Cultural Commission Minutes 2011 03-23-11
APPROVED 4/20/11
CULTURAL COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
5:30 p.m.
City Conference Room
800 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560
Committee Members in Attendance:
Harold Oliver
Stephenie Todd
Eric Lechowicz
Richard Falato
Howard Manthei
City Officials in Attendance:
Mayor Valerie Burd
Robyn Sutcliff – City Liaison
(arrived 5:48pm)
Meeting Called to Order
Mr. Oliver welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken. A quorum was established.
Citizen’s Comments
There were no guests in attendance.
Previous Minutes
This is the first meeting of the Cultural Commission so there were no previous minutes.
Review of City Code for Cultural Commission
a. Establishment of initial terms:
Howard Manthei – 1 year
Stephenie Todd – 3 years
Harold Oliver – 1 year
Richard Falato – 2 years
Eric Lechowicz – 2 years
Gary Schirmer – 1 year
Member TBD – 3 years (Nan Gromes to get back to Mayor Burd)
b. Review of duties and functions: Ordinances No. 2010-45: 2-9-1 Commission
Established and 2-9-4 Duties and Functions were read. Mr. Oliver wanted to make sure that this
Commission wouldn’t interfere or crossover with any other Commission with the City. Both
Mayor Burd and Alderman Sutcliff said it did not. It is the goal of this committee to work on
new ideas and programs; not interfere with any existing programs.
Establishment of a regular meeting date
: It was discussed that the Committee will meet once
a month on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall conference room, 800
Game Farm Road, Yorkville. The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Future meeting dates are: MAY 18, JUN 15, JUL 20, AUG 17, SEP 21, OCT 19, NOV 16 and
DEC 21, 2011.
Additional Business
: It was decided that the five major projects the Committee will be working
on for the next meeting will be:
1) Yorkville Has Talent!
to be used as a fund raiser. Mr. Falato offered the Big Band as
available for free fundraisers between September and the end of May on Tuesday nights.
Alderman Sutcliff mentioned Robin Frisch had wanted to spearhead one of the “Music Under the
Stars” nights by having a little Yorkville talent competition prior to the Music. Mr. Oliver said
“YHT!” would have judges and prizes for participants. Mr. Manthei suggested using the Chapel
on the Green as a venue to hold the competition as it would seat a couple of hundred people.
Mayor Burd suggested the Middle School has a state-of-the-art auditorium that they might be
able to use. Alderman Sutcliff said Mrs. Eaton is in charge of that and she will mention it to her
(along with Jeff Shimshack, the principal), about the possibilities of using it. Mr. Oliver then
suggested a Chairperson to explore those possibilities. Mr. Oliver took it upon himself to look
into using the vacant Old Second building at 102 E. Van Emmon on a temporary basis. He also
thought “YHT!” would be a great “kick-off” for the Cultural Committee.
Chair: Robyn Sutcliff
Vice-Chair: Richard Falato
Mr. Oliver is depending on Alderman Sutcliff and Mr. Falato to bring to the next meeting their
thoughts on 1) where this is to held (Criteria: must be indoors; suggestions included Paul
Daniels’ Quonset hut, getting the schools involved w/School Board, Music teachers, Mr.
Anderson and band); 2) Think about what possible sub-committees will be needed; 3)
Funding! 4) Volunteers; and 5) Put together an organizational chart (running an event = running
a business). Mayor Burd stressed the fact that she would like to see events happen downtown.
2)A Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Yorkville and Historical Name Plates
– Mr.
Lechowicz brought up the concept of plaques for the older buildings. If possible, the plaque
would include some history of the building and numbers on the plaques that would correspond
with “A Walking Tour of Downtown Yorkville” guidebook that would provide foot traffic for
the downtown area. Ms. Todd added that this would bring the rich culture of our area “out from
under a basket.” Mr. Lechowicz reasoned that if people were spending more time downtown on
foot, more businesses would benefit from it. The Committee members then offered suggestions
that increased foot traffic would come from people here for the canoe course and Raging Waves.
Also, people in the area visiting the Farnsworth House – which Mr. Lechowicz pointed out it is
one of the most important buildings ever made and it’s in our backyard - and there has to be a
way to capitalize on that – would be lured downtown to enjoy the architecture there.
Chair: Eric Lechowicz
Vice-Chair: Stephenie Todd
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3)Public Relations
Chair: Valerie Burd
4) The Historic Jail
possible future uses (brainstorming suggestions included the Schingoethe
Center for Native American Cultures @ Aurora University and The Old Barn Museum).
Chair: Howard Manthei
5)Grant Writer
for funding. Mayor Burd will invite Jackie Dearborn to attend the next
meeting.
Mr. Oliver then asked for other thoughts, ideas, or anything else that needed to be discussed. He
added the Committee needs a Mission Statement and logo, and Mayor Burd offered that
committee member Mr. Schirmer is an artist and would be an asset in coming up with the logo.
Mr. Oliver then made a motion to adjourn; Mr. Manthei moved and Ms. Todd seconded. All
were in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Bonnie Olsem
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