City of Lawrence

Cultural District Task Force

April 15, 2013 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mayor Bob Schumm, Grace Peterson, Cindy Maude, KT Walsh, Mike Logan, Jacki Becker, Mandy Enfield, Susan Tate

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

none

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Diane Stoddard

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Leslie Soden

 

 

Mayor Schumm called the meetings to order.  The members of the Task Force introduced themselves. 

 

Mayor Schumm asked Ms. Stoddard to review the charge in the resolution.  Ms. Walsh asked about open meetings.  Mayor Schumm reported that the meetings would be open meetings.  Ms. Stoddard indicated that notification would be provided by the City.  The City is working on establishing a website and a subscription e-mail list that people could sign up on to get notification of the meetings, as well.

 

Mayor Schumm asked for ideas for topics of other meetings. He suggested the topic of gentrification of East Lawrence and strategies to avoid this.  Ms. Tate agreed that affordability is an important piece of this neighborhood.  She suggested looking at tools that other communities use to avoid this.  She also wondered if defining creative economy was important.  She indicated that there had been a lot of research on this topic and what could be agreed upon regarding its use.  Ms. Maude suggested reviewing this research and what other communities have done would be a good topic.  Ms. Tate wondered if there could be a list of reading resources identified.  Ms. Peterson suggested starting with the NEA white paper on creative placemaking- Creative Placemaking White Paper by Ann Markusen.  Ms. Tate will provide this paper to Ms. Stoddard to distribute. 

 

Ms. Walsh passed out some information regarding gentrification topics, Dave Loewenstein’s letter and a quiz.  There was a question about census information for this neighborhood in Lawrence.  It was asked if this could be collected to be viewed over time.  Ms. Stoddard responded that she could work on pulling demographic information on the area encompassing the cultural district for the next meeting.  Mayor Schumm also added that the definition of gentrification is something that should be reviewed.  It was pointed out that it would be important to look at information from cities that are of similar size to Lawrence. 

 

Ms. Tate mentioned that the Art Place website also has a number of resources.  The website is http://www.artplaceamerica.org.  Ms. Peterson also suggested an NEA Gallup poll called Spirit of the City.   Logan mentioned that he was interested in attracting people to the downtown.  Music is his background and there are many other aspects to the art.  He wondered if this task force could identify certain events or serious of events that would achieve this.  He said that DLI had an interest in other ways to bring people downtown.  Ms. Becker said that she was interested in looking at other cities and said that she does a lot of work in other cities.  Ms. Peterson indicated that she also had an interest in capturing local dollars.  Mr. Logan asked about possible synergy with the Convention & Visitors Bureau.  He pointed out that there was a sports marketing person hired to promote sporting events.  Mayor Schumm suggested that they be informed about these meetings.  Ms. Maude also discussed that the Chamber of Commerce is interested in the quality of life related to recruiting businesses.  She thought it was important for the community to tell its story to attract businesses.  It was suggested to involve the Chamber.  After discussion, it was suggested that the group answer the charge.

 

Ms. Tate suggested a plan for the area related to Final Fridays.  Ms. Peterson said that transportation is a consideration as there are some that are not able to get from venue to venue.  Mayor Schumm mentioned the illuminated path between KU and the downtown area.  He could see extension of that pathway to the east to designate the corridor.  There was discussion about sidewalks in this area.  Ms. Walsh said there was a perception how work on the district may not positively affect the whole neighborhood.  Ms. Tate said the work of the task force was to create the best cultural district possible.  Ms. Enfield thought that the goals were not mutually exclusive. 

 

Mayor Schumm asked for the members to distribute information to Ms. Stoddard to distribute to the group to read.  It is important the information is from other communities similar sized.  It was also suggested that defining creative economy is important. 

 

There was a question about the cultural district map created by the Arts Center.  Ms. Tate indicated that the map is a work in progress within the boundaries established by the City Commission.  There were questions about how the map was established.  Ms. Tate stated that artists can submit their site and they will be included on the map.  She clarified that the map isn’t meant to be a definitive picture of the cultural district.

 

The next meeting was set for 4 pm on May 7th. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:08 pm.