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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-14-26 ARCC Adopted MinutesAgenda Item #4.A. 26 Aug 2026 MINUTES Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) Meeting Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 6:00 PM City Hall, Commission Chamber Present: Curtis Winter, Member Ingrid McCawley, Member Josu6 Cruz, Member Kaylene Maddox, Member Sondra Goldschmidt, Member Absent: Hillary Hickam, Member Desmond Demps-Brooks, Member Also Present: Jordan Leslie, Recreation Manager CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Josu6 Cruz called the meeting of the Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee to order on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Commission Chamber, City Hall, 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Chair Cruz briefly acknowledged his recent absence from committee meetings and expressed appreciation to the committee for its continued work during that time. Present: Chair Josue Cruz, Member Curtis Winter, Member Kaylene Maddox, Member Ingrid McCawley, Member Sondra Goldschmidt Absent: Member Hillary Hickam, Member Desmond Demps-Brooks 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve minutes of the June 9, 2026 Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee meeting. A motion to approve the minutes of the June 9, 2026 Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee meeting was made by Member McCawley and seconded by Member Goldschmidt. The motion carried unanimously. B. Approve minutes of the June 23, 2026 Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee meeting. A motion to approve the minutes of the June 23, 2026 Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee meeting was made by Member Goldschmidt and seconded by Member McCawley. The motion carried unanimously. 3. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS Sarah Boren, an Atlantic Beach resident and member of the Environmental Stewardship Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) July 14, 2026 Page 1 of 4 Page 5 of 24 Agenda Item #4.A. 26 Aug 2026 Committee (ESC), addressed the committee on two matters. First, she relayed that ESC member Anastasia Houston intended to contact the ARCC regarding a previously discussed joint annual awards program, which had been proposed by both committees but had since stalled. Chair Cruz offered to serve as the point of contact and indicated he would relay communications to the full committee. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie noted that the two committees may communicate directly provided that city staff are copied on correspondence to maintain a public record. Second, Ms. Boren called attention to a town hall meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 18th at Baker Community Center at 10:00 AM, focused on the parks master plan, programming, and specifically the Marsh Oaks Community Center. She encouraged strong public attendance, particularly from the surrounding district. Ms. Boren also clarified the ESC's role in relation to parks and facilities, noting that ESC focuses on ecological health and resilience matters—such as energy efficiency and structural improvements—while recognizing the ARCC's purview over facilities programming. 4. ONGOING BUSINESS A. Grant Liaison Highlights Member Winter reported that he had recently connected with his assigned grantees, including Mayport-related programming, and noted those programs would be transitioning off the ARCC's grant purview beginning in the 2026-27 cycle. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie confirmed that a progress report folder had been compiled for each current grantee, containing progress reports, marketing materials, and photographs, and that this had been shared with committee members. Members were reminded to submit their site visit forms directly to Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie, who would incorporate them into each grantee's folder for future reference during the new application review cycle. B. 2026-27 Grant Timeline Overview Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie reviewed the key dates for the FY 2026-27 grant cycle, as outlined on page 13 of the meeting packet. The application deadline is July 27, 2026, at which time Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie will forward all eligible applications to committee members within three business days. Five applications had been received to date, with additional submissions anticipated prior to the deadline. Current applicants include Face for Kids, Revive Joy (a new applicant), a face painting program, a sound bath program submitted by Diana Vasquez, and the Beaches Fine Art Series. Mandatory applicant presentations are scheduled for August 26, 2026, with the Commission Chamber reserved from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The committee discussed scheduling logistics given that some members would have availability constraints, particularly for the originally planned September 8th deliberation date. The committee agreed on a primary plan to reserve the final hour of the August 26th presentation day for deliberations, with a secondary option to schedule a brief follow-up meeting if the volume of applications or time constraints warranted it. All deliberations and a committee vote must be completed prior to October 1, 2026, the start of the new fiscal year. The committee's grant recommendations are to be presented to the City Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) July 14, 2026 Page 2 of 4 Page 6 of 24 Agenda Item #4.A. 26 Aug 2026 Commission at its October 12, 2026 meeting, with applicant notifications to follow. The committee discussed strategies to encourage additional applications before the deadline, including sharing information on personal social media accounts. Member McCawley offered to contact Karen Froggio, a writer associated with the Beaches Gazette, to inquire whether an article could be placed to promote the grant program. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie confirmed there was no conflict of interest in a prospective applicant publicizing the grant program prior to any award being made. C. 2026-27 Grant Scoring Rubric Review The committee reviewed the ARCC Grant Scoring Form for FY 2026-27, included in the packet. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie confirmed that a digital version of the rubric would be distributed to committee members following the July 27th deadline, pre -populated with each organization's name and requested amount, for members to complete independently in advance of the August 26th presentations. Member Goldschmidt confirmed her understanding that rubric scores are a reference tool to guide deliberation and that the committee retains full discretion in its final collective vote, which Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie affirmed. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Centennial Celebration Debrief Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie provided a debrief on the City's Centennial Celebration held on July 11, 2026, characterizing the event as a success. He highlighted strong volunteer participation from several committee members, praised the entertainment and sound qualitynoting it was a particular challenge given nearby Mayport construction—and acknowledged that the summer heat was the most consistent piece of critical feedback received. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie noted that summer events of this scale would generally be avoided going forward, and that the Centennial occasion had been the specific justification for the timing. Member Goldschmidt suggested that a similar, smaller -scale community event could be organized in November or December, timed to coincide with the anticipated grand opening of the Marsh Oaks Community Center. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie confirmed that a grand opening ceremony was being planned, though no date had yet been set, and indicated that some entertainment component could be incorporated. The committee expressed enthusiasm for using that occasion as the ARCC's first sponsored social event, with ideas offered around spotlighting community -specific programming—including water sports, local public service personnel such as lifeguards, and performances by local dance and arts groups. Member McCawley suggested a decades -themed element to engage long-time residents, as well as an intergenerational focus that might draw in younger community members. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie noted that a multicultural event similar to one held in March could also be revisited in that context. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie also announced that the city's Music Fest event is scheduled for November 21, 2026, from approximately 5:00 to 10:00 PM, with three Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) July 14, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Page 7 of 24 Agenda Item #4.A. 26 Aug 2026 performing acts already confirmed. The venue is expected to have beer and wine service available. 6. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Member Goldschmidt noted that the film series screening is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2026, and reminded Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie of a prior request to investigate licensing availability for the film WALL -E as a potential selection. The committee also discussed the two vacant seats on the ARCC. Recreation Manager Jordan Leslie noted that applications had not yet been received despite interest from community members, and encouraged anyone with a contact to direct prospective applicants to reach out directly. Ms. Boren suggested that the committee develop a concise one-page description of the committee's role, time commitment, and application guidance, similar to a document the ESC had found effective in recruitment, and offered to share the ESC's version as a template. Member McCawley and Member Goldschmidt both noted that some prospective applicants had been discouraged by the perceived experience requirements or time commitment implied by existing materials, and agreed that the description should include inclusive, welcoming language that encourages applications from residents of all ages and backgrounds. Chair Cruz committed to drafting a one-page committee description, which he would share as a living document for members to edit collectively before wider distribution. 7. ADJOURNMENT Attest: There being no further business, Chair Cruz reminded the committee that there would be no standing August meeting, as it would be replaced by the August 26th grant presentation day. Chair Cruz adjourned the meeting. Jordan Leslie, Recreation Manager J sue Cruz, C Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) July 14, 2026 Page 4 of 4 Page 8 of 24