Commission sets Feb. 16 retreat, plans Jan. 13 special meeting on master plan; minutes approved with amendment

At its Jan. 8 meeting the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission scheduled its February retreat for Sunday, Feb. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation administration building, 1141 Massachusetts. Chair Daniel B. Smith said the commission will cancel its normally scheduled Feb. 12 regular meeting. The retreat topics suggested for discussion include mural guidelines, the commission's mission and renaming the temporary outdoor public-art program.

Staff announced that the Parks and Recreation master plan has reached final form and staff invited the commission to attend a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board presentation on Monday, Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The commission agreed that after the advisory-board presentation it would convene a short special meeting (proposed 7 p.m. the same night) to consider a motion to receive the presentation and recommend that the City Commission accept the plan. Staff said the special meeting is required to follow formal public-notice protocol for a commission vote.

The commission also confirmed it has formally adopted the department's name change to Parks, Recreation and Culture (no Oxford comma), and staff said the new name was used in the master plan to reflect organizational changes.

At the start of the meeting members voted to approve the minutes of the Dec. 11, 2024 meeting with an amendment to correct a roll-call attendance error (the minutes had erroneously shown Commissioner Kelly as present; the amendment records that Kelly was not present). The minutes approval passed unanimously on roll-call.

Finally, the commission adjourned by unanimous roll-call vote after a motion by Kelly (Commissioner) and a second by Matthew (Commissioner).