[0:02] Start recording. Started
[0:10] » lunch.
[0:28] Thank you.
[0:36] Oh my head.
[1:10] It's just not
[1:15] » just recorded on here. Anybody needs it?
It'll be recorded on.
[1:18] » All right. Thanks, K.
[1:22] All right, we're good. We can resume.
Okay,
[1:25] » just not where we are. Okay, so if we
can just look at the minutes um you have
[1:31] those if you have read over them for um
[1:38] January 2026. Did you get to that
meeting, Miss Odell? Okay. Yes, you were
[1:45] here. All right. I move to approve the
minutes.
[1:50] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[1:52] » I
>> I.
[1:53] » All opposed.
Minutes will be admitted as submitted.
[1:59] We have uh a business beautifification
grant for 202 Main Street that we'd like
[2:05] to go over tonight. Here's our proposal.
Is there a representative here tonight
[2:10] for Okay. If you please come forward,
state your name and your address.
[2:18] Adam Miller, that's 202 North Main.
Thank you. It's
[2:22] » the same pretty well. The slight change
is that we did get the updated quote to
[2:27] have the um front-facing sign be painted
and lighting upgraded to match what's
[2:32] going to be in the new side facing sign.
So, that was the only thing we were
[2:35] waiting on from the last meeting and
that came through. So, other than that,
[2:39] everything we talked about before is the
same. So, don't know if there's any
[2:43] other information you need from me. Now,
I think that's all we asked for. Um,
[2:47] » yes, ma'am.
>> Yeah, he's provided the updated quote.
[2:50] Um, unlike the previous submitts where
there were two quotes, um, this submitt
[2:54] has only one quote covering both sides
of the project. Um, adding the new
[2:58] projecting sign and we're kind of
refurbishing the existing wall sign. Um,
[3:03] the quote is $8,956.86.
And if you match that on a 50-50 basis,
[3:09] that'll be $4,47843.
And uh if you guys approve this, that
[3:16] will leave $10.56 left over in the bud
budget for the business beautifification
[3:21] grant. So
Okay. Okay. And we heard his um
[3:28] explanation
last month. Were there any other
[3:32] concerns other than what we He's already
submitted his new proposal.
[3:38] Um I I looked at it earlier. I didn't
see anything any discrepancies. Miss
[3:43] Paul, do you have anything?
>> Yeah. And I spoke with the city guys
[3:48] over the last month or so about the
>> Mhm.
[3:52] » So it sounds like that even a
replacement of some of those is on the
[3:57] table at some point if they can get
things funded. So hopefully they're
[4:01] going to trim those down around us a
little bit to help for now. But yeah.
[4:05] » Okay. Yeah. Good. That's good.
>> All righty.
[4:10] Okay.
>> Okay.
[4:13] » Thank you, sir. Okay. So, he has asked
for the um
[4:19] » 10
budget.
[4:22] » Yeah. Do the 100%.
Yeah, we had left that in the budget.
[4:27] Okay.
So, I move to approve.
[4:32] » Okay. I second that motion. All in
favor?
[4:36] » I Anyone opposing? Okay. Thank you, sir.
>> Good luck.
[4:40] » All right. Appreciate it. Thank you.
>> All right.
[4:44] » All right. So, now we're going to move
to the future business. We're going to
[4:48] make some changes to that. So, we were
going to have Arbor Day. Brandy, if you
[4:53] would come first, please. We're going to
get that. We have other items of
[4:57] discussion. And then after Brandy, we're
going to come up uh with the local
[5:02] business involvement and have Miss um
Russell who's here also tonight. Thank
[5:08] you for coming. Excited to hear what you
have to say. And so that would be the
[5:12] order of the changes. And then we would
take the goals and the ideas 5B and we
[5:17] would move that to 5e. And then local
business would move up. U residential
[5:23] appearance award would move up to the
one level up. Okay. Is anybody opposed
[5:30] of that order that we are changing?
Okay. Thank you. Miss McCandless, if you
[5:34] could please just speak your name and
the purpose of you being here tonight so
[5:39] everybody here knows what's going on.
>> Okay. Um Brandy McCandless with Graham
[5:44] Recreation and Parks. I'm the marketing
supervisor, but I also have programs and
[5:48] events and Arbor Day and Graham um is
one of the programs I plan with the
[5:54] parents commission.
>> Okay.
[5:56] » Um so I brought you a packet. Um it's
very similar packet that you've seen in
[6:00] the past. Um the information you
received from Jonathan um in your agenda
[6:06] packet was just a summary um while these
events and programs were in the planning
[6:12] phases kind of just to give you an
update of where things stood at that
[6:15] time. Um the first page is just the so
social media um schedule at this time um
[6:23] how um information will go out and how
frequently. So Tuesdays and Saturdays,
[6:28] information will go out from covering
the events and programs as well as
[6:34] education pieces for the community um
through our Facebook, Instagram um and
[6:41] then we also utilize our email um to our
reg through our registration software
[6:47] that goes out to about 6,000 at this
time.
[6:55] And then the second page is just general
information. You've asked in the past
[6:59] about advertising and how we advertise
through the schools. We've utilized
[7:03] Peach Jar, which is a email um software
where we can send flyers out to the
[7:08] schools. That's how they prefer we
communicate with parents and faculty
[7:13] um when we're advertising programs and
events. Um, usually I send if I utilize
[7:20] peach charts in the fall, um, engagement
is usually best then, usually come
[7:26] spring, um, engagement's a lot lower.
Um, I guess because parents are
[7:31] receiving so many emails and it's such a
busy time. Um, so that's just
[7:35] information about the cost for
information going out about Arbor Day
[7:38] and Graham if that's something you
choose. Um, we also have the city Graham
[7:43] that goes out through our public
relations specialist that we can add
[7:49] Arbor Day and Graham events to that
information um, when that time comes.
[7:55] But all the other information is just
general information that we include on
[7:59] the city of Graham website on the Arbor
Day and Graham page. It covers general
[8:05] information about what Arbor Day and
Graham is as well as the mission of the
[8:10] appearance commission and tree board as
far as being advocates for planting and
[8:14] preservation of trees within the city of
Graham. Um it also gives explanation as
[8:20] to what tree city USA is. Um one of the
reasons why we offer our tree planting
[8:25] ceremony uh for the town for the city.
Um, I've included a recap of the
[8:31] activities from last year so you can see
how much participation and engagement we
[8:37] had. Um, and to decide if that's
something we want to move forward with,
[8:41] changes we need to make um, to enhance
engagement or to replace with a new
[8:49] activity.
um for 2025 through I mean 2026 through
[8:55] Graham Recreation and Parks, we have um
created two new events for Arbor Day and
[9:02] Graham through our department. Um
throughout the spring and summer months,
[9:08] we offer a chill and thrill park popup
event where we take our mobile
[9:12] recreation van out into Graham Regional
Park. Um, we usually try to set those up
[9:18] during school breaks, but we also know
there's homeschool and um, smaller
[9:22] children that are in the parks as well.
So, we already have a captive audience,
[9:26] so that's a good time to go out with the
park and play, create activities for the
[9:30] kids um, and to promote all the
activities going on throughout our um,
[9:35] our city and throughout recreation and
parks. So, one of those programs is
[9:39] April 6th. Um we're popping up on Monday
from 10:00 to 12:00 and we're going to
[9:44] offer tremendous bingo as part of the
program. Um families can come out play
[9:51] bingo with us. That is during spring
break and
[9:55] um the New Leaf Society will be um
donating tree saplings as prizes. So
[10:01] between our bingo sessions, um we'll be
able to give out fun tree facts to the
[10:06] kids and each of the trees that go out
will also have information and QR codes
[10:11] as to how to plant trees and about the
tree that they'll be taking home with
[10:14] them that day. So education piece, a way
to f get folks out into the parks. Um
[10:19] and then just a theme um something
different for families to participate
[10:23] in. Um, we're also offering um, leaves,
light and lenses, a smartphone
[10:29] photography and parks opportunity with
um, the Elizabeth Larson Photography
[10:34] Studio. They're coming out to offer that
program. There is a charge for the
[10:38] program, but it will be at Bill Cookook
Park um, the park where we've just added
[10:42] so many new trees. Um so it'll give us a
chance to also educate the public about
[10:48] um all the trees that were planted while
they were planted and while they are
[10:51] there um our staff will be able to walk
and educate them on the different types
[10:56] of trees um in the park. So a great
education opportunity um and hopefully
[11:01] when they walk away with that knowledge
of the smartphone photography um they'll
[11:05] be able to utilize it in the park
because Bill Cook Park is a new
[11:08] ecoexplore location with Graham
Regration and Parks. So we now have
[11:12] three locations. Um, so another fun way
to get families out into the parks.
[11:19] Um, that are that's our two new
programs. But exploring last year's
[11:24] programs we had, this is what we need to
talk about as far as with the parents
[11:28] commission is the Arbor Day art contest,
the kindness rock hunt, and the tree
[11:35] planting ceremony. Um
[11:40] so we can start with the Arbor Day art
contest. Um last year we accepted
[11:47] entries from March 17th through April
6th. However, we only had four pieces of
[11:53] art submitted. There were four prizes um
and all four were distributed.
[11:59] Um, so the year before that we offered a
poem contest and it had small numbers of
[12:06] folks participating and that's why we
expanded into the art contest to allow
[12:10] more um types of media to come in um to
be judged. So what what's your input on
[12:18] the art contest?
Um I I really think excuse me Chanc
[12:25] speaking with the museum um they were
very engaged. Um they um offered a lot
[12:32] of different suggestions as far as
resources for us to tap into which we
[12:37] got the results from the four entries
that we did get. So I think it uh was
[12:43] very nice if we can just interact. I
don't know it's a lot of restrictions.
[12:47] I'm sure you're aware more than what I
am about how to contact and reach out to
[12:52] the students. So, there's a special
process I understand that we have to go
[12:56] through. Um, and with that having been
said, I don't know if we have enough
[13:01] time now, but I think we should to get
their art department involved
[13:07] um this year and maybe we could get more
entries. And that was one of the things
[13:12] that I was interested in doing,
reaching out to them. to middle and high
[13:18] school and elementary, all three levels.
>> But I think last year you had brought up
[13:24] um the rehab um pre what's down here?
>> The one
[13:29] » the rehab place.
>> Peak resources. Peak.
[13:32] » Peak resources. Peak. Yeah, that's
>> so they wanted to do something.
[13:36] » Yeah, that's my second thing. That's
right. And so the activity director at
[13:40] Peak Resources is also interested in
having some of their people um make
[13:47] entries. Um they were kind of ready to
go, but we hadn't ex explored that yet
[13:52] with you. So we kind of put it on hold.
>> So um if you would like to um for us to
[13:59] reach back out to them or you um we
could definitely explore that as well.
[14:05] But those were the two things. um that I
had to discuss or suggestions.
[14:13] » I think we can also utilize the Alamance
partnership for children. Um I don't
[14:18] think there's any sort of fee or
anything associated with partnering with
[14:22] them or at least getting the word out.
Um
[14:26] just a suggestion.
[14:32] So, would you like to keep all the same
criteria and guidelines as last year?
[14:38] And are you wanted to add any other
categories last year? Um,
[14:46] » the C painting, drawing, photography,
and poetry. Yeah.
[14:52] » Right. There was
>> cuz the prizes went out to um elementary
[14:59] and then there was a first, second, and
third place adult. I think then we
[15:03] wanted to have elementary, middle, high,
and an adult category.
[15:07] » But we didn't get the entry so we kind
of doubled up on some of them.
[15:13] » So would you like to keep those
initial categories, the elementary,
[15:18] middle, and high school and
>> adult?
[15:21] » Yeah. Um, if we're reaching out to
Elements Partnership with Children,
[15:24] they're mostly early education. So, do
you want to add that category as well
[15:30] for the like under five?
>> Okay.
[15:39] I can also um bring that information
there. I'm on the board there, so I can
[15:45] definitely pass that word along.
>> Okay. Um the next thing is what dates
[15:52] would you like um entries to be
accepted? Last year it was March 17th
[15:57] through April 6th. Um but if we make a
decision tonight, it could be during the
[16:02] month of March. That way you can make a
decision at your April meeting.
[16:07] » That sounds good.
>> Okay.
[16:10] » Good.
[16:14] » And then you'll make a decision at the
April meeting.
[16:24] So, you're just going to start March 1st
through the 31st
[16:28] » for accepting entries.
>> Okay.
[16:30] » Um and those um entries could be dropped
off at the Graham Recreation Center. We
[16:35] also had the option to email um which is
we did have entry come through that way
[16:40] through from our elementary student.
[16:48] » Okay.
Is that okay with
[16:52] » we changed it extended date to April
3rd. Is that
[16:55] » Good Friday then?
>> Yeah it is.
[16:59] We'll just keep it for the month of
March. I think the board has already
[17:04] » stated that that would be fine. Okay.
Bunch them all should be fine.
[17:08] Right. Perfect.
And um do you have any suggestions or
[17:15] would you be reaching out to the
schools?
[17:18] » I can reach out to the art departments.
Um are you wanting to extend to just
[17:25] Graham or extend out to Elements County
schools?
[17:32] you are city for Graham, but we do
service the Alamance entire county. So I
[17:38] think Yeah.
>> Okay. I just wanted to check because we
[17:40] did have participants must live in
Alamance County as part of the criteria,
[17:44] but I just wanted to
>> Alamance County. Yeah, Alamance County.
[17:48] Yeah, this
>> give us more territory and more
[17:52] opportunity.
We did have a um group come last year um
[17:59] daycare.
>> Yeah.
[18:01] » Group.
>> Yes.
[18:03] » Which really made it it was just a a
moment. Um I don't know. Did anyone get
[18:08] their contact information? Do we know
how to reach back out to them who they
[18:12] were? Because
>> I never got walk over.
[18:16] » I think was singing with the choir. So I
never really got a chance to really
[18:19] » I think they walked over that and that's
why they were able to come last year
[18:23] because they walked.
>> Do we on Main Street? There is a daycare
[18:28] on Main Street that's about a block away
from the rec center,
[18:31] » right? So I think they had walked over.
>> Maybe we could re try to find them
[18:36] again.
>> That was good. They were there. They
[18:40] were cute.
Um and then we would just need um the
[18:46] art contest prizes and in the past the
um appearance commission has reached out
[18:51] for those.
Um
[18:54] » more than happy to pursue that for you
again this year. Uh let's talk about the
[19:01] numbers and the so we had the cal
categories are going to be elementary,
[19:05] middle, and high. And so we need how
many? You're going to do three for each
[19:10] category. We've only done last year we
only had planned to do one for each
[19:15] category and for this year it would be
five and under or under kindergarten and
[19:22] under um elementary, middle, high and
adult.
[19:27] » And it just be one one adult not not
three adults. I think first, second,
[19:32] third.
>> So we don't need as many. So that's good
[19:35] because we had so many last year.
>> We got extras. But we did have some that
[19:39] rolled. Didn't Buffalo Lanes roll over
on Mebon?
[19:44] » There were six um bowling coupons left
for this year. We also when we get to
[19:51] kindness rocks, there were two rocks
that were never turned in. They were
[19:54] found
>> um I couldn't find them where I had put
[19:58] them. Um but there were two that were
found, but the um they had never um
[20:04] cashed in for their prizes. So, we do
have those available too if the
[20:07] businesses are still they're still valid
with the businesses.
[20:12] Um, so yes, we need
four, let's see, five prizes, um, age
[20:19] appropriate prizes for the Arbor Day
contest, art contest.
[20:39] and we can discuss the date we would
like or we can just start today. Um um
[20:45] getting ideas or going and talking with
vendors, business owners,
[20:50] sooner the better.
And as you have them, last year you just
[20:55] brought them by um to my office and then
I packaged them and put them with their
[21:00] different categories.
>> Absolutely.
[21:02] » And I handled reaching out to the um
>> What date would you like in by like the
[21:07] very last day you want?
>> It would be great to have them I would
[21:12] say by mid-Marchch. That gives you about
a month but some time to advertise what
[21:17] those prizes are going to be and repres
recognize those sponsors for the prizes.
[21:25] » No, when I I'm looking at the six
bowling coupons from last year, I think
[21:29] we uh Mr. Britt uh brought those aboard
and I think he said that he had spoken
[21:33] with the owner and he said that he would
extend those and wouldn't be a
[21:38] expiration date pretty much. If that
haven't been said, if we could do a
[21:42] drawing, maybe we could post a drawing
for the day of maybe to entice people to
[21:49] come out. Maybe we could use those for
that. And just
[21:53] » Are you referring to the tree planting
ceremony?
[21:56] » For the arbor
>> for your drawing. Okay.
[21:58] » Yes. For the drawing for the tree plant
ceremony.
[22:01] » Okay. Well, just so you know, um,
three of the gift certificates were for
[22:08] $50 and three were for 25.
So that
[22:14] fairly high for a draw. You may want to
consider using those for one of the
[22:18] other um prizes.
[22:24] So,
>> and then we also
[22:29] have a $25 um gift certificate to the
broom closet and a $20 gift certificate
[22:35] to Sutton's that were not um picked up.
[22:44] » Okay. So, you got $20 for the broom
closet,
[22:47] » 25 for the broom closet, and
>> and $20 for Sutton. and that's if
[22:52] they're still valid for this year's
events. Those were um prizes for the
[22:58] Rock Hunt.
We try to make sure um especially since
[23:03] the Rock Hunt was in downtown Graham
that those downtown businesses were the
[23:07] ones recognized um during that
particular event.
[23:14] » Do they have an expiration date?
>> Um I'll have to check.
[23:18] » Okay. because we can ask them if it
would be okay to reuse them. Okay.
[23:28] » So, is there anything else for the Arbor
Day art contest?
[23:46] We have it. Um, the city of Grandma
Parents Commission and Tree Board
[23:50] invites the community to show off their
creativity and create art for Arbor Day.
[23:54] The theme last year was all about trees.
Art categories can include painting,
[23:59] drawing, photography, poetry, etc.
That was we kept it very vague and we
[24:06] had some great the four that came in
were great entries.
[24:11] Would
you allow them to resubmit
[24:16] those entries?
I'm just I'm asking because it could be
[24:21] a question.
I don't believe so.
[24:24] » Okay.
[24:28] » Answer. Yeah, the answer was no.
[24:33] » Yes.
[24:37] » Thought that would be your answer, but I
still wanted to ask.
[24:40] » Yes, ma'am.
All right, if we're good with the art
[24:43] contest, we can move on to the next. Um,
the other one was the Arbor Day kindness
[24:49] rock hunt in downtown Graham. It was
held during the month of April or while
[24:55] prizes lasted. We had five rocks. Um,
they were all found um like I said, but
[25:01] two were not um submitted to us for
their prize. Um, several rocks were
[25:07] found duplicate times. Um, so we did let
them um we had so many tree saplings
[25:15] that we were giving away last year, we
were able to at least give them a tree
[25:17] sapling um for participating.
Um, but
[25:23] I would like I have um suggestions for
the rock hunt for this year. Um, last
[25:28] year the rocks had different themes on
them. I think the theme for to keep with
[25:35] the rocks is um for this year to have
larger rocks about the size of like a
[25:40] palm and paint those and paint them with
specific tree leaves. And I'd like to
[25:46] wrap each of the rocks like with a piece
of twine and like a laminated card. and
[25:52] on that card to have how to um fit in
your rock for a prize. Um but also have
[25:58] information about the leaf that's on
that rock um about the tree. Um to give
[26:04] that education piece and to bring
everything together as far as making the
[26:09] rock hunt truly relatable with Arbor Day
and Graham and why we're doing it. Um
[26:16] and to also require them to turn in the
rock to claim the prize. that way we can
[26:21] reuse them for the future. Um, and then
it's not being found multiple times.
[26:27] Um, and I was hoping to hide six rocks
this year and that and then we would
[26:32] need six prizes. Um, and like I said in
the past we've done we've asked for
[26:36] those six prizes to be with downtown
businesses
[26:40] um to connect folks coming downtown and
then to hopefully get them into the
[26:45] businesses after they search for their
rocks for a possible prize.
[26:50] Are you going to do the laminated cards
and the twine that Okay,
[26:56] » I really like that idea.
>> Yeah.
[27:06] » So, you have six, you're suggesting six
rocks
[27:09] » with tree leaves.
>> Yes. Yes. To highlight different local
[27:15] well different native trees.
[27:20] And I can work on finding the rocks and
getting those painted
[27:25] if you'd like.
[27:30] » You were going to do the rocks. Yeah.
>> Did you say? Okay. If you want to do
[27:34] those. Okay.
[27:44] Then we'll just get the prizes.
>> Four getting five prizes.
[27:54] » Okay.
>> And we had um both kids and adults that
[27:57] found the rocks in the past. So,
a very wide range of ages.
[28:03] » We'll find out from the broom closet if
we can reuse that gift certificate and
[28:09] Sutton.
[28:13] So, we need six prizes for the um rock
hunt.
[28:23] So, with broom closet and Sutton will
has no expiration date or will extend
[28:28] their expiration date. Are we taking
those two from the five that
[28:33] » Yes, you can. Okay.
>> We need a total of 11
[28:38] prizes.
>> Prizes.
[28:40] Okay,
[29:01] Buffalo wings.
[29:08] All right. Anyone have any questions or
with this category?
[29:14] Okay.
[29:17] And then our final um event for Arbor
Day and Graham is the tree planting
[29:22] ceremony.
Um and at this time I have spoken with
[29:26] our parks team um as well as our youth
program director. Um, and we're looking
[29:33] at having the tree planting ceremony on
Arbor Day, which is Friday, April 24th
[29:38] from 10 to 11:00 with the tree planting
ceremony beginning at 10:00 and that's
[29:44] the time we've done in the past. Um, at
Bill Cook Park um there is a location by
[29:50] the playground and shelter one near
field three um where a tree could be
[29:55] planted. Uh we do not have um anyone
that it's reserved for at this time for
[30:03] in memory of or in honor of. We do have
a
[30:08] tree donation um process um where the
community can submit in to donate a tree
[30:13] into a park. Um I'm not sure how many or
who has came in at this time, but in the
[30:18] past we have recognized individuals who
have um made a difference within our
[30:24] like parks or um previous employees that
um are no longer with us um and
[30:30] recognize them. Um, so that's something
to consider if there is someone in mind
[30:35] um who has truly contributed to our
community, a time to recognize them,
[30:40] especially if they're connected to the
park um or those facilities in some way.
[30:45] » And how much is a donation for the tree?
>> 150 to
[30:53] » I don't have it in this packet. I'll
have to look um because I know that
[30:57] price did change.
>> It did. I know it was like 80 at one
[31:01] point.
>> I think it's 150.
[31:02] » Yeah,
>> it is on our website, but I can get that
[31:06] information to you.
>> 150. So, um I do have a suggestion uh
[31:13] for the tree planting ceremony and the
person was a school teacher. Um
[31:21] and I guess her husband um he's still
living some years old. Um,
[31:29] and they are going to go online
[31:34] and make the application that's online
that indicates it's $150.
[31:41] And so they would make that check
payable to the recreation department or
[31:46] how would we do that? I
>> believe it's to the friends of
[31:48] recreation and parks.
>> Friends. Okay.
[31:51] » All right.
And I was expecting them to be here.
[31:58] Right.
>> Um, and
[32:00] » how how soon or and what is the deadline
for getting that nominee to you?
[32:12] » And to see when we need to have the
ceremony schedule finalized. One second.
[32:21] Could
[32:31] it be before your April meeting? That
way we could discuss it at the April
[32:35] meeting to confirm.
[32:44] Oh, the April meeting is
[32:53] Yeah, nothing.
[33:07] And I've spoken with our youth program
director. Um he works closely with North
[33:14] Graham Elementary and their mentor
program and there is a group of kids um
[33:21] that he may be able to bring over for
the tree planting ceremony that day.
[33:30] And if they're there, we're actually
able to get the kids there. I know last
[33:34] year um the small kids helped to put
mulch around the tree after it was
[33:39] planted, but I think it would be great
to have some sort of activity um that
[33:44] they participate in directly after the
ceremony um that has education piece to
[33:49] it, something hands-on. And it'd be
really great if the parents commission
[33:54] was part of that hands-on opportunity
with them, especially in the leadership
[33:59] roles that you're in and working as part
of that mentorship program that's coming
[34:03] over. Um could be a great opportunity.
>> I I had a suggestion. I saw something. I
[34:08] don't know how many children it would
be. I don't know if we could make a
[34:11] board that big. But I saw something that
had like um not bowling ball size, but
[34:15] maybe
grapefruit size holes and it had the
[34:21] plastic buckets like what they use
sometimes for Easter. And the soil was
[34:27] available and some shovels. And
actually, you know what? It may have
[34:30] been just a little Easter bucket with
the shovel. And um they had a small
[34:36] tree.
they actually was able to go over it.
[34:41] So, they stabilized it. It was
stationary with the hole that was in the
[34:46] board and they had the buckets there and
they would go up and they would plant
[34:50] their tree.
Um, and then there was uh on like a
[34:58] freestanding
video
[35:02] and I think they were all the same type
of tree and it plan and telling them
[35:08] about and it was age appropriate telling
them about the tree and how it's uh how
[35:14] it grows, how tall it gets and where
it's mostly found. And I guess we could
[35:19] make one of the choice of whatever type
of tree we're being donated this year.
[35:23] Have you gotten
>> I do not know what type of tree it's
[35:26] going to be. Um
we'll be working with um someone from
[35:31] the arburetum to make that decision.
[35:37] » How old will the children be? We know I
know it's elementary but
[35:42] » yeah I'm not sure um which ages he'll be
bringing over that day. Um, I know it
[35:47] will be a small group, so it could be
maybe 10 to 20 kids possibly. I know his
[35:54] mentorship um, program is growing um,
with kids, so I'm not sure how many yet.
[36:02] I told him I would know more after this
meeting to kind of give them a better
[36:05] idea.
>> Okay,
[36:07] » I like the idea.
[36:20] So to move forward with the tree
planting ceremony, um in the past the
[36:24] tree board has invited city council to
come out and join us that day. Um and as
[36:30] far as the ceremony schedule, last
year's um ceremony schedule's on the
[36:35] next page.
is deciding if we're going to keep the
[36:39] same schedule lineup and topics, who's
going to cover each of those topics and
[36:43] speak um during the ceremony. Um but if
that could be looked at during this
[36:49] month and we can make the final decision
on the actual ceremony um at the April
[36:54] 6th meeting
and then that's when we would confirm
[36:59] who would um be attending. And then we
also need to know if anyone from the
[37:03] family would be speaking as part of the
ceremony schedule.
[37:08] Um, we'll reach out to the Forest
Service to see if they'll be attending
[37:12] that day. Um, Tim with public works, Tim
Coington, um, he has already checked
[37:17] with Tree City USA and he's received
that paperwork and the proclamation for
[37:22] the event.
>> And I'll also reach out to the library
[37:26] to see if they'd like to attend again
this year. um they've attended in the
[37:30] past uh with information about their um
seed library and different um outreach
[37:36] opportunities they have um for educating
about trees and other gardening
[37:40] opportunities.
[37:43] Um, but the ceremony itself, like I
said, it's on the next page and um, we
[37:48] can talk about that tonight or um, we
could do planning and
[37:54] decide next month who will be speaking
for each of those parts and if that's
[37:58] the schedule you want to keep.
[38:03] I'm looking at the outline from last
year. Um,
[38:09] Oops.
[38:15] don't know the type of tree. So, we'll
fill that in. Um
[38:22] add if he was able to bring the
children,
[38:27] we could just um
add that where we had the
[38:46] I think it I think it'll be fine. You
want to bring it back so we can discuss
[38:50] this next month?
>> Yeah, we can um decide on the ceremony.
[38:54] Oh, excuse me. At the March meeting,
sorry.
[38:56] » Yeah, next month.
>> Before we wrap this up, um I recall at
[39:02] the last meeting there was a bit of
discussion about um
[39:05] » the time and date.
>> Yeah. as well as the time and date uh
[39:08] for the tree planting ceremony as well.
Uh in addition the marketing and
[39:12] outreach, we've already kind of touched
on some of that with the prize donations
[39:15] and reaching out to the art museum and
schools and such. Um so I just wanted to
[39:19] run it through you guys. Do you feel
like this is been a productive
[39:22] conversation with regards to kind of
marketing strategies and outreach
[39:26] strategies or do you feel like there
might be more to discuss regarding that
[39:29] either tonight or at the following
meeting in uh March?
[39:32] I think the marketing strategies were
explained very clearly when she first
[39:37] started speaking. So I was comfortable
with that. I did still have a question
[39:42] of whether or not if we could maybe
possibly consider um the time of day so
[39:48] we could get more participation from the
actual children um that would be in
[39:54] school that day. Um that's my only
concern. But the marketing um she laid
[40:00] that out. So that's good. And I know
it's expensive to keep adding. Um so I
[40:05] don't want to have to incur another
expense, but I would like to see if we
[40:09] could get more participation.
And my s one way of thinking that that
[40:14] may happen if that we were able to move
the time of day um 10:00. I mean it even
[40:21] puts me taken off work for that day um
if I had to go out do mission work. But
[40:27] um
just so we can get participation from
[40:31] the actual students um themselves. I
mean because one of the parent was a
[40:37] little disgruntled about having to take
the child out of school to come there to
[40:41] read the poem and then the child felt a
little nervous I guess because he was
[40:45] having to come from school, do the poem
and then go back to school. Um and so
[40:50] she was like can y'all do this any other
time? And I was like, well, I can
[40:54] definitely make a suggestion, but I
can't give you an answer today. But, uh,
[41:01] you know, and I believe that it was
because of the work schedule is reasons
[41:07] we have it
>> on Fridays,
[41:10] » right,
>> is with our staff.
[41:12] » Um, but also
>> staff, women, what are we saying?
[41:15] » The public works staff.
>> Yeah. Oh,
[41:18] » because they're the on
>> Oh, okay. Yeah. They're the ones that
[41:21] come out to plant the tree that day.
>> And I did check with um the mentorship
[41:27] program just trying to see what time was
best and what time he goes over there to
[41:32] see the kids. Um and that 10:00 time
because I said we could be somewhat
[41:36] flexible sometime in the morning. And he
did say like the 10:00 time does work
[41:41] well with that group because it is once
school's gotten started, the day has
[41:45] gotten started and it's before lunchtime
as well. um because they do get out
[41:50] early afternoon as well. Um so working
with the school schedule and trying not
[41:55] to disrupt their day as
um that seemed to be the best time if we
[42:01] wanted to have those kids come out um
for the event.
[42:09] Um well, and then another part of that
was that I would like to see if we could
[42:14] work along with the chorus from the
schools as well. Um getting their ban or
[42:19] their chorus involved um just more
participation
[42:25] um within the community and the schools
I think would be a great idea. Now
[42:31] someone did mention also last meeting uh
about the actual day. I did indicate
[42:37] that it was normally done on the last
Friday of the month. That's what is
[42:41] written that arbor day should be
observed but um there were suggestions
[42:46] that or remarks that that could maybe be
changed as well.
[42:51] Um I don't have a problem with the day
of the week. I just um but if Saturday
[42:56] works better and we can get more
participation, I would just like to try
[43:00] to see if we could
try our best to kind of meet the people
[43:06] where they are. And you know, we got
working parents. Most people have to
[43:11] work. Um we have working parents and and
sometimes nap time is like kind of like
[43:18] a little bit beyond 10:00. So maybe by
11 they may put them down right before
[43:23] lunch.
But I don't know if you're interested at
[43:26] all in even looking at doing it the
Saturday after the last Friday. Do the
[43:32] last Saturday of the month or
>> does it have to be on?
[43:36] » But does it h that's what the question
was does have to be actually on the last
[43:41] Friday? I know that's Arbor Day
>> as far as we researched it several
[43:45] times. We've read it several times. Um
but will the parks and recreation be
[43:53] willing to consider um moving it to
another day to get more participation
[43:58] just to see what happens? It may not
make a difference at all. Um but at
[44:03] least we've made some attempt to uh get
more participation from the community
[44:08] and it's vital and people are saying
well I can bring my kid but I can't get
[44:12] off work. you know, I I would love to
come, but you know, I can't juggle my
[44:17] schedule like that. Um, my my child is
just not where I can uproot them and
[44:23] then take them back. And so, it's all
different reasons why they cannot or
[44:27] don't want to do it on a Friday. So, I
don't know. It's, you know, it's up to
[44:32] the parks and recreation as I did
indicate last month, but I don't know to
[44:37] get it's just we have such a great
program. I mean, you really put together
[44:42] a great program and I would just like to
see if more people can be able to be
[44:47] involved in that and and witness that.
And
[44:51] to me, I'm I'm just excited every April
uh to participate because you really
[44:57] have it well put together and it's um
very emotional time. Uh when I looked at
[45:03] the kids last year and their
participation and hands-on and you know
[45:08] covering it with the mulch and I just
thought what it would be like if we had
[45:12] a middle school, high school uh combined
choir or
[45:18] come out and sing. Um
or if we were able to get, you know, the
[45:24] children uh older children to come out
and do the hands-on and assist with the
[45:30] younger children. um with uh tree
planting
[45:34] and maybe
>> the question is going to be do we have
[45:37] the leeway to change
>> to change it who who would make that
[45:41] decision?
So I still recommend that we have the
[45:46] event on that Friday on Arbor Day and
Graham. It is a smallcale event. Um it
[45:52] was created as a small scale event and
it has grown. Um with it being on Friday
[45:58] we have the city staff. is not requiring
any overtime or comp time. Um especially
[46:03] for departments that are already putting
in that overtime and um the comp time.
[46:08] Um we also have North Graham Elementary
which their students are able to come
[46:14] over during the school day um to
participate in the program. Uh there's
[46:19] no guarantee if we have it on Saturday.
Um Saturdays are already so busy for
[46:24] families and it's going to be hard to
get them out for that type of event.
[46:28] just previous years reaching out to
somewhere. It's already got that captive
[46:33] audience. We already have a captive
audience at North Graham that's going to
[46:35] come over. Um we'll have the family
members that are going to come and join
[46:39] us um for the tree planting. Um but that
type of event, if we move it to
[46:44] Saturday, I don't know if people are
just unless they're directly connected
[46:48] to the event somehow if they're going to
come out just to the tree planting
[46:52] event. um unless it's something bigger
and more engaging um to come out to. But
[46:58] I also don't recommend doing something
like that because we already have
[47:01] neighboring cities that are doing Arbor
Day events and programs. Um we have a
[47:06] neighboring city doing one in the spring
and another one doing one in the fall.
[47:10] Um so that would just be duplicating
programs that may not be needed. Um
[47:15] where they bring out vendors and
opportunities like that. Um, so I don't
[47:18] think we're there. But something that
Graham does do differently than offering
[47:23] those one Arbor Day programs in the
spring and fall, we're offering a whole
[47:27] month of various activities and
education opportunities and pushing out
[47:30] through our social media. So we are
>> trying to reach out to the community. Um
[47:35] the tree plant ceremony like I said it's
still it's it was created as a small
[47:39] event and it has gotten bigger and we do
live stream it as well and it's
[47:43] available on our YouTube um channel as
well following the event. Um so if
[47:49] someone does miss it um there is an
opportunity to watch it and to share the
[47:55] ceremony in case someone missed it that
wanted to come um and it lives there um
[48:01] for a long time. Especially for these
families, they have something to walk
[48:04] away with that have planted the tree.
They'll have a keepsake on YouTube.
[48:10] » I concur. I just had to ask a question
because it was on the last month's um
[48:16] meeting questions um things that people
were concerned about. So, I mean that
[48:21] explanation sets well with me as well
because I know we can change things and
[48:26] it still may not make a difference, you
know. Um but I think like you said, it
[48:31] started small. is growing. Maybe if it
continues or we get the inquiries and
[48:36] maybe they can we can have them to drop
a note on the website or something where
[48:41] people opinion can be seen and come
directly to your department. Uh which
[48:46] may outweigh what we're saying here
because it's just bits and pieces. Um,
[48:53] but
I guess Friday, the last Friday of the
[48:59] month,
>> what I'm accustomed to, so I'm I'm good
[49:03] with it.
>> And I do see here the cost is 150
[49:09] last
>> already looked at it. Okay. So, um,
[49:13] anything else? Anybody else have
anything else that they want to add to
[49:17] this category?
[49:21] Nothing else.
>> Looks good.
[49:23] » So, so next month we'll finalize the
ceremony schedule. Um, and then prizes
[49:29] will be available to me mid-March.
>> Mid-March.
[49:32] » I can start advertising.
>> Okay.
[49:34] » Pam, I've got you down.
>> All right.
[49:38] » Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Um, okay.
[49:42] And as I did note earlier, then we're
going to now have um our person from the
[49:49] community to come forward, local
business involvement, Miss Renee
[49:53] Russell. If you please come forward to
the microphone and state your name and
[49:57] address.
>> So, my name is Renee Russell. Yeah.
[50:00] » I live at 218 W Street. Um and I own 64
Harvard, which is a frame shop on 116
[50:08] West Harden.
So, yeah. that you can make it tonight.
[50:13] » Yeah, I'm I'm happy to be here. I don't
know if y'all know, but maybe Cheryl
[50:18] remembers, but I used to be on the
appearance commission way back in the
[50:22] day. So, not not that long ago.
>> You're so supportive because you
[50:25] donated.
>> Absolutely. Always. Yeah.
[50:27] » I like to point that out that you we
just thank you so much for all of your
[50:31] gifts that you uh donated last year.
>> Oh, yeah. Always. We are always happy to
[50:37] help in any way we can, which is part of
why
[50:41] um I was wanting to kind of talk with
y'all and see what kind of partnership
[50:48] the downtown businesses can do with
y'all and how we can kind of work
[50:52] together. Um I know so the businesses
are all in communication with each
[51:01] other. We've got a big group text and
we're just trying to do everything we
[51:06] can to get people to come Instagram and
shop and we know that like just getting
[51:12] people here, you know, makes it better
um and helps everyone. And um we've hit
[51:21] a couple roadblocks with like city
council and stuff like that. They're
[51:25] just not really listening to us or
inviting us into the conversations and
[51:33] having businesses downtown. It's, you
know, a big part of of that area is us.
[51:41] Um, so we're hoping that maybe we can
forge a relationship with y'all and like
[51:46] just kind of help out. Um, there are
some things that we need that I don't
[51:51] know if this is a project that you guys
would be into taking on. Um, I think our
[51:56] biggest kind of
need or want would be wayfinding signs.
[52:02] » Yeah. Okay. And that's one thing I was
going to let you know is that that has
[52:06] been mentioned in our meetings. We have
discussed it. Okay. um
[52:12] but it's was not with this um this
particular meeting. I do think that you
[52:19] can participate um just after hearing
what Bry's um concerns were about
[52:25] hands-on activities during the Arbor
Day. um that may be a opportunity and we
[52:33] have invited uh because we're kind of
like in the mode of of of planning for
[52:38] that day but we have invited the
downtown businesses to participate in
[52:43] the various different programs that we
put on throughout the year and I know
[52:48] what you you have the needs have you
addressed those to the city council have
[52:53] you actually been there yeah I think you
have several times
[52:57] » if my memory serves me and
But yeah,
[53:01] » so um I guess the next step would be
then um
[53:07] » we have some months that we have some
down time.
[53:10] » Yeah.
>> And we may can look once we get past
[53:13] Arbor Day.
>> Yeah. We make it look at maybe some of
[53:17] the days, months that we had planned not
to meet,
[53:20] » maybe check with you and other business
um businesses as well to see if we can
[53:28] put something on the calendar during one
of those months if that would suffice. I
[53:32] mean,
>> yeah, I mean that would be great. just
[53:34] any sort of
>> and and then what we could do is that we
[53:37] could then go um to the city council
together and um see if they would be
[53:43] interested in putting us on their agenda
and in us being heard.
[53:47] » Um
but I think that you could definitely
[53:52] participate just from your business
aspect. Yeah.
[53:55] » With the um Arbor Day.
>> Yes. Yeah. Um, I see great contributions
[54:02] coming from 64 Harvard
>> and with the art uh,
[54:07] » my brain just stopped working. The
[54:11] » not that the the art
>> contest contest. Yes. Yeah. Like I don't
[54:17] know if there's plans to display the art
afterwards.
[54:21] » It feels like you would. Yeah. If you
ever if you guys need um things to be
[54:27] matted or mounted, I'm always happy to
donate that. I've got tons of like extra
[54:33] material that I would
>> love to be able to Okay.
[54:37] » Yeah.
>> And then I've just we missed a great
[54:40] opportunity while we were in discussion
um maybe having some of your students
[54:47] extend the categories to maybe some of
your students. And if your if your
[54:51] students meet this criteria because it
goes from
[54:55] » I don't have
>> kindergarten now because we
[54:57] » I don't have you have classes.
>> No. Oh, I thought I offered class.
[55:02] » Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's we do custom framing. We also
[55:06] offer do-it-yourself framing, but it's
not like a class.
[55:08] » Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you had
classes.
[55:11] » No, you're totally there.
>> Yeah. So,
[55:13] » but I do have a question. What else are
the businesses looking for? Like
[55:21] » I mean the wayfinding signs is the like
the top one cuz we hear like I hear all
[55:28] the time, oh you must be new. I don't
know you're here. I'm like I've been
[55:32] here for 5 years.
>> Uh and like Franks too was going through
[55:37] the same thing there for 20 years. Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's just Yeah. telling people and
[55:42] it's also really confusing cuz like the
addresses change once you cross over
[55:48] Maine. So like
>> I'm on 116 West Harden, but a block away
[55:53] is 116 East Harden. So even like the
just
[55:58] » Okay.
>> maps, GPS is confusing.
[56:01] » Um
>> that's something.
[56:03] » So we could work with council on that.
But I'm also thinking um
[56:09] » like at Christmas time everybody does
their windows, which is great. Which is
[56:14] so great. Um yeah,
>> but what about like even in the fall
[56:18] like having a contest
>> say with the businesses, you know, doing
[56:22] a planter or
>> So there is the uh business appearance
[56:26] award um which is something we may
discuss in the next agenda item, but I
[56:31] just want to shout that out real quick
since this I feel like this could tie in
[56:34] a bit. Um, it gives businesses the
opportunities to kind of compete
[56:39] essentially and get nominated and
essentially be advertised um for their
[56:44] landscape beautifification efforts and
uh it definitely is something that would
[56:47] help kind of enhance the appearance
commission's relationship with
[56:50] businesses downtown and throughout the
rest.
[56:53] » Right. Right. So like would you all be
interested in that? like
[56:58] » if there was a theme behind it, I think
yes, but also we're also busy, so like
[57:05] it's got to be something that
>> doesn't require too much. Like we were
[57:12] in a small town a couple of years ago
and they did a thing like scarecrows.
[57:17] » Yeah.
>> And everybody did a scarecrow
[57:21] » with however they wanted and it was the
greatest thing to walk down the road and
[57:25] see all these scarecrows. It was like,
"Wow." And then you could vote, you
[57:28] know, they had,
>> you know, scan codes and it was like,
[57:31] "Wow, this is such a great idea." Like,
would you all think that you would be
[57:35] interested in something like that?
>> We did the pumpkins last year for the
[57:40] pumpkin bash.
>> Yes.
[57:41] » And like we were not
>> great.
[57:44] » I like pushed for it and was expecting
like five businesses and it turned out
[57:50] wonderful. like that kind of
competition. I think like we kind of
[57:55] really love to be able to showcase what
we do and just all the diverse like
[57:59] talents of the downtown businesses.
Um, so yeah, I think the window painting
[58:05] and window decorations can get a little
bit
[58:09] too involved, but something small,
>> right, feels more attainable. I'm going
[58:15] to grab my water.
Okay. So, if we can come up with a
[58:20] season and a theme.
>> Yeah.
[58:23] » And just say, you know, just even a
summer theme, you know, decorate a
[58:28] planter or decorate the front of your
store or, you know, again, like even a
[58:32] scarecrow that you can stick outside of
the store. And
[58:35] » yeah,
>> you know,
[58:36] » we definitely love the idea of like the
marketing kind of moments, like things
[58:41] that really when people come into town,
they're just like, "Oo, what's that?"
[58:47] Yes. And that's how I felt about that
little town. I was like, "This is
[58:50] great." Like, you just kept walking and
looking at all these scarecrows and
[58:54] there was so many different kinds, you
know? Yeah. So,
[58:57] » okay. All right. Yeah, we love that. Um
I think I had a have a question. Um so,
[59:03] you talked about a group of you all like
how many would you say that represents
[59:07] business owners that are kind of
collective um wanting
[59:11] » We've got
15. Yeah. 15. Okay.
[59:18] » A good a good Yeah. Okay.
>> Pretty much most of North Maine
[59:24] and like half of the inner
uh circle
[59:30] and then a couple on like um
>> and we have some new businesses too. So
[59:36] » yeah. We would we want like a program
like this to be exclusive to downtown
[59:40] businesses similar to the window
decorations or would this be something
[59:43] citywide?
[59:47] What?
>> I think just exclusive just to roll it
[59:51] out maybe exclusive to downtown and then
maybe if it grows we can extend it.
[59:57] » Um
>> yeah,
[59:58] » I'm still interested in
>> Okay. So, we need to figure out a season
[1:00:03] and a theme. Yeah.
>> Store it there. And
[1:00:06] » I feel like there's a lot already in
fall.
[1:00:09] » Yes.
>> Going into Christmas, but we don't have
[1:00:12] very much for summer. And the J months
are the months that
[1:00:18] like so June and July people are on
vacation. So those as a retail time is
[1:00:25] slow.
>> So that would be a good time to kind of
[1:00:29] boost some just get people to come and
shop.
[1:00:32] » Have you guys thought about like some
sort of reward card like you know some
[1:00:37] of the schools will do like coupon
cards? like have you guys talked about
[1:00:41] something like that cuz that would help
drive that traffic.
[1:00:44] » So we've done so this month we did
January jump off where we all like it
[1:00:50] was like this kind of scavenger hunt. Um
and we all partnered together with that.
[1:00:55] I haven't really seen much response to
that. Um we're doing the Valentine's Day
[1:01:01] event this Saturday. So it's just a
bunch of different we've we're printing
[1:01:05] our own materials and maps and doing all
of that. Um, and then we've done the
[1:01:11] fall fest for like three years now. Um,
and we did last last year, year before
[1:01:19] last for Shop Small, we did like a
booklet and the bingo and like you kind
[1:01:25] of check off things and we've done it.
It's hard because we don't have
[1:01:32] support from the city. So, it just kind
of exists and it's just hard to get it
[1:01:38] to like really get out there.
>> When you say support from the city and
[1:01:43] maybe I'm just naive and not following
you mean um like partnership like an
[1:01:47] ability to get the communication out to
have social media to be a supporter.
[1:01:52] Yes. That's really that I'm just trying
to figure out where you are because I
[1:01:55] mean for appearance I think our mayor is
standing up. I also want to note that we
[1:02:00] are the only town our size that doesn't
have a downtown
[1:02:03] » corporation. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So that would be a huge thing for
[1:02:07] them. But
>> Yes. Cuz so when I started I wouldn't
[1:02:10] have my business if it wasn't for our
previous downtown coordinator because I
[1:02:17] started as a popup. She connected me
with everyone and then when I lost that
[1:02:22] space, she connected me with the person
that I have my space now in. And through
[1:02:27] that partnership, he was able to
renovate the building and like it really
[1:02:32] that building has sat vacant for like 20
years before. Um, yeah. And if we if we
[1:02:38] did have a downtown coordinator like I
think it's the same position that Mary
[1:02:42] Faucet
>> So I am now a person here that exists.
[1:02:51] » I think we've lost.
>> Okay.
[1:02:56] But
>> here
[1:02:58] » but I will say like there is like more
directed effort for communication.
[1:03:06] » Yes.
>> That is coming.
[1:03:08] » Okay.
>> Perosition just funded by the board
[1:03:11] » wants to work with downtown wants to
bring people here. Wants to have a
[1:03:16] » but yeah
>> sometimes you got to take care of the
[1:03:19] house.
>> Yeah.
[1:03:20] » You know back house a little bit.
>> Yeah. that I've been here since
[1:03:23] September, so I'm still
>> working from the inside out.
[1:03:26] » Well, even so, you run the social
medias, right?
[1:03:29] » I have seen since you've been doing that
like an uptick in just like engagement
[1:03:36] with the businesses, which has been
huge. So, thank you.
[1:03:40] » Yeah. Um,
>> we can connect.
[1:03:44] » Yeah. Yeah. I mean, um,
>> your name, I'm sorry, and your
[1:03:51] » Okay. Yeah. And things have really been
going very well. I see, you know, it
[1:03:57] looks really good. You're doing a good
job. I see a lot coming out. That's
[1:04:02] good.
>> I think there's lots of potential, I
[1:04:04] think, is what it is. It's just we're on
the
[1:04:06] » there's budgetary, you know, issues. But
the way finding signs, I've heard about
[1:04:10] those over and over again. And yeah, you
know, you see towns that have them and
[1:04:14] they're beautiful and they're branded.
And I mean, just today I'm seeing the
[1:04:18] new logo on um on our materials. So, I
think we have positive efforts going.
[1:04:23] Um, I understand that doesn't pay the
bills right now. Um, so I think from our
[1:04:28] piece, you know, appearance and
treeboard, there's things that, you
[1:04:31] know, we look to make the town
attractive, make it where people want to
[1:04:35] be here. There's something that's
captivating for them. Um, but absolutely
[1:04:39] can take back the I mean, wayfinding
signs are stuff that we've spoken about
[1:04:44] because it does make us a more attracted
>> attractive town, right? our city.
[1:04:50] » Goodbye. Right.
>> Yeah.
[1:04:53] » All right. So,
>> we have our mayor here.
[1:04:56] » Yeah.
>> Got that down,
[1:04:59] » we'll get council.
>> So, these uh kind of these are awesome
[1:05:03] ideas, by the way. So,
>> these things you guys just kind of want
[1:05:06] to mle over and then maybe once kind of
like you said, once there's kind of a
[1:05:10] break, once we get through Arbor Day,
maybe kind of establish some things and
[1:05:14] kind of recordinate and make some solid
decisions.
[1:05:18] » Now, could you talk to your group um
about June or July? Like, what theme
[1:05:24] would you guys like to do that we can
kind of also help, you know, push it and
[1:05:29] whatnot?
>> Yeah. I'm trying to think if there's
[1:05:32] something going on
just summer.
[1:05:36] Um 50th. Oh yeah.
Um yeah. I mean that would be actually
[1:05:43] that would be pretty cool to have that.
Feels like a good marketing moment too.
[1:05:48] » Yeah. Yeah.
>> En enhance the town business, you know.
[1:05:53] » Yeah. Sidewalks and all that. Yeah. But
yeah, I'll I'll uh ask them if they have
[1:05:58] any ideas about any of that, like what
we could do
[1:06:02] » similar to the pumpkin thing,
but
[1:06:06] » or if there's other ideas, right? I
mean, I think it may not be in a a
[1:06:11] capacity of this board, but it's in a
capacity of a resident of this city that
[1:06:16] wants to make things great. So, I think
it's open conversation and I appreciate
[1:06:20] you for bringing it forward.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Awesome. Thank you.
[1:06:25] » Okay.
>> Thank you so much.
[1:06:28] » Thank you.
>> So, the last thing on our agenda is um
[1:06:34] we wanted to discuss with Kaylee here,
our PR specialist about the bringing
[1:06:40] back the appearance award for this year.
Uh that was a topic discussed at the
[1:06:43] last meeting. Um specifically the
residential appearance, but I believe we
[1:06:47] also, as I mentioned earlier, the
business appearance award as well. And I
[1:06:50] think we wanted to focus a little bit
more on the residential appearance
[1:06:52] award. Um me and Kayie have been in a
discussion. Um she has a lot of ideas
[1:06:57] regarding kind of ways we can kind of
improve engagement and um kind of kick
[1:07:03] things back up as far as getting those
photo ops and kind of getting people
[1:07:07] involved essentially and increasing
awareness of the appearance commission's
[1:07:10] roles and you know the beautifification
of the city and um I'll open the floor
[1:07:15] now for Kaylee if she wants to come up
and uh present her ideas and you guys
[1:07:18] can ask questions. Hi again, Kaylee
Gorum, public relations specialist.
[1:07:24] Thanks for chatting with me. And I
started in September. So if you haven't
[1:07:29] seen me around that until now, that's
why. Um, but yeah, so I have been
[1:07:35] talking with Jonathan about the
residential appearance award and I've
[1:07:39] been doing some
digging in our own like archives to kind
[1:07:44] of figure out like just what it is. And
so I just want to confirm a few things
[1:07:48] with y'all. Um I'm not sure how long
each of you have been on this board or
[1:07:53] this commission, but just hopefully you
can help me clarify some things. So it
[1:07:58] looks like this started in 2019. Does
that sound right?
[1:08:03] » The board.
>> The residential appearance award.
[1:08:06] » The the award.
>> The award. Okay. I thought you were
[1:08:09] looking forward. Yeah.
>> No.
[1:08:11] » Um
>> I felt like I won before that. So I
[1:08:13] don't know. It's been around a long
time.
[1:08:17] » I I hate to I hate to say I keep winning
every month, but like that was
[1:08:25] » 2018.
>> Yeah,
[1:08:28] that 2019 is the first time we have
pictures in our
[1:08:32] uh Graham share drive. So that's where I
got that from. Um, and then it started
[1:08:39] at least with four seasons, a spring,
summer, fall, and then winter. Um, 2020,
[1:08:47] uh, if y'all remember that year, there
was nothing. I blacked that one out. Um,
[1:08:52] and then 2021, it looks like spring,
summer, fall, there was not, um, any
[1:08:59] awards given out, but in winter there
was. Um, and it seemed like there was
[1:09:03] maybe some good participation there. And
then 2022 there was spring, summer,
[1:09:08] fall, but no winter.
And then it kind of moved to twice a
[1:09:14] year in 2023 and 2024. And then this
last year was kind of an iffy year. Does
[1:09:23] that Does that seem right?
>> Does. And I'm going to tell you, we
[1:09:27] Jimmy, I took most of the pictures
>> and submitted them. like we had no
[1:09:32] participation from outside or anything
like that. I was going to drive around.
[1:09:37] Oh, that's pretty.
>> Take a picture. Yes. You know.
[1:09:41] » Gotcha.
>> So, that sounds right to y'all. Um I
[1:09:45] have that the biggest
participation year was summer of 2019
[1:09:53] with 27 potential addresses. Um and so
if if
[1:10:02] what I found is correct, which
you know, I don't think there's great
[1:10:06] documentation. So, I think that's also
something that might be addressed um
[1:10:11] moving forward. Um I think that that
would be the second one. So, like maybe
[1:10:16] it got posted, advertised, hey,
participate, and then maybe there was
[1:10:20] like a here's the winner and then people
were excited because there was a winner
[1:10:24] and then you got more participation that
second time running. Does that sound
[1:10:29] about right? Um, so I'm curious like
what y'all's
[1:10:36] feelings were towards the participation.
It sounds like maybe it was less than
[1:10:39] you would like and hope for.
>> A lot less.
[1:10:43] » A lot less. Again, we were the ones
taking pictures. Nothing else.
[1:10:47] » Okay.
So one thing that Jonathan and I have
[1:10:51] discussed is moving it more towards the
language surrounding it towards a self
[1:10:59] um submitt module so or model so people
are asked to be proud of their own house
[1:11:09] and to send it in because I think with I
love that you like love your neighbors
[1:11:14] houses but there is like some security
features and like safety issues that
[1:11:18] might come up. I just think about like
kids in foster care. Like there's all
[1:11:22] sorts of things like we need to be
mindful of as we're taking photos of
[1:11:25] people's homes and privacy.
>> Yes.
[1:11:27] » Um so I think that if we can move more
towards that selfmittal
[1:11:34] um selfnomination
instead of um a lot of the language that
[1:11:38] I found um from our previous Facebook
posts were was kind of geared towards
[1:11:44] hey do you like this house? send us your
a picture of it instead be like, "Hey,
[1:11:48] are you proud of your house? Show us
what makes you proud to be a Graham
[1:11:53] resident."
So, um I think that's kind of a shift
[1:11:56] that we were Jonathan and I were looking
at making and wanted to get y'all's
[1:12:00] opinion on.
And then also with that people
[1:12:04] submitting at the same time submitting
their own photos so that you know we're
[1:12:09] not responsible for going out and taking
p pictures
[1:12:13] and wanted to make sure y'all were good
with that. We did try it a little bit
[1:12:16] with the winter one this past year. just
I don't think we had enough like of a
[1:12:21] runway and people have gotten out of the
practice of looking for this award.
[1:12:27] Um so I used a program a website called
Jot Form where people were didn't have
[1:12:33] to have an account like you could do a
Google form but you have to have a
[1:12:37] Google account to submit a photo but
with Jot Form you didn't have to do
[1:12:40] that.
Now, were you looking incorporating all
[1:12:44] four seasons or you're just
>> Well, I think another did you have more
[1:12:49] submissions when you had less seasons or
more seasons?
[1:12:52] » It it kind of v it seems consistently
aside from 2021
[1:12:58] um winter is the lowest. I think that
with the way the timeline works for
[1:13:04] um sending in like people decorate their
house for the holidays and then so post
[1:13:11] November
getting it in for y'all's December
[1:13:14] meeting was a little bit too tight of a
turnaround. People aren't quite
[1:13:18] decorated for the holidays at that
point. And then by January it's like
[1:13:22] well I don't really care. They might
have even taken down their decorations
[1:13:26] by the time the photo op for the winter
comes around. So, I would suggest a two
[1:13:33] or three times a year model. Um maybe as
we're getting started again, kind of
[1:13:40] revamping, trying to re-engage folks. Um
looking at just twice a year and then
[1:13:47] kind of seeing what's working, what's
not working, what season is popular
[1:13:53] and just observing also around the town,
what people seem to be excited to
[1:13:59] decorate for on their own without the
incentives
[1:14:02] um and seeing how we can get engagement.
But maybe starting with two and then you
[1:14:08] can kind of go from there. And when we
discussed the rolling schedule um last
[1:14:13] at the last meeting, the months
suggested were April, July, October,
[1:14:16] December. So if we were going to reduce
the amount of submitts we had per year
[1:14:20] to three or two instead of four, I guess
we would kind have to determine what
[1:14:24] what months we would like to kind of
sacrifice essentially.
[1:14:27] » I I think the fall tying it in with
downtown would be great, you know,
[1:14:33] » since we decorate the downtown for the
fall,
[1:14:37] » right? tying it in with something.
>> You could do like a spring and a fall.
[1:14:42] » Yeah.
>> Um and maybe just starting with the fall
[1:14:44] this year just because I know y'all want
to like promote Arbor Day stuff and
[1:14:49] Bry's doing a lot of that. So that this
would be a separate social media
[1:14:51] account. Um because this would be from
uh Graham and City of Graham NC a
[1:14:59] separate account. But I think just
giving us the most amount of a runway to
[1:15:05] kind of promote it and get it ready. Um,
and we could even do things to engage of
[1:15:11] just posting houses like from photos we
already have to say like, "Oh, isn't it
[1:15:16] such a beautiful place to live and make
posts like that of houses from previous
[1:15:22] years?" And so it's kind of like
prepping, priming our audience for
[1:15:29] seeing houses and remembering that this
was um
[1:15:34] a program that was had some success.
>> I like that idea. I do.
[1:15:41] » So starting with the fall this fall. Um
and that gives us plenty of time over
[1:15:45] the summer to kind of get it ramped up.
And
[1:15:49] » I don't know if I really I don't know if
I agree. I'm such a party pooper. I feel
[1:15:54] like people really Jonathan's like,
"There you go. Of course. Why'd you show
[1:15:58] up tonight?"
>> No, you're good.
[1:16:00] » I I feel like spring is where people
really make a huge investment. Like we
[1:16:04] see Lowe's and Home Depot and all these
summer was the highest ever was that
[1:16:09] summer 2019 with 27 um houses. Then 2022
spring had 16, summer had 10, and then
[1:16:18] fall had eight. I also think the
holiday, which maybe because we went and
[1:16:23] took a ton of pictures, but I feel like
holiday
[1:16:26] decor, you have to take it a certain
time of the day. I feel like people go
[1:16:30] all out for holiday, right? Like there's
a huge audience. So, if we're looking at
[1:16:34] only twice a year, maybe it's June
because now flowers are planted April,
[1:16:38] they're getting to be mature and you get
good pictures and then it's de beginning
[1:16:42] of December because that's up. I don't
know. That's was that was what I was
[1:16:46] thinking as we were talking. like maybe
it's one one time at the beginning and
[1:16:50] then one time at the end and that gets
momentum going but
[1:16:54] » and that's just for memory. I don't know
if you guys have any
[1:16:57] » I do agree that um like I do think that
spacing works really well. I think the
[1:17:02] only tricky part is the holiday timing
with y'all's meeting. That's that's
[1:17:06] really my reservation with that. I mean
spring and summer you can kind of lump
[1:17:09] them together um depending on how you
time it out. Um,
[1:17:15] so but I do think that that is a heard
point and I think that there is already
[1:17:20] so much happening in Graham in the fall
with the pumpkin bash. So like we were
[1:17:24] just saying with Renee that you know we
could use some more programming
[1:17:29] happening in June and July as well. And
I do think that Christmas again, by the
[1:17:37] time we get,
you know, the pictures and whatnot, it's
[1:17:41] January and it's it's kind of over, you
know,
[1:17:45] » like true people that decorate, which is
not me,
[1:17:48] » but those that do it, they it is up for
Thanksgiving, if not before then, right?
[1:17:53] Like we know the radio station cuts on
Christmas beginning of November. So if
[1:17:57] we do meet in December and these people
are selfnominating, right? Like so they
[1:18:01] really are behind it. They want to be
able to be I think there's a chance. I'm
[1:18:06] not saying it's going to work. Um but I
think there's a chance to get people um
[1:18:11] they're they want to be the best and
then if they get the sign then they are
[1:18:14] the best right now. They're people are
coming to their place. They're getting I
[1:18:18] don't know there's there's momentum to
build. But I mean I'm I'm good with what
[1:18:22] the group thinks.
>> No, I like that idea as well.
[1:18:25] » Yeah. Spring to I think June is a good
time. May is early because you're just
[1:18:31] planting so it doesn't really grow in
yet, you know. So, yeah, I think June is
[1:18:36] a good time for that.
>> So, the J months.
[1:18:40] » Okay.
>> Yeah.
[1:18:42] » So,
>> June and January.
[1:18:45] » June and January would be when you want
to administer the awards. Is that what
[1:18:51] I'm hearing? Or July and January?
>> July. June. January. June or July.
[1:18:56] » Would be December.
>> Yeah.
[1:18:59] in
[1:19:03] » Yeah.
>> Yeah, I think so.
[1:19:05] » But if you But I know here I am again.
>> But if you do it in January, right? Like
[1:19:10] by the time we recognize it, people have
cut their power off. Like you can't
[1:19:14] afford the bill anymore, right?
>> So it's kind of like December. I know
[1:19:17] splitting the months are equal six.
Yeah. June and December, like because we
[1:19:21] meet the beginning of December, people
can submit before then and then at least
[1:19:25] then the whole month of December, people
can go enjoy those submittals, right?
[1:19:28] They're going to be on the thing.
Cameron is looking at me just with the
[1:19:31] grid.
>> Hate to interconnect back here, but
[1:19:36] maybe it's a something that we have to
look into on our side to see can we move
[1:19:41] your December meeting where y'all don't
meet on the first of the month, the
[1:19:45] first Monday of the month. Well,
>> because we did change it. I think that's
[1:19:47] where
>> Yeah, we changed it for
[1:19:50] second.
I apologize. I'm just trying to
[1:19:54] » No, you maybe in December.
>> Definitely the thought I guess that may
[1:19:58] go through y'all's heads potentially. I
don't know if it's possible. We anything
[1:20:03] it have to be a special meeting because
it's already kind of laid out or if
[1:20:06] there's some action that we can take at
the next meeting to set y'all's December
[1:20:10] meeting for this specific date. I don't
know the details, but that's really the
[1:20:13] only way to combat this kind of timeline
frame of it is trying to schedule your
[1:20:16] December meeting.
[1:20:21] » Yeah, I agree with that. And and we were
also looking at possibly even moving the
[1:20:26] meeting back to the original Monday. Um
we had
[1:20:31] » we moved it for
>> altered the date for Cheryl's schedule,
[1:20:37] but now Cheryl doesn't have that
schedule.
[1:20:39] But the first the Monday first Monday of
December this year is the seventh.
[1:20:44] » It can't get any better than that. Um
and if Dave where we were um
[1:20:49] » I don't know.
>> Yeah.
[1:20:51] » What do you think? You're the expert.
>> Me?
[1:20:53] » Yeah.
>> Yeah.
[1:20:54] » Um the specialist
>> I as far as public relations specialists
[1:21:00] go, I don't think that we have a formed
opinion on when y'all should meet. Um, I
[1:21:07] I think that as far as the December
goes, it would be great if you could do
[1:21:12] it later cuz we did post um I'm pulling
it up now. It looks like we posted one,
[1:21:18] two, three times starting on November
12th asking people to submit. And we
[1:21:26] still only had two submitts for that,
but like people hadn't been used to
[1:21:31] seeing it. and it was only on Facebook
and Instagram. And so that was another
[1:21:37] thing I wanted to bring up is maybe
having ways that y'all could use some of
[1:21:41] your contacts being Graham residents,
getting it out. Um, like if there's
[1:21:46] neighborhoods with newsletters, putting
it there, um, and just finding some more
[1:21:51] creative solutions to reaching the
residents of Graham,
[1:21:55] » the city, I know I think the police
department does next door, but do
[1:21:59] » I was looking into it. We don't have one
right now. Um I would have to see about
[1:22:05] purchasing it cuz it would be more of an
ads um account. So from the government
[1:22:11] side and they might I need to look into
it further and see what kind of cost
[1:22:17] there is for government cuz sometimes
like nonprofits and governments would be
[1:22:22] given a it for free or
>> and I don't know if the police I'm sure
[1:22:26] there's a community service thing and
I'm not quite sure I'm not huge into
[1:22:30] social media. I'm too old. But I think
um I know that like I set up my
[1:22:37] communities next door and Cameron loves
my community
[1:22:42] and I know I get alerts every time
something like that's posted from an
[1:22:46] official person. Yeah. Like I get those
like and I don't get alerts for
[1:22:50] everything but I'm like oh City of
Graham posted or so. So it may be really
[1:22:54] well worth it because it goes you can
tag the communities and it goes to those
[1:22:58] that are in there utilizing it. Um it's
got a lot of band like a lot of
[1:23:02] bandwidth over the years when it used to
be so small. Now it's
[1:23:05] » huge.
>> Yeah. And I think um another opportunity
[1:23:09] that we could use is maybe coming up
with some flyers or like little cards to
[1:23:13] give out at things like the pumpkin bash
for this award. So then the people that
[1:23:18] way people know.
>> I wonder if the I mean this is
[1:23:22] embarrassing but what if they can be
recognized at a city council meeting?
[1:23:26] You know what I mean? Like I don't know.
I just think about how do you get how do
[1:23:29] you get the programming in front of the
mass audiences right maybe we don't
[1:23:32] start with that because that's a little
intimidating but
[1:23:35] » I don't know how many how what the if
that would be really an incentive most
[1:23:41] » but council me
but
[1:23:47] » depends on what's on the agenda Megan
[1:23:57] We could also um put it I think
especially if we're going to do this
[1:24:04] layout um the city this works well for
the city Graham schedule as well.
[1:24:10] » Cheryl, I think I would um y'all have
friends in presumably all of y'all take
[1:24:17] three of your friends and have them
submit somebody and it's just going to
[1:24:22] be a snowball. word of mouth. Word of
mouth and like this actually is an award
[1:24:28] and it's actually
>> meaningful for our community and pride
[1:24:32] is doing something.
>> Yeah, I think it's got to be worth
[1:24:35] » and I and I that does make me think
about like the incentive to do it. I
[1:24:40] heard y'all talking about the prizes and
things for
[1:24:44] um the Arbor Day in Graham. So, I don't
know if this is another opportunity for
[1:24:48] us to partner with downtown businesses
and kind of offer some sort of coupon or
[1:24:54] gift card um for the winners cuz I I
love to participate but sometimes I like
[1:24:59] to participate more if there's a gift.
So, um just keeping that in mind as well
[1:25:04] » a month from market or Steve's or
>> avail
[1:25:10] time.
[1:25:14] Hey. Hey. I like that.
[1:25:20] » Um, so I think that's um mostly what I
had to say about this. If y'all had
[1:25:26] other ideas or wants or needs from me,
you say, Jonathan, did you say business
[1:25:32] award too or just residential?
>> Yeah. Well, so I guess when we were
[1:25:35] discussing it last week, we didn't
really make a huge distinguishing. we
[1:25:39] didn't really distinguish the
residential appearance award or the
[1:25:41] business appearance award. Um, and the
business appearance award is also a
[1:25:45] thing. So, you know, we're talking about
doing, you know, implementing a rolling
[1:25:48] schedule for the appearance award. You
know, obviously I think it's implied
[1:25:52] we're talking about the residential
appearance word, but are we also
[1:25:54] including the business award in this?
And do we want to bring that back as
[1:25:58] well? Especially, you know, with all
this conversation about local business
[1:26:01] engagement and get getting the
commission involved with that stuff. Um,
[1:26:05] is that something you guys have interest
in? And is that a conversation we'd like
[1:26:08] to have tonight as well?
Kind of piggybacking off of this.
[1:26:12] » I I just remember I think I brought this
business, it really dropped because I
[1:26:16] think the last one we had was Wendy's um
a long time ago um when they remodeled
[1:26:21] and so I feel like that is a way to also
kind of recognize what Renee brought
[1:26:26] forward earlier. It's a chance to
recognize and spotlight a business
[1:26:30] downtown or within the um ETJ. I think
it's within the ETJ is what it said. Um,
[1:26:37] I'm all I'm all supportive of if the
rest of this board would be I mean
[1:26:40] there's they're separate, right? They're
and I don't think that was done
[1:26:43] seasonally. I think it might have been
just once a year. I don't know.
[1:26:47] » Yeah. Well, that's kind of the question
I guess if we're since we're deciding
[1:26:50] when we want to do the residential
appearance award, do we want the
[1:26:53] business award to be kind of co like to
kind of coincide with that? like do you
[1:26:57] guys when we meet to decide on the
residential award applicants, do we want
[1:27:02] to be deciding on the business award
applicants at the same at the same
[1:27:04] meeting essentially? Um I feel like that
could make it easier to kind of make
[1:27:09] those rolling schedules kind of align
that way. We don't have them mismatched
[1:27:13] and it gets complicated. But
>> well, if the downtown's looking at doing
[1:27:18] like a June July, you could coordinate
that with the residential in June.
[1:27:26] Yeah. Right.
>> Well, time to shine the windows.
[1:27:33] » Like the business.
>> Thank.
[1:27:43] So, just to kind of summarize and make
sure we're kind of making a motion or a
[1:27:48] decision here, do you guys agree or
thumbs uping the um the self-submitt or
[1:27:54] the self-nomination idea we've
presented? And you guys have established
[1:27:58] the months of just just to make sure
January and June,
[1:28:03] » December and June.
>> December and June
[1:28:06] » or December and July. December and July,
>> which
[1:28:11] it's it's where y'all will vote. I mean,
I heard about planting. I do not have a
[1:28:15] green thumb in the slightest, so I don't
know about that kind of thing, but I
[1:28:21] heard comment about that as well. So,
that's I mean, typically, yeah, if it's
[1:28:26] early, if it's submitted in June, I
mean, people are still watering. After
[1:28:31] that, they're like, "Yeah, we're done."
>> Yeah. The heat hasn't hit. Things are
[1:28:34] filled in. So vote on it at your June
meeting or
[1:28:38] » June or July, whatever.
>> That's
[1:28:40] » December and July. I think that's what
we we're here.
[1:28:45] » Our lost call.
>> We said we said June and we originally
[1:28:50] said June and December.
>> Okay,
[1:28:52] » let's just stick with it. June and
evaluate at a later date.
[1:28:55] » We'll stick with June and December.
>> That's when y'all will vote because that
[1:28:59] just helps me work from work backward.
Yeah, because July also, I mean, it's
[1:29:06] around the Fourth of July, so I don't
know if we'll even have a meeting,
[1:29:09] » December. Okay,
>> June and December.
[1:29:12] » That's when y'all will vote. And then
I'll base my social media planning off
[1:29:17] of those dates.
>> Okay.
[1:29:18] » And also, just to confirm, we want the
business award to also be in December
[1:29:22] and June as well.
>> Yes, sir.
[1:29:24] » Perfect. And another question about the
business award before we wrap up here.
[1:29:30] Um, I guess the way that award was done
in the past is the commission would kind
[1:29:34] of like you guys were saying, you guys
would go around and select businesses
[1:29:36] that you liked and kind of appoint them
yourself or nominate them yourselves.
[1:29:40] Guess you guys also allowed for um or
the board allowed also for people to
[1:29:44] email in submissions. So, do we just
kind of want to do something similar
[1:29:48] that to what we discussed with the
residential?
[1:29:50] » Yes, that's the middle. I think
>> the middle. Yeah. and I can work with um
[1:29:55] Renee Ward about getting her sunshine
list of uh business.
[1:30:00] » Yeah, Seth and then that way you know
they're engaged and this is something
[1:30:04] that they you know want to participate
in and it your safness. Thank you so
[1:30:09] much for considering that because many
of days we were like out there like we
[1:30:14] were just taking pictures, you know, and
it's kind of scary um to do that. So
[1:30:19] yeah, I agree 100% self-submittable.
Yeah.
[1:30:25] But how would the December one relate
into the downtown window decoration
[1:30:29] contest? Like if you're already doing
that one for the downtown businesses,
[1:30:34] what are we thinking about?
>> We do a lot downtown. We don't do a lot
[1:30:38] of businesses outside right now.
>> That's correct. That's why I'm just
[1:30:41] trying to make sure that there's a
distinction between the two that y'all
[1:30:44] understand.
>> You kind Miss Ray kind of mentioned it.
[1:30:46] I think we would want the business award
to be for all the whole city, not just
[1:30:50] the downtown. Does um does the sunshine
list include all?
[1:30:55] » Um no, not that I'm aware of. I'm not
sure how far it reaches. Cameron, do you
[1:31:00] know about that?
>> I say the sunshine list really is just
[1:31:03] for interested people and what's going
on inside the city. It's not necessarily
[1:31:08] the downtown people themselves, but Miss
Renee does have a email list of downtown
[1:31:14] businesses, I think, because we have to
send it out whenever we send out our COA
[1:31:18] or facade grant applications. I think
they're all sent out by mail to
[1:31:23] » business. So, we have downtown business,
>> but we're needing to So, that's
[1:31:28] something that um it sounds like the
city could improve upon getting a little
[1:31:33] bit of a more robust and comprehensive
list of businesses, not just downtown.
[1:31:39] I'll see I'll do some digging and see
what um we have access to at the moment.
[1:31:46] great to see where Main Street and
Harden, you know, get involved.
[1:31:52] » Um, that still doesn't necessarily
[1:31:56] address Cameron's point of the two
different.
[1:32:00] » Yeah.
>> So, I think that would be
[1:32:02] » about that. Sure.
[1:32:07] » Yeah. Cheryl, what I don't know, my
brain hurts. Um, yeah, because the
[1:32:13] window contest we do already pick and
recognize. Um, so it does seem like
[1:32:17] that's really a duplication of effort
because I mean Cameron says no, not
[1:32:23] really.
>> Well, I mean,
[1:32:26] the appearance award is for people
outside of the downtown, but of course
[1:32:32] those are going to be running together.
So, I think you just have to make sure
[1:32:34] that whatever you're getting on the
business appearance side is not also
[1:32:39] something that you're getting from the
downtown window decoration side
[1:32:42] » because the downtown window, we're going
to still take the pictures of anyone
[1:32:46] that has put up a display in whatever
theme it is. We're not going to ask for
[1:32:51] self-submitt for that. Is that right?
We're not making because I know we
[1:32:55] usually don't
>> I think we said I think we just sent
[1:32:59] that we were going to do self submitts
for
[1:33:02] » for the window display
>> for the um for the holiday window
[1:33:05] display usually like we would walk
around or Cameron or Jonathan would walk
[1:33:09] around take pictures and then bring it
up in the meeting that's separate from
[1:33:13] business appearance.
>> Okay. So
[1:33:17] » So sorry if I can just interject. So,
we've got
[1:33:22] the residential appearance award. Then
we've got the business beautifification
[1:33:28] award separate from the grant, but the
business beautifification award.
[1:33:32] » Business appearance.
>> Business appearance award. Thank you,
[1:33:35] Jonathan. Um, and that would go to all
of Graham. And then there's also this
[1:33:42] window
>> competition.
[1:33:43] » Competition during the holidays. Is that
correct?
[1:33:47] » Correct.
>> Okay. Sorry, I was just making sure that
[1:33:49] we had that. And that one is just for
downtown businesses.
[1:33:54] Okay. And then that one is not
self-submitt. That is
[1:33:58] » we go and take the pictures.
>> That's kind of like a special excursion
[1:34:03] enrichment for our appearance
commission.
[1:34:09] I think we can keep it all the same
date. Sounds lovely.
[1:34:14] » Yeah. So, did we still dis uh make a dis
um a comment about how we're going to
[1:34:20] distinguish between the what are we
going to
[1:34:22] » have different merits, different roles?
>> The appearance
[1:34:27] help me out. The Graham the business
appearance award.
[1:34:31] » Yeah, the business appearance award is a
self-submitt.
[1:34:35] And so what do they get? What is their
incentive to participate?
[1:34:40] » Get a sign. They get a sign.
>> Have sign.
[1:34:42] » Okay.
They have a
[1:34:44] » we will probably need new signs just
because we have new branding and all of
[1:34:48] that.
>> I think they get a sign, they get
[1:34:52] recognition, they get to be put on, you
know, um the pride of
[1:34:56] » Definitely post.
>> Yeah.
[1:34:59] » I I'm just asking for my clarification
so that I know it's a post.
[1:35:03] » We don't have Sorry.
>> I'm not inter interrogating.
[1:35:11] » Oh, sorry. I think also there's a big
difference between the like a window
[1:35:15] display and like kind of
beautifification outdoor landscaping
[1:35:19] type of thing that you would get with
that.
[1:35:21] » So I think I think there is good
multiple ways to distinguish it
[1:35:26] » but it's up to you guys.
>> We're good.
[1:35:32] » Yeah.
[1:35:36] » All right. I like it.
>> I like it.
[1:35:38] » All right. So
>> thank you so much. Thank y'all.
[1:35:42] » Explore.
>> All right. So, I guess to cap it off, um
[1:35:47] have the calendar pulled up here. Um I
can change it based on the some of the
[1:35:51] conversations that we've had tonight and
I send that out to you guys uh either
[1:35:56] tomorrow or next week. Um, but yeah, is
there anything else regarding the
[1:36:01] upcoming year that y'all have any
questions about or want to kind of
[1:36:04] figure out
or want to plan ahead for aside from
[1:36:09] what we've already discussed today?
[1:36:15] » Are we able to come up with any new
ideas that we're just going to stick to?
[1:36:19] » We have, but I mean, I think we're
sticking to what we have. We can always
[1:36:24] adjust if we need to.
[1:36:30] We good?
>> I think we're good. All right.
[1:36:34] » Okay. Um, so we had discussed opening up
looking at new ideas, new possibilities.
[1:36:41] And what what I'm hearing tonight is
that we're going to try to work on what
[1:36:45] we've discussed tonight and then maybe
look at doing new ideas. Um,
[1:36:54] what what about our goals? Um,
are we going to tie that into just the
[1:37:03] three categories that we just um
discussed or are we going to look for
[1:37:08] trying to fund more projects for
downtown?
[1:37:12] Um,
[1:37:16] going to stay where we are pretty much.
>> I
[1:37:20] I hate to I hate to put Chelsea on the
spot, which I called Megan earlier.
[1:37:23] Sorry, Megan. I'm sure she watches this.
Um, I I think we need to hear from our
[1:37:28] city council and hear from what that
perspective is and what their charge to
[1:37:32] us is for us to develop our goals. I
don't know if that's what you all agree.
[1:37:40] » I I will answer that. Um, but I also
wanted to Are y'all familiar with the
[1:37:45] New Leaf Society?
>> Yes.
[1:37:49] » It's my understanding that we don't have
any current projects with them. Okay.
[1:37:54] but they have projects in almost every
other municipality in Alamance County.
[1:37:59] We don't necessarily have a I think this
board is uh positioned well to
[1:38:06] be the one to explore what positions or
what projects would look like. Um, so if
[1:38:12] you guys could take the charge and do
that and even if even if the goal this
[1:38:17] year is to form that relationship and
and propose new projects at the
[1:38:21] beginning of next year or if it's to
propose fall projects for them um and
[1:38:25] get the ball rolling because I think
that's where we're we're lacking. That's
[1:38:31] why things haven't been connected yet is
the capacity piece. So, if you guys
[1:38:34] wanted to charge that and look around
the city to be like, "Hey, we could
[1:38:38] really use hanging baskets in our
downtown or or whatever it is and then
[1:38:44] come to them to be like, look, this is
what we see. Is there anything that you
[1:38:49] guys really want your name on?" Um, I
spoke with Marcy Green at Impact
[1:38:55] Alamance about
um beautifification stuff and and park
[1:39:01] enhancement around Sesqua Centennial at
its current location. Um,
[1:39:07] that all is is very much up in the air
right now um just because of where
[1:39:12] council is trying to land on Cesco
Centennial. Um, but I think there's a
[1:39:18] lot of inroads that we can make as far
as appearance and and greenery and and
[1:39:23] community partnerships. So, that would
kind of be my like vision and task for
[1:39:28] you guys is making those connections,
having those people here, having those
[1:39:34] conversations, and then coming either to
us as council or to Megan and Burke's
[1:39:40] going to have to be involved because of
public works and watering and all of
[1:39:43] that. But but making those first asks
would be awesome and it would
[1:39:50] leverage your impact because you're
bringing together funding partners for
[1:39:55] the city. Um as far as what city council
is charging you with. Um
[1:40:03] I'm unsure of that as a council. Um,
I think once a decision is made about
[1:40:12] the park,
y'all could be brought into that. I
[1:40:16] don't know. Um, I will say that there is
a special meeting that was called for
[1:40:20] Tuesday. Um,
Proim and uh, Whitaker called it to
[1:40:29] review the RFQS to for the park to move
again. And so we're kind of still in
[1:40:34] that waffling back and forth. So I I
don't know what to tell you as far as
[1:40:38] what council as a board is charging you
for.
[1:40:43] Sorry. I wish I had a clearer answer for
you. Um I will say in the meantime just
[1:40:49] pushing these
they're going to feel smaller but you're
[1:40:53] working on community pride and that is
huge and I understand that it is a soft
[1:40:58] and tangible but we appreciate your
work. Um, so pushing New Leaf forward,
[1:41:04] pushing the
the awards forward. Yes,
[1:41:08] » I think we have a a contact for the
impact. Do we have a name for New Leaf
[1:41:15] Society?
>> Her name's Katie. Yeah, Katie Snider.
[1:41:19] » Is it Smith or something?
>> It was Katie Massie in that winner.
[1:41:23] » Brian Fawson and I sit on the New Leaf
Society committee. Uh,
[1:41:28] » so
know Katie and
[1:41:31] » what's Katie's last name?
>> Snider.
[1:41:33] » Snider. Thank you, sir. Yeah, I
couldn't. Oh, Smith or I couldn't
[1:41:37] remember. Okay.
>> Yeah.
[1:41:38] » So, um
I think we'll start working on some type
[1:41:43] of contact. Um maybe we can do something
um written.
[1:41:49] um and maybe going over and inviting
them over, maybe having a sit down with
[1:41:54] them. Um and maybe we could talk with
the two together and trying to see how
[1:42:01] our involvement and their involvement
how we could kind of join forces.
[1:42:13] So, um
>> one more thing, sorry.
[1:42:16] » Oh, sorry. Um, as I was reading and
getting myself acquainted with
[1:42:20] everything, um, it says that our boards,
um, report annually to the city council.
[1:42:27] And I would love for you guys to come
before city council and just report on
[1:42:31] on what you've done, what you are doing,
what your vision is, because that would
[1:42:34] in turn um, be a really great platform
for us to turn around and say we like
[1:42:40] that. Do more of this or whatever. and
then kind of
[1:42:45] if you need funding then that's when
that would come. Um
[1:42:50] so if you want to talk or look at your
calendar to say hey this is a really
[1:42:55] great time for us to come present if
it's right after you put some awards
[1:43:00] together or whatever. Um y'all let me
know when you want to come before
[1:43:05] council and give your annual report. It
can be five minutes, it can be 12
[1:43:09] minutes. I don't care. Um it can have
pictures. you can just stand up here and
[1:43:12] talk. Um, but I would love to to hear
from these boards and commissions
[1:43:17] because your work is meaningful and I
think the board should hear from you
[1:43:22] guys. I give my reports but we should
hear collectively.
[1:43:26] » So, but thank you for your work.
>> Thank you.
[1:43:30] » It is budget season. So, what does that
I know ta season lovely people like. So,
[1:43:36] what does that look like for this board?
Or maybe that's for Jonathan to tell us
[1:43:40] like for submitting requests or we
usually have this long conversation.
[1:43:45] Cameron's very familiar with it that we
you know we submit up to what we would
[1:43:50] like um covered in um whatever small
resources we have.
[1:43:57] I think that's going to be best. It's
going to be under planning.
[1:44:02] » Okay. Right. It's going to be under your
office or do they they don't have that
[1:44:05] own line item?
>> No, they don't have their own The only
[1:44:08] thing that they have is something that's
earmarked essentially. I think they get
[1:44:12] » Is it in planning though?
>> Planning doesn't have a particular
[1:44:15] budget. It's through inspections kind of
in that area. But I think their money
[1:44:21] comes from
>> a general kind of
[1:44:24] » Do you put that request in or does Aaron
put that into inspections?
[1:44:28] » Essentially what it would come down to
is whatever they are requesting um
[1:44:33] however much funds we would find
whichever item that we would slot in set
[1:44:37] budget. Okay.
>> And place it there for request.
[1:44:39] » I am your liaison. I will be at all your
meetings.
[1:44:42] » Okay.
>> I will say the sooner that you have
[1:44:45] those requests in the better. Um staff
has their personnel requests due the end
[1:44:53] of next week. And so like all the pieces
are are coming into the budget very
[1:44:58] quickly. Um I know that your requests
are a lot smaller than adding three new
[1:45:03] firefighters, but um to get it in now.
Um so if there is any kind of report
[1:45:09] that you want to put together or
whatever it is, go ahead and talk
[1:45:14] amongst yourselves, get it to these
guys, but I will also be copied in on
[1:45:17] this and we'll be able to to hopefully
petition for that.
[1:45:22] » And then for Sorry. No. So then for us
to um like you know I hear I hear um
[1:45:28] Renee that was here earlier
>> um and for us to advocate for wayfinding
[1:45:32] or banners or signage or things that
really would make the city more
[1:45:37] attractive and all of that.
>> What um what budget hearing should we
[1:45:43] come to if that is our um purpose if we
want to advocate for those? What would
[1:45:49] you recommend
from a from a board perspective?
[1:45:54] » Um,
[1:45:57] » before the fiscal year is July 1st,
>> but we the board gets to see the budget
[1:46:04] in May. And so Megan's starting to put
it together
[1:46:08] in the next couple of months. Um, I
don't know if there's since I'm new to
[1:46:13] this, this is my first um I don't know
if there's a downtown or if you just
[1:46:17] want to put together a document that
says like these are the appearance
[1:46:20] commission's goals. Y'all can reach for
this guy and be like we want to do
[1:46:24] wayfinding and you can work with Kaylee.
I don't know. Um, have you pulled
[1:46:27] numbers for wayfinding yet? They're way
more expensive than you think they are.
[1:46:31] » Um,
>> I think that would have to do
[1:46:35] essentially maybe after like that main
meeting where you meet with Renee.
[1:46:38] » Yeah. Is determine maybe some areas in
which you would like to place in or not
[1:46:44] even multiple downtown people inside of
there. Where do you want to put these?
[1:46:47] » How many signs?
>> How much they cost? Get that in a
[1:46:51] detailed report to us which would then
be ported over to next probably fiscal
[1:46:55] year's budget whenever it is not next
year for actual consideration awarding
[1:47:00] funds. That's my thoughts. I apologize
for
[1:47:04] » No, you're good. I think
and even if you don't wait till
[1:47:10] May, if you could put something together
in the coming months that just say we
[1:47:14] want wayfinding and we want banners and
we want this and you can get very very
[1:47:19] rough numbers,
will they be included in this budget?
[1:47:23] But if you try now and you say this is
the second time we've tried next year
[1:47:27] then
but I also know that uh the council has
[1:47:33] wanted banners for a while. I I believe
I don't it it depends on what day
[1:47:39] sometimes but I believe that that is
something that they're consistent.
[1:47:42] » If I had a dollar for every time I said
banner I could buy the weight
[1:47:48] » closer than they have been. Oh, look.
Listen.
[1:47:50] » Are you still have do you still have in
your plan with the council for the the
[1:47:54] flags?
>> That's banners.
[1:47:56] » That's the banners. Is that one of the
same? Yeah, that's what I was asking.
[1:47:59] » They're closer than they've ever
>> But it's still in the works. We had
[1:48:03] picked a vendor and they had pricing.
>> Seen any of that? But I will check on
[1:48:10] that. I know that
>> it's through
[1:48:14] it talked about ago about it.
>> Mus is good. these that we have down
[1:48:19] here, Sumbrella. They're so expensive.
>> Um, but anyway, yes, there was quotes.
[1:48:24] They're going to have to be reququed.
Those are too old. They're going to have
[1:48:28] to be redesigned, requ
>> the staff has.
[1:48:33] » Yeah, the staff's working on that. Um,
so I don't know if that's something that
[1:48:39] I would put on your list. I would dream
bigger with wayfinding and and other
[1:48:44] stuff.
>> Waveinding. Um,
[1:48:47] » but yeah, start pushing for stuff that
you know that we need cuz somebody's got
[1:48:52] to.
>> Okay.
[1:48:54] » Well, we can pull something together.
Definitely.
[1:48:56] » Yeah. Um, ask for money all the time.
>> Endless money.
[1:49:01] » Definitely. Red carpet. To the meeting.
>> Okay. Yeah. So, um, okay. So, this has
[1:49:09] been very productive. Thank you for
everybody's input. I mean this has
[1:49:12] really made things clearer and it made
it um made me feel very um comfortable
[1:49:19] by knowing that you did just see the
danger in some of the activities that we
[1:49:25] have been performing. um you know, so um
I thank you for that and we look forward
[1:49:31] to working closer with you and and kind
of getting that gap smaller um and just
[1:49:38] working on all of these new things and
coming together and it's exciting.
[1:49:43] Cheryl likes to be busy and getting our
numbers together. So, and we will
[1:49:48] definitely do a grid as well part of our
presentation so we can be able to
[1:49:53] clearly look at it. We'll work closely
with Mr. Buckley. Um, and maybe we just
[1:49:58] have to take some things off one of our
agendas and just kind of get our report
[1:50:04] together and then we'll turn it back in
to Mr. Buckley, have him over, you know,
[1:50:10] overlook it and see if there's any
discrepancies or anything we shouldn't
[1:50:14] be saying. Um, and then we will make an
appearance to the council with our
[1:50:21] report.
>> Wonderful.
[1:50:23] » All right.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[1:50:25] » All right.
>> Okay. Um, so we've had the updates from
[1:50:28] the city uh other than staff updates.
>> None on my part unless Cameron has
[1:50:35] anything.
>> I was supposed to be
[1:50:39] » We love you.
>> No, we love Yes. Thank you.
[1:50:43] » Stay engaged. Okay. Within
>> motion to adjurnn.
[1:50:46] » I'll make a motion to start the meeting
again. No. Motion to adjurnn.
[1:50:51] » Second.
>> I second that.
[1:50:52] » All in favor?
>> I. Thank you God so much. Great meeting.