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Start recording. Started

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» lunch.

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Thank you.

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Oh my head.

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It's just not

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» just recorded on here. Anybody needs it?
It'll be recorded on.

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» All right. Thanks, K.

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All right, we're good. We can resume.
Okay,

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» just not where we are. Okay, so if we
can just look at the minutes um you have

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those if you have read over them for um

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January 2026. Did you get to that
meeting, Miss Odell? Okay. Yes, you were

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here. All right. I move to approve the
minutes.

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» Second.
>> All in favor?

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» I
>> I.

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» All opposed.
Minutes will be admitted as submitted.

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We have uh a business beautifification
grant for 202 Main Street that we'd like

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to go over tonight. Here's our proposal.
Is there a representative here tonight

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for Okay. If you please come forward,
state your name and your address.

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Adam Miller, that's 202 North Main.
Thank you. It's

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» the same pretty well. The slight change
is that we did get the updated quote to

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have the um front-facing sign be painted
and lighting upgraded to match what's

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going to be in the new side facing sign.
So, that was the only thing we were

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waiting on from the last meeting and
that came through. So, other than that,

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everything we talked about before is the
same. So, don't know if there's any

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other information you need from me. Now,
I think that's all we asked for. Um,

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» yes, ma'am.
>> Yeah, he's provided the updated quote.

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Um, unlike the previous submitts where
there were two quotes, um, this submitt

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has only one quote covering both sides
of the project. Um, adding the new

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projecting sign and we're kind of
refurbishing the existing wall sign. Um,

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the quote is $8,956.86.
And if you match that on a 50-50 basis,

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that'll be $4,47843.
And uh if you guys approve this, that

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will leave $10.56 left over in the bud
budget for the business beautifification

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grant. So
Okay. Okay. And we heard his um

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explanation
last month. Were there any other

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concerns other than what we He's already
submitted his new proposal.

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Um I I looked at it earlier. I didn't
see anything any discrepancies. Miss

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Paul, do you have anything?
>> Yeah. And I spoke with the city guys

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over the last month or so about the
>> Mhm.

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» So it sounds like that even a
replacement of some of those is on the

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table at some point if they can get
things funded. So hopefully they're

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going to trim those down around us a
little bit to help for now. But yeah.

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» Okay. Yeah. Good. That's good.
>> All righty.

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Okay.
>> Okay.

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» Thank you, sir. Okay. So, he has asked
for the um

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» 10
budget.

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» Yeah. Do the 100%.
Yeah, we had left that in the budget.

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Okay.
So, I move to approve.

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» Okay. I second that motion. All in
favor?

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» I Anyone opposing? Okay. Thank you, sir.
>> Good luck.

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» All right. Appreciate it. Thank you.
>> All right.

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» All right. So, now we're going to move
to the future business. We're going to

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make some changes to that. So, we were
going to have Arbor Day. Brandy, if you

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would come first, please. We're going to
get that. We have other items of

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discussion. And then after Brandy, we're
going to come up uh with the local

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business involvement and have Miss um
Russell who's here also tonight. Thank

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you for coming. Excited to hear what you
have to say. And so that would be the

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order of the changes. And then we would
take the goals and the ideas 5B and we

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would move that to 5e. And then local
business would move up. U residential

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appearance award would move up to the
one level up. Okay. Is anybody opposed

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of that order that we are changing?
Okay. Thank you. Miss McCandless, if you

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could please just speak your name and
the purpose of you being here tonight so

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everybody here knows what's going on.
>> Okay. Um Brandy McCandless with Graham

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Recreation and Parks. I'm the marketing
supervisor, but I also have programs and

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events and Arbor Day and Graham um is
one of the programs I plan with the

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parents commission.
>> Okay.

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» Um so I brought you a packet. Um it's
very similar packet that you've seen in

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the past. Um the information you
received from Jonathan um in your agenda

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packet was just a summary um while these
events and programs were in the planning

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phases kind of just to give you an
update of where things stood at that

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time. Um the first page is just the so
social media um schedule at this time um

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how um information will go out and how
frequently. So Tuesdays and Saturdays,

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information will go out from covering
the events and programs as well as

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education pieces for the community um
through our Facebook, Instagram um and

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then we also utilize our email um to our
reg through our registration software

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that goes out to about 6,000 at this
time.

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And then the second page is just general
information. You've asked in the past

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about advertising and how we advertise
through the schools. We've utilized

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Peach Jar, which is a email um software
where we can send flyers out to the

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schools. That's how they prefer we
communicate with parents and faculty

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um when we're advertising programs and
events. Um, usually I send if I utilize

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peach charts in the fall, um, engagement
is usually best then, usually come

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spring, um, engagement's a lot lower.
Um, I guess because parents are

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receiving so many emails and it's such a
busy time. Um, so that's just

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information about the cost for
information going out about Arbor Day

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and Graham if that's something you
choose. Um, we also have the city Graham

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that goes out through our public
relations specialist that we can add

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Arbor Day and Graham events to that
information um, when that time comes.

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But all the other information is just
general information that we include on

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the city of Graham website on the Arbor
Day and Graham page. It covers general

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information about what Arbor Day and
Graham is as well as the mission of the

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appearance commission and tree board as
far as being advocates for planting and

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preservation of trees within the city of
Graham. Um it also gives explanation as

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to what tree city USA is. Um one of the
reasons why we offer our tree planting

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ceremony uh for the town for the city.
Um, I've included a recap of the

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activities from last year so you can see
how much participation and engagement we

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had. Um, and to decide if that's
something we want to move forward with,

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changes we need to make um, to enhance
engagement or to replace with a new

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activity.
um for 2025 through I mean 2026 through

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Graham Recreation and Parks, we have um
created two new events for Arbor Day and

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Graham through our department. Um
throughout the spring and summer months,

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we offer a chill and thrill park popup
event where we take our mobile

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recreation van out into Graham Regional
Park. Um, we usually try to set those up

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during school breaks, but we also know
there's homeschool and um, smaller

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children that are in the parks as well.
So, we already have a captive audience,

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so that's a good time to go out with the
park and play, create activities for the

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kids um, and to promote all the
activities going on throughout our um,

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our city and throughout recreation and
parks. So, one of those programs is

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April 6th. Um we're popping up on Monday
from 10:00 to 12:00 and we're going to

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offer tremendous bingo as part of the
program. Um families can come out play

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bingo with us. That is during spring
break and

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um the New Leaf Society will be um
donating tree saplings as prizes. So

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between our bingo sessions, um we'll be
able to give out fun tree facts to the

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kids and each of the trees that go out
will also have information and QR codes

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as to how to plant trees and about the
tree that they'll be taking home with

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them that day. So education piece, a way
to f get folks out into the parks. Um

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and then just a theme um something
different for families to participate

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in. Um, we're also offering um, leaves,
light and lenses, a smartphone

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photography and parks opportunity with
um, the Elizabeth Larson Photography

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Studio. They're coming out to offer that
program. There is a charge for the

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program, but it will be at Bill Cookook
Park um, the park where we've just added

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so many new trees. Um so it'll give us a
chance to also educate the public about

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um all the trees that were planted while
they were planted and while they are

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there um our staff will be able to walk
and educate them on the different types

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of trees um in the park. So a great
education opportunity um and hopefully

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when they walk away with that knowledge
of the smartphone photography um they'll

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be able to utilize it in the park
because Bill Cook Park is a new

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ecoexplore location with Graham
Regration and Parks. So we now have

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three locations. Um, so another fun way
to get families out into the parks.

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Um, that are that's our two new
programs. But exploring last year's

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programs we had, this is what we need to
talk about as far as with the parents

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commission is the Arbor Day art contest,
the kindness rock hunt, and the tree

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planting ceremony. Um

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so we can start with the Arbor Day art
contest. Um last year we accepted

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entries from March 17th through April
6th. However, we only had four pieces of

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art submitted. There were four prizes um
and all four were distributed.

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Um, so the year before that we offered a
poem contest and it had small numbers of

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folks participating and that's why we
expanded into the art contest to allow

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more um types of media to come in um to
be judged. So what what's your input on

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the art contest?
Um I I really think excuse me Chanc

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speaking with the museum um they were
very engaged. Um they um offered a lot

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of different suggestions as far as
resources for us to tap into which we

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got the results from the four entries
that we did get. So I think it uh was

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very nice if we can just interact. I
don't know it's a lot of restrictions.

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I'm sure you're aware more than what I
am about how to contact and reach out to

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the students. So, there's a special
process I understand that we have to go

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through. Um, and with that having been
said, I don't know if we have enough

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time now, but I think we should to get
their art department involved

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um this year and maybe we could get more
entries. And that was one of the things

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that I was interested in doing,
reaching out to them. to middle and high

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school and elementary, all three levels.
>> But I think last year you had brought up

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um the rehab um pre what's down here?
>> The one

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» the rehab place.
>> Peak resources. Peak.

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» Peak resources. Peak. Yeah, that's
>> so they wanted to do something.

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» Yeah, that's my second thing. That's
right. And so the activity director at

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Peak Resources is also interested in
having some of their people um make

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entries. Um they were kind of ready to
go, but we hadn't ex explored that yet

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with you. So we kind of put it on hold.
>> So um if you would like to um for us to

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reach back out to them or you um we
could definitely explore that as well.

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But those were the two things. um that I
had to discuss or suggestions.

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» I think we can also utilize the Alamance
partnership for children. Um I don't

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think there's any sort of fee or
anything associated with partnering with

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them or at least getting the word out.
Um

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just a suggestion.

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So, would you like to keep all the same
criteria and guidelines as last year?

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And are you wanted to add any other
categories last year? Um,

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» the C painting, drawing, photography,
and poetry. Yeah.

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» Right. There was
>> cuz the prizes went out to um elementary

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and then there was a first, second, and
third place adult. I think then we

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wanted to have elementary, middle, high,
and an adult category.

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» But we didn't get the entry so we kind
of doubled up on some of them.

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» So would you like to keep those
initial categories, the elementary,

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middle, and high school and
>> adult?

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» Yeah. Um, if we're reaching out to
Elements Partnership with Children,

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they're mostly early education. So, do
you want to add that category as well

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for the like under five?
>> Okay.

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I can also um bring that information
there. I'm on the board there, so I can

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definitely pass that word along.
>> Okay. Um the next thing is what dates

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would you like um entries to be
accepted? Last year it was March 17th

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through April 6th. Um but if we make a
decision tonight, it could be during the

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month of March. That way you can make a
decision at your April meeting.

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» That sounds good.
>> Okay.

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» Good.

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» And then you'll make a decision at the
April meeting.

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So, you're just going to start March 1st
through the 31st

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» for accepting entries.
>> Okay.

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» Um and those um entries could be dropped
off at the Graham Recreation Center. We

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also had the option to email um which is
we did have entry come through that way

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through from our elementary student.

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» Okay.
Is that okay with

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» we changed it extended date to April
3rd. Is that

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» Good Friday then?
>> Yeah it is.

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We'll just keep it for the month of
March. I think the board has already

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» stated that that would be fine. Okay.
Bunch them all should be fine.

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Right. Perfect.
And um do you have any suggestions or

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would you be reaching out to the
schools?

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» I can reach out to the art departments.
Um are you wanting to extend to just

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Graham or extend out to Elements County
schools?

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you are city for Graham, but we do
service the Alamance entire county. So I

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think Yeah.
>> Okay. I just wanted to check because we

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did have participants must live in
Alamance County as part of the criteria,

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but I just wanted to
>> Alamance County. Yeah, Alamance County.

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Yeah, this
>> give us more territory and more

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opportunity.
We did have a um group come last year um

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daycare.
>> Yeah.

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» Group.
>> Yes.

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» Which really made it it was just a a
moment. Um I don't know. Did anyone get

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their contact information? Do we know
how to reach back out to them who they

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were? Because
>> I never got walk over.

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00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:22,160
» I think was singing with the choir. So I
never really got a chance to really

210
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:26,799
» I think they walked over that and that's
why they were able to come last year

211
00:18:23,919 --> 00:18:30,400
because they walked.
>> Do we on Main Street? There is a daycare

212
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:34,880
on Main Street that's about a block away
from the rec center,

213
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:39,120
» right? So I think they had walked over.
>> Maybe we could re try to find them

214
00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:43,600
again.
>> That was good. They were there. They

215
00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:50,160
were cute.
Um and then we would just need um the

216
00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:53,600
art contest prizes and in the past the
um appearance commission has reached out

217
00:18:51,679 --> 00:18:57,200
for those.
Um

218
00:18:54,240 --> 00:19:04,240
» more than happy to pursue that for you
again this year. Uh let's talk about the

219
00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:08,720
numbers and the so we had the cal
categories are going to be elementary,

220
00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:13,600
middle, and high. And so we need how
many? You're going to do three for each

221
00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:18,799
category. We've only done last year we
only had planned to do one for each

222
00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:25,520
category and for this year it would be
five and under or under kindergarten and

223
00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:30,000
under um elementary, middle, high and
adult.

224
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:34,000
» And it just be one one adult not not
three adults. I think first, second,

225
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:38,000
third.
>> So we don't need as many. So that's good

226
00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:42,720
because we had so many last year.
>> We got extras. But we did have some that

227
00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:48,880
rolled. Didn't Buffalo Lanes roll over
on Mebon?

228
00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:53,120
» There were six um bowling coupons left
for this year. We also when we get to

229
00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:56,320
kindness rocks, there were two rocks
that were never turned in. They were

230
00:19:54,960 --> 00:20:01,280
found
>> um I couldn't find them where I had put

231
00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:05,760
them. Um but there were two that were
found, but the um they had never um

232
00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,440
cashed in for their prizes. So, we do
have those available too if the

233
00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:16,160
businesses are still they're still valid
with the businesses.

234
00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:22,400
Um, so yes, we need
four, let's see, five prizes, um, age

235
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:26,760
appropriate prizes for the Arbor Day
contest, art contest.

236
00:20:39,039 --> 00:20:47,600
and we can discuss the date we would
like or we can just start today. Um um

237
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:53,120
getting ideas or going and talking with
vendors, business owners,

238
00:20:50,799 --> 00:20:57,919
sooner the better.
And as you have them, last year you just

239
00:20:55,679 --> 00:21:01,840
brought them by um to my office and then
I packaged them and put them with their

240
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:05,039
different categories.
>> Absolutely.

241
00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:09,200
» And I handled reaching out to the um
>> What date would you like in by like the

242
00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:14,080
very last day you want?
>> It would be great to have them I would

243
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:20,080
say by mid-Marchch. That gives you about
a month but some time to advertise what

244
00:21:17,919 --> 00:21:27,679
those prizes are going to be and repres
recognize those sponsors for the prizes.

245
00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:32,320
» No, when I I'm looking at the six
bowling coupons from last year, I think

246
00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:36,000
we uh Mr. Britt uh brought those aboard
and I think he said that he had spoken

247
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:40,720
with the owner and he said that he would
extend those and wouldn't be a

248
00:21:38,159 --> 00:21:45,039
expiration date pretty much. If that
haven't been said, if we could do a

249
00:21:42,559 --> 00:21:51,440
drawing, maybe we could post a drawing
for the day of maybe to entice people to

250
00:21:49,039 --> 00:21:54,880
come out. Maybe we could use those for
that. And just

251
00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,440
» Are you referring to the tree planting
ceremony?

252
00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,559
» For the arbor
>> for your drawing. Okay.

253
00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:05,760
» Yes. For the drawing for the tree plant
ceremony.

254
00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:11,440
» Okay. Well, just so you know, um,
three of the gift certificates were for

255
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:17,039
$50 and three were for 25.
So that

256
00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:22,840
fairly high for a draw. You may want to
consider using those for one of the

257
00:22:18,559 --> 00:22:22,840
other um prizes.

258
00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:33,120
So,
>> and then we also

259
00:22:29,679 --> 00:22:40,919
have a $25 um gift certificate to the
broom closet and a $20 gift certificate

260
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:40,919
to Sutton's that were not um picked up.

261
00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:49,760
» Okay. So, you got $20 for the broom
closet,

262
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:55,039
» 25 for the broom closet, and
>> and $20 for Sutton. and that's if

263
00:22:52,640 --> 00:23:01,280
they're still valid for this year's
events. Those were um prizes for the

264
00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:05,840
Rock Hunt.
We try to make sure um especially since

265
00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:10,000
the Rock Hunt was in downtown Graham
that those downtown businesses were the

266
00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:13,480
ones recognized um during that
particular event.

267
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:21,120
» Do they have an expiration date?
>> Um I'll have to check.

268
00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:26,600
» Okay. because we can ask them if it
would be okay to reuse them. Okay.

269
00:23:28,159 --> 00:23:34,039
» So, is there anything else for the Arbor
Day art contest?

270
00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,919
We have it. Um, the city of Grandma
Parents Commission and Tree Board

271
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:57,200
invites the community to show off their
creativity and create art for Arbor Day.

272
00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:03,200
The theme last year was all about trees.
Art categories can include painting,

273
00:23:59,039 --> 00:24:08,559
drawing, photography, poetry, etc.
That was we kept it very vague and we

274
00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:13,679
had some great the four that came in
were great entries.

275
00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:19,279
Would
you allow them to resubmit

276
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:22,960
those entries?
I'm just I'm asking because it could be

277
00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:27,400
a question.
I don't believe so.

278
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,400
» Okay.

279
00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:33,000
» Answer. Yeah, the answer was no.

280
00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:36,039
» Yes.

281
00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,679
» Thought that would be your answer, but I
still wanted to ask.

282
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:46,720
» Yes, ma'am.
All right, if we're good with the art

283
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:52,640
contest, we can move on to the next. Um,
the other one was the Arbor Day kindness

284
00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:59,039
rock hunt in downtown Graham. It was
held during the month of April or while

285
00:24:55,279 --> 00:25:04,960
prizes lasted. We had five rocks. Um,
they were all found um like I said, but

286
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:11,840
two were not um submitted to us for
their prize. Um, several rocks were

287
00:25:07,679 --> 00:25:16,400
found duplicate times. Um, so we did let
them um we had so many tree saplings

288
00:25:15,039 --> 00:25:20,799
that we were giving away last year, we
were able to at least give them a tree

289
00:25:17,679 --> 00:25:26,080
sapling um for participating.
Um, but

290
00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:32,000
I would like I have um suggestions for
the rock hunt for this year. Um, last

291
00:25:28,559 --> 00:25:37,840
year the rocks had different themes on
them. I think the theme for to keep with

292
00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:43,600
the rocks is um for this year to have
larger rocks about the size of like a

293
00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:48,799
palm and paint those and paint them with
specific tree leaves. And I'd like to

294
00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:55,200
wrap each of the rocks like with a piece
of twine and like a laminated card. and

295
00:25:52,080 --> 00:26:01,360
on that card to have how to um fit in
your rock for a prize. Um but also have

296
00:25:58,159 --> 00:26:07,600
information about the leaf that's on
that rock um about the tree. Um to give

297
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:13,360
that education piece and to bring
everything together as far as making the

298
00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:18,880
rock hunt truly relatable with Arbor Day
and Graham and why we're doing it. Um

299
00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:23,760
and to also require them to turn in the
rock to claim the prize. that way we can

300
00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:30,080
reuse them for the future. Um, and then
it's not being found multiple times.

301
00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:34,720
Um, and I was hoping to hide six rocks
this year and that and then we would

302
00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:38,240
need six prizes. Um, and like I said in
the past we've done we've asked for

303
00:26:36,559 --> 00:26:42,880
those six prizes to be with downtown
businesses

304
00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:47,520
um to connect folks coming downtown and
then to hopefully get them into the

305
00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:53,200
businesses after they search for their
rocks for a possible prize.

306
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:59,440
Are you going to do the laminated cards
and the twine that Okay,

307
00:26:56,799 --> 00:27:02,440
» I really like that idea.
>> Yeah.

308
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:11,840
» So, you have six, you're suggesting six
rocks

309
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:19,559
» with tree leaves.
>> Yes. Yes. To highlight different local

310
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,559
well different native trees.

311
00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:29,320
And I can work on finding the rocks and
getting those painted

312
00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,320
if you'd like.

313
00:27:30,159 --> 00:27:37,480
» You were going to do the rocks. Yeah.
>> Did you say? Okay. If you want to do

314
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,480
those. Okay.

315
00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:53,320
Then we'll just get the prizes.
>> Four getting five prizes.

316
00:27:54,000 --> 00:28:00,880
» Okay.
>> And we had um both kids and adults that

317
00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:06,000
found the rocks in the past. So,
a very wide range of ages.

318
00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:12,440
» We'll find out from the broom closet if
we can reuse that gift certificate and

319
00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,440
Sutton.

320
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:20,039
So, we need six prizes for the um rock
hunt.

321
00:28:23,679 --> 00:28:30,799
So, with broom closet and Sutton will
has no expiration date or will extend

322
00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:35,440
their expiration date. Are we taking
those two from the five that

323
00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:39,360
» Yes, you can. Okay.
>> We need a total of 11

324
00:28:38,559 --> 00:28:43,799
prizes.
>> Prizes.

325
00:28:40,799 --> 00:28:43,799
Okay,

326
00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,919
Buffalo wings.

327
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:17,080
All right. Anyone have any questions or
with this category?

328
00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,080
Okay.

329
00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:24,320
And then our final um event for Arbor
Day and Graham is the tree planting

330
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:29,679
ceremony.
Um and at this time I have spoken with

331
00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:36,080
our parks team um as well as our youth
program director. Um, and we're looking

332
00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:41,600
at having the tree planting ceremony on
Arbor Day, which is Friday, April 24th

333
00:29:38,799 --> 00:29:47,200
from 10 to 11:00 with the tree planting
ceremony beginning at 10:00 and that's

334
00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:52,799
the time we've done in the past. Um, at
Bill Cook Park um there is a location by

335
00:29:50,480 --> 00:30:01,600
the playground and shelter one near
field three um where a tree could be

336
00:29:55,679 --> 00:30:07,120
planted. Uh we do not have um anyone
that it's reserved for at this time for

337
00:30:03,679 --> 00:30:11,360
in memory of or in honor of. We do have
a

338
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:16,000
tree donation um process um where the
community can submit in to donate a tree

339
00:30:13,279 --> 00:30:21,760
into a park. Um I'm not sure how many or
who has came in at this time, but in the

340
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:28,000
past we have recognized individuals who
have um made a difference within our

341
00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:32,720
like parks or um previous employees that
um are no longer with us um and

342
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:37,520
recognize them. Um, so that's something
to consider if there is someone in mind

343
00:30:35,679 --> 00:30:41,840
um who has truly contributed to our
community, a time to recognize them,

344
00:30:40,159 --> 00:30:50,480
especially if they're connected to the
park um or those facilities in some way.

345
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:55,679
» And how much is a donation for the tree?
>> 150 to

346
00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:58,880
» I don't have it in this packet. I'll
have to look um because I know that

347
00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,679
price did change.
>> It did. I know it was like 80 at one

348
00:31:01,039 --> 00:31:04,559
point.
>> I think it's 150.

349
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:09,840
» Yeah,
>> it is on our website, but I can get that

350
00:31:06,559 --> 00:31:17,120
information to you.
>> 150. So, um I do have a suggestion uh

351
00:31:13,039 --> 00:31:24,080
for the tree planting ceremony and the
person was a school teacher. Um

352
00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:34,360
and I guess her husband um he's still
living some years old. Um,

353
00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:34,360
and they are going to go online

354
00:31:34,399 --> 00:31:43,519
and make the application that's online
that indicates it's $150.

355
00:31:41,679 --> 00:31:47,360
And so they would make that check
payable to the recreation department or

356
00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:49,760
how would we do that? I
>> believe it's to the friends of

357
00:31:48,399 --> 00:31:53,840
recreation and parks.
>> Friends. Okay.

358
00:31:51,519 --> 00:31:58,159
» All right.
And I was expecting them to be here.

359
00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:04,399
Right.
>> Um, and

360
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:09,240
» how how soon or and what is the deadline
for getting that nominee to you?

361
00:32:12,559 --> 00:32:20,679
» And to see when we need to have the
ceremony schedule finalized. One second.

362
00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,840
Could

363
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:38,760
it be before your April meeting? That
way we could discuss it at the April

364
00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,760
meeting to confirm.

365
00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:49,559
Oh, the April meeting is

366
00:32:53,039 --> 00:32:57,000
Yeah, nothing.

367
00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:16,480
And I've spoken with our youth program
director. Um he works closely with North

368
00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:24,000
Graham Elementary and their mentor
program and there is a group of kids um

369
00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:29,480
that he may be able to bring over for
the tree planting ceremony that day.

370
00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:37,519
And if they're there, we're actually
able to get the kids there. I know last

371
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:41,120
year um the small kids helped to put
mulch around the tree after it was

372
00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:46,559
planted, but I think it would be great
to have some sort of activity um that

373
00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:52,960
they participate in directly after the
ceremony um that has education piece to

374
00:33:49,919 --> 00:33:57,200
it, something hands-on. And it'd be
really great if the parents commission

375
00:33:54,960 --> 00:34:01,519
was part of that hands-on opportunity
with them, especially in the leadership

376
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:05,919
roles that you're in and working as part
of that mentorship program that's coming

377
00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:09,599
over. Um could be a great opportunity.
>> I I had a suggestion. I saw something. I

378
00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:13,280
don't know how many children it would
be. I don't know if we could make a

379
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:17,760
board that big. But I saw something that
had like um not bowling ball size, but

380
00:34:15,839 --> 00:34:23,280
maybe
grapefruit size holes and it had the

381
00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:29,200
plastic buckets like what they use
sometimes for Easter. And the soil was

382
00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:32,079
available and some shovels. And
actually, you know what? It may have

383
00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:38,960
been just a little Easter bucket with
the shovel. And um they had a small

384
00:34:36,879 --> 00:34:43,599
tree.
they actually was able to go over it.

385
00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:48,560
So, they stabilized it. It was
stationary with the hole that was in the

386
00:34:46,399 --> 00:34:53,440
board and they had the buckets there and
they would go up and they would plant

387
00:34:50,560 --> 00:35:01,280
their tree.
Um, and then there was uh on like a

388
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:05,040
freestanding
video

389
00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:11,040
and I think they were all the same type
of tree and it plan and telling them

390
00:35:08,240 --> 00:35:16,240
about and it was age appropriate telling
them about the tree and how it's uh how

391
00:35:14,079 --> 00:35:21,280
it grows, how tall it gets and where
it's mostly found. And I guess we could

392
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:24,960
make one of the choice of whatever type
of tree we're being donated this year.

393
00:35:23,119 --> 00:35:29,040
Have you gotten
>> I do not know what type of tree it's

394
00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:35,720
going to be. Um
we'll be working with um someone from

395
00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,720
the arburetum to make that decision.

396
00:35:37,119 --> 00:35:45,760
» How old will the children be? We know I
know it's elementary but

397
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:50,720
» yeah I'm not sure um which ages he'll be
bringing over that day. Um, I know it

398
00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:57,440
will be a small group, so it could be
maybe 10 to 20 kids possibly. I know his

399
00:35:54,000 --> 00:36:02,520
mentorship um, program is growing um,
with kids, so I'm not sure how many yet.

400
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:06,640
I told him I would know more after this
meeting to kind of give them a better

401
00:36:05,839 --> 00:36:11,240
idea.
>> Okay,

402
00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:11,240
» I like the idea.

403
00:36:20,079 --> 00:36:27,440
So to move forward with the tree
planting ceremony, um in the past the

404
00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:33,599
tree board has invited city council to
come out and join us that day. Um and as

405
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:37,440
far as the ceremony schedule, last
year's um ceremony schedule's on the

406
00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:42,160
next page.
is deciding if we're going to keep the

407
00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:48,079
same schedule lineup and topics, who's
going to cover each of those topics and

408
00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:51,280
speak um during the ceremony. Um but if
that could be looked at during this

409
00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:58,160
month and we can make the final decision
on the actual ceremony um at the April

410
00:36:54,800 --> 00:37:01,839
6th meeting
and then that's when we would confirm

411
00:36:59,839 --> 00:37:05,680
who would um be attending. And then we
also need to know if anyone from the

412
00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:10,000
family would be speaking as part of the
ceremony schedule.

413
00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:15,520
Um, we'll reach out to the Forest
Service to see if they'll be attending

414
00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:19,839
that day. Um, Tim with public works, Tim
Coington, um, he has already checked

415
00:37:17,599 --> 00:37:24,640
with Tree City USA and he's received
that paperwork and the proclamation for

416
00:37:22,079 --> 00:37:28,240
the event.
>> And I'll also reach out to the library

417
00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:33,839
to see if they'd like to attend again
this year. um they've attended in the

418
00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:38,560
past uh with information about their um
seed library and different um outreach

419
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:43,079
opportunities they have um for educating
about trees and other gardening

420
00:37:40,079 --> 00:37:43,079
opportunities.

421
00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:51,839
Um, but the ceremony itself, like I
said, it's on the next page and um, we

422
00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:56,560
can talk about that tonight or um, we
could do planning and

423
00:37:54,320 --> 00:38:02,520
decide next month who will be speaking
for each of those parts and if that's

424
00:37:58,240 --> 00:38:02,520
the schedule you want to keep.

425
00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:08,520
I'm looking at the outline from last
year. Um,

426
00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:12,520
Oops.

427
00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:21,960
don't know the type of tree. So, we'll
fill that in. Um

428
00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:31,839
add if he was able to bring the
children,

429
00:38:27,839 --> 00:38:36,119
we could just um
add that where we had the

430
00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:51,440
I think it I think it'll be fine. You
want to bring it back so we can discuss

431
00:38:50,240 --> 00:38:55,839
this next month?
>> Yeah, we can um decide on the ceremony.

432
00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:59,520
Oh, excuse me. At the March meeting,
sorry.

433
00:38:56,560 --> 00:39:04,320
» Yeah, next month.
>> Before we wrap this up, um I recall at

434
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:06,960
the last meeting there was a bit of
discussion about um

435
00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:10,320
» the time and date.
>> Yeah. as well as the time and date uh

436
00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:13,760
for the tree planting ceremony as well.
Uh in addition the marketing and

437
00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:17,200
outreach, we've already kind of touched
on some of that with the prize donations

438
00:39:15,359 --> 00:39:20,960
and reaching out to the art museum and
schools and such. Um so I just wanted to

439
00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:24,640
run it through you guys. Do you feel
like this is been a productive

440
00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:27,359
conversation with regards to kind of
marketing strategies and outreach

441
00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,640
strategies or do you feel like there
might be more to discuss regarding that

442
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:34,720
either tonight or at the following
meeting in uh March?

443
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:39,359
I think the marketing strategies were
explained very clearly when she first

444
00:39:37,839 --> 00:39:44,320
started speaking. So I was comfortable
with that. I did still have a question

445
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:51,359
of whether or not if we could maybe
possibly consider um the time of day so

446
00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:57,520
we could get more participation from the
actual children um that would be in

447
00:39:54,160 --> 00:40:02,560
school that day. Um that's my only
concern. But the marketing um she laid

448
00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:07,200
that out. So that's good. And I know
it's expensive to keep adding. Um so I

449
00:40:05,599 --> 00:40:11,359
don't want to have to incur another
expense, but I would like to see if we

450
00:40:09,119 --> 00:40:17,119
could get more participation.
And my s one way of thinking that that

451
00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:24,480
may happen if that we were able to move
the time of day um 10:00. I mean it even

452
00:40:21,599 --> 00:40:29,280
puts me taken off work for that day um
if I had to go out do mission work. But

453
00:40:27,599 --> 00:40:34,880
um
just so we can get participation from

454
00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:39,040
the actual students um themselves. I
mean because one of the parent was a

455
00:40:37,359 --> 00:40:43,839
little disgruntled about having to take
the child out of school to come there to

456
00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:47,599
read the poem and then the child felt a
little nervous I guess because he was

457
00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:52,560
having to come from school, do the poem
and then go back to school. Um and so

458
00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:56,880
she was like can y'all do this any other
time? And I was like, well, I can

459
00:40:54,880 --> 00:41:04,000
definitely make a suggestion, but I
can't give you an answer today. But, uh,

460
00:41:01,839 --> 00:41:09,200
you know, and I believe that it was
because of the work schedule is reasons

461
00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:10,640
we have it
>> on Fridays,

462
00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:13,920
» right,
>> is with our staff.

463
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:16,960
» Um, but also
>> staff, women, what are we saying?

464
00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:19,760
» The public works staff.
>> Yeah. Oh,

465
00:41:18,319 --> 00:41:24,240
» because they're the on
>> Oh, okay. Yeah. They're the ones that

466
00:41:21,359 --> 00:41:30,000
come out to plant the tree that day.
>> And I did check with um the mentorship

467
00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:35,280
program just trying to see what time was
best and what time he goes over there to

468
00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:38,640
see the kids. Um and that 10:00 time
because I said we could be somewhat

469
00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:44,079
flexible sometime in the morning. And he
did say like the 10:00 time does work

470
00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:47,440
well with that group because it is once
school's gotten started, the day has

471
00:41:45,359 --> 00:41:53,359
gotten started and it's before lunchtime
as well. um because they do get out

472
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:59,119
early afternoon as well. Um so working
with the school schedule and trying not

473
00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:04,240
to disrupt their day as
um that seemed to be the best time if we

474
00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:07,800
wanted to have those kids come out um
for the event.

475
00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:15,920
Um well, and then another part of that
was that I would like to see if we could

476
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:23,599
work along with the chorus from the
schools as well. Um getting their ban or

477
00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:29,359
their chorus involved um just more
participation

478
00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:34,880
um within the community and the schools
I think would be a great idea. Now

479
00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:39,920
someone did mention also last meeting uh
about the actual day. I did indicate

480
00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:43,599
that it was normally done on the last
Friday of the month. That's what is

481
00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:48,960
written that arbor day should be
observed but um there were suggestions

482
00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:53,520
that or remarks that that could maybe be
changed as well.

483
00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:58,240
Um I don't have a problem with the day
of the week. I just um but if Saturday

484
00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:03,839
works better and we can get more
participation, I would just like to try

485
00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:09,520
to see if we could
try our best to kind of meet the people

486
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:15,119
where they are. And you know, we got
working parents. Most people have to

487
00:43:11,359 --> 00:43:21,440
work. Um we have working parents and and
sometimes nap time is like kind of like

488
00:43:18,079 --> 00:43:24,640
a little bit beyond 10:00. So maybe by
11 they may put them down right before

489
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:29,040
lunch.
But I don't know if you're interested at

490
00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:35,040
all in even looking at doing it the
Saturday after the last Friday. Do the

491
00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:38,079
last Saturday of the month or
>> does it have to be on?

492
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:43,839
» But does it h that's what the question
was does have to be actually on the last

493
00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:49,119
Friday? I know that's Arbor Day
>> as far as we researched it several

494
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:56,160
times. We've read it several times. Um
but will the parks and recreation be

495
00:43:53,359 --> 00:44:00,560
willing to consider um moving it to
another day to get more participation

496
00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:06,720
just to see what happens? It may not
make a difference at all. Um but at

497
00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:11,280
least we've made some attempt to uh get
more participation from the community

498
00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:15,440
and it's vital and people are saying
well I can bring my kid but I can't get

499
00:44:12,960 --> 00:44:20,400
off work. you know, I I would love to
come, but you know, I can't juggle my

500
00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:25,359
schedule like that. Um, my my child is
just not where I can uproot them and

501
00:44:23,359 --> 00:44:30,319
then take them back. And so, it's all
different reasons why they cannot or

502
00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:34,240
don't want to do it on a Friday. So, I
don't know. It's, you know, it's up to

503
00:44:32,319 --> 00:44:40,560
the parks and recreation as I did
indicate last month, but I don't know to

504
00:44:37,599 --> 00:44:44,720
get it's just we have such a great
program. I mean, you really put together

505
00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:49,839
a great program and I would just like to
see if more people can be able to be

506
00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:55,280
involved in that and and witness that.
And

507
00:44:51,920 --> 00:45:00,240
to me, I'm I'm just excited every April
uh to participate because you really

508
00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:05,119
have it well put together and it's um
very emotional time. Uh when I looked at

509
00:45:03,359 --> 00:45:10,560
the kids last year and their
participation and hands-on and you know

510
00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:16,880
covering it with the mulch and I just
thought what it would be like if we had

511
00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:22,319
a middle school, high school uh combined
choir or

512
00:45:18,960 --> 00:45:27,680
come out and sing. Um
or if we were able to get, you know, the

513
00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:33,200
children uh older children to come out
and do the hands-on and assist with the

514
00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:35,599
younger children. um with uh tree
planting

515
00:45:34,720 --> 00:45:38,960
and maybe
>> the question is going to be do we have

516
00:45:37,359 --> 00:45:42,880
the leeway to change
>> to change it who who would make that

517
00:45:41,359 --> 00:45:48,960
decision?
So I still recommend that we have the

518
00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:54,400
event on that Friday on Arbor Day and
Graham. It is a smallcale event. Um it

519
00:45:52,800 --> 00:46:01,280
was created as a small scale event and
it has grown. Um with it being on Friday

520
00:45:58,880 --> 00:46:05,040
we have the city staff. is not requiring
any overtime or comp time. Um especially

521
00:46:03,599 --> 00:46:12,720
for departments that are already putting
in that overtime and um the comp time.

522
00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:17,040
Um we also have North Graham Elementary
which their students are able to come

523
00:46:14,720 --> 00:46:21,839
over during the school day um to
participate in the program. Uh there's

524
00:46:19,440 --> 00:46:26,319
no guarantee if we have it on Saturday.
Um Saturdays are already so busy for

525
00:46:24,079 --> 00:46:32,160
families and it's going to be hard to
get them out for that type of event.

526
00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:34,640
just previous years reaching out to
somewhere. It's already got that captive

527
00:46:33,520 --> 00:46:37,520
audience. We already have a captive
audience at North Graham that's going to

528
00:46:35,839 --> 00:46:42,480
come over. Um we'll have the family
members that are going to come and join

529
00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:46,319
us um for the tree planting. Um but that
type of event, if we move it to

530
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:50,480
Saturday, I don't know if people are
just unless they're directly connected

531
00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:55,119
to the event somehow if they're going to
come out just to the tree planting

532
00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:59,599
event. um unless it's something bigger
and more engaging um to come out to. But

533
00:46:58,160 --> 00:47:03,680
I also don't recommend doing something
like that because we already have

534
00:47:01,200 --> 00:47:08,079
neighboring cities that are doing Arbor
Day events and programs. Um we have a

535
00:47:06,800 --> 00:47:12,640
neighboring city doing one in the spring
and another one doing one in the fall.

536
00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:16,720
Um so that would just be duplicating
programs that may not be needed. Um

537
00:47:15,280 --> 00:47:20,319
where they bring out vendors and
opportunities like that. Um, so I don't

538
00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:25,599
think we're there. But something that
Graham does do differently than offering

539
00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:29,119
those one Arbor Day programs in the
spring and fall, we're offering a whole

540
00:47:27,119 --> 00:47:33,599
month of various activities and
education opportunities and pushing out

541
00:47:30,800 --> 00:47:36,880
through our social media. So we are
>> trying to reach out to the community. Um

542
00:47:35,280 --> 00:47:41,520
the tree plant ceremony like I said it's
still it's it was created as a small

543
00:47:39,119 --> 00:47:46,960
event and it has gotten bigger and we do
live stream it as well and it's

544
00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:52,079
available on our YouTube um channel as
well following the event. Um so if

545
00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:57,680
someone does miss it um there is an
opportunity to watch it and to share the

546
00:47:55,440 --> 00:48:03,280
ceremony in case someone missed it that
wanted to come um and it lives there um

547
00:48:01,599 --> 00:48:06,400
for a long time. Especially for these
families, they have something to walk

548
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:12,960
away with that have planted the tree.
They'll have a keepsake on YouTube.

549
00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:19,200
» I concur. I just had to ask a question
because it was on the last month's um

550
00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:23,359
meeting questions um things that people
were concerned about. So, I mean that

551
00:48:21,359 --> 00:48:28,960
explanation sets well with me as well
because I know we can change things and

552
00:48:26,559 --> 00:48:34,160
it still may not make a difference, you
know. Um but I think like you said, it

553
00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:39,040
started small. is growing. Maybe if it
continues or we get the inquiries and

554
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:43,839
maybe they can we can have them to drop
a note on the website or something where

555
00:48:41,280 --> 00:48:49,359
people opinion can be seen and come
directly to your department. Uh which

556
00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:56,640
may outweigh what we're saying here
because it's just bits and pieces. Um,

557
00:48:53,839 --> 00:49:01,359
but
I guess Friday, the last Friday of the

558
00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:05,200
month,
>> what I'm accustomed to, so I'm I'm good

559
00:49:03,599 --> 00:49:10,240
with it.
>> And I do see here the cost is 150

560
00:49:09,599 --> 00:49:15,280
last
>> already looked at it. Okay. So, um,

561
00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:21,720
anything else? Anybody else have
anything else that they want to add to

562
00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:21,720
this category?

563
00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:26,079
Nothing else.
>> Looks good.

564
00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:32,319
» So, so next month we'll finalize the
ceremony schedule. Um, and then prizes

565
00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:34,240
will be available to me mid-March.
>> Mid-March.

566
00:49:32,800 --> 00:49:37,680
» I can start advertising.
>> Okay.

567
00:49:34,559 --> 00:49:39,280
» Pam, I've got you down.
>> All right.

568
00:49:38,319 --> 00:49:45,200
» Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Um, okay.

569
00:49:42,720 --> 00:49:51,839
And as I did note earlier, then we're
going to now have um our person from the

570
00:49:49,599 --> 00:49:55,280
community to come forward, local
business involvement, Miss Renee

571
00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:58,400
Russell. If you please come forward to
the microphone and state your name and

572
00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:04,880
address.
>> So, my name is Renee Russell. Yeah.

573
00:50:00,319 --> 00:50:10,559
» I live at 218 W Street. Um and I own 64
Harvard, which is a frame shop on 116

574
00:50:08,559 --> 00:50:16,160
West Harden.
So, yeah. that you can make it tonight.

575
00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:19,680
» Yeah, I'm I'm happy to be here. I don't
know if y'all know, but maybe Cheryl

576
00:50:18,079 --> 00:50:23,920
remembers, but I used to be on the
appearance commission way back in the

577
00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:26,000
day. So, not not that long ago.
>> You're so supportive because you

578
00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:29,440
donated.
>> Absolutely. Always. Yeah.

579
00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:34,079
» I like to point that out that you we
just thank you so much for all of your

580
00:50:31,599 --> 00:50:40,079
gifts that you uh donated last year.
>> Oh, yeah. Always. We are always happy to

581
00:50:37,359 --> 00:50:44,240
help in any way we can, which is part of
why

582
00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:50,720
um I was wanting to kind of talk with
y'all and see what kind of partnership

583
00:50:48,160 --> 00:50:58,640
the downtown businesses can do with
y'all and how we can kind of work

584
00:50:52,720 --> 00:51:03,920
together. Um I know so the businesses
are all in communication with each

585
00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:08,720
other. We've got a big group text and
we're just trying to do everything we

586
00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:15,280
can to get people to come Instagram and
shop and we know that like just getting

587
00:51:12,079 --> 00:51:24,079
people here, you know, makes it better
um and helps everyone. And um we've hit

588
00:51:21,440 --> 00:51:30,160
a couple roadblocks with like city
council and stuff like that. They're

589
00:51:25,599 --> 00:51:37,440
just not really listening to us or
inviting us into the conversations and

590
00:51:33,839 --> 00:51:43,599
having businesses downtown. It's, you
know, a big part of of that area is us.

591
00:51:41,359 --> 00:51:49,680
Um, so we're hoping that maybe we can
forge a relationship with y'all and like

592
00:51:46,800 --> 00:51:52,800
just kind of help out. Um, there are
some things that we need that I don't

593
00:51:51,440 --> 00:51:59,520
know if this is a project that you guys
would be into taking on. Um, I think our

594
00:51:56,640 --> 00:52:04,880
biggest kind of
need or want would be wayfinding signs.

595
00:52:02,640 --> 00:52:09,520
» Yeah. Okay. And that's one thing I was
going to let you know is that that has

596
00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:17,359
been mentioned in our meetings. We have
discussed it. Okay. um

597
00:52:12,640 --> 00:52:22,480
but it's was not with this um this
particular meeting. I do think that you

598
00:52:19,760 --> 00:52:29,040
can participate um just after hearing
what Bry's um concerns were about

599
00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:36,240
hands-on activities during the Arbor
Day. um that may be a opportunity and we

600
00:52:33,200 --> 00:52:40,160
have invited uh because we're kind of
like in the mode of of of planning for

601
00:52:38,240 --> 00:52:45,599
that day but we have invited the
downtown businesses to participate in

602
00:52:43,359 --> 00:52:51,119
the various different programs that we
put on throughout the year and I know

603
00:52:48,319 --> 00:52:55,760
what you you have the needs have you
addressed those to the city council have

604
00:52:53,760 --> 00:53:00,240
you actually been there yeah I think you
have several times

605
00:52:57,200 --> 00:53:04,400
» if my memory serves me and
But yeah,

606
00:53:01,280 --> 00:53:09,119
» so um I guess the next step would be
then um

607
00:53:07,040 --> 00:53:10,960
» we have some months that we have some
down time.

608
00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:14,319
» Yeah.
>> And we may can look once we get past

609
00:53:13,280 --> 00:53:19,359
Arbor Day.
>> Yeah. We make it look at maybe some of

610
00:53:17,200 --> 00:53:24,480
the days, months that we had planned not
to meet,

611
00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:30,240
» maybe check with you and other business
um businesses as well to see if we can

612
00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:32,800
put something on the calendar during one
of those months if that would suffice. I

613
00:53:32,319 --> 00:53:35,520
mean,
>> yeah, I mean that would be great. just

614
00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:40,079
any sort of
>> and and then what we could do is that we

615
00:53:37,520 --> 00:53:45,359
could then go um to the city council
together and um see if they would be

616
00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:50,559
interested in putting us on their agenda
and in us being heard.

617
00:53:47,839 --> 00:53:54,480
» Um
but I think that you could definitely

618
00:53:52,480 --> 00:53:59,119
participate just from your business
aspect. Yeah.

619
00:53:55,920 --> 00:54:04,079
» With the um Arbor Day.
>> Yes. Yeah. Um, I see great contributions

620
00:54:02,160 --> 00:54:11,720
coming from 64 Harvard
>> and with the art uh,

621
00:54:07,359 --> 00:54:11,720
» my brain just stopped working. The

622
00:54:11,760 --> 00:54:19,680
» not that the the art
>> contest contest. Yes. Yeah. Like I don't

623
00:54:17,200 --> 00:54:23,839
know if there's plans to display the art
afterwards.

624
00:54:21,520 --> 00:54:30,559
» It feels like you would. Yeah. If you
ever if you guys need um things to be

625
00:54:27,839 --> 00:54:35,920
matted or mounted, I'm always happy to
donate that. I've got tons of like extra

626
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:38,319
material that I would
>> love to be able to Okay.

627
00:54:37,599 --> 00:54:43,520
» Yeah.
>> And then I've just we missed a great

628
00:54:40,559 --> 00:54:50,160
opportunity while we were in discussion
um maybe having some of your students

629
00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:54,000
extend the categories to maybe some of
your students. And if your if your

630
00:54:51,839 --> 00:54:55,760
students meet this criteria because it
goes from

631
00:54:55,119 --> 00:54:59,520
» I don't have
>> kindergarten now because we

632
00:54:57,760 --> 00:55:03,440
» I don't have you have classes.
>> No. Oh, I thought I offered class.

633
00:55:02,640 --> 00:55:07,920
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's we do custom framing. We also

634
00:55:06,160 --> 00:55:10,559
offer do-it-yourself framing, but it's
not like a class.

635
00:55:08,880 --> 00:55:12,400
» Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you had
classes.

636
00:55:11,119 --> 00:55:16,559
» No, you're totally there.
>> Yeah. So,

637
00:55:13,839 --> 00:55:24,800
» but I do have a question. What else are
the businesses looking for? Like

638
00:55:21,280 --> 00:55:31,359
» I mean the wayfinding signs is the like
the top one cuz we hear like I hear all

639
00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:33,920
the time, oh you must be new. I don't
know you're here. I'm like I've been

640
00:55:32,400 --> 00:55:39,280
here for 5 years.
>> Uh and like Franks too was going through

641
00:55:37,040 --> 00:55:45,280
the same thing there for 20 years. Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's just Yeah. telling people and

642
00:55:42,240 --> 00:55:50,240
it's also really confusing cuz like the
addresses change once you cross over

643
00:55:48,240 --> 00:55:57,680
Maine. So like
>> I'm on 116 West Harden, but a block away

644
00:55:53,440 --> 00:55:59,040
is 116 East Harden. So even like the
just

645
00:55:58,240 --> 00:56:02,880
» Okay.
>> maps, GPS is confusing.

646
00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:06,000
» Um
>> that's something.

647
00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:11,680
» So we could work with council on that.
But I'm also thinking um

648
00:56:09,760 --> 00:56:15,920
» like at Christmas time everybody does
their windows, which is great. Which is

649
00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:20,240
so great. Um yeah,
>> but what about like even in the fall

650
00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:23,760
like having a contest
>> say with the businesses, you know, doing

651
00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:29,680
a planter or
>> So there is the uh business appearance

652
00:56:26,799 --> 00:56:33,119
award um which is something we may
discuss in the next agenda item, but I

653
00:56:31,599 --> 00:56:37,359
just want to shout that out real quick
since this I feel like this could tie in

654
00:56:34,960 --> 00:56:41,760
a bit. Um, it gives businesses the
opportunities to kind of compete

655
00:56:39,760 --> 00:56:46,480
essentially and get nominated and
essentially be advertised um for their

656
00:56:44,079 --> 00:56:48,960
landscape beautifification efforts and
uh it definitely is something that would

657
00:56:47,760 --> 00:56:52,480
help kind of enhance the appearance
commission's relationship with

658
00:56:50,319 --> 00:56:55,920
businesses downtown and throughout the
rest.

659
00:56:53,599 --> 00:57:01,680
» Right. Right. So like would you all be
interested in that? like

660
00:56:58,160 --> 00:57:08,640
» if there was a theme behind it, I think
yes, but also we're also busy, so like

661
00:57:05,599 --> 00:57:15,119
it's got to be something that
>> doesn't require too much. Like we were

662
00:57:12,799 --> 00:57:18,400
in a small town a couple of years ago
and they did a thing like scarecrows.

663
00:57:17,920 --> 00:57:23,440
» Yeah.
>> And everybody did a scarecrow

664
00:57:21,040 --> 00:57:26,640
» with however they wanted and it was the
greatest thing to walk down the road and

665
00:57:25,119 --> 00:57:29,839
see all these scarecrows. It was like,
"Wow." And then you could vote, you

666
00:57:28,640 --> 00:57:34,000
know, they had,
>> you know, scan codes and it was like,

667
00:57:31,359 --> 00:57:38,079
"Wow, this is such a great idea." Like,
would you all think that you would be

668
00:57:35,760 --> 00:57:41,359
interested in something like that?
>> We did the pumpkins last year for the

669
00:57:40,480 --> 00:57:44,240
pumpkin bash.
>> Yes.

670
00:57:41,839 --> 00:57:47,760
» And like we were not
>> great.

671
00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:52,799
» I like pushed for it and was expecting
like five businesses and it turned out

672
00:57:50,079 --> 00:57:57,119
wonderful. like that kind of
competition. I think like we kind of

673
00:57:55,440 --> 00:58:02,799
really love to be able to showcase what
we do and just all the diverse like

674
00:57:59,200 --> 00:58:08,240
talents of the downtown businesses.
Um, so yeah, I think the window painting

675
00:58:05,440 --> 00:58:13,040
and window decorations can get a little
bit

676
00:58:09,760 --> 00:58:19,119
too involved, but something small,
>> right, feels more attainable. I'm going

677
00:58:15,680 --> 00:58:22,799
to grab my water.
Okay. So, if we can come up with a

678
00:58:20,960 --> 00:58:26,799
season and a theme.
>> Yeah.

679
00:58:23,359 --> 00:58:30,319
» And just say, you know, just even a
summer theme, you know, decorate a

680
00:58:28,640 --> 00:58:34,160
planter or decorate the front of your
store or, you know, again, like even a

681
00:58:32,240 --> 00:58:35,839
scarecrow that you can stick outside of
the store. And

682
00:58:35,359 --> 00:58:39,359
» yeah,
>> you know,

683
00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:44,319
» we definitely love the idea of like the
marketing kind of moments, like things

684
00:58:41,760 --> 00:58:49,119
that really when people come into town,
they're just like, "Oo, what's that?"

685
00:58:47,200 --> 00:58:52,319
Yes. And that's how I felt about that
little town. I was like, "This is

686
00:58:50,480 --> 00:58:56,000
great." Like, you just kept walking and
looking at all these scarecrows and

687
00:58:54,079 --> 00:59:01,040
there was so many different kinds, you
know? Yeah. So,

688
00:58:57,440 --> 00:59:05,520
» okay. All right. Yeah, we love that. Um
I think I had a have a question. Um so,

689
00:59:03,839 --> 00:59:08,799
you talked about a group of you all like
how many would you say that represents

690
00:59:07,359 --> 00:59:14,720
business owners that are kind of
collective um wanting

691
00:59:11,440 --> 00:59:20,559
» We've got
15. Yeah. 15. Okay.

692
00:59:18,319 --> 00:59:28,000
» A good a good Yeah. Okay.
>> Pretty much most of North Maine

693
00:59:24,240 --> 00:59:33,839
and like half of the inner
uh circle

694
00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:38,319
and then a couple on like um
>> and we have some new businesses too. So

695
00:59:36,160 --> 00:59:41,440
» yeah. We would we want like a program
like this to be exclusive to downtown

696
00:59:40,160 --> 00:59:46,680
businesses similar to the window
decorations or would this be something

697
00:59:43,680 --> 00:59:46,680
citywide?

698
00:59:47,599 --> 00:59:54,480
What?
>> I think just exclusive just to roll it

699
00:59:51,280 --> 00:59:58,319
out maybe exclusive to downtown and then
maybe if it grows we can extend it.

700
00:59:57,920 --> 01:00:00,799
» Um
>> yeah,

701
00:59:58,799 --> 01:00:05,200
» I'm still interested in
>> Okay. So, we need to figure out a season

702
01:00:03,599 --> 01:00:08,799
and a theme. Yeah.
>> Store it there. And

703
01:00:06,880 --> 01:00:10,799
» I feel like there's a lot already in
fall.

704
01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:14,559
» Yes.
>> Going into Christmas, but we don't have

705
01:00:12,480 --> 01:00:21,200
very much for summer. And the J months
are the months that

706
01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:26,480
like so June and July people are on
vacation. So those as a retail time is

707
01:00:25,040 --> 01:00:31,839
slow.
>> So that would be a good time to kind of

708
01:00:29,200 --> 01:00:34,480
boost some just get people to come and
shop.

709
01:00:32,640 --> 01:00:39,440
» Have you guys thought about like some
sort of reward card like you know some

710
01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:43,280
of the schools will do like coupon
cards? like have you guys talked about

711
01:00:41,440 --> 01:00:47,599
something like that cuz that would help
drive that traffic.

712
01:00:44,319 --> 01:00:52,960
» So we've done so this month we did
January jump off where we all like it

713
01:00:50,079 --> 01:00:57,760
was like this kind of scavenger hunt. Um
and we all partnered together with that.

714
01:00:55,119 --> 01:01:04,000
I haven't really seen much response to
that. Um we're doing the Valentine's Day

715
01:01:01,440 --> 01:01:07,599
event this Saturday. So it's just a
bunch of different we've we're printing

716
01:01:05,440 --> 01:01:15,520
our own materials and maps and doing all
of that. Um, and then we've done the

717
01:01:11,359 --> 01:01:22,799
fall fest for like three years now. Um,
and we did last last year, year before

718
01:01:19,839 --> 01:01:29,040
last for Shop Small, we did like a
booklet and the bingo and like you kind

719
01:01:25,280 --> 01:01:34,720
of check off things and we've done it.
It's hard because we don't have

720
01:01:32,799 --> 01:01:40,880
support from the city. So, it just kind
of exists and it's just hard to get it

721
01:01:38,960 --> 01:01:45,040
to like really get out there.
>> When you say support from the city and

722
01:01:43,119 --> 01:01:49,760
maybe I'm just naive and not following
you mean um like partnership like an

723
01:01:47,680 --> 01:01:54,240
ability to get the communication out to
have social media to be a supporter.

724
01:01:52,480 --> 01:01:57,599
Yes. That's really that I'm just trying
to figure out where you are because I

725
01:01:55,599 --> 01:02:02,400
mean for appearance I think our mayor is
standing up. I also want to note that we

726
01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:04,799
are the only town our size that doesn't
have a downtown

727
01:02:03,599 --> 01:02:08,400
» corporation. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So that would be a huge thing for

728
01:02:07,440 --> 01:02:13,839
them. But
>> Yes. Cuz so when I started I wouldn't

729
01:02:10,880 --> 01:02:19,839
have my business if it wasn't for our
previous downtown coordinator because I

730
01:02:17,280 --> 01:02:24,880
started as a popup. She connected me
with everyone and then when I lost that

731
01:02:22,799 --> 01:02:29,680
space, she connected me with the person
that I have my space now in. And through

732
01:02:27,920 --> 01:02:34,640
that partnership, he was able to
renovate the building and like it really

733
01:02:32,400 --> 01:02:41,280
that building has sat vacant for like 20
years before. Um, yeah. And if we if we

734
01:02:38,160 --> 01:02:45,920
did have a downtown coordinator like I
think it's the same position that Mary

735
01:02:42,960 --> 01:02:53,680
Faucet
>> So I am now a person here that exists.

736
01:02:51,520 --> 01:02:57,839
» I think we've lost.
>> Okay.

737
01:02:56,480 --> 01:03:03,520
But
>> here

738
01:02:58,880 --> 01:03:06,880
» but I will say like there is like more
directed effort for communication.

739
01:03:06,480 --> 01:03:09,040
» Yes.
>> That is coming.

740
01:03:08,000 --> 01:03:14,160
» Okay.
>> Perosition just funded by the board

741
01:03:11,680 --> 01:03:17,920
» wants to work with downtown wants to
bring people here. Wants to have a

742
01:03:16,960 --> 01:03:19,839
» but yeah
>> sometimes you got to take care of the

743
01:03:19,280 --> 01:03:22,079
house.
>> Yeah.

744
01:03:20,319 --> 01:03:25,039
» You know back house a little bit.
>> Yeah. that I've been here since

745
01:03:23,599 --> 01:03:27,839
September, so I'm still
>> working from the inside out.

746
01:03:26,319 --> 01:03:32,720
» Well, even so, you run the social
medias, right?

747
01:03:29,680 --> 01:03:38,160
» I have seen since you've been doing that
like an uptick in just like engagement

748
01:03:36,480 --> 01:03:42,880
with the businesses, which has been
huge. So, thank you.

749
01:03:40,880 --> 01:03:46,400
» Yeah. Um,
>> we can connect.

750
01:03:44,000 --> 01:03:50,839
» Yeah. Yeah. I mean, um,
>> your name, I'm sorry, and your

751
01:03:51,280 --> 01:03:59,280
» Okay. Yeah. And things have really been
going very well. I see, you know, it

752
01:03:57,839 --> 01:04:02,480
looks really good. You're doing a good
job. I see a lot coming out. That's

753
01:04:02,240 --> 01:04:05,680
good.
>> I think there's lots of potential, I

754
01:04:04,240 --> 01:04:08,799
think, is what it is. It's just we're on
the

755
01:04:06,640 --> 01:04:12,480
» there's budgetary, you know, issues. But
the way finding signs, I've heard about

756
01:04:10,720 --> 01:04:15,920
those over and over again. And yeah, you
know, you see towns that have them and

757
01:04:14,240 --> 01:04:21,599
they're beautiful and they're branded.
And I mean, just today I'm seeing the

758
01:04:18,000 --> 01:04:25,280
new logo on um on our materials. So, I
think we have positive efforts going.

759
01:04:23,839 --> 01:04:30,079
Um, I understand that doesn't pay the
bills right now. Um, so I think from our

760
01:04:28,160 --> 01:04:33,280
piece, you know, appearance and
treeboard, there's things that, you

761
01:04:31,760 --> 01:04:36,400
know, we look to make the town
attractive, make it where people want to

762
01:04:35,119 --> 01:04:41,920
be here. There's something that's
captivating for them. Um, but absolutely

763
01:04:39,680 --> 01:04:46,880
can take back the I mean, wayfinding
signs are stuff that we've spoken about

764
01:04:44,000 --> 01:04:53,039
because it does make us a more attracted
>> attractive town, right? our city.

765
01:04:50,079 --> 01:04:54,640
» Goodbye. Right.
>> Yeah.

766
01:04:53,440 --> 01:04:56,960
» All right. So,
>> we have our mayor here.

767
01:04:56,240 --> 01:05:02,079
» Yeah.
>> Got that down,

768
01:04:59,280 --> 01:05:05,680
» we'll get council.
>> So, these uh kind of these are awesome

769
01:05:03,599 --> 01:05:08,799
ideas, by the way. So,
>> these things you guys just kind of want

770
01:05:06,960 --> 01:05:11,599
to mle over and then maybe once kind of
like you said, once there's kind of a

771
01:05:10,079 --> 01:05:17,280
break, once we get through Arbor Day,
maybe kind of establish some things and

772
01:05:14,319 --> 01:05:22,640
kind of recordinate and make some solid
decisions.

773
01:05:18,720 --> 01:05:27,280
» Now, could you talk to your group um
about June or July? Like, what theme

774
01:05:24,720 --> 01:05:30,400
would you guys like to do that we can
kind of also help, you know, push it and

775
01:05:29,520 --> 01:05:34,559
whatnot?
>> Yeah. I'm trying to think if there's

776
01:05:32,559 --> 01:05:40,799
something going on
just summer.

777
01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:45,839
Um 50th. Oh yeah.
Um yeah. I mean that would be actually

778
01:05:43,440 --> 01:05:50,240
that would be pretty cool to have that.
Feels like a good marketing moment too.

779
01:05:48,319 --> 01:05:56,160
» Yeah. Yeah.
>> En enhance the town business, you know.

780
01:05:53,039 --> 01:06:01,119
» Yeah. Sidewalks and all that. Yeah. But
yeah, I'll I'll uh ask them if they have

781
01:05:58,799 --> 01:06:05,839
any ideas about any of that, like what
we could do

782
01:06:02,799 --> 01:06:08,720
» similar to the pumpkin thing,
but

783
01:06:06,720 --> 01:06:13,680
» or if there's other ideas, right? I
mean, I think it may not be in a a

784
01:06:11,119 --> 01:06:18,559
capacity of this board, but it's in a
capacity of a resident of this city that

785
01:06:16,000 --> 01:06:22,160
wants to make things great. So, I think
it's open conversation and I appreciate

786
01:06:20,880 --> 01:06:27,520
you for bringing it forward.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Awesome. Thank you.

787
01:06:25,760 --> 01:06:31,920
» Okay.
>> Thank you so much.

788
01:06:28,799 --> 01:06:37,760
» Thank you.
>> So, the last thing on our agenda is um

789
01:06:34,880 --> 01:06:41,680
we wanted to discuss with Kaylee here,
our PR specialist about the bringing

790
01:06:40,160 --> 01:06:45,920
back the appearance award for this year.
Uh that was a topic discussed at the

791
01:06:43,280 --> 01:06:49,039
last meeting. Um specifically the
residential appearance, but I believe we

792
01:06:47,520 --> 01:06:51,599
also, as I mentioned earlier, the
business appearance award as well. And I

793
01:06:50,400 --> 01:06:55,359
think we wanted to focus a little bit
more on the residential appearance

794
01:06:52,880 --> 01:06:59,599
award. Um me and Kayie have been in a
discussion. Um she has a lot of ideas

795
01:06:57,200 --> 01:07:05,440
regarding kind of ways we can kind of
improve engagement and um kind of kick

796
01:07:03,680 --> 01:07:08,880
things back up as far as getting those
photo ops and kind of getting people

797
01:07:07,440 --> 01:07:12,240
involved essentially and increasing
awareness of the appearance commission's

798
01:07:10,400 --> 01:07:16,480
roles and you know the beautifification
of the city and um I'll open the floor

799
01:07:15,039 --> 01:07:22,079
now for Kaylee if she wants to come up
and uh present her ideas and you guys

800
01:07:18,400 --> 01:07:27,200
can ask questions. Hi again, Kaylee
Gorum, public relations specialist.

801
01:07:24,720 --> 01:07:31,440
Thanks for chatting with me. And I
started in September. So if you haven't

802
01:07:29,280 --> 01:07:37,599
seen me around that until now, that's
why. Um, but yeah, so I have been

803
01:07:35,200 --> 01:07:41,680
talking with Jonathan about the
residential appearance award and I've

804
01:07:39,520 --> 01:07:47,280
been doing some
digging in our own like archives to kind

805
01:07:44,960 --> 01:07:51,359
of figure out like just what it is. And
so I just want to confirm a few things

806
01:07:48,799 --> 01:07:55,680
with y'all. Um I'm not sure how long
each of you have been on this board or

807
01:07:53,440 --> 01:08:00,960
this commission, but just hopefully you
can help me clarify some things. So it

808
01:07:58,079 --> 01:08:04,240
looks like this started in 2019. Does
that sound right?

809
01:08:03,359 --> 01:08:08,160
» The board.
>> The residential appearance award.

810
01:08:06,960 --> 01:08:10,559
» The the award.
>> The award. Okay. I thought you were

811
01:08:09,760 --> 01:08:11,680
looking forward. Yeah.
>> No.

812
01:08:11,200 --> 01:08:16,159
» Um
>> I felt like I won before that. So I

813
01:08:13,839 --> 01:08:19,759
don't know. It's been around a long
time.

814
01:08:17,679 --> 01:08:24,759
» I I hate to I hate to say I keep winning
every month, but like that was

815
01:08:25,440 --> 01:08:30,560
» 2018.
>> Yeah,

816
01:08:28,480 --> 01:08:36,159
that 2019 is the first time we have
pictures in our

817
01:08:32,799 --> 01:08:43,040
uh Graham share drive. So that's where I
got that from. Um, and then it started

818
01:08:39,120 --> 01:08:50,000
at least with four seasons, a spring,
summer, fall, and then winter. Um, 2020,

819
01:08:47,679 --> 01:08:55,679
uh, if y'all remember that year, there
was nothing. I blacked that one out. Um,

820
01:08:52,719 --> 01:09:01,120
and then 2021, it looks like spring,
summer, fall, there was not, um, any

821
01:08:59,120 --> 01:09:05,040
awards given out, but in winter there
was. Um, and it seemed like there was

822
01:09:03,279 --> 01:09:11,839
maybe some good participation there. And
then 2022 there was spring, summer,

823
01:09:08,799 --> 01:09:18,239
fall, but no winter.
And then it kind of moved to twice a

824
01:09:14,319 --> 01:09:25,759
year in 2023 and 2024. And then this
last year was kind of an iffy year. Does

825
01:09:23,120 --> 01:09:30,480
that Does that seem right?
>> Does. And I'm going to tell you, we

826
01:09:27,839 --> 01:09:34,960
Jimmy, I took most of the pictures
>> and submitted them. like we had no

827
01:09:32,880 --> 01:09:39,520
participation from outside or anything
like that. I was going to drive around.

828
01:09:37,120 --> 01:09:42,319
Oh, that's pretty.
>> Take a picture. Yes. You know.

829
01:09:41,359 --> 01:09:48,880
» Gotcha.
>> So, that sounds right to y'all. Um I

830
01:09:45,279 --> 01:09:59,600
have that the biggest
participation year was summer of 2019

831
01:09:53,920 --> 01:10:05,280
with 27 potential addresses. Um and so
if if

832
01:10:02,080 --> 01:10:08,320
what I found is correct, which
you know, I don't think there's great

833
01:10:06,719 --> 01:10:14,320
documentation. So, I think that's also
something that might be addressed um

834
01:10:11,360 --> 01:10:19,040
moving forward. Um I think that that
would be the second one. So, like maybe

835
01:10:16,560 --> 01:10:22,880
it got posted, advertised, hey,
participate, and then maybe there was

836
01:10:20,880 --> 01:10:27,520
like a here's the winner and then people
were excited because there was a winner

837
01:10:24,560 --> 01:10:33,679
and then you got more participation that
second time running. Does that sound

838
01:10:29,199 --> 01:10:37,679
about right? Um, so I'm curious like
what y'all's

839
01:10:36,000 --> 01:10:42,159
feelings were towards the participation.
It sounds like maybe it was less than

840
01:10:39,520 --> 01:10:45,520
you would like and hope for.
>> A lot less.

841
01:10:43,120 --> 01:10:49,760
» A lot less. Again, we were the ones
taking pictures. Nothing else.

842
01:10:47,600 --> 01:10:55,600
» Okay.
So one thing that Jonathan and I have

843
01:10:51,520 --> 01:11:04,400
discussed is moving it more towards the
language surrounding it towards a self

844
01:10:59,520 --> 01:11:12,400
um submitt module so or model so people
are asked to be proud of their own house

845
01:11:09,199 --> 01:11:16,159
and to send it in because I think with I
love that you like love your neighbors

846
01:11:14,080 --> 01:11:20,000
houses but there is like some security
features and like safety issues that

847
01:11:18,400 --> 01:11:23,840
might come up. I just think about like
kids in foster care. Like there's all

848
01:11:22,320 --> 01:11:27,199
sorts of things like we need to be
mindful of as we're taking photos of

849
01:11:25,679 --> 01:11:30,640
people's homes and privacy.
>> Yes.

850
01:11:27,679 --> 01:11:36,320
» Um so I think that if we can move more
towards that selfmittal

851
01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:41,280
um selfnomination
instead of um a lot of the language that

852
01:11:38,960 --> 01:11:46,000
I found um from our previous Facebook
posts were was kind of geared towards

853
01:11:44,400 --> 01:11:51,760
hey do you like this house? send us your
a picture of it instead be like, "Hey,

854
01:11:48,640 --> 01:11:54,560
are you proud of your house? Show us
what makes you proud to be a Graham

855
01:11:53,280 --> 01:11:58,719
resident."
So, um I think that's kind of a shift

856
01:11:56,800 --> 01:12:02,320
that we were Jonathan and I were looking
at making and wanted to get y'all's

857
01:12:00,400 --> 01:12:06,719
opinion on.
And then also with that people

858
01:12:04,640 --> 01:12:11,280
submitting at the same time submitting
their own photos so that you know we're

859
01:12:09,120 --> 01:12:15,040
not responsible for going out and taking
p pictures

860
01:12:13,520 --> 01:12:19,679
and wanted to make sure y'all were good
with that. We did try it a little bit

861
01:12:16,719 --> 01:12:23,520
with the winter one this past year. just
I don't think we had enough like of a

862
01:12:21,840 --> 01:12:30,800
runway and people have gotten out of the
practice of looking for this award.

863
01:12:27,360 --> 01:12:35,120
Um so I used a program a website called
Jot Form where people were didn't have

864
01:12:33,040 --> 01:12:39,040
to have an account like you could do a
Google form but you have to have a

865
01:12:37,120 --> 01:12:42,080
Google account to submit a photo but
with Jot Form you didn't have to do

866
01:12:40,560 --> 01:12:46,719
that.
Now, were you looking incorporating all

867
01:12:44,000 --> 01:12:51,679
four seasons or you're just
>> Well, I think another did you have more

868
01:12:49,679 --> 01:12:55,520
submissions when you had less seasons or
more seasons?

869
01:12:52,560 --> 01:13:00,800
» It it kind of v it seems consistently
aside from 2021

870
01:12:58,159 --> 01:13:07,440
um winter is the lowest. I think that
with the way the timeline works for

871
01:13:04,480 --> 01:13:12,800
um sending in like people decorate their
house for the holidays and then so post

872
01:13:11,120 --> 01:13:17,280
November
getting it in for y'all's December

873
01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:20,560
meeting was a little bit too tight of a
turnaround. People aren't quite

874
01:13:18,800 --> 01:13:24,320
decorated for the holidays at that
point. And then by January it's like

875
01:13:22,480 --> 01:13:29,040
well I don't really care. They might
have even taken down their decorations

876
01:13:26,080 --> 01:13:37,440
by the time the photo op for the winter
comes around. So, I would suggest a two

877
01:13:33,199 --> 01:13:45,199
or three times a year model. Um maybe as
we're getting started again, kind of

878
01:13:40,080 --> 01:13:48,640
revamping, trying to re-engage folks. Um
looking at just twice a year and then

879
01:13:47,199 --> 01:13:57,120
kind of seeing what's working, what's
not working, what season is popular

880
01:13:53,199 --> 01:14:00,719
and just observing also around the town,
what people seem to be excited to

881
01:13:59,040 --> 01:14:06,000
decorate for on their own without the
incentives

882
01:14:02,560 --> 01:14:11,120
um and seeing how we can get engagement.
But maybe starting with two and then you

883
01:14:08,400 --> 01:14:14,640
can kind of go from there. And when we
discussed the rolling schedule um last

884
01:14:13,280 --> 01:14:18,800
at the last meeting, the months
suggested were April, July, October,

885
01:14:16,719 --> 01:14:23,199
December. So if we were going to reduce
the amount of submitts we had per year

886
01:14:20,800 --> 01:14:26,000
to three or two instead of four, I guess
we would kind have to determine what

887
01:14:24,640 --> 01:14:30,159
what months we would like to kind of
sacrifice essentially.

888
01:14:27,199 --> 01:14:36,159
» I I think the fall tying it in with
downtown would be great, you know,

889
01:14:33,840 --> 01:14:40,080
» since we decorate the downtown for the
fall,

890
01:14:37,840 --> 01:14:42,480
» right? tying it in with something.
>> You could do like a spring and a fall.

891
01:14:42,080 --> 01:14:47,440
» Yeah.
>> Um and maybe just starting with the fall

892
01:14:44,880 --> 01:14:50,719
this year just because I know y'all want
to like promote Arbor Day stuff and

893
01:14:49,280 --> 01:14:54,800
Bry's doing a lot of that. So that this
would be a separate social media

894
01:14:51,920 --> 01:15:02,719
account. Um because this would be from
uh Graham and City of Graham NC a

895
01:14:59,520 --> 01:15:08,239
separate account. But I think just
giving us the most amount of a runway to

896
01:15:05,520 --> 01:15:13,679
kind of promote it and get it ready. Um,
and we could even do things to engage of

897
01:15:11,280 --> 01:15:19,199
just posting houses like from photos we
already have to say like, "Oh, isn't it

898
01:15:16,080 --> 01:15:24,640
such a beautiful place to live and make
posts like that of houses from previous

899
01:15:22,960 --> 01:15:31,679
years?" And so it's kind of like
prepping, priming our audience for

900
01:15:29,040 --> 01:15:38,880
seeing houses and remembering that this
was um

901
01:15:34,400 --> 01:15:43,840
a program that was had some success.
>> I like that idea. I do.

902
01:15:41,280 --> 01:15:47,920
» So starting with the fall this fall. Um
and that gives us plenty of time over

903
01:15:45,360 --> 01:15:51,199
the summer to kind of get it ramped up.
And

904
01:15:49,440 --> 01:15:56,159
» I don't know if I really I don't know if
I agree. I'm such a party pooper. I feel

905
01:15:54,000 --> 01:15:59,600
like people really Jonathan's like,
"There you go. Of course. Why'd you show

906
01:15:58,000 --> 01:16:02,560
up tonight?"
>> No, you're good.

907
01:16:00,239 --> 01:16:07,040
» I I feel like spring is where people
really make a huge investment. Like we

908
01:16:04,560 --> 01:16:14,800
see Lowe's and Home Depot and all these
summer was the highest ever was that

909
01:16:09,840 --> 01:16:21,440
summer 2019 with 27 um houses. Then 2022
spring had 16, summer had 10, and then

910
01:16:18,239 --> 01:16:25,360
fall had eight. I also think the
holiday, which maybe because we went and

911
01:16:23,199 --> 01:16:28,400
took a ton of pictures, but I feel like
holiday

912
01:16:26,960 --> 01:16:32,000
decor, you have to take it a certain
time of the day. I feel like people go

913
01:16:30,320 --> 01:16:36,480
all out for holiday, right? Like there's
a huge audience. So, if we're looking at

914
01:16:34,480 --> 01:16:40,719
only twice a year, maybe it's June
because now flowers are planted April,

915
01:16:38,480 --> 01:16:44,640
they're getting to be mature and you get
good pictures and then it's de beginning

916
01:16:42,560 --> 01:16:48,080
of December because that's up. I don't
know. That's was that was what I was

917
01:16:46,239 --> 01:16:52,239
thinking as we were talking. like maybe
it's one one time at the beginning and

918
01:16:50,080 --> 01:16:56,000
then one time at the end and that gets
momentum going but

919
01:16:54,320 --> 01:17:00,159
» and that's just for memory. I don't know
if you guys have any

920
01:16:57,360 --> 01:17:04,719
» I do agree that um like I do think that
spacing works really well. I think the

921
01:17:02,000 --> 01:17:08,480
only tricky part is the holiday timing
with y'all's meeting. That's that's

922
01:17:06,800 --> 01:17:12,560
really my reservation with that. I mean
spring and summer you can kind of lump

923
01:17:09,920 --> 01:17:18,960
them together um depending on how you
time it out. Um,

924
01:17:15,360 --> 01:17:22,159
so but I do think that that is a heard
point and I think that there is already

925
01:17:20,560 --> 01:17:27,760
so much happening in Graham in the fall
with the pumpkin bash. So like we were

926
01:17:24,000 --> 01:17:33,920
just saying with Renee that you know we
could use some more programming

927
01:17:29,920 --> 01:17:39,440
happening in June and July as well. And
I do think that Christmas again, by the

928
01:17:37,440 --> 01:17:45,360
time we get,
you know, the pictures and whatnot, it's

929
01:17:41,920 --> 01:17:47,840
January and it's it's kind of over, you
know,

930
01:17:45,760 --> 01:17:51,360
» like true people that decorate, which is
not me,

931
01:17:48,800 --> 01:17:55,280
» but those that do it, they it is up for
Thanksgiving, if not before then, right?

932
01:17:53,440 --> 01:17:59,840
Like we know the radio station cuts on
Christmas beginning of November. So if

933
01:17:57,760 --> 01:18:03,600
we do meet in December and these people
are selfnominating, right? Like so they

934
01:18:01,920 --> 01:18:08,320
really are behind it. They want to be
able to be I think there's a chance. I'm

935
01:18:06,159 --> 01:18:12,640
not saying it's going to work. Um but I
think there's a chance to get people um

936
01:18:11,199 --> 01:18:16,640
they're they want to be the best and
then if they get the sign then they are

937
01:18:14,960 --> 01:18:20,000
the best right now. They're people are
coming to their place. They're getting I

938
01:18:18,239 --> 01:18:23,840
don't know there's there's momentum to
build. But I mean I'm I'm good with what

939
01:18:22,640 --> 01:18:29,520
the group thinks.
>> No, I like that idea as well.

940
01:18:25,679 --> 01:18:34,800
» Yeah. Spring to I think June is a good
time. May is early because you're just

941
01:18:31,520 --> 01:18:38,719
planting so it doesn't really grow in
yet, you know. So, yeah, I think June is

942
01:18:36,880 --> 01:18:41,440
a good time for that.
>> So, the J months.

943
01:18:40,719 --> 01:18:43,760
» Okay.
>> Yeah.

944
01:18:42,880 --> 01:18:48,800
» So,
>> June and January.

945
01:18:45,120 --> 01:18:53,280
» June and January would be when you want
to administer the awards. Is that what

946
01:18:51,440 --> 01:18:57,760
I'm hearing? Or July and January?
>> July. June. January. June or July.

947
01:18:56,880 --> 01:19:02,920
» Would be December.
>> Yeah.

948
01:18:59,920 --> 01:19:02,920
in

949
01:19:03,520 --> 01:19:08,640
» Yeah.
>> Yeah, I think so.

950
01:19:05,520 --> 01:19:12,239
» But if you But I know here I am again.
>> But if you do it in January, right? Like

951
01:19:10,320 --> 01:19:15,520
by the time we recognize it, people have
cut their power off. Like you can't

952
01:19:14,159 --> 01:19:18,960
afford the bill anymore, right?
>> So it's kind of like December. I know

953
01:19:17,280 --> 01:19:23,760
splitting the months are equal six.
Yeah. June and December, like because we

954
01:19:21,520 --> 01:19:26,960
meet the beginning of December, people
can submit before then and then at least

955
01:19:25,520 --> 01:19:29,840
then the whole month of December, people
can go enjoy those submittals, right?

956
01:19:28,960 --> 01:19:33,840
They're going to be on the thing.
Cameron is looking at me just with the

957
01:19:31,360 --> 01:19:38,239
grid.
>> Hate to interconnect back here, but

958
01:19:36,239 --> 01:19:43,280
maybe it's a something that we have to
look into on our side to see can we move

959
01:19:41,280 --> 01:19:46,480
your December meeting where y'all don't
meet on the first of the month, the

960
01:19:45,040 --> 01:19:48,320
first Monday of the month. Well,
>> because we did change it. I think that's

961
01:19:47,920 --> 01:19:52,159
where
>> Yeah, we changed it for

962
01:19:50,640 --> 01:19:56,880
second.
I apologize. I'm just trying to

963
01:19:54,000 --> 01:20:00,800
» No, you maybe in December.
>> Definitely the thought I guess that may

964
01:19:58,800 --> 01:20:04,560
go through y'all's heads potentially. I
don't know if it's possible. We anything

965
01:20:03,199 --> 01:20:07,679
it have to be a special meeting because
it's already kind of laid out or if

966
01:20:06,080 --> 01:20:11,520
there's some action that we can take at
the next meeting to set y'all's December

967
01:20:10,080 --> 01:20:15,120
meeting for this specific date. I don't
know the details, but that's really the

968
01:20:13,280 --> 01:20:20,280
only way to combat this kind of timeline
frame of it is trying to schedule your

969
01:20:16,880 --> 01:20:20,280
December meeting.

970
01:20:21,199 --> 01:20:30,880
» Yeah, I agree with that. And and we were
also looking at possibly even moving the

971
01:20:26,800 --> 01:20:33,280
meeting back to the original Monday. Um
we had

972
01:20:31,840 --> 01:20:38,800
» we moved it for
>> altered the date for Cheryl's schedule,

973
01:20:37,120 --> 01:20:42,400
but now Cheryl doesn't have that
schedule.

974
01:20:39,920 --> 01:20:46,159
But the first the Monday first Monday of
December this year is the seventh.

975
01:20:44,480 --> 01:20:50,400
» It can't get any better than that. Um
and if Dave where we were um

976
01:20:49,440 --> 01:20:53,040
» I don't know.
>> Yeah.

977
01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:54,080
» What do you think? You're the expert.
>> Me?

978
01:20:53,679 --> 01:20:56,480
» Yeah.
>> Yeah.

979
01:20:54,880 --> 01:21:04,159
» Um the specialist
>> I as far as public relations specialists

980
01:21:00,560 --> 01:21:10,719
go, I don't think that we have a formed
opinion on when y'all should meet. Um, I

981
01:21:07,760 --> 01:21:15,440
I think that as far as the December
goes, it would be great if you could do

982
01:21:12,320 --> 01:21:23,040
it later cuz we did post um I'm pulling
it up now. It looks like we posted one,

983
01:21:18,320 --> 01:21:29,280
two, three times starting on November
12th asking people to submit. And we

984
01:21:26,480 --> 01:21:34,239
still only had two submitts for that,
but like people hadn't been used to

985
01:21:31,120 --> 01:21:39,440
seeing it. and it was only on Facebook
and Instagram. And so that was another

986
01:21:37,280 --> 01:21:43,600
thing I wanted to bring up is maybe
having ways that y'all could use some of

987
01:21:41,520 --> 01:21:48,480
your contacts being Graham residents,
getting it out. Um, like if there's

988
01:21:46,480 --> 01:21:54,320
neighborhoods with newsletters, putting
it there, um, and just finding some more

989
01:21:51,920 --> 01:21:57,600
creative solutions to reaching the
residents of Graham,

990
01:21:55,760 --> 01:22:01,520
» the city, I know I think the police
department does next door, but do

991
01:21:59,600 --> 01:22:07,520
» I was looking into it. We don't have one
right now. Um I would have to see about

992
01:22:05,280 --> 01:22:14,239
purchasing it cuz it would be more of an
ads um account. So from the government

993
01:22:11,520 --> 01:22:19,840
side and they might I need to look into
it further and see what kind of cost

994
01:22:17,840 --> 01:22:24,239
there is for government cuz sometimes
like nonprofits and governments would be

995
01:22:22,080 --> 01:22:28,080
given a it for free or
>> and I don't know if the police I'm sure

996
01:22:26,400 --> 01:22:33,760
there's a community service thing and
I'm not quite sure I'm not huge into

997
01:22:30,080 --> 01:22:39,360
social media. I'm too old. But I think
um I know that like I set up my

998
01:22:37,120 --> 01:22:45,040
communities next door and Cameron loves
my community

999
01:22:42,400 --> 01:22:49,040
and I know I get alerts every time
something like that's posted from an

1000
01:22:46,719 --> 01:22:52,080
official person. Yeah. Like I get those
like and I don't get alerts for

1001
01:22:50,320 --> 01:22:56,639
everything but I'm like oh City of
Graham posted or so. So it may be really

1002
01:22:54,880 --> 01:23:01,280
well worth it because it goes you can
tag the communities and it goes to those

1003
01:22:58,480 --> 01:23:04,719
that are in there utilizing it. Um it's
got a lot of band like a lot of

1004
01:23:02,880 --> 01:23:06,560
bandwidth over the years when it used to
be so small. Now it's

1005
01:23:05,920 --> 01:23:11,520
» huge.
>> Yeah. And I think um another opportunity

1006
01:23:09,360 --> 01:23:15,600
that we could use is maybe coming up
with some flyers or like little cards to

1007
01:23:13,679 --> 01:23:20,000
give out at things like the pumpkin bash
for this award. So then the people that

1008
01:23:18,320 --> 01:23:23,679
way people know.
>> I wonder if the I mean this is

1009
01:23:22,000 --> 01:23:27,600
embarrassing but what if they can be
recognized at a city council meeting?

1010
01:23:26,239 --> 01:23:30,880
You know what I mean? Like I don't know.
I just think about how do you get how do

1011
01:23:29,120 --> 01:23:34,320
you get the programming in front of the
mass audiences right maybe we don't

1012
01:23:32,880 --> 01:23:38,000
start with that because that's a little
intimidating but

1013
01:23:35,679 --> 01:23:46,239
» I don't know how many how what the if
that would be really an incentive most

1014
01:23:41,920 --> 01:23:51,880
» but council me
but

1015
01:23:47,280 --> 01:23:51,880
» depends on what's on the agenda Megan

1016
01:23:57,360 --> 01:24:06,639
We could also um put it I think
especially if we're going to do this

1017
01:24:04,400 --> 01:24:13,520
layout um the city this works well for
the city Graham schedule as well.

1018
01:24:10,080 --> 01:24:20,560
» Cheryl, I think I would um y'all have
friends in presumably all of y'all take

1019
01:24:17,760 --> 01:24:24,960
three of your friends and have them
submit somebody and it's just going to

1020
01:24:22,480 --> 01:24:30,159
be a snowball. word of mouth. Word of
mouth and like this actually is an award

1021
01:24:28,320 --> 01:24:33,920
and it's actually
>> meaningful for our community and pride

1022
01:24:32,800 --> 01:24:37,679
is doing something.
>> Yeah, I think it's got to be worth

1023
01:24:35,760 --> 01:24:42,480
» and I and I that does make me think
about like the incentive to do it. I

1024
01:24:40,320 --> 01:24:46,800
heard y'all talking about the prizes and
things for

1025
01:24:44,400 --> 01:24:50,960
um the Arbor Day in Graham. So, I don't
know if this is another opportunity for

1026
01:24:48,400 --> 01:24:58,159
us to partner with downtown businesses
and kind of offer some sort of coupon or

1027
01:24:54,880 --> 01:25:01,440
gift card um for the winners cuz I I
love to participate but sometimes I like

1028
01:24:59,760 --> 01:25:09,199
to participate more if there's a gift.
So, um just keeping that in mind as well

1029
01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:13,800
» a month from market or Steve's or
>> avail

1030
01:25:10,800 --> 01:25:13,800
time.

1031
01:25:14,400 --> 01:25:18,760
Hey. Hey. I like that.

1032
01:25:20,320 --> 01:25:30,400
» Um, so I think that's um mostly what I
had to say about this. If y'all had

1033
01:25:26,239 --> 01:25:34,080
other ideas or wants or needs from me,
you say, Jonathan, did you say business

1034
01:25:32,159 --> 01:25:36,960
award too or just residential?
>> Yeah. Well, so I guess when we were

1035
01:25:35,199 --> 01:25:40,239
discussing it last week, we didn't
really make a huge distinguishing. we

1036
01:25:39,120 --> 01:25:44,080
didn't really distinguish the
residential appearance award or the

1037
01:25:41,600 --> 01:25:47,280
business appearance award. Um, and the
business appearance award is also a

1038
01:25:45,600 --> 01:25:50,560
thing. So, you know, we're talking about
doing, you know, implementing a rolling

1039
01:25:48,880 --> 01:25:53,520
schedule for the appearance award. You
know, obviously I think it's implied

1040
01:25:52,480 --> 01:25:56,719
we're talking about the residential
appearance word, but are we also

1041
01:25:54,880 --> 01:26:00,080
including the business award in this?
And do we want to bring that back as

1042
01:25:58,400 --> 01:26:03,679
well? Especially, you know, with all
this conversation about local business

1043
01:26:01,600 --> 01:26:07,040
engagement and get getting the
commission involved with that stuff. Um,

1044
01:26:05,679 --> 01:26:10,800
is that something you guys have interest
in? And is that a conversation we'd like

1045
01:26:08,400 --> 01:26:14,800
to have tonight as well?
Kind of piggybacking off of this.

1046
01:26:12,800 --> 01:26:18,880
» I I just remember I think I brought this
business, it really dropped because I

1047
01:26:16,639 --> 01:26:24,880
think the last one we had was Wendy's um
a long time ago um when they remodeled

1048
01:26:21,840 --> 01:26:29,040
and so I feel like that is a way to also
kind of recognize what Renee brought

1049
01:26:26,800 --> 01:26:34,320
forward earlier. It's a chance to
recognize and spotlight a business

1050
01:26:30,960 --> 01:26:39,199
downtown or within the um ETJ. I think
it's within the ETJ is what it said. Um,

1051
01:26:37,280 --> 01:26:42,239
I'm all I'm all supportive of if the
rest of this board would be I mean

1052
01:26:40,719 --> 01:26:45,440
there's they're separate, right? They're
and I don't think that was done

1053
01:26:43,679 --> 01:26:49,120
seasonally. I think it might have been
just once a year. I don't know.

1054
01:26:47,520 --> 01:26:52,080
» Yeah. Well, that's kind of the question
I guess if we're since we're deciding

1055
01:26:50,719 --> 01:26:55,760
when we want to do the residential
appearance award, do we want the

1056
01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:59,600
business award to be kind of co like to
kind of coincide with that? like do you

1057
01:26:57,760 --> 01:27:03,440
guys when we meet to decide on the
residential award applicants, do we want

1058
01:27:02,000 --> 01:27:07,440
to be deciding on the business award
applicants at the same at the same

1059
01:27:04,960 --> 01:27:11,520
meeting essentially? Um I feel like that
could make it easier to kind of make

1060
01:27:09,679 --> 01:27:16,960
those rolling schedules kind of align
that way. We don't have them mismatched

1061
01:27:13,920 --> 01:27:22,000
and it gets complicated. But
>> well, if the downtown's looking at doing

1062
01:27:18,960 --> 01:27:28,480
like a June July, you could coordinate
that with the residential in June.

1063
01:27:26,320 --> 01:27:33,000
Yeah. Right.
>> Well, time to shine the windows.

1064
01:27:33,840 --> 01:27:37,880
» Like the business.
>> Thank.

1065
01:27:43,520 --> 01:27:51,280
So, just to kind of summarize and make
sure we're kind of making a motion or a

1066
01:27:48,239 --> 01:27:56,239
decision here, do you guys agree or
thumbs uping the um the self-submitt or

1067
01:27:54,159 --> 01:28:01,520
the self-nomination idea we've
presented? And you guys have established

1068
01:27:58,159 --> 01:28:05,600
the months of just just to make sure
January and June,

1069
01:28:03,760 --> 01:28:09,840
» December and June.
>> December and June

1070
01:28:06,639 --> 01:28:13,600
» or December and July. December and July,
>> which

1071
01:28:11,520 --> 01:28:18,320
it's it's where y'all will vote. I mean,
I heard about planting. I do not have a

1072
01:28:15,840 --> 01:28:24,560
green thumb in the slightest, so I don't
know about that kind of thing, but I

1073
01:28:21,520 --> 01:28:29,199
heard comment about that as well. So,
that's I mean, typically, yeah, if it's

1074
01:28:26,719 --> 01:28:32,560
early, if it's submitted in June, I
mean, people are still watering. After

1075
01:28:31,040 --> 01:28:37,199
that, they're like, "Yeah, we're done."
>> Yeah. The heat hasn't hit. Things are

1076
01:28:34,480 --> 01:28:39,520
filled in. So vote on it at your June
meeting or

1077
01:28:38,000 --> 01:28:41,920
» June or July, whatever.
>> That's

1078
01:28:40,000 --> 01:28:45,639
» December and July. I think that's what
we we're here.

1079
01:28:45,840 --> 01:28:51,760
» Our lost call.
>> We said we said June and we originally

1080
01:28:50,239 --> 01:28:54,320
said June and December.
>> Okay,

1081
01:28:52,480 --> 01:28:57,679
» let's just stick with it. June and
evaluate at a later date.

1082
01:28:55,679 --> 01:29:02,080
» We'll stick with June and December.
>> That's when y'all will vote because that

1083
01:28:59,440 --> 01:29:08,000
just helps me work from work backward.
Yeah, because July also, I mean, it's

1084
01:29:06,000 --> 01:29:11,040
around the Fourth of July, so I don't
know if we'll even have a meeting,

1085
01:29:09,360 --> 01:29:14,000
» December. Okay,
>> June and December.

1086
01:29:12,560 --> 01:29:18,639
» That's when y'all will vote. And then
I'll base my social media planning off

1087
01:29:17,520 --> 01:29:20,800
of those dates.
>> Okay.

1088
01:29:18,960 --> 01:29:23,600
» And also, just to confirm, we want the
business award to also be in December

1089
01:29:22,639 --> 01:29:27,520
and June as well.
>> Yes, sir.

1090
01:29:24,320 --> 01:29:32,800
» Perfect. And another question about the
business award before we wrap up here.

1091
01:29:30,000 --> 01:29:35,280
Um, I guess the way that award was done
in the past is the commission would kind

1092
01:29:34,320 --> 01:29:38,719
of like you guys were saying, you guys
would go around and select businesses

1093
01:29:36,880 --> 01:29:42,480
that you liked and kind of appoint them
yourself or nominate them yourselves.

1094
01:29:40,400 --> 01:29:46,960
Guess you guys also allowed for um or
the board allowed also for people to

1095
01:29:44,400 --> 01:29:49,679
email in submissions. So, do we just
kind of want to do something similar

1096
01:29:48,320 --> 01:29:52,000
that to what we discussed with the
residential?

1097
01:29:50,239 --> 01:29:58,320
» Yes, that's the middle. I think
>> the middle. Yeah. and I can work with um

1098
01:29:55,440 --> 01:30:02,560
Renee Ward about getting her sunshine
list of uh business.

1099
01:30:00,480 --> 01:30:07,360
» Yeah, Seth and then that way you know
they're engaged and this is something

1100
01:30:04,960 --> 01:30:11,840
that they you know want to participate
in and it your safness. Thank you so

1101
01:30:09,840 --> 01:30:16,000
much for considering that because many
of days we were like out there like we

1102
01:30:14,159 --> 01:30:23,360
were just taking pictures, you know, and
it's kind of scary um to do that. So

1103
01:30:19,679 --> 01:30:27,360
yeah, I agree 100% self-submittable.
Yeah.

1104
01:30:25,120 --> 01:30:31,440
But how would the December one relate
into the downtown window decoration

1105
01:30:29,360 --> 01:30:36,480
contest? Like if you're already doing
that one for the downtown businesses,

1106
01:30:34,320 --> 01:30:40,239
what are we thinking about?
>> We do a lot downtown. We don't do a lot

1107
01:30:38,560 --> 01:30:42,480
of businesses outside right now.
>> That's correct. That's why I'm just

1108
01:30:41,280 --> 01:30:45,120
trying to make sure that there's a
distinction between the two that y'all

1109
01:30:44,159 --> 01:30:48,480
understand.
>> You kind Miss Ray kind of mentioned it.

1110
01:30:46,800 --> 01:30:53,440
I think we would want the business award
to be for all the whole city, not just

1111
01:30:50,800 --> 01:30:58,000
the downtown. Does um does the sunshine
list include all?

1112
01:30:55,280 --> 01:31:02,080
» Um no, not that I'm aware of. I'm not
sure how far it reaches. Cameron, do you

1113
01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:06,560
know about that?
>> I say the sunshine list really is just

1114
01:31:03,840 --> 01:31:10,960
for interested people and what's going
on inside the city. It's not necessarily

1115
01:31:08,719 --> 01:31:15,920
the downtown people themselves, but Miss
Renee does have a email list of downtown

1116
01:31:14,480 --> 01:31:20,800
businesses, I think, because we have to
send it out whenever we send out our COA

1117
01:31:18,880 --> 01:31:25,920
or facade grant applications. I think
they're all sent out by mail to

1118
01:31:23,040 --> 01:31:30,320
» business. So, we have downtown business,
>> but we're needing to So, that's

1119
01:31:28,320 --> 01:31:36,320
something that um it sounds like the
city could improve upon getting a little

1120
01:31:33,840 --> 01:31:41,520
bit of a more robust and comprehensive
list of businesses, not just downtown.

1121
01:31:39,120 --> 01:31:49,840
I'll see I'll do some digging and see
what um we have access to at the moment.

1122
01:31:46,480 --> 01:31:56,520
great to see where Main Street and
Harden, you know, get involved.

1123
01:31:52,239 --> 01:31:56,520
» Um, that still doesn't necessarily

1124
01:31:56,719 --> 01:32:01,199
address Cameron's point of the two
different.

1125
01:32:00,719 --> 01:32:06,280
» Yeah.
>> So, I think that would be

1126
01:32:02,800 --> 01:32:06,280
» about that. Sure.

1127
01:32:07,199 --> 01:32:15,360
» Yeah. Cheryl, what I don't know, my
brain hurts. Um, yeah, because the

1128
01:32:13,199 --> 01:32:21,040
window contest we do already pick and
recognize. Um, so it does seem like

1129
01:32:17,920 --> 01:32:24,000
that's really a duplication of effort
because I mean Cameron says no, not

1130
01:32:23,600 --> 01:32:29,040
really.
>> Well, I mean,

1131
01:32:26,719 --> 01:32:33,600
the appearance award is for people
outside of the downtown, but of course

1132
01:32:32,000 --> 01:32:36,400
those are going to be running together.
So, I think you just have to make sure

1133
01:32:34,800 --> 01:32:41,120
that whatever you're getting on the
business appearance side is not also

1134
01:32:39,840 --> 01:32:44,480
something that you're getting from the
downtown window decoration side

1135
01:32:42,719 --> 01:32:50,000
» because the downtown window, we're going
to still take the pictures of anyone

1136
01:32:46,159 --> 01:32:54,159
that has put up a display in whatever
theme it is. We're not going to ask for

1137
01:32:51,840 --> 01:32:57,760
self-submitt for that. Is that right?
We're not making because I know we

1138
01:32:55,600 --> 01:33:01,440
usually don't
>> I think we said I think we just sent

1139
01:32:59,520 --> 01:33:03,840
that we were going to do self submitts
for

1140
01:33:02,000 --> 01:33:07,520
» for the window display
>> for the um for the holiday window

1141
01:33:05,760 --> 01:33:10,960
display usually like we would walk
around or Cameron or Jonathan would walk

1142
01:33:09,679 --> 01:33:14,800
around take pictures and then bring it
up in the meeting that's separate from

1143
01:33:13,199 --> 01:33:21,040
business appearance.
>> Okay. So

1144
01:33:17,440 --> 01:33:25,760
» So sorry if I can just interject. So,
we've got

1145
01:33:22,800 --> 01:33:31,280
the residential appearance award. Then
we've got the business beautifification

1146
01:33:28,320 --> 01:33:33,679
award separate from the grant, but the
business beautifification award.

1147
01:33:32,800 --> 01:33:38,000
» Business appearance.
>> Business appearance award. Thank you,

1148
01:33:35,520 --> 01:33:43,280
Jonathan. Um, and that would go to all
of Graham. And then there's also this

1149
01:33:42,080 --> 01:33:46,719
window
>> competition.

1150
01:33:43,920 --> 01:33:47,679
» Competition during the holidays. Is that
correct?

1151
01:33:47,280 --> 01:33:51,120
» Correct.
>> Okay. Sorry, I was just making sure that

1152
01:33:49,199 --> 01:33:56,159
we had that. And that one is just for
downtown businesses.

1153
01:33:54,239 --> 01:34:00,800
Okay. And then that one is not
self-submitt. That is

1154
01:33:58,159 --> 01:34:06,480
» we go and take the pictures.
>> That's kind of like a special excursion

1155
01:34:03,520 --> 01:34:09,480
enrichment for our appearance
commission.

1156
01:34:09,840 --> 01:34:17,920
I think we can keep it all the same
date. Sounds lovely.

1157
01:34:14,080 --> 01:34:22,239
» Yeah. So, did we still dis uh make a dis
um a comment about how we're going to

1158
01:34:20,080 --> 01:34:24,639
distinguish between the what are we
going to

1159
01:34:22,880 --> 01:34:29,840
» have different merits, different roles?
>> The appearance

1160
01:34:27,199 --> 01:34:33,760
help me out. The Graham the business
appearance award.

1161
01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:37,440
» Yeah, the business appearance award is a
self-submitt.

1162
01:34:35,360 --> 01:34:42,239
And so what do they get? What is their
incentive to participate?

1163
01:34:40,400 --> 01:34:44,080
» Get a sign. They get a sign.
>> Have sign.

1164
01:34:42,880 --> 01:34:46,639
» Okay.
They have a

1165
01:34:44,639 --> 01:34:51,600
» we will probably need new signs just
because we have new branding and all of

1166
01:34:48,880 --> 01:34:54,880
that.
>> I think they get a sign, they get

1167
01:34:52,880 --> 01:34:58,719
recognition, they get to be put on, you
know, um the pride of

1168
01:34:56,880 --> 01:35:01,360
» Definitely post.
>> Yeah.

1169
01:34:59,520 --> 01:35:05,120
» I I'm just asking for my clarification
so that I know it's a post.

1170
01:35:03,520 --> 01:35:08,920
» We don't have Sorry.
>> I'm not inter interrogating.

1171
01:35:11,840 --> 01:35:16,960
» Oh, sorry. I think also there's a big
difference between the like a window

1172
01:35:15,600 --> 01:35:20,560
display and like kind of
beautifification outdoor landscaping

1173
01:35:19,280 --> 01:35:23,600
type of thing that you would get with
that.

1174
01:35:21,600 --> 01:35:29,920
» So I think I think there is good
multiple ways to distinguish it

1175
01:35:26,880 --> 01:35:35,239
» but it's up to you guys.
>> We're good.

1176
01:35:32,239 --> 01:35:35,239
» Yeah.

1177
01:35:36,400 --> 01:35:40,080
» All right. I like it.
>> I like it.

1178
01:35:38,960 --> 01:35:43,840
» All right. So
>> thank you so much. Thank y'all.

1179
01:35:42,320 --> 01:35:49,920
» Explore.
>> All right. So, I guess to cap it off, um

1180
01:35:47,520 --> 01:35:53,920
have the calendar pulled up here. Um I
can change it based on the some of the

1181
01:35:51,840 --> 01:35:59,840
conversations that we've had tonight and
I send that out to you guys uh either

1182
01:35:56,560 --> 01:36:03,520
tomorrow or next week. Um, but yeah, is
there anything else regarding the

1183
01:36:01,199 --> 01:36:07,920
upcoming year that y'all have any
questions about or want to kind of

1184
01:36:04,800 --> 01:36:13,719
figure out
or want to plan ahead for aside from

1185
01:36:09,760 --> 01:36:13,719
what we've already discussed today?

1186
01:36:15,760 --> 01:36:22,480
» Are we able to come up with any new
ideas that we're just going to stick to?

1187
01:36:19,760 --> 01:36:28,840
» We have, but I mean, I think we're
sticking to what we have. We can always

1188
01:36:24,880 --> 01:36:28,840
adjust if we need to.

1189
01:36:30,560 --> 01:36:38,880
We good?
>> I think we're good. All right.

1190
01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:43,360
» Okay. Um, so we had discussed opening up
looking at new ideas, new possibilities.

1191
01:36:41,840 --> 01:36:48,639
And what what I'm hearing tonight is
that we're going to try to work on what

1192
01:36:45,600 --> 01:36:58,239
we've discussed tonight and then maybe
look at doing new ideas. Um,

1193
01:36:54,400 --> 01:37:06,000
what what about our goals? Um,
are we going to tie that into just the

1194
01:37:03,040 --> 01:37:11,280
three categories that we just um
discussed or are we going to look for

1195
01:37:08,080 --> 01:37:15,960
trying to fund more projects for
downtown?

1196
01:37:12,960 --> 01:37:15,960
Um,

1197
01:37:16,159 --> 01:37:22,159
going to stay where we are pretty much.
>> I

1198
01:37:20,080 --> 01:37:26,320
I hate to I hate to put Chelsea on the
spot, which I called Megan earlier.

1199
01:37:23,760 --> 01:37:31,040
Sorry, Megan. I'm sure she watches this.
Um, I I think we need to hear from our

1200
01:37:28,560 --> 01:37:35,920
city council and hear from what that
perspective is and what their charge to

1201
01:37:32,960 --> 01:37:39,960
us is for us to develop our goals. I
don't know if that's what you all agree.

1202
01:37:40,000 --> 01:37:47,360
» I I will answer that. Um, but I also
wanted to Are y'all familiar with the

1203
01:37:45,520 --> 01:37:51,119
New Leaf Society?
>> Yes.

1204
01:37:49,040 --> 01:37:56,320
» It's my understanding that we don't have
any current projects with them. Okay.

1205
01:37:54,320 --> 01:38:02,639
but they have projects in almost every
other municipality in Alamance County.

1206
01:37:59,440 --> 01:38:09,280
We don't necessarily have a I think this
board is uh positioned well to

1207
01:38:06,800 --> 01:38:14,880
be the one to explore what positions or
what projects would look like. Um, so if

1208
01:38:12,880 --> 01:38:19,119
you guys could take the charge and do
that and even if even if the goal this

1209
01:38:17,040 --> 01:38:22,639
year is to form that relationship and
and propose new projects at the

1210
01:38:21,280 --> 01:38:29,040
beginning of next year or if it's to
propose fall projects for them um and

1211
01:38:25,199 --> 01:38:33,040
get the ball rolling because I think
that's where we're we're lacking. That's

1212
01:38:31,199 --> 01:38:36,719
why things haven't been connected yet is
the capacity piece. So, if you guys

1213
01:38:34,880 --> 01:38:41,119
wanted to charge that and look around
the city to be like, "Hey, we could

1214
01:38:38,560 --> 01:38:46,400
really use hanging baskets in our
downtown or or whatever it is and then

1215
01:38:44,320 --> 01:38:53,199
come to them to be like, look, this is
what we see. Is there anything that you

1216
01:38:49,280 --> 01:38:58,080
guys really want your name on?" Um, I
spoke with Marcy Green at Impact

1217
01:38:55,760 --> 01:39:04,320
Alamance about
um beautifification stuff and and park

1218
01:39:01,760 --> 01:39:10,080
enhancement around Sesqua Centennial at
its current location. Um,

1219
01:39:07,760 --> 01:39:15,040
that all is is very much up in the air
right now um just because of where

1220
01:39:12,239 --> 01:39:20,159
council is trying to land on Cesco
Centennial. Um, but I think there's a

1221
01:39:18,400 --> 01:39:26,080
lot of inroads that we can make as far
as appearance and and greenery and and

1222
01:39:23,600 --> 01:39:31,679
community partnerships. So, that would
kind of be my like vision and task for

1223
01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:36,880
you guys is making those connections,
having those people here, having those

1224
01:39:34,320 --> 01:39:41,760
conversations, and then coming either to
us as council or to Megan and Burke's

1225
01:39:40,400 --> 01:39:47,280
going to have to be involved because of
public works and watering and all of

1226
01:39:43,520 --> 01:39:52,880
that. But but making those first asks
would be awesome and it would

1227
01:39:50,560 --> 01:39:59,040
leverage your impact because you're
bringing together funding partners for

1228
01:39:55,520 --> 01:40:08,239
the city. Um as far as what city council
is charging you with. Um

1229
01:40:03,040 --> 01:40:13,920
I'm unsure of that as a council. Um,
I think once a decision is made about

1230
01:40:12,080 --> 01:40:18,800
the park,
y'all could be brought into that. I

1231
01:40:16,000 --> 01:40:24,719
don't know. Um, I will say that there is
a special meeting that was called for

1232
01:40:20,960 --> 01:40:32,560
Tuesday. Um,
Proim and uh, Whitaker called it to

1233
01:40:29,360 --> 01:40:37,440
review the RFQS to for the park to move
again. And so we're kind of still in

1234
01:40:34,639 --> 01:40:41,119
that waffling back and forth. So I I
don't know what to tell you as far as

1235
01:40:38,960 --> 01:40:45,760
what council as a board is charging you
for.

1236
01:40:43,360 --> 01:40:51,520
Sorry. I wish I had a clearer answer for
you. Um I will say in the meantime just

1237
01:40:49,520 --> 01:40:55,679
pushing these
they're going to feel smaller but you're

1238
01:40:53,199 --> 01:41:01,119
working on community pride and that is
huge and I understand that it is a soft

1239
01:40:58,800 --> 01:41:06,320
and tangible but we appreciate your
work. Um, so pushing New Leaf forward,

1240
01:41:04,320 --> 01:41:11,440
pushing the
the awards forward. Yes,

1241
01:41:08,480 --> 01:41:15,679
» I think we have a a contact for the
impact. Do we have a name for New Leaf

1242
01:41:15,040 --> 01:41:21,360
Society?
>> Her name's Katie. Yeah, Katie Snider.

1243
01:41:19,600 --> 01:41:26,159
» Is it Smith or something?
>> It was Katie Massie in that winner.

1244
01:41:23,679 --> 01:41:29,600
» Brian Fawson and I sit on the New Leaf
Society committee. Uh,

1245
01:41:28,000 --> 01:41:32,880
» so
know Katie and

1246
01:41:31,600 --> 01:41:35,280
» what's Katie's last name?
>> Snider.

1247
01:41:33,600 --> 01:41:38,400
» Snider. Thank you, sir. Yeah, I
couldn't. Oh, Smith or I couldn't

1248
01:41:37,040 --> 01:41:41,040
remember. Okay.
>> Yeah.

1249
01:41:38,800 --> 01:41:47,280
» So, um
I think we'll start working on some type

1250
01:41:43,360 --> 01:41:51,920
of contact. Um maybe we can do something
um written.

1251
01:41:49,119 --> 01:41:57,119
um and maybe going over and inviting
them over, maybe having a sit down with

1252
01:41:54,639 --> 01:42:03,679
them. Um and maybe we could talk with
the two together and trying to see how

1253
01:42:01,360 --> 01:42:08,040
our involvement and their involvement
how we could kind of join forces.

1254
01:42:13,920 --> 01:42:19,040
So, um
>> one more thing, sorry.

1255
01:42:16,960 --> 01:42:23,760
» Oh, sorry. Um, as I was reading and
getting myself acquainted with

1256
01:42:20,320 --> 01:42:29,119
everything, um, it says that our boards,
um, report annually to the city council.

1257
01:42:27,520 --> 01:42:32,800
And I would love for you guys to come
before city council and just report on

1258
01:42:31,119 --> 01:42:38,560
on what you've done, what you are doing,
what your vision is, because that would

1259
01:42:34,800 --> 01:42:42,880
in turn um, be a really great platform
for us to turn around and say we like

1260
01:42:40,719 --> 01:42:47,360
that. Do more of this or whatever. and
then kind of

1261
01:42:45,199 --> 01:42:53,920
if you need funding then that's when
that would come. Um

1262
01:42:50,560 --> 01:42:58,400
so if you want to talk or look at your
calendar to say hey this is a really

1263
01:42:55,679 --> 01:43:03,679
great time for us to come present if
it's right after you put some awards

1264
01:43:00,880 --> 01:43:07,520
together or whatever. Um y'all let me
know when you want to come before

1265
01:43:05,040 --> 01:43:11,440
council and give your annual report. It
can be five minutes, it can be 12

1266
01:43:09,280 --> 01:43:16,000
minutes. I don't care. Um it can have
pictures. you can just stand up here and

1267
01:43:12,960 --> 01:43:19,920
talk. Um, but I would love to to hear
from these boards and commissions

1268
01:43:17,520 --> 01:43:24,400
because your work is meaningful and I
think the board should hear from you

1269
01:43:22,000 --> 01:43:29,119
guys. I give my reports but we should
hear collectively.

1270
01:43:26,480 --> 01:43:33,199
» So, but thank you for your work.
>> Thank you.

1271
01:43:30,639 --> 01:43:38,800
» It is budget season. So, what does that
I know ta season lovely people like. So,

1272
01:43:36,800 --> 01:43:44,000
what does that look like for this board?
Or maybe that's for Jonathan to tell us

1273
01:43:40,560 --> 01:43:48,880
like for submitting requests or we
usually have this long conversation.

1274
01:43:45,760 --> 01:43:54,080
Cameron's very familiar with it that we
you know we submit up to what we would

1275
01:43:50,800 --> 01:44:00,480
like um covered in um whatever small
resources we have.

1276
01:43:57,199 --> 01:44:03,600
I think that's going to be best. It's
going to be under planning.

1277
01:44:02,080 --> 01:44:06,480
» Okay. Right. It's going to be under your
office or do they they don't have that

1278
01:44:05,280 --> 01:44:09,840
own line item?
>> No, they don't have their own The only

1279
01:44:08,560 --> 01:44:14,480
thing that they have is something that's
earmarked essentially. I think they get

1280
01:44:12,400 --> 01:44:18,719
» Is it in planning though?
>> Planning doesn't have a particular

1281
01:44:15,840 --> 01:44:22,800
budget. It's through inspections kind of
in that area. But I think their money

1282
01:44:21,360 --> 01:44:27,199
comes from
>> a general kind of

1283
01:44:24,800 --> 01:44:30,880
» Do you put that request in or does Aaron
put that into inspections?

1284
01:44:28,960 --> 01:44:35,119
» Essentially what it would come down to
is whatever they are requesting um

1285
01:44:33,040 --> 01:44:37,840
however much funds we would find
whichever item that we would slot in set

1286
01:44:37,199 --> 01:44:41,920
budget. Okay.
>> And place it there for request.

1287
01:44:39,840 --> 01:44:43,040
» I am your liaison. I will be at all your
meetings.

1288
01:44:42,639 --> 01:44:49,760
» Okay.
>> I will say the sooner that you have

1289
01:44:45,679 --> 01:44:56,000
those requests in the better. Um staff
has their personnel requests due the end

1290
01:44:53,520 --> 01:45:01,360
of next week. And so like all the pieces
are are coming into the budget very

1291
01:44:58,080 --> 01:45:07,280
quickly. Um I know that your requests
are a lot smaller than adding three new

1292
01:45:03,440 --> 01:45:11,760
firefighters, but um to get it in now.
Um so if there is any kind of report

1293
01:45:09,199 --> 01:45:15,760
that you want to put together or
whatever it is, go ahead and talk

1294
01:45:14,239 --> 01:45:20,960
amongst yourselves, get it to these
guys, but I will also be copied in on

1295
01:45:17,840 --> 01:45:25,360
this and we'll be able to to hopefully
petition for that.

1296
01:45:22,480 --> 01:45:30,080
» And then for Sorry. No. So then for us
to um like you know I hear I hear um

1297
01:45:28,159 --> 01:45:35,199
Renee that was here earlier
>> um and for us to advocate for wayfinding

1298
01:45:32,400 --> 01:45:40,400
or banners or signage or things that
really would make the city more

1299
01:45:37,360 --> 01:45:47,280
attractive and all of that.
>> What um what budget hearing should we

1300
01:45:43,360 --> 01:45:52,000
come to if that is our um purpose if we
want to advocate for those? What would

1301
01:45:49,920 --> 01:45:57,480
you recommend
from a from a board perspective?

1302
01:45:54,480 --> 01:45:57,480
» Um,

1303
01:45:57,920 --> 01:46:06,400
» before the fiscal year is July 1st,
>> but we the board gets to see the budget

1304
01:46:04,159 --> 01:46:11,840
in May. And so Megan's starting to put
it together

1305
01:46:08,239 --> 01:46:16,000
in the next couple of months. Um, I
don't know if there's since I'm new to

1306
01:46:13,679 --> 01:46:19,360
this, this is my first um I don't know
if there's a downtown or if you just

1307
01:46:17,679 --> 01:46:22,639
want to put together a document that
says like these are the appearance

1308
01:46:20,719 --> 01:46:25,920
commission's goals. Y'all can reach for
this guy and be like we want to do

1309
01:46:24,080 --> 01:46:29,679
wayfinding and you can work with Kaylee.
I don't know. Um, have you pulled

1310
01:46:27,360 --> 01:46:33,199
numbers for wayfinding yet? They're way
more expensive than you think they are.

1311
01:46:31,760 --> 01:46:37,520
» Um,
>> I think that would have to do

1312
01:46:35,199 --> 01:46:41,760
essentially maybe after like that main
meeting where you meet with Renee.

1313
01:46:38,880 --> 01:46:46,320
» Yeah. Is determine maybe some areas in
which you would like to place in or not

1314
01:46:44,000 --> 01:46:49,280
even multiple downtown people inside of
there. Where do you want to put these?

1315
01:46:47,920 --> 01:46:52,960
» How many signs?
>> How much they cost? Get that in a

1316
01:46:51,360 --> 01:46:58,000
detailed report to us which would then
be ported over to next probably fiscal

1317
01:46:55,840 --> 01:47:03,520
year's budget whenever it is not next
year for actual consideration awarding

1318
01:47:00,560 --> 01:47:07,280
funds. That's my thoughts. I apologize
for

1319
01:47:04,320 --> 01:47:12,480
» No, you're good. I think
and even if you don't wait till

1320
01:47:10,400 --> 01:47:16,880
May, if you could put something together
in the coming months that just say we

1321
01:47:14,560 --> 01:47:21,840
want wayfinding and we want banners and
we want this and you can get very very

1322
01:47:19,360 --> 01:47:25,920
rough numbers,
will they be included in this budget?

1323
01:47:23,920 --> 01:47:29,600
But if you try now and you say this is
the second time we've tried next year

1324
01:47:27,840 --> 01:47:36,400
then
but I also know that uh the council has

1325
01:47:33,440 --> 01:47:41,440
wanted banners for a while. I I believe
I don't it it depends on what day

1326
01:47:39,199 --> 01:47:44,159
sometimes but I believe that that is
something that they're consistent.

1327
01:47:42,560 --> 01:47:48,440
» If I had a dollar for every time I said
banner I could buy the weight

1328
01:47:48,560 --> 01:47:52,400
» closer than they have been. Oh, look.
Listen.

1329
01:47:50,719 --> 01:47:55,760
» Are you still have do you still have in
your plan with the council for the the

1330
01:47:54,880 --> 01:47:58,159
flags?
>> That's banners.

1331
01:47:56,560 --> 01:48:01,199
» That's the banners. Is that one of the
same? Yeah, that's what I was asking.

1332
01:47:59,600 --> 01:48:07,280
» They're closer than they've ever
>> But it's still in the works. We had

1333
01:48:03,920 --> 01:48:11,040
picked a vendor and they had pricing.
>> Seen any of that? But I will check on

1334
01:48:10,239 --> 01:48:14,280
that. I know that
>> it's through

1335
01:48:14,880 --> 01:48:22,560
it talked about ago about it.
>> Mus is good. these that we have down

1336
01:48:19,679 --> 01:48:26,480
here, Sumbrella. They're so expensive.
>> Um, but anyway, yes, there was quotes.

1337
01:48:24,800 --> 01:48:32,159
They're going to have to be reququed.
Those are too old. They're going to have

1338
01:48:28,320 --> 01:48:37,520
to be redesigned, requ
>> the staff has.

1339
01:48:33,040 --> 01:48:42,639
» Yeah, the staff's working on that. Um,
so I don't know if that's something that

1340
01:48:39,440 --> 01:48:44,960
I would put on your list. I would dream
bigger with wayfinding and and other

1341
01:48:44,480 --> 01:48:50,320
stuff.
>> Waveinding. Um,

1342
01:48:47,920 --> 01:48:54,159
» but yeah, start pushing for stuff that
you know that we need cuz somebody's got

1343
01:48:52,400 --> 01:48:56,000
to.
>> Okay.

1344
01:48:54,400 --> 01:48:58,719
» Well, we can pull something together.
Definitely.

1345
01:48:56,639 --> 01:49:06,000
» Yeah. Um, ask for money all the time.
>> Endless money.

1346
01:49:01,600 --> 01:49:10,880
» Definitely. Red carpet. To the meeting.
>> Okay. Yeah. So, um, okay. So, this has

1347
01:49:09,119 --> 01:49:16,000
been very productive. Thank you for
everybody's input. I mean this has

1348
01:49:12,960 --> 01:49:23,040
really made things clearer and it made
it um made me feel very um comfortable

1349
01:49:19,840 --> 01:49:29,520
by knowing that you did just see the
danger in some of the activities that we

1350
01:49:25,679 --> 01:49:34,400
have been performing. um you know, so um
I thank you for that and we look forward

1351
01:49:31,840 --> 01:49:41,600
to working closer with you and and kind
of getting that gap smaller um and just

1352
01:49:38,320 --> 01:49:46,400
working on all of these new things and
coming together and it's exciting.

1353
01:49:43,440 --> 01:49:50,880
Cheryl likes to be busy and getting our
numbers together. So, and we will

1354
01:49:48,480 --> 01:49:55,280
definitely do a grid as well part of our
presentation so we can be able to

1355
01:49:53,520 --> 01:50:00,880
clearly look at it. We'll work closely
with Mr. Buckley. Um, and maybe we just

1356
01:49:58,800 --> 01:50:06,960
have to take some things off one of our
agendas and just kind of get our report

1357
01:50:04,239 --> 01:50:12,719
together and then we'll turn it back in
to Mr. Buckley, have him over, you know,

1358
01:50:10,000 --> 01:50:18,639
overlook it and see if there's any
discrepancies or anything we shouldn't

1359
01:50:14,560 --> 01:50:22,480
be saying. Um, and then we will make an
appearance to the council with our

1360
01:50:21,040 --> 01:50:24,880
report.
>> Wonderful.

1361
01:50:23,280 --> 01:50:26,480
» All right.
>> Okay. Thank you.

1362
01:50:25,760 --> 01:50:32,880
» All right.
>> Okay. Um, so we've had the updates from

1363
01:50:28,960 --> 01:50:36,080
the city uh other than staff updates.
>> None on my part unless Cameron has

1364
01:50:35,119 --> 01:50:39,840
anything.
>> I was supposed to be

1365
01:50:39,280 --> 01:50:45,360
» We love you.
>> No, we love Yes. Thank you.

1366
01:50:43,440 --> 01:50:48,239
» Stay engaged. Okay. Within
>> motion to adjurnn.

1367
01:50:46,560 --> 01:50:52,239
» I'll make a motion to start the meeting
again. No. Motion to adjurnn.

1368
01:50:51,679 --> 01:50:53,840
» Second.
>> I second that.

1369
01:50:52,960 --> 01:50:59,159
» All in favor?
>> I. Thank you God so much. Great meeting.