Commission staff presented administrative updates and outreach plans at the Dec. 18 meeting, including a 2026 meeting calendar, orientation packets for new commissioners, an affidavit required for board membership, and the evaluation process for public‑art projects.

Staff said the calendar is attached to the meeting packet and will be emailed to commissioners; dates through October 2026 remain tentative pending city scheduling. The orientation/workshop packet contains summaries of the public‑art ordinance, attendance requirements, the commission‑establishing ordinance, the city training manual and the Laredo Art Master Plan (LAMP) with QR codes to the full documents. Commissioners were asked to complete and sign an acknowledgment on the packet cover sheet.

On eligibility, staff described an affidavit that verifies U.S. citizenship, one year residency in the city, and that the signee is a registered voter; staff will send an electronic version and commissioners have until the January meeting to submit documentation or bring copies to the city secretary.

Staff also briefed the commission on evaluation and procurement steps for public art. Phase 1 yielded more than 50 submissions; staff will post RFQs to create a pool of qualified applicants and then use RFPs and evaluation committees (city staff plus appropriate department and commission representatives) for project awards. Staff intends to provide mentorship pairings between student winners and practicing artists and to offer volunteer or community‑service credit where applicable.

No formal administrative actions were taken during the meeting; staff and commissioners agreed to follow up on RFQ timelines and packet acknowledgments ahead of the January meeting.