Minutes 04-22-2021 Virtual Work Session

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10 Brennan Bouma said the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is one of the active participants on the Council. He said there is some minority representation, and efforts are getting more serious in this regard. He said it is an active part of the council's discussions. Commissioner Bedford said the by-laws might require legal assistance. She suggested speaking with the managers and mayors to see if things need adjusting, now that some time has passed. She said it is important to consider what is feasible, and to have focused clarity. She said it is important to be confident in the mission. Commissioner McKee said given the high number of members, he would expect to have a more straightforward number of how many members represent diverse groups. Melissa McCullough explained how each organization that makes up the Climate Council is allotted seats on the council. She said each organization makes a recommendation for who represents them. She said the local governments set aside a seat for the NAACP and seats for youth. She said the way it is set up makes it difficult to get proportional representation. She said the council takes this seriously, and is looking for ways to hear other voices, even if they are not on the council. Commissioner McKee said he would like to know the make-up of the council, and wants to know how many members from the Black, Latino, and Asian community are on the council. Chair Price said there is very little diversity on the council. She said staff will have to provide the information. Commissioner McKee asked if there could be clarification about the use of building codes to promote green building. He said he is concerned about regulations. Melissa McCullough said the council would only provide advice to the BOCC. Melissa McCullough said there are groups providing information on green building pertaining to code. She said green building is not just about energy, but also health, mechanisms, mechanical, etc. She said some things are related to codes, some are related to information. She said children learn better in a green building, patients heal faster, people are more productive, etc. She said sometimes those who make code just need to be educated. Fred Joiner presented on behalf of the Arts Commission. He said the commission has tried to be innovative during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing resources to aid the arts industry. He said it has been a busy season, with significant funding being raised to support artists. Fred Joiner said the commission met a need by providing artists' space for 13 artists at the Eno Mill, with net revenue of$16,000. He said the commission is working on phase 2 of this project to provide greater use of the space at the mill. He said there are ongoing conversations with the owner of the mill, including a children's theater, community dark room, ceramics studio, etc. Fred Joiner said annual grants were distributed, and one use of these funds was the "Love Hillsborough" mosaic from Summer 2020. Fred Joiner said there is a plan in the works for Art on the Hill, a partnership with 14 community and governmental organizations. Fred Joiner said a new non-profit is being created to support the work of the Arts Commission. He said the commission participated in the Plein Air project, as it does every year. He said the commission also put out 30 stories of local community members. He said the commission educates the community on the economic impact of the arts, as well as providing high quality arts. He said the commission desires to strengthen the community, provide access to the arts for students and especially artists of color, and showcase the creativity in the community. He said the commission collaborates with over 20 organizations.