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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-13-26 ARCC Adopted Minutes-, MINUTES ?, Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - 6:00 PM City Hall, Commission Chamber Present: Sondra Goldschmidt, Member Ingrid McCawley, Member Josu6 Cruz, Member Absent: Hillary Hickam, Member Curtis Winter, Member Desmond Demps-Brooks, Member Lisa Goodrich, ARCC Chair Kaylene Maddox, Member Joseph Schwarz, Member Also Present: Jordan Leslie, Recreation Manager 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 2. 3. Committee Member Ingrid McCawley called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie proceeded with the roll call. The following members were absent: Lisa Goodrich, Aileen Maddox, Joe Schwarz, Hillary Hickam, Desmond Demps Brooks, Josue Cruz, and Curtis Winter. Present were Ingrid Macauley and Sandra Goldsmith. Recreation Manager Leslie noted that since they did not have a quorum, they would not be voting on any items during this meeting. Committee member Josue Cruz arrived at 6:23 PM. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve minutes of the December 9, 2025 Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee meeting. Recreation Manager Leslie explained that they were scheduled to approve the minutes from the December 9, 2025 meeting, but since they lacked a quorum, the vote would be deferred to the next meeting. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS Sarah Boren, who lives on Eighth Street in Old Atlantic Beach and serves as a member of the Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC), addressed the committee to provide updates on the collaborative film series between ESC and ARCC. She began by explaining that she and Recreation Manager Leslie had met that afternoon at Adele Grage to test the venue for the film series. She reported that her personal mobile screen was too small for the space, prompting the need to explore other options. Ms. Boren detailed the next steps, stating that Recreation Manager Leslie would contact the Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Pagel of 8 city's IT department to inquire about available projectors and laptops. She noted that Veronica was working on securing licenses for the four selected films. Once they heard back from IT, they would troubleshoot the technical requirements together. Ms. Boren then presented the new dates for the film series, explaining that the original dates had conflicts with theater availability. The new schedule included: Saturday, February 21st from 4:00 to 6:00 PM for The Lorax, with staff set to provide a list of approved food truck vendors for this family-oriented event; Thursday, May 28th for "No Sleep Till," a film with Atlantic Beach connections as ARC had provided a grant to its director; Thursday, August 27th for "Kiss the Ground," focusing on soil; and Thursday, November 5th for "Isle of Dogs," which was ARCC's second film choice. She explained the concept behind the film series, emphasizing that while The Lorax might not need a panel discussion, the other films would benefit from panels of experts. For "No Sleep Till," which addresses hurricane preparation, ESC hoped to secure the director along with experts on insurance and flooding to provide multiple perspectives. Similarly, "Kiss the Ground" would feature soil experts. She left it to ARCC to decide whether "Isle of Dogs" warranted a panel discussion, noting she hadn't seen that film. Ms. Boren confirmed that Veronica was handling promotion and that Joe was ARCC's lead on the project. She also inquired about the awards ceremony planned for April, asking whether ARCC had made progress on their award categories. Committee member Ingrid Macauley confirmed it was on their agenda for discussion that evening. Ms. Boren shared that ESC had identified three award categories: tree canopy, sustainability and resilience, and native plants in yards. She mentioned that ESC had submitted a memo to staff indicating they were ready to solicit nominations, though they hadn't received a specific date for the awards ceremony yet. Recreation Manager Leslie confirmed they had been told April was the target timeframe but hadn't received an exact date. Continuing her update, Ms. Boren referenced her previous public comment about volunteer needs for both committees. She reported that ESC had submitted their requirements for updating the volunteer form on the city website and wondered if ARCC had made similar progress. Ms. Boren then announced that ESC would be holding their business meeting the following day, during which they would elect new officers for 2026. She noted that while they had already submitted their work plan and priorities for 2025-2026, the budget timing meant they were beginning to think about 2026-2027 priorities. She proposed that moving forward, whenever the ESC chair communicated with the commission or staff, they would copy the chairs of other committees to facilitate cross-pollination and information flow. When new committee member Sandra Goldsmith asked about ESC's role, Ms. Boren provided a comprehensive explanation. She outlined their two primary purposes as defined in Chapter 23 of the city code: first, to study and make recommendations in four areas - the maritime forest and tree canopy, parks, preserves and open spaces, beautification, and environmental stewardship (particularly focusing on resiliency, flooding, and storms); and second, to serve as a coordinating and motivating body on these topics for both public and private sectors. Ms. Boren also explained ESC's tree subcommittee, which convenes only when there's an Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Page 2 of 8 appeal. She clarified that when citizens appeal staff rulings on tree permits or mitigation, ESC verifies whether staff interpreted the code correctly, though they have no authority to provide relief on mitigation fees - that responsibility falls to the Community Development Board. Addressing the intersection between ESC and ARCC, Ms. Boren explained that ARCC handles programming the parks and building community through celebrations and utilization of park facilities, while ESC focuses on "the horizontal" - the health of the parks themselves. She provided a hypothetical example: if someone proposed putting bumper cars in Russell Park that would run into trees, ESC would raise concerns about protecting the trees. She emphasized that the committees don't overlap or conflict but rather complement each other, with ARCC managing facilities and above -ground activities while ESC ensures environmental protection, prevents contamination, maintains healthy trees and grass, and addresses flooding concerns. Both committee members present thanked Ms. Boren for her volunteer service, acknowledging that it takes time and "takes a village." Ms. Boren reciprocated the thanks before departing at 6:33 PM. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Introductions & Election of Chair and Vice Chair Recreation Manager Leslie explained that they would elect a new chair and vice chair at the next meeting when they had a quorum. He described the chair's role as the committee leader who communicates directly with staff and helps set the agenda, while the vice chair assists when the chair cannot attend meetings, serving as "number two." B. First Night Debrief Recreation Manager Leslie provided a comprehensive debrief of the First Night event held on New Year's Eve, which celebrated the city's 100th birthday. He characterized it as very successful overall, particularly praising the Donner Park portion for being well - attended with fun activities that received positive feedback. The DJ, juggler, and other entertainment were well-received. He noted that the Jack Russell Park portion had lower attendance than planned but still went well, with the 360 -degree photo booth emerging as a particular hit that garnered many compliments. Recreation Manager Leslie attributed the lower attendance to the 38 -degree weather and the challenge of people having existing New Year's Eve plans. Reflecting on lessons learned, he emphasized that programming on holidays presents significant challenges for both staffing and volunteering, with many volunteer needs going unmet due to lack of resources. He acknowledged the competing interests when families are in town for holidays. Despite these challenges, he deemed the event worthwhile, very well -organized, and very safe, noting they learned valuable lessons to apply to future events. Committee member Ingrid Macauley confirmed it was a huge hit at Donner Park and expressed happiness at seeing so many families with small children enjoying every Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Page 3 of 8 aspect of the event. She thanked Ms. Macauley for volunteering. When Recreation Manager Leslie asked about the food trucks, Ms. Macauley said she hadn't eaten but observed that the ice cream truck appeared busy from her vantage point. She concluded by saying she was glad they had held the event. C. 2026 Event Calendar Recreation Manager Leslie presented the 2026 event calendar, which was included in the agenda packet for the committee's review. He encouraged members to mark their calendars with all the recreation events run through the city and welcomed volunteers for any events. He highlighted the next major event as Black History Month on February 7th, currently in planning stages. He then detailed two centennial -themed events building on First Night: Americana Day on March 28th, featuring a baseball game and car show; and a July 11th centennial celebration at Veterans Park, which would include the grand opening of Marsh Oaks Community Center with a summer luau theme, featuring performances on the stage with live music and cookout/barbecue food. Recreation Manager Leslie reviewed other staple events throughout the year: Easter egg hunt and Arts in the Park in April, WellFest in May, Fall Festival in September, and the campout in October. He announced they would bring back MusicFest in November, this time at Jack Russell Park, applying lessons learned from First Night about successfully hosting events at that venue. The year would conclude with the traditional Artisans Fair and tree lighting in December. D. Marsh Oaks Community Center Programming Recreation Manager Leslie introduced discussion about programming for Marsh Oaks Community Center, which would open later in the year. He presented a list of programming ideas he had brainstormed but sought committee input on what they'd like to see in the new space. He emphasized looking for opportunities across all genres, ages, and demographics to fill community needs and gaps. Committee member Ingrid Macauley, noting she had been communicating with seniors lately, suggested poetry reading and storytelling as popular activities. She then enthusiastically endorsed drumming circles, explaining that drumming is particularly beneficial for seniors' memory and overall health. "I actually would love to see drumming there. I would go to it," she said. When Recreation Manager Leslie asked about drum types, she explained it's a "bring your own drum" circle where participants create beats together, describing it as very therapeutic and something many folks would appreciate. Recreation Manager Leslie noted there was also a guitar group interested in participating. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith suggested ideas targeting younger adults, including vision boarding, which she noted is currently popular. She mentioned that Jacksonville Beach hosts events like flower bouquet making and suggested they could bring in someone from the farmers market who already offers such activities. Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCO) January 13, 2026 Page 4 of 8 Recreation Manager Leslie welcomed all ideas, clarifying there's no specific age group - the programming is for everyone, including kids. He observed that activities like sewing, trivia, and bingo might appeal more to older populations, while also seeking youth -oriented opportunities. Committee member Ingrid Macauley noted that teenagers take trivia very seriously, prompting Recreation Manager Leslie to suggest they could have separate older and younger divisions. When committee member Sandra Goldsmith asked about the location, Recreation Manager Leslie explained Marsh Oaks is near Veterans Park, across from the American Legion, on the Mayport side. He provided background that it was formerly an assisted living center that the city purchased and is currently renovating. He promised to arrange a committee tour once construction is more complete, noting it's currently very much in progress with drywall and electrical work underway. Committee member Josue Cruz inquired about the timeline, and Recreation Manager Leslie estimated completion around March or April, with the grand opening celebration planned for July 11 th as part of the centennial events. This would feature a summer luau theme with performer Kalani Rose and barbecue or cookout food. When Committee member Cruz arrived at 6:23 PM and asked about progress, Recreation Manager Leslie clarified he meant construction progress, not programming progress. E. Grant Liaison Assignments Recreation Manager Leslie explained the tradition of assigning committee members as liaisons to grant recipients throughout the year. These liaisons check in on grantees to ensure they're doing well and address any needs. He noted they have 16 grant recipients (excluding schools, which Chairwoman Lisa Goodrich would address separately) and nine committee members. He mentioned that Fletcher Band hadn't received their funding yet as they were waiting for Neptune Beach to provide matching funds, while all other recipients had received their grants. Recreation Manager Leslie clarified that each grantee should have only one liaison to avoid complications, and suggested the three members present each take two organizations, with the remaining assignments to be filled at the next meeting. Committee member Ingrid Macauley volunteered to liaison with Beaches Museum, where she already volunteers, making it easy to incorporate into her routine. When she asked about checking in with Sarah McCawley, who happens to be her daughter, the committee agreed someone else should take that assignment to avoid conflicts of interest. She also volunteered for PossAbilities Plus, noting she's familiar with Susan Peters. Committee member Josue Cruz selected Beaches Fine Arts Series and Yoga in the Park, mentioning he knows both Kathy and Tracy who run those programs. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith chose Brush Up Canvas Paint Class and First Coast Comedy, though she noted she would need to read up on them. Recreation Manager Leslie offered to provide additional information about the Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Page 5 of 8 organizations to help educate the liaisons. He explained their responsibilities: scheduling site visits throughout the year, observing programs in action, checking in with questions, and serving as an advisor/resource while ensuring organizations stay on track. Committee member Cruz elaborated that it's about "friendly accountability," helping organizations stay aware of deadlines and reporting structures while serving as community liaisons. Recreation Manager Leslie likened the role to being a coach who wants to see the grantees succeed. 5. ONGOING BUSINESS A. ARCC/ESC Movie Series Update Recreation Manager Leslie recapped Sarah Boren's earlier presentation during public comment about the movie series dates. He confirmed they had secured four dates that work for both committees and the building schedules. The first screening would be The Lorax on Saturday, February 21st from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Adele Grage Theater, with the license already obtained. The committee just needed to work on logistics for displaying the film. When committee member Sandra Goldsmith asked about the location, Recreation Manager Leslie confirmed it would be at Adele Grage Theater. He planned to ask IT about projector availability and said the committee needed to select a food truck. He suggested Chuck Wagon might work well for the children -oriented Lorax screening since they serve hot dogs and similar kid -friendly items. He offered to provide a list of pre -approved vendors for the committee to choose from via email poll. The remaining dates were all Thursdays: May 28th, August 27th, and November 5th, running from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Recreation Manager Leslie said he would send the dates to the committee and noted they had the movies selected but needed to secure licenses for the remaining films. He emphasized this was a committee initiative and he would serve as a resource without overstepping, letting them take the lead. Discussion arose about theater capacity, with estimates ranging from 70 to 140, though Recreation Manager Leslie suggested 50-60 people might be more comfortable. The fire marshal capacity was noted as possibly 86. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith offered her home projector if needed. Recreation Manager Leslie explained they would project onto the black backdrop of the theater. Committee member Josue Cruz raised important considerations about awareness and promotion, noting that food trucks would want certain attendance numbers. He observed that with the February 10th ARCC meeting giving them less than 10 days to promote the February 21 st screening, they should start marketing conversations immediately. Recreation Manager Leslie confirmed that Veronica would handle marketing if someone could create a flyer, and she would distribute it through all city channels and newsletters. When committee member Ingrid Macauley asked if screenings would always be indoors and mentioned the possibility of projecting on buildings, Recreation Manager Leslie noted they have inflatable screens available through grants but that would Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Page 6 of 8 involve additional costs. The Lorax license alone cost $525. Committee member Cruz confirmed they would receive hard copy discs by mail. After some discussion about venue options, with committee member Cruz noting that everything had been done in Atlantic Beach previously, Recreation Manager Leslie remained open to alternatives while confirming the current plan was to use Adele Grage for all screenings. B. Banquet Award Categories Recreation Manager Leslie explained that ESC planned to host a banquet, likely in April, and wanted ARCC to participate by developing award categories. These could recognize grant recipients, programs, or other achievements important to the committee related to culture, recreation, and arts. He suggested they might want 2-3 categories and mentioned ideas like grant recipient of the year or new grant recipient of the year. Committee member Josue Cruz agreed that a cultural organization or grant recipient of the year award made sense but raised concerns about developing an unbiased rubric or metric to avoid arbitrary selections. He noted that even without monetary value, they should ensure the selection process is as unbiased as possible. He also suggested recognizing individuals in the community involved in arts, culture, and recreation, which would require less robust criteria since it's more about recognition. Committee member Ingrid Macauley suggested recognizing program longevity, citing Songwriters as an example of a long-running program that has benefited the community. Committee member Cruz supported this idea, appreciating recognition for programs that have been "tried and true for a really long time." Recreation Manager Leslie proposed getting community nominations once they established categories, then bringing those nominations back to the committee for review and final selection. Committee member Cruz offered to start a message to the committee through the city to finalize 2-3 categories, ensuring all committee members could participate in the process. When he asked about the banquet date, Recreation Manager Leslie said they didn't have a specific date but expected sometime in April, possibly at ABBQ restaurant as in previous years. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith enthusiastically endorsed community nominations, noting that peer -nominated awards have more impact. She suggested using Microsoft Forms with QR codes that could be posted on social media, distributed in mailboxes, and shared in various locations. Committee member Ingrid Macauley asked if it could go in the newsletter, which was confirmed. Committee member Cruz proposed finalizing categories by the end of January at the latest, then beginning outreach. He suggested that of 2-3 categories, one could be community -driven while others could be committee -driven to manage the volume of community input. Recreation Manager Leslie shared ideas from absent Chairwoman Lisa Goodrich: volunteer of the year, people's choice recreation program, and most innovative grant recipient. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith suggested a "rising star" category for Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13,2026 Page 7 of 8 newer events or programs that performed well in the past year. Committee member Cruz expanded on this, proposing a "cultural activity of the year" to celebrate events that brought the community together. 6. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Committee member Josue Cruz had no announcements. Committee member Sandra Goldsmith had no announcements. 7. ADJOURNMENT Recreation Manager Leslie noted they would vote on all agenda items at the next meeting once they achieved a quorum. He thanked all attendees and turned to Committee member Ingrid Macauley to adjourn the meeting. She the meeting to adjournment at 6:42 PM. Attest: Jordan Leslie, Recreation Manager Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) January 13, 2026 Page 8 of 8