ZAP Tier I + Zoological Advisory Board Meeting Applicants Present Minutes draft
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, 8:00am - 10:00am
SL Co. Government Center 2001 So. State St. SLC, UT 84190
Council's Work Session Rm N2-800, No. Bldg, South Side, 2nd Fl
Attendees
Board Members: Moana Palelei HoChing (Chair), Bill Applegarth (Vice Chair), Johann Jacobs, Victoria Panella Bourns, Peter Klinge, Don Tingey, Noemi Hernandez-Balcazar,
Staff Members and Guests: Matt Castillo, Samantha Thermos, Daniel Stergios, , Robin Chalhoub, Thomas Steffey, Grace Hanley,
Call to Order - Bill Applegarth serving as Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:11am
I. Welcome and Introductions - Bill Applegarth, Vice Chair, Serving as Chair for this Meeting. Bill welcomed everyone and asked them to introduce themselves.
Agenda Overview given by Samantha Thermos
II. Public Comment Period - Bill Applegarth
III. Action Item: Approval of Oct. 6, 2022, Meeting Minutes - Bill Applegarth
Bill Applegarth advised that this item is being removed from the agenda and advised the board members they were sent copies of the minutes, but we haven't heard back from everyone. Asked members to read the minutes and make sure they are accurate. Will approve them at the next board meeting. Please get any corrections to Samantha or Daniel. Or you may send to Bill, he just wants to make sure we've captured what you want.
IV. Overview of Tier I Criteria - Victoria Bourns, Immediate past Chair, Serving as Vice Chair for this Meeting. Policy Reference Materials.
This is being moved on the agenda, it will be coverage after watching Wasatch Community Gardens finishes their presentation. Bill asked all questions to be held until after the presentations, to allow the presentations to flow smoothly.
V. Applicant Presentations
Utah Cultural Celebration Center Foundation
Jeff Olsen, Interim Executive Dir. West Valley Arts Foundation and Div. Manager, WVC Division of Arts and Culture
Nancy Day, Board Member
Vanessa Olson, Theater Program Manager
Jeff Olsen introduced himself as Director of West Valley Arts Foundation as well as the manager for Arts & Culture for West Valley City. He introduced Vanessa Olson and Nancy Day. Jeff grateful to have the opportunity to come and talk to the board today, wants to tell the board who they are, what changes they've had and the improvements they are doing. Jeff presented a slide presentation about West Valley Arts. Founded in 2004, create community events (i.e., art exhibitions musical & theatre performances, arts & culture festivals, and educational programs.), established 501( c ) 3 non-profit organization in 2011 to assist with fund raising. In 2019 now manages West Valley Performing Arts Center. Their mission is to provide opportunities to learn, experience and celebrate arts culture and the community.
On September 21,2022 West Valley board of directors finalized the name change from Utah Cultural Celebration Center Foundation to West Valley Arts Foundation. Restated bylaws to allow remote meetings, reorganized board to consist of board of directors with permanent members and non-permanent members. Created executive committee to assist with the artistic and program direction. Executive director appointed by President and approved by board of directors, works under advice and direction of the president. Listed name of board members and gave brief bio on each. Explained how the executive committee operates. Advised of properties, venues and ownership of each and how they are financed and operated. West Valley City Foundation pays for costs of all programs, long term goal is to raise enough funds to cover all operational costs. A new policy agreement is currently in process between the city and foundation that will outline the nature of the relationship between the two entities. We serve all Salt Lake County residents, especially west side residents. Serve local visual artists and local theatrical community in SL County. Serve West Valley public, private and charter schools. Presented the board 2022 stats. Advised of 2023 and future goals; increase attendance, start a set rental program, put education programs on stage, to mention a few.
Floor was then opened up for questions. One question; what are the other kinds of program are you doing that represent a variety of ethnic groups? Done International food festival, looking to reevaluate it. Question on revenue, what is your ticket price, where does your digital revenue come only from ticket sales? Is there program revenue? They have booth vendor fees when they do festivals and events. Don't do pay to play for artists. We pay artists, some will donate their services. We do other shows when the theater is not is use. Looking to expand educational program at the theater. Conversations with ballet, west valley symphony and other organizations to utilize some of the space when not in use. Creating partnerships. Question on building analysis, how is it being done? Plan to have it done by an outside source. Have it go to a full bid process. Need more information on transition from city ownership and programming to foundational? Wanted more of a community input. Foundation would help raise more funding outside of city mechanism. Question: expand more on different cultural events that represent the diverse population? In preliminary planning stages, brought in an advisor to help. Possibly doing things like Juneteenth celebration or Polynesian event. Or black culture event, etc. Marketing budget is small now, plan is to increase it as we move forward. Submission is to bring arts to the west side communities of west valley. Question about their financials they submitted, there was a sizable liability to the city? Plan to create a policy to address it. No specific date this policy will be in place in 2023.Board explained we are an information board we recommend to the council; the council has the final say. Funding in Tier I is controlled by the legislature.
Board took a 5-minute break.
Wasatch Community Gardens - Georgina Griffith-Yates, Executive Dir. Virtual
Lindsey Smith, Dir. Of Foundation Giving
Maddie Judge, Dir. Of Programs
Board members introduced themselves to Georgina Griffith-Yates. Wasatch Community Gardens introduced their members/staff. Georgina shared vision of where they are going and are hoping to be partners continuing forward to serve our community. Community Gardens has been around since the 80's, their mission is to empower people to grow and eat local healthy organic food. They believe they have the ability to adapt to the evolving and changing needs for our community. Presented a slide presentation. In 1999 program on culturally appropriate food for refugees, through fishing and backyard gardening. With a rise in housing looking to community resources for sustainability for families and themselves, and community as a whole. 200's partnerships for community gardens. 2010 school partnership begins, job training program and farm ground. 2022 1.2 permanent acre campus opens to public. Program serves over 10,000 SL county residents of all backgrounds, ages and incomes. 60% of community gardeners qualify as low to moderate-income. Youth 5-12, partnerships with SLC school district, social service agencies and summer camp partners. Adult gardening workshops for all levels, scholarships are available. Program serves women facing homelessness. Produce donated to low-income families.
Programing can't happen without partners, slide presented showing several partners. You are welcome to visit 1.2-acre educational campus on 800 South and 600 East, it's public. We have continual, sustainable growth over the years. Envision community where everyone values and has access to growing and eating healthy foods. Explained process how they recruit board members and the expectations of board members. Slide presented on their staff in 2023. Georgina did a study to see what their growth looked like for past 10 years and matched it to what growth will look like over next 5 years. Very consistent, points toward a sustainable growth plan. As we grow our programs and events to the public, we've had to grow our staff to meet those needs.
Slide presented on funding sources: Government grants 10%, Foundation Grants 20%, Businesses 18%, Individuals 26% and Programs 26%.
Horticulture Display & Botanical Research. WCG Campus- Demonstration gardens and signs to educate visitor about organic vegetable gardening techniques. Garden showcasing different cultural crops. Self-guided tours. Host site for partner research. Green Phoenix Farm- 100% solar powered. Educational volunteer opportunities. Host sited for partner research USU, Westminster, Western SARE. Community Gardens- 18 gardens in SL County. Public Pick Gardens; public and pick & eat produce.
Community Education provided - Workshops, Field trips, Summer Camps, School Gardens and Community events. We also provide education through partnerships. Example 'our flavor of my homeland'. Grow culturally competent food.
Our future priorities: Urban farm, transplant & incubator. Deepening impact through sustainable equitable, intentional growth. New & revitalized partnerships. Presented slide showing strategic plan 2023-2027. Three pillars - preserving productive green space, creating sharable models and strengthening organization partnerships. Three principles- organizational sustainability, serving as experts in our field, producing cultural healthy food.
Floor opened up for questions. What is the educational opportunities for cities to understand how to incorporate perhaps urban gardens? Rooftop gardens and things like that to maximize what limited space, Utah is going to have to be able to expand what you are doing. Also, what are you doing with municipalities and are you working with city planners on urban design and gardens. Some of the plans we have for the next 5 years are moving in that direction, to be a support. Creating sharable models and partnerships.
One, with our community garden program, hired new community garden director. He is to prioritize partnerships to understand demand in those areas, since we've mainly focused on backyard gardens. Also, understand the needs, then share best practices.
Work with planners to create requirements/best practices for new types of developments i.e., rooftop gardens. We also had education about being water wise. Could you define what vertical gardening is? Different types of vertical gardening, ours is upwards. Putting a squash on the ground can take up entire gardening bed, put in some stakes it can grow upwards. Where are you getting your water from? Culinary. Do you have any partners that help finance with removal of green space (lawn) to ready space for a garden? Give them a chance to move from store bought vegetable to grown ones? We don't have a straightforward program that does exactly what you're saying. We have programming that addresses parts of it. Provide soil and compost to have healthy soil. Can also partnership with Honey foundation, they offer to flip some lawn strips for gardens. We focus on providing education to do it yourself. Do you go to farmer markets? Yes. Do you have a booth or something? We don't compete with local farmers. We don't need all our produce, we donate it. Georgina liked the idea of educating municipalities and their planners on garden development. Question on seasonality, do you help people learn to bottle/can the things they grow during the winter time? How do you expand it from perceived seasonality after harvest time, how do they use this resource throughout the year? Our campuses extend our seasons, we're able to have greenhouses to extend seasons and to continue to teach into the fall. We have an educational cottage that has a kitchen in it. We provide classes in that kitchen. Teaching canning. Point is we have educational programs that extend the seasons. Have educational instruction in our youth programs. Have you considered expanding your educational programs to other school districts? Until we figure out best practices we are just meeting a demand for that school district. When the Pandemic started it changed how students learn and what kind of environments they need. Our goal is to expand partnerships, if not be able to at least share best practices with other school districts. Any financial expectations for board members, or volunteer expectations? Yes, there was a historical precedence for board member to financially contribute, with this restructure we've taken it away. Goal for board fund raising will not change, changed it from an individual.
Broad took a 5-minute break
VI. Open Discussion: Assorted - Advisory Board.
Going back to agenda IV.
Vickie talked about overview of the tier 1 criteria. Information located in SL County policy 1031, which gives basis for helping board members to make decisions. Samantha advised that she took document and highlighted areas that are more applicable to tier I.
Samantha will send it out to members. Vickie reiterates this is a process. Learned more about programs you're welcome to adjust your scores. Bringing a new group to tier I is a major step. We have 22 slots for 23 applications. Question at last meeting about if we don't allow someone to be in tier I will they receive that funding, yes, they will. Vickie explained how this works.
Qualifying the expenditures is the qualifying criteria for tier 1. Yes, correct. Tier II there is not a qualifying expanded. Correct. So hypothetically somebody in tier II could get more money than if they were put in tier I. Yes correct. Samantha gave some examples. Vickie also stated that in terms of budget size an organization would get around $80K in Tier I, and they could also get $80K in Tier II. Board had discussion on qualifying expenditures. Board discussed the need for the boards from Tier I & Tier II to have a better understanding and a partnership.
Samantha added that when the board reads the minutes, they need to read their specific comments that she put in there, so we understood and capture the meeting. Made mention of the last page, if we didn't capture everything that you want to talk about in 2023 and beyond, Matt will help to facilitate those conversations. If there are other things you need to clarify or parts of the county wide policy need updating we can get into some of that a bit later. Samantha, Vickie and internal team are doing some internal research to supply the Tier I & Zoological boards with further information. This board makes recommendations, and the county council would approve those. We want to be careful of what we're presenting, versus what we promote and just be strategic. Vickie said we do want to be sensitive, but we also want to make sure that we're doing the best
for this program. Vickie summarizing from county policy that this is a competitive process, part of the role of funding from what we call Tier I is to build organizational capacity. It's to create stability. Our conflict with the idea of moving groups being competitive and moving an organization to a different tier is a bit contradictory to providing stability and adequate predictable support, but that is our job. To consider those issues. Organizations that apply and qualify for Tier I are not guaranteed for funding. Nobody's guaranteed funding. We need to think about our criteria, we also need to think about this overall vision for what we're trying to achieve with that funding. Vickie asked about meeting again to go over issues and information. Wants to have a good discussion. Samantha mentioned the next meeting the board has they will be having some conversations; they are going to be given some data that they'll have some deliberations around and some extra documents will be supplied to them from the direction of the meeting today, you'll want time at that meeting to talk and then possibly make a decision.
VII. Adjourn - Bill Applegarth adjourned meeting at 11:02am.
Mr. made motion to adjourn meeting, Ms. Second motion. Unanimously approved.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Vicki Bourns at 385 468-7057.