WE DO HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS WE WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU ALREADY. THIS IS OUR NEWEST INITIATIVE. SHINE, SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES, INTEGRATION, NEURODIVERSITY AND EXPRESSION. WE WERE APPROACHED BY GROUPS THAT CATER TO SPECIAL [00:15:01] NEEDS INDIVIDUALS, BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, THEY LOST, GISD HAD TO SHUTTER SOME PROGRAMS OR CLOSE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE. AT HAD SAME TIME WE HAD ANOTHER PROGRAM LOOKING TO GROW, SO THEY APPROACHED US ABOUT HELPING TO SUPPORT THEM AND SO WE HAVE CREATED AN INITIATIVE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING TO CREATE ART EVENTS AND ART OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, OF ALL AGES. SO AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE THOUGHT WE COULD, AS WELL AS OFFER THE ORNAMENTS DURING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE ORNAMENTS ON TO THIS ONE, INTO THIS NEXT EVENT THAT WE ARE HOPING TO HOST IN DECEMBER. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME SUCCESSFUL EVENTS, IT WAS PROMOTED. IT WENT VERY, VERY WELL. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY IN THE AREA THAT CAN OFTEN FEEL UNDER REPRESENTED, SO HAVING US SPECIFICALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT EVIDENCE CAN WE DO FOR THIS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN VERY WELL MET. I THINK IT IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER AREA OF GROWTH FOR OUR CITY, BECAUSE IFEE ARE DOING THIS, EVERYBODY WILL NOTICE IT HELPS TO PUT ROWLETT ON THE MAP AND BEING CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CAN WE GET ART TO EVERYONE NOT JUST ONE GROUP. SO THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO CONTINUE TO GROW. >>> OUR GOALS, AS YOU HEARD ME MENTION, WE ARE REACHING, WE HAVE FEELERS OUT IF FOR PUBLIC ART. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON IS A VERY SPECIFIC POLICY DOCUMENT, SO THAT WE CAN SAY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC ART, THESE ARE THE RULES. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING. WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF SPAGHETTI ON THE WALL RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET THAT ALL CLEANED UP, GET THAT ALL TOGETHER SO THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC POLICY, IT IS VERY CLEAR WHAT WE NEED, WHAT WE WANT, AND HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. THAT IS BOTH FOR GENERAL PUBLIC ART LIKE THAT, AS WELL AS PUBLIC ART DISPLAYS SUCH AS IN THIS BUILDING, THE ANNEX, IN THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE ANERTEST AND WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO PUT ON YOUR ART SHOW, WE NEED A POLICY FOR THAT. WE NEED-- IT CAN'T JUST BE, WELL, BOB'S FRIEND DID IT AND HE KNOWS SO AND SO SO HE GOT IT BUT YOU DON'T KNOW SO AND SO SO YOU DON'T GET IT. WE WANT A CLEAR POLICY. >> QUESTION, OVER THE YEARS, HOW DO WE NORMALLY FUND VARIOUS PUBLIC ARTS? ARE THEY COMING PRIMARILY FROM ENDOWMENTS OR THE CITY PAID FOR? >> THE CITY PROVIDES. >> WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON? >> THE CITY PROVIDED AN ANNUAL BUDGET THAT HAS GONE INTO A PUBLIC ART FUND. >> THE CITY IS ACTUALLY FINANCING MOST OF THE PUBLIC ART. >> I WOULD-- MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS A DEDICATED PUBLIC ART FUND, THOUGH, IT WASN'T LIKE WE WERE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, POTHOLES. >> WELL. IT IS CAPITAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS IS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. IT IS CAPITAL DOLLARS, WHICH, TO SAY IT IS NOT TAKING AWAY FROM ROADS OR ANYTHING IS AN INTENTIONAL DECISION BY THE COUNCIL, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY-- THAT MONEY COULD BE USED IN OTHER WAYS IF ALLOCATED THAT WAY. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO ALLOCATE $50,000 HAS BEEN TYPICAL ALLOCATION, THAT HAS GONE INTO THE PUBLIC ART FUND. PUBLIC ART FUND CURRENTLY IS UP TO, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH FUNDING IS IN THERE? >> $127-- >> IT DOES ACCRUE? >> YES. >> IT DOES ACCRUE IF WE DON'T USE IT. THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO HAVE A POLICY, LOOK WHAT WE ARE MAKING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO JUST-- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE CITY UP NORTH BUT THERE IS A CITY UP NORTH THAT JUST BUILT ART FOR THE SAKE OF BUILDING ART AND FOR THE SAKE OF USING THAT, AND IT IS A LOT OF IT GETS IGNORED. IT WASN'T NEEDED, JUST IGNORED. IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT THAT KIND OF MONEY INTO SOMETHING, WE WANT IT SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN. ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT HELPS BRING MONEY INTO DOWNTOWN. SOMETHING THAT HELPS BRINGPEOPLE HERE. WE DON'T WANT TO THROW $50,000 AT SOMETHING BECAUSE IT SOUNDED FUN. >> BUT WE ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON OUTSIDE RESOURCES COMPLETELY ANYWAY TO DO THIS? THIS IS AN INTERNAL CITY PROGRAM THAT IS SUSTAINED. >> YEAH. >> ALL THE ARTWORK IN THE CITY HAS BEEN SELF FUNDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A HANDFUL OF PIECES, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DONATIONS MADE. >> YEAH. >> WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DONATIONS, THOSE WERE BEFORE MY TIME. I CAME ON WHEN WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE 9/11 MEMORIAL BUILT. >> THANK YOU. >> DECIDE TO DO SOME MORE ART, I GUESS PLAN MURALS, THINGS LIKE THAT? >> THAT WOULD BE THE INTENT OF THOSE DOLLARS, TO FUND THAT TYPE OF PROGRAMMING. [00:20:02] >> YES. >> 120,000 SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, THEN YOU REALIZE THAT TO REFURB THE MURAL ALONG 66TH WOULD BE ALMOST $200,000 IF WE WANTED TO GO THAT ROUTE. THE PIECE OAT THE FIRE STATION, 9/11 PIECE, I WANT TO SAY WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $40,000, ROUGHLY. SO IT BECOMES VERY EXPENSIVE TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES OF AN ARTIST AND MATERIALS ALONE ARE FAIRLY COSTLY, DEPENDING WHAT SIZE YOU GET, ESPECIALLY IF DOING BRONZE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> THAT ALSO INTERSECT WITH THE CROSSWALK STUFF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ON THE DOWNTOWN PLAN? >> IT WOULD. >> UM-- >> THANK YOU. >> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. SO, AGAIN, THAT IS EXACTLY THE THING WE ARE LOOKINGING AT, THOUGH, WE WANT TO USE THE MONEY WISELY. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE GOT A REVITALIZATION FOR DOWNTOWN VISION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING THE ARTS INTO THAT VISION IN A WAY THAT IS PUBLICLY SUPPORTED. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE WERE WASTING MONEY THAT COULD BE USED IN A BETTER WAY, OR FOR BETTER ART. SO THAT IS LAST POINT, TO STRATEGICALLY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, SHOWCASE EXPRESSION, APPRECIATE ART. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, JUST AS SOME OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED-- >> YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD TO AND PREPARING AS A RECOMMENDATION, AS SOON AS WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IT, BUT WE HAVE HEARD THAT WHAT SEVERAL CITIES PUT ART ON TRAFFIC BOXES SO WE HAVE TALKED TO ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT HAVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROVIDE ART WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT ON TRAFFIC BOXES AS AN EXAMAL OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, ONCE WE WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS INTEREST, IS THE ART, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WOULD, ALONG WITH CITY, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE BE CITY THEME, THEMED FOR OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD INCREASE INTEREST? CREASE THE BEAUTIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN? OF THIS AREA? THOSE ARE THE PUBLIC ART WE ARE LOOKING AT. JEFF BROUGHT UP THE MURAL ALONG 66TH WHICH COMES UP EVERY SO OFTEN. DO WE REDO IT? IT IS HUGELY COST EFFECTIVE, SENTIMENTAL. RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT SEEING A COMMUNITY OUTCRY THAT FITS THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT. AS MENTIONED, IT IS A HUGE COST. YOU KNOW, ONCE WE START HEARING, ALMOST EVERYBODY THAT EVER TALKS TO US ASKS ABOUT THE MURAL, THEN WE WOULD START LOOKING INTO IT AND BRING THAT TO YOU. YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE KIND OF THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT. SO-- >> WITH ANY OTHER CAPITAL ASSET WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ANY ART WE PURCHASE HAS TO BE MAINTAINED OVER TIME. THERE ARE MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXISTING ART WE ALREADY HAVE AND THE CITY UNDERTAKES THOSE WITH OPEN SUPPORT I THINK FROM PUBLIC WORKS, CLEANING, WAXING, TO MAINTAIN LONGEVITY IS IMPORTANT. >> IT ALSO WHY WIE WE LOOK WE LOOKED INTO TEMPORARY ACTIVITY, FACEBOOK, THEY WILL HAVE SNAKES MADE OUT OF ROCKS OR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER, PAINTS THE ROCKS AND THAT STAYS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. THEN GOES AWAY. IT IS A FUN ART COMMUNITY, BEAUTIFIES FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN YOU TAKE IT DOWN AND YOU DON'T HAVE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE COSTS. THERE ARE FUN, TEMPORARY ART INSTALLATIONS WE DISCUSSED THAT WE LOOKED AT AS A DIRECTION AS WELL, BECAUSE WE KNOW MAINTENANCE CAN BE VERY COSTLY. SO. THAT IS OUR PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYTHING YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE DOING? OR HOW WE ARE DOING IT, OR THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR CONSIDERED? >> COUNCIL QUESTIONS? >> WHAT IS THE COMMISSION'S POLICY ON AI? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE RAX MEETING BUT HAVE YOU HAD AI-GENERATED ART? >> NOT THAT WE ARE AWARE OFISM WE ARE ADDING A POLICY TO OUR CONTESTS THAT SAY THEY ARE NOT USING AI IN THE CREATION OF THIS WORK OF ART. RIGHT NOWIOKNOW THERE ARE SOME LEGAL CONCERNS IN TERMS OF CERTAIN ART AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS COPYRIGHTED VERSES NOT COPYRIGHTED, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY WITH THE WRITING, I AM TALKING TO LAURA ABOUT THIS, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAYING CHATGPT, CAN YOU COME UP WITH [00:25:03] CITIES WITH M? VERSES CAN YOU WRITE ME A STORY ABOUT TWO PEOPLE FIGHTING WITH COKE BOTTLES? WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THE SECOND IS REALLY EXHIBITING CREATIVE THINKING IN THE WAY WE CURRENTLY WANT TO PROMOTE. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING AI-ONLY ART CONTESTS BECAUSE THERE IS A CERTAIN INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC, SOME PUBLIC SPHERES, BUT WE WOULD, AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROMOTING THE USE OF AI IN THE FULL CREATION OF THE WORKS OF ART. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE ADDING THAT TO OUR CONTEST WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SAY I SOLEMNLY SWEAR, YOU KNOW, SCOUT'S HONOR, I DIDN'T USE AI IN THE CREATION OF THIS, AS VOLUNTEERS WE ARE ARE PROBABLY NOT RUNNING THROUGH VOLUNTEER CHECKERS, IF SOMETHING HAS LIKE 50 RED FLAGS, YES, WE WOULD PROBABLY FIND A WAY TO DISCREETLY SAY YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS WAS CREATED BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT VIOLATED OUR AI POLICY. BUT IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO CATCH THAT. IT IS ALSO NOT MUCH OF AN ISSUE, THOUGH. A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE YOUNG ARTISTS, THEY ARE ALL TRADITIONAL WORKS, THEY ARE ALL COMING OUT OF SCHOOLS, HOME SCHOOLS, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A LOT OF DIGITAL WORK. YOU KNOW, AI IS NOT YET DOING OIL PAINTINGS. SO, YOU KNOW-- >> YET. >> YET. >> WE DON'T-- WE HAVEN'T YET HAD AI DOING THE TRADITIONAL WORK YET. WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THAT MUCH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN ENTRIES EITHER THAT WE HAVE REALHY TO DOUBLE CHECK ON. PHOTOGRAPHY, AGAIN, THAT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT HARD, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING THAT JUST RED FLAGGED IT. THE WRITING IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT WILL BE THE HARDEST TO DOUBLE CHECK FOR AND, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE DEDICATED BUDGET OR STAFF TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN JUST ASK FOR SCOUT'S HONOR. >> SURE. AND THEY ARE MODEST. SIMILAR PUBISHING CONTRACT. >> NOT A $10,000 REWARD AND FREE NIGHT STAY AT THE GAYLORD HOTELS OR SOMETHING. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. IT IS ON OUR RADAR, WE ARE ADDING THAT TO OUR CONTESTS THAT BUT WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED WAY TO REALLY WEED IT OUT UNLESS IT IS OVERT. >> I THINK MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE FOR THE PUBLIC ART POLICY TO BE FINALIZED? >> WE ARE HOPING, SHOOTING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027. >> YES. THAT WAS THE TIMELINE WE ARE LOOKING AT TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS IT THIS YEAR, MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT IN ORDER TO PRESENT TO YOU. >> IF YOU CAN ESCALATE THAT TIMELINE, I THINK IT WOULD HELP. WHEN YOU TALK PUBLIC ART IN THE DIFFERENT SPACES, AND AREAS, HAVING AA POLICY DOCUMENT THAT HELPS GUIDE THAT PROCESS WOULD MAKE THINGS A LOT SIMPLER THAN THEY ARE TODAY, WHICH IS JUST KIND OF TALK AROUND THE ISSUE AND NOT REALLY HAVE A-- >> WE HAVE LOT OF BAND AIDS ON THINGS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. WE WILL EXPEDITE THAT AND GET IT TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. >> OTHER QUESTIONS. >> BEFORE WE WRAP UP, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOUR OTHER MEMBERS? TWO MEMBERS. >> HI. >> I AM MICHELLE AND STELLA. STAND UP, SAY HI. >> WOW. >> NO, NO. UM, SPEAKING OF, Y'ALL ARE, THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR WITH US, RIGHT? >> YES. >> THESE OF TWO MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING NEW IDEAS REALLY PUSHING SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, BUT HADN'T DONE A LOT OF ACTION ON, THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAW HERE REALLY FIRMED UP, REALLY FINALIZED IN A MUCH MORE POSITIVE WAY. Y'ALL WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING YOU HAVE DONE? >> BASICALLY A TIME OF LEARNING AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE THE COMMISSION UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING EVERYONE WANTS TO DO. >> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK Y'ALL. >> ALL RIGHT. I WILL MENTION ONE THING, WHICH, I SHARED THIS WITH THE COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY, I WAS AT TML LAST YEAR THEY HAD A SESSION ON THE POWER OF ART WITH RESPECT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY GROWTH, AND ALL THAT STUFF. TEXAS IS, AS A WHOLE, AS A STATE, SPENDS HALF THE AMOUNT OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PER CAPITA ON ART IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT. YOU KNOW, THERE IS ROOM FOR OPPORTUNITY THERE, ROOM [00:30:01] FOR GROWTH. I KNOW ROWLETT IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE BUT I AM GLAD TO SEE THE WAY WE INVEST AND I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE. >> IT DEFINITELY IS A GROWING AREA OF INTEREST ACROSS THE METRO PLEX. GARLAND'S BIG ART DAY, A BIG DRAW, YOU KNOW, GREAT MONEY MAKER. YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE RETURN THAT AN INVESTMENT IN THE ART CAN GET FOR A CITY IF WE DO IT CORRECTLY AND WITH INTENTIONALITY. >> ALL RIGHT. >> COUNCIL QUESTIONS? >> I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. I DO THINK ART IS ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS IN LIFE. YOU CAN BE, YOU KNOW, INSPIRED AND LED TO, YOU KNOW, NEW THOUGHTS AND NEW IDEAS THROUGH ART. SO, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR WHAT YOU DO. I LOVE TROMBONE THANKSGIVING. ONE OF THE MOST AWESOME THINGS WE HAVE DONE. THE MUSIC IS SO BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL. >> I THINK IT IS GREAT WE HAVE A DEDICATED THANKSGIVING EVENT. VERY FUN, UNIQUE TO ROWLETT. I THINK THE MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT WE CAN GET, THE MORE WE WILL GROW AND THE MORE THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO THESE EVENS AND SEE THEM. >> THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR, I WILL GO TO IT, I HEARD DAVID HALL HAS BEEN PRACTICING. >> TRUMPET, SIR. NOT TROMBONE. BUT WE DO HAVE A TROMBONIST WHO IS GOING TO PLAY. >> I WILL NOT BE COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. >> OH NO. >> WE HAD A WHOLE SPECIAL SOLO FOR YOU. WHAT IF WE GET A YOUNG STUDENT TO COMPOSE A PIECE FOR YOU? >> KIND OF CLOSE. >> WE WILL HOLD YOU TO IT FOR 2027. >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, WITH THAT, THANK YOU, CATHERINE, THANK YOU, LAURA, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. >>> ITEM 6, DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER 21, 2025 COUNCIL MET MEETINGS. ANY ITEMS WE WANT TO PULL OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.