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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 10/06/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COLLABORATION ROOM COMMISSION MEMBERS: Ann Rorem, Chair; Heather Olson, Vice Chair; Ana Armstrong, Farida Kathawalla, Steve Mosow, Elizabeth Petry-Lee CITY STAFF: Sandy Werts, Recreation Coordinator STUDENT MEMBERS: Nicole Garbowicz, Katy Johnson RECORDING SECRETARY: Katie Hood I. ROLL CALL Rorem called the meeting to order 7:13 p.m. Commissioner Armstrong was excused. Janet Jeremiah, Charlie Rockler, and Susan Muhrer were in attendance. Jenny, a High School student, was visiting for a government class. A. Welcome Back Student Members The students were welcomed back. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Olson moved to approve the Agenda, seconded by Kathawalla. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2008 MEETING • Section VI. OLD BUSINESS, A. ART CENTER UPDATE, first paragraph change the third sentence to "Olson said funding the expanded parking lot and bringing the building up to meet ADA (American with Disabilities Act) should be a City responsibility and not that of the fundraisers." MOTION: Kathawalla moved to approve the September 6, 2008 minutes, seconded by Petry-Lee. Motion carried 5-0. IV. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS and COMMUNITY BAND UPDATE Muhrer said she was in the One Acts and the barn was a good place to perform. It was very intimate and there were good audiences. She received very good comments about the show. Werts said there were around 50 people per house. Werts said she received one letter from someone who was unhappy with the last two plays. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 6, 2008 Page 2 Rockler said rehearsals started two weeks ago for the Community Band and the Jazz Band. The band is always looking for more members and they accept High School students. Rockler said Werts has done a great job with organizing the band's needs over the last few years. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Major Center Area and Public Art—Janet Jeremiah Werts introduced Janet Jeremiah. Jeremiah shared a PowerPoint presentation on the Major Center Area in Eden Prairie. The area studies were looked at for transportation, land use and wayfinding. There were a variety of surveys and public meetings conducted. The following items were found to have a positive feedback: • Additional Sidewalks, Trails and Greenways • Having a Compact and Walkable District • Reinforcing the outer Ring Road System • Additional Parks, Plazas and Open Space • Mall Interior Ring Road Modifications • Improved Access from TH 212 and I-494 • Bus and LRT Transit Service Improvements • Mixed Use - Retail, Office, Residential, Entertainment and Civic • Major East- West and North-South Roadway Connections (a grid system) • Wayfinding and streetscape improvements A survey conducted last year said the number one issue is people don't have any issues and the number two issue is the lack of a downtown. People also indicated they wanted the area walkable and don't want the streets to be over four lanes. Future uses in the town center would be medium and high-density housing, office,retail, entertainment, and hotel and lodging. Olson asked if more population growth is expected. Jeremiah said one million more people are expected in the metro area by 2030. Eden Prairie expects an additional 7,500 households or 13,000 individuals by 2030. Jeremiah said there are two options for the light rail train to come through Eden Prairie. There are two art focal points included in the plans. Wal-Mart would like a new site in Eden Prairie with a grocery store. There is a possibility of Wal-Mart redeveloping with a four to six story urban store on the other side of the parking lot. The street furnishings (benches, manhole covers, etc.) could be customized. In the town center area, there would be a public space for all ages. Duluth and Burnsville have examples of this. The theme for the town center streetscape is prairie. Grasses will be shown on some of the signage, park bench, and lighting. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 6, 2008 Page 3 Jeremiah said phase one is for Windsor Plaza and Bobby & Steve's to be developed. Bobby & Steve's is to be redeveloped in 2009. In the new gas station, there are plans for a museum for old cars, a deck, and restaurant. The pumps will be behind the building and away from Flying Cloud Drive. There is a possibility the plans for the redevelopment of the gas station could be scaled down. Plans for the parking lot side of Windsor Plaza include a fountain or public art. If public art is to be put in the area, the Eden Prairie Arts & Culture Commission would review the proposed art. In the building there will be business where the traffic flow has different peaks. There is a virtual radiology business and restaurant in the plans. Singletree Lane will upgrade to four lanes during the redevelopment of the area. Jeremiah said Presbyterian Homes will be redeveloped. There will be two buildings seven to thirteen stories tall. One of the buildings will be all ages and the other will be for seniors. The redevelopment of the site will occur in phases. The Eden Prairie Arts and Culture Commission would recommend the public art. Kathawalla asked Jeremiah about the restaurant site where Santorini is going to open. Jeremiah said there always seems to be one site where there is a lot of turn over. It usually happens with more trendy restaurants. The area is all food service and parking can be an issue. There is an agreement with Santorini to use the ramp with a valet service. Jeremiah said the town center is a long term plan, with plans to finish in 2030. The market will drive the redevelopment of the area. Olson asked if the structures are planned to be sustainable. Jeremiah said sustainability is encouraged but not required. The cost savings can be relatively quick and there is a marketing advantage to this type of building. Mosow asked what the process is for public art in the new developments. Jeremiah said the Arts & Culture Commission can discuss it as a group. The art shouldn't be like Disney World. The art can be eclectic and unique but have an overriding quality that speaks to the community. Olson said the library worked with an art consultant. Jeremiah said there isn't funding for an art consultant and there isn't required funding for the art. Werts said Charlottesville, Virginia has bases for sculptures. The sculptures are put up for one year. The bases could be paid for by grants. Jeremiah said there is a minimum cost for the two arts pieces in Windsor Plaza and Presbyterian Homes,but there is not a requirement for art in the future redevelopment. Rorem asked if there will be more benches for pedestrians during the redevelopment. Jeremiah said there will be benches after the redevelopment of Presbyterian Homes. Maybe benches could be donated, in order to have more benches. Werts said the Park and Recreation Department has a program for donating benches. Petry-Lee asked if the walking paths will be maintained and plowed by the City. Jeremiah said it may or may not be done by the City. The private sector will be involved. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 6, 2008 Page 4 Jeremiah said CVS opens this year and the construction of Presbyterian Homes will be phased in. The art probably won't be installed until 2012. The two towers may or may not be rentals. It depends on the market in 2012. The ground level will be store fronts. One management company may own the store fronts. Petry-Lee said with all of the future construction, it seems the traffic could be really congested. Jeremiah said there won't be less traffic with the development of the area. The higher density housing isn't intended to eliminate or reduce cars. With the senior building, one half of a car can be counted per unit, so there are a reduced number of vehicles for the senior building. In addition, the residential units have a little bit different traffic patterns than business office has. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Art Center Update Werts referred to an update on the Art Center. Werts said on September 16, 2008 the City Council approved the parking lot expansion. The City Council did not approve the building renovations because Mayor Young did not feel time was as much of an issue with the building renovations. The issue has been tabled until the October 21 City Council meeting. By the next meeting, the Mayor would like to see the Friends of the Eden Prairie Art Center have raised $80,000. Werts said the January Art Center programs have been moved to a temporary location at the Senior Center, and the ceramics and fused glass programs, have been cancelled. If the Art Center renovations are completed before classes start in January, then the classes will be moved back to the Art Center. Rorem said the September 27 fundraising event"pinwheels and printmaking" at the Community Center went smoothly. This event was for grades preK—4t'. There were 148 children making pinwheels, and 107 print cards. It was a fee event, it was meant to raise awareness. $100 in small donations was received at the event. The next event will be October 11 from 6:00—9:00 pm. The event will be for 51h— 8rh graders. The event will cost$5 per person and the projects will include watercolor, illustration, and mixed media collage. Rorem said there will be two more fundraising events on November 15 and December 6. The event on November 15"'will be at the High School and will cost around $15. There will be a band and pizza. Olson asked if$15 would be too much to charge. The dances only cost$5. Johnson asked if the students could pay $5 for the art project and then could pay extra for the pizza. Rorem said the December 6 event is for families and will cost around $50 per couple. There will be an auction and the event will be at the Community Center. There will be a place for the children and the adults can then socialize. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 6, 2008 Page 5 Rorem said the events are not meant to be fundraisers. Rorem said there is a wish list of items people can donate in addition to donating money. Rorem said glass blowing is what makes the Art Center Special. Rorem said people are working hard on the fundraising,but they are not where they'd like to be. The grants won't be heard from for a while. Rorem said there will be a market survey, and it should hopefully be out by the end of the week. B. Artist Network Get Together Werts discussed the ideas for the Artist Network, which the Arts & Culture Commission previously decided on. Werts asked the Commission if the Commission would like to plan a gathering for the Artist Network or would like to wait on planning an activity. Rorem said in December the artists from the Artist Networks could be at the planned activity on December 6. There could be a gallery open house with art from the Artist Network's artists. Werts said she has around 120 people on her list from Art on City Walls which could be included for communications. Mosow said it may be helpful to concentrate efforts on the Art Center due to the amount of work to be done. Petry-Lee said she would like the Artist Network to wait until the Art Center is ready. Olson suggested the idea of emailing regularly with Artist Network members. Werts said she could add a section about the Artist Network on the letter for Art on City Walls. Olson said the Artist Network members could be invited to help with ideas for public art and they could help review the ideas and bring the information to the Commission. Werts said the Commission should be laying the ground work for public art. Werts said she will add the information into a letter, to the Art on City Walls participants, asking for email addresses. Olson asked if the Artist Network could meet for cookies at ADC because they have a great building. Rorem said ADC would be a great location because it is big and open. Werts said the Artist Network will wait until 2009 to get together. C. Veterans Memorial Phase II Improvements Werts said the Veterans Memorial is under construction with a plan to have it completed and dedicated on November 11. The construction has slowed down, while waiting for the granite to be delivered. D. Staring Lake Amphitheater Reconstruction Werts said the stone and concrete work at the amphitheatre is complete. Sod will be planted this fall. The building siding and new decking will be worked on in the spring of 2009. Conduit has been put in to make the set up of the sound system more efficient. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 6, 2008 Page 6 E. Filling Commission Vacancy Werts said no one has stepped forward to apply for the vacancy on the Commission. F. Arts Resource Directory Update Werts said the 2008 Eden Prairie Resident's Guide was included in the previous Eden Prairie News. The Arts Alive! In Eden Prairie begins on page 58 and continues through page 63. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS A. Sunbonnet Day Recap Werts referred to a copy of the ending report for Sunbonnet Day. Werts said it rained the day of Sunbonnet Day, so the pony rides revenue was down by $221.00. The ticket sales for 2008 were one half of the 2007 revenue. The Boy Scout sales were also down from last year. Sunbonnet Day did not meet its cost recovery goal. The income for 2008 was $1430.50 less than 2007. VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Upcoming Events • Art on City Walls—November—Three Contemporary Artists —Agnes Fine, Barbara Lanzo and Marian Alstad IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Kathawalla, to adjourn the meeting. Rorem adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m.