Minutes 12-14-23 Minutes of the Art Advisory Board Meeting
Held on Monday, December 14, 2023, at 6:30 P.M.
At City Hall Commission Chambers
100 E. Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida
Present:
Clovis Moodie, Vice Chair Kathryn Matos, Assistant City Manager
Gregory Hartmann Stacy Irsay, Public Art Coordinator
Hector"Sam" Velazquez
Margaret Roberts
Ace Tilton Ratcliff (Arrived 6:34 P.M.)
Absent:
Cynthia Alexis
Susan Froehlich
Breion Moses
Dr. Phyllis Pacilli
1. Call to Order
Vice Chair Moodie called the meeting to order at 6:33 P.M.
She reminded the members of the rules of civility.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3. Roll Call
Catherine Cherry, the Minutes Specialist called the roll. A quorum was present.
Motion
Mr. Hartmann moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Velazquez seconded the motion.
(Mx. Tilton Ratcliff arrived).
The motion unanimously passed.
4. Informational items from the Board
Mr. Hartmann reported that he attended two of the meetings regarding the Heart of
Boynton Unity Project at the Sim's Center and the Cultural Arts Center. He announced
Meeting Minutes
Art Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida December 14, 2023
that the committee is making progress and activities are being scheduled for the spring.
He said that about 20 or 30 people are at each meeting.
Mr. Velazquez stated that he missed the meetings and was glad to be getting back to
work
Vice Chair Moodie commented that she also attended three of the Unity Project meetings
and she agreed that progress is being made and that the project is being funded by three
grants that the City received which will fund HOB and City-wide activities for the Project.
She advised that the community is forming a steering committee to plan the projects and
that a portion of the event is taking form. She stated that she attended Brain Health
activities by Palm Health at the Cultural Center and said that they will discuss that later
because there is a space for the power of public art lunch and learn.
5. Approval of Minutes
A. Approve Minutes from the June 29 2023 Meeting - Tabled August 10 2023
Motion
Mr. Hartmann moved to approve the June 29th minutes. Mr. Velazquez seconded the
motion
Vice Chair Moodie appointed Board Alternate Mx. Tilton Ratcliff in to sit in place of regular
member Cynthia Alexis.
The June 29th meeting minutes were approved.
B. Approve Minutes from the August 10, 2023 Meeting
Motion
Mx. Tilton Ratcliff moved to approve the August 10th minutes. Mr. Hartmann seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Public Audience
Individual speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.
None.
7. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence
A. Art Adviso Board Chair to Welcome New Board Members
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Boynton Beach, Florida December 14, 2023
Margaret "Peggy" Roberts introduced herself. She said that she is a mom of three
children who does a lot of crafting and baking. She stated that she is a friend of Angela
Cruz, who asked her to apply. She mentioned that serving on the Board is new to her
and that she welcomed any advice.
The members welcomed Ms. Roberts.
B. Power of Public Art Program: Lunch and Learn
Stacy Irsay, Public Art Coordinator, reviewed the above event sponsored by the Palm
Health Foundation on Thursday, October 24, 2023, as part of the Train the Brain
Advancing Wellness through the Neuro Arts Event Series. She stated that the keynote
speaker was artist and mental health professional, Brian Wood, followed by a Kinetic Art
Tour Ms. Irsay led.
Vice Chair Moodie said that she attended the event, and she praised Ms. Irsay, as she
was quite the teacher and for the pamphlet she created.
C. Highwaymen Art Show
Ms. Irsay stated that the upcoming event is being sponsored by the Boynton Beach
Historical Society on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M., at the Art and
Cultural Center.
Mr. Velazquez stated that he has attended other Highwaymen shows and was glad the
exhibit was coming to the City.
D. Unity Project Update
Kathryn Matos, Assistant City Manager, gave the background of the project and explained
that Glenn Weiss, former Public Art Manger, obtained a $100K grant from the Mellon
Foundation, to implement the Unity Project in the Heart of Boynton, (HOB). She said that
is the main area in District 2, and that there will be a series of events celebrating the
area's history, honor the areas present, and the future. She stated that they are working
with the HOB Neighborhood Association, a non-profit organization, that does amazing
work to support the community. She commented that the City received two other grants;
one from the State and another from another foundation for about$15K each, and the Art
in Public Places Program is funding around $30K, for a total of about$164K. She advised
that when the activities are finalized, they will print Save the Date cards. Ms. Matos
explained that the City issued a Call to Artist for this project, and in January, they will
select the artists. She noted that the HOB Association will be present at the meeting.
She advised that there will be two or three murals in different locations; some on City
property, as well as a storefront on MLK and Federal Highway. She spoke about the
event, and said that on February 20th, at the City Commission meeting, the City will repeal
three Ordinances on the books relating to segregation and the Jim Crow Laws, to which
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Boynton Beach, Florida December 14, 2023
the community is invited. She commented that they will have a march, a ceremonial
burning of the Ordinance, and a block party. She explained that the big event is the Unity
Festival. Ms. Matos stated that the HOB meetings are held every Wednesday at 6 P.M.
to 8:00 P.M. at the Carolyn Sims Center and all are invited. She thought that it would be
good to build a relationship with the community and Art Board because the murals will be
presented to the Board for approval.
E. Art_&_Autism Expo Exhibition
Ms. Irsay reviewed this event that is scheduled for Monday April 8, 2024, from 5 P.M. to
7 P.M., at the Art and Cultural Center.
9. Action Items
None.
10. Unfinished Business
A. City Commission Ordinance Changes Adopted on September 14, 2023
City Attorney to provide update on Ordinance changes.
Ms. Matos gave the update. She reviewed the changes on Ordinance 20-016 relating to
the Advisory Boards, and said that the changes were mostly clean up language
Mr. Velazquez had questions about being an elector and stated that he felt the Ordinance
violates the Voting Rights Act. He advised that he attended City Commission meetings to
voice his concerns, as no one can be required to vote, and the Advisory Board
requirements require a voting record.
Ms. Matos explained the individual must be registered to vote.
Mr. Velazquez responded that being registered is not what an elector means.
Ms. Matos explained that she would connect the members with nuance questions to the
City Attorney.
Vice Chair Moodie stated that she specifically asked for the Attorney to be present at the
meeting, and she was not told that she could not attend, and she had asked twice. She
explained that her concern regarding an Attorney is there are so many questions that
arise of a legal nature, she wanted the Attorney's understanding and interpretation as a
collective body.
Ms. Matos stated that she requested her attendance, but she had a scheduling conflict
and she reviewed that the Board will provide a monthly report to the City Commission.
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Boynton Beach, Florida December 14, 2023
Vice Chair Moodie noted that the City Commission wants to know what happens at the
Board Meetings and that the Board is to provide a monthly report, but they do not have
staff to provide the report.
Ms. Matos agreed and stated that the City Clerk will provide them and she agreed that it
does not specify that, the way it was written.
Mx. Tilton Ratcliff inquired what form the report given by the City Clerk would be in and if
the Board would review it.
Ms. Matos responded that it will be in the form of cut and pasted minutes. She further
reviewed that the change in the Ordinance is that selected artists will be from Florida with
a preference for Palm Beach County artists.
Mr. Velazquez pointed out that the 2005 Ordinance said that the Board would reach out
to local, national and international artists. He objected at the meeting when proposed
changes were discussed. He stated that he wondered what function Public Comment has
at City Commission meetings when comments should be reviewed and binding, and
instead they are glossed over. He agreed,the Attorney should be present to clarify issues.
He asked if they abolished the wording in the 2005 Ordinance and replaced it with the
updated language. He commented that the last time the Board met, the 2005 Ordinance
was in effect.
Ms. Matos repeated that the Ordinance has clean up language and further stated that it
is the City Commission's prerogative to update the Code. She pointed out that the Code
is a fluid document. She advised that this is the final Ordinance, although there are still
conflicts with the Ordinance and other items in the Code. .
Ms. Matos suggested tabling items 10 A, B and C. until the Attorney was present.
B. Mural Program Ordinance 22-004
Ms. Matos stated that murals had previously fallen under the Sign Code, which
Community Standards enforced, and that this Ordinance removed murals from the Sign
Code and placed it into the AIPP under the purview of the Board.
A question was posed, when talking about murals, if the Ordinance applies to private
property.
Ms. Matos responded that would be separate.
Mr. Hartmann suggested that the Attorney call the members one-on-one.
Vice Chair Moodie mentioned that her concern was that the members would not get the
same information, at the same time
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Boynton Beach, Florida December 14, 2023
Motion
Mx. Tilton Ratcliff moved to table the discussion until the City Attorney was present at the
next meeting, whether in January, or a specially scheduled meeting. Mr. Velazquez
seconded the motion. She clarified sthat he was tabling all three items:10 A, B, and C.
Mx. Tilton Ratcliff amended her motion to table the items until they can meet with the
Attorney. Mr. Velazquez seconded the amendment. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Art in Public Places Criteria Guidelines
Mr. Hartmann noted there are three exemptions to the absences, which are maternity
leave, death of a family member, and military service.
Mx. Tilton Ratcliff commented that the Ordinance does not mention paternity leave.
Ms. Matos advised that the City Clerk handles all of that and the three absences are per
term year, which typically starts in March. If a member is appointed to fill a vacancy, the
12-month period starts in the month of appointment.
11. New Business
None.
12. Future Agenda
A. Update on Florida State Grant for "Specific Cultural Project"
B. Revise Art in Public Places Program Guidelines
C. Create Public Art Master Plan - Identify Art Locations and Establish a Priority Order
Dates TBD
13. Adjournment
Motion
Mr. Hartmann moved to adjourn. Mr. Velazquez seconded the motion. The motion
unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 P.M.
� F
Catherine Cherry
Minutes Specialist
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