TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
ARTS COUNCIL
JULY 10, 2025
Members Present:
Zach LeFevre, Chairman
Stephanie DeFilippis, Arts Councilmember
Kathryn Ellis, Arts Councilmember
Lyle Holmgren, Arts Councilmember
Brian Mickelson, Arts Councilmember—excused
Bret Rohde, Arts Councilmember
Chaiya Wimber, Arts Councilmember
Tamara Zollinger, Arts Councilmember
Tiffany Lannefeld, Deputy Recorder

Chairman LeFevre called the Arts Council Meeting to order at 9:41 a.m. The meeting was held July 10, 2025 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Chairman LeFevre, Councilmembers DeFilippis, Ellis, Holmgren, Rohde, Wimber and Zollinger, and Deputy Recorder Lannefeld. Councilmember Mickelson was excused. Councilmembers DeFilippis and Mickelson are non-voting members until they are approved by the Council at their next meeting.

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Councilmember Rohde to approve the July 10, 2025 agenda with the word bylaws changed to ordinances. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ellis. Vote: Chairman LeFevre – aye, Councilmember Ellis – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Wimber – aye, Councilmember Zollinger – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes—January 26, 2023 & January 27, 2023

Motion by Mayor Holmgren to approve the minutes stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Zollinger. Vote: Chairman LeFevre – aye, Councilmember Ellis – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Wimber – aye, Councilmember Zollinger – aye. Motion approved.

3. Business:

a. Introduction of the Art Council

Chairman LeFevre said the Arts Council is an advisory to the City Council. We come up with ideas on how to accomplish the goals and purposes of the Arts Council to achieve tasks from the City Council. The City’s mission is to create a welcoming community where neighbors feel connected to each other and enjoy life. The Arts Council mission states, the Tremonton Arts Council fosters an environment where arts can thrive, promote a vibrant city and preserves our historical culture to enrich the quality of life for area residents. That mission was created years before the City Council adopted their mission. Does the Arts Council mission enhance or bring to life the City Council mission? At our next meeting we will see if we need to change any of this and come up with some action items. The Arts Council was established with the purpose of fostering an environment where arts can thrive and become an integral part of Tremonton. The Arts Council shall create opportunities and enhance the visual and aesthetic environment that incorporates art to residents by focusing on the following elements and conditions—creating economic prosperity through the creation of a vibrant downtown, which will add character and enhanced appearance to Tremonton that draws people to Main Street and the downtown area.

b. Discussion of Art Council Ordinances

Chairman LeFevre said let us study the Art Council Ordinances and at our next meeting we will discuss those.

c. Introduction of Mural and Public Arts Program

The Council discussed some of the activities they have done in the past, including the Chalk Art Contest. Chairman LeFevre said we can table that and figure out how to revamp it and make it bigger and better. The City wants us to include all types of art and encompass a lot of different things. We are busy as a staff, so we need volunteers to help make these things possible and to use those with art expertise. There are a lot of different avenues we could go with it, but there has to be a consensus with the Council. It is also time for a new public art piece. We need to consider what we can do in the future to promote the arts.

Chairman LeFevre said then reviewed Tremonton’s Public Art Program history. He provided an introduction and how the Public Arts Program started. He then went through the City’s mural history and how those have become what they are today. A couple murals have been painted over, including the most recent one—Midland Square. The owner needed to preserve the integrity of the building and seal it so it was painted over. He is willing to work with us to put a mural back on that building. He worked with local Artist Jason Nessen to come up with a base color. Mr. Nessen would like to put another mural there. We do not own the building. When we do a mural, we get an agreement to paint on those buildings, but it does not give us any rights to the building or the mural, just the ability to have them completed. That specific mural was not done by the City. The Holmgren family commissioned Mr. Nessen to paint that. The home mural was also recently painted over for the same reasons. He reviewed the other murals in Tremonton, along with the sculptures.

d. Update on the City Public Arts Collection

Chairman LeFevre then discussed potential funding for murals and other art projects, including grants, RDA money and donations. In the past, the Arts Council had $10,000 set aside to go toward any project, program, mural or class. We have not spent much of that money in the past couple of years. When it is not used it goes back into the General Fund. Mayor Holmgren said this Council could really help with applying for a TAB grant.

e. Discussion and consideration of new public art

Chairman LeFevre said we want to come up with a plan for this year, as well as a five-year plan. Mayor Holmgren said the most obvious one would be the blank wall where the Midland Square mural was. I think the owner is waiting for the City to make a decision. Councilmember DeFilippis said because it is the 100-year celebration of the fair and Golden Spike Rodeo, what if we did a mural there? They could even paint the image that was used on the fair book. Chairman LeFevre said we also have two Olympians from Tremonton, who could be featured. Another idea includes birds migrating from the bird refuge. That would include metal pop outs. We suggested that on the building above Mack’s Family Drive-in. Councilmember Ellis said I would love to see something that says Tremonton in big words or even just a mural where people can take a photo. Bear Lake has one like that in their park saying, smile you are in Bear Lake. Chairman LeFevre said we have talked about doing that on the foundation on Main Street across from Kent’s Market. We have also discussed an interactive mural with wings or something where people can take pictures. There are so many great ideas, and it is up to this Council to determine what we do next. Councilmember Rohde said we should stay with Midland Square and get public input on what to put there.

Chairman LeFevre said our last mural featured Chief Sagwitch ($20,000) and before that was the Gail Haverson Candy Bomber mural ($14,000). Artist Jason Nessen has typically been cheaper. He recently did the First Grand Entry mural ($10,000). We would put out a request to do the mural and pick the artist we want based on pricing and their proposal. We would tell them a general concept, and the artist would come back with their rendition.

Councilmember Ellis asked if the Midland Square mural is going to be different even if it is done by the same artist. Is there a way to memorialize that mural through a plaque on that wall? The plaque could have a photo of the original mural with a little write up. Chairman LeFevre said I believe we should do something like that showing the history and significance of the area. Councilmember Wimber said we could add QR codes to these murals. We could have a page per mural with more details where people can become educated on them. The QR codes would take them to that page with pictures, videos and details. We could even do painted QR codes to make it more cost effective. We would make the decals and spray paint them. We would have to do regular checkups to make sure they still work.

Motion by Councilmember Zollinger to move forward with an RFP for Midland Square for a public art piece this year. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ellis. Vote: Chairman LeFevre – aye, Councilmember Ellis – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Wimber – aye, Councilmember Zollinger – aye. Motion approved.

f. Discussion promoting the arts in the community

Chairman LeFevre said the last goal of the ordinance says to share the arts with the greatest number of people regardless of race, gender, color, religion, national origin or disability. Councilmember Rohde said and honestly, I think those need to be removed. Why are we calling out race and all that stuff? We do not discriminate. Chairman LeFevre said part of your homework is to go through this and determine what changes need to be made to this ordinance then bring it forward and we can discuss those. I am all about inclusivity. As the Parks and Rec professional I am here to serve every single resident within my jurisdiction and better the life of everyone. That is what placemaking is about—making our City welcoming and a place people want to be. Placemaking is a huge thing and something we have lacked. We need to move forward to make it a better place to gather our community in and promote unity. We want Tremonton to be a place that is open, accepting and welcoming to everyone.

4. Reports & Comments

The Arts Council will plan to meet quarterly. Chairman LeFevre would work on an RFP for a mural and the budget or possible funding. He reminded the Council of their homework and to come back with ideas for art, timeframes and how to update their ordinances. Also, at the next meeting, we will have all our Arts Councilmembers officially on board. At that time, we will elect a chairman to run the meetings.

5. Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Rohde to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 p.m.

The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Arts Council held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Jessica Tanner.

Dated this _____day of ___________, 2025.

______________________________
Cynthia Nelson, CITY RECORDER

*Utah Code 52-4-202, (6) allows for a topic to be raised by the public and discussed by the public body even though it was not included in the agenda or advance public notice given; however, no final action will be taken.