TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
ARTS COUNCIL
JULY 16, 2019

Members Present:
Dave Lasley, Chairman—excused
Tam Zollinger, Arts Councilmember—excused
Merinda Brighton, Arts Councilmember
Jason Nessen, Arts Councilmember—excused
Leisl Sorensen, Arts Councilmember
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember
Bret Rohde, City Councilmember
Zach LeFevre, Parks and Recreation Coordinator
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder

Acting Chairman LeFevre called the Arts Council Meeting to order at 11:08 p.m. The meeting was held July 16, 2019 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Acting Chairman LeFevre, Arts Councilmembers Brighton (left at 11:41 a.m.), and Sorensen, City Councilmembers Holmgren and Rohde, and Deputy Recorder Nelson. Chairman Lasley and Arts Councilmembers Zollinger and Nessen were excused.

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to approve the July 16, 2019 agenda. Motion seconded by Arts Councilmember Brighton. Vote: Arts Councilmember Brighton – aye, Arts Councilmember Sorensen – aye, City Councilmember Holmgren – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes—May 28, 2019

Motion by Councilmember Rohde to approve the May 28, 2019 minutes. Motion seconded by Arts Councilmember Sorensen. Vote: Arts Councilmember Brighton – aye, Arts Councilmember Sorensen – aye, City Councilmember Holmgren – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.

3. Business:

a. Review purpose of Arts Council
b. Set five year plan

Acting Chairman LeFevre reviewed the Arts Council ordinance to help them determine their direction, goals for the future, and progress over the last year. He asked the Council how they have accomplished things that deal with economic prosperity, design and aesthetics, cultural arts and events, social interaction, identity, branding, the image of Tremonton, and increasing visitors to the valley. Arts Councilmember Brighton said it was great to hear about our increased participation in the Chalk Art Fest and the Council discussed how this year’s event went. Acting Chairman LeFevre said as we push the arts, participation will grow. We need to try to do things more often and create a plan that will get people downtown. Arts Councilmember Brighton said as we do those things it will help businesses downtown and will create more foot traffic for our events. Councilmember Rohde said we need to get the youth involved. Once a month, during the summer, we could have a bandstand for people to play music and express themselves. Arts Councilmember Sorensen suggested acting out scenes and having other activities like a paint night at Midland Square while the bands play. Acting Chairman LeFevre said we recently purchased a small sound system for the drama camp that could be used for those events. Councilmember Holmgren suggested having food trucks come in. Arts Councilmember Brighton suggested that in the future they hold an arts festival that could last an entire weekend or even a week. Councilmember Sorensen said they could do it before the Box Elder County Fair with a workshop to help youth create art for that. They could coordinate and collaborate with 4H and those over the fair.

Acting Chairman LeFevre said we started off strong, but maybe too strong. Instead of creating a broad range, we focused on one thing and ran into the ground. We need to set a plan on how we can do the best good for the most people with a five-year plan. We need to determine our focus and then form committees to accomplish our goals. The murals are one of the main reasons why this Council was created and we cannot lose sight of that, but we need to add onto that. To accomplish their goals, the Council talked about creating a mission statement and vision. Arts Councilmember Brighton said it needs to be in harmony with the City’s mission and vision, but it would be good to have our own. Acting Chairman LeFevre said he would email the City’s mission and vision statements to them for their review and would discuss ideas at their next meeting.

Councilmember Rohde said the Arts Council should take on the City display at the Box Elder County Fair. That could be a great tool for us to let people know what we are doing. It would be nice to get a jump-start on it and get a committee together. He also suggested ice sculpting or building snowmen at the park in the winter. Acting Chairman LeFevre said after focusing on a mission and vision, and determining how to accomplish their goals, they will have something to move forward with by next year.

The Council then watched KUED’s episode about Tremonton’s murals. Acting Chairman LeFevre said artist Jason Nessen has started the mural by the fairgrounds. The Council then looked over ideas for the Native American mural. Acting Chairman LeFevre said I would love to see a full color mural with the chief. Our new welcome mural is full color, but it is not vibrant. Councilmember Rohde said it is important we give the artist some guidance and then let them put some of their own ideas into it. Acting Chairman LeFevre said the SDAT identified our murals as an asset and that has grown and will continue to be one of our goals.

4. Adjournment

Motion by Acting Chairman LeFevre to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 11:42 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 27th day of April, 2020.

______________________________
Linsey Nessen, 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.

Follow-up items for the Council

Acting Chairman LeFevre will send the City’s mission and vision statements to the Arts Council members to review for their next meeting.