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Normandy Park arts commission weighs how to spend events budget, keeps same chair and vice chair
Summary
At its regular meeting commissioners approved minutes and the agenda, re-elected Commissioner Nadia as chair and Lawrence as vice chair, and debated whether to keep an established sound vendor and how to spend roughly $9,000–$13,000 allocated for arts and events this year.
The Normandy Park Arts Commission discussed how to use an allocated events budget and finalized leadership for the coming year at its meeting, with commissioners debating whether to continue the Music in the Park series at current cost or reallocate funds to arts programming.
Chair opened the meeting at 7:07 a.m., moved to excuse two absent commissioners and led approval of the December minutes and the meeting agenda by voice votes. A committee member nominated Commissioner Nadia to stay as arts commission chair; the motion was seconded and approved. The Chair then moved to elect Lawrence as vice chair and the motion passed with one abstention.
Staff reported one applicant for an open position had been interviewed by the mayor and that the application will go to the city council at its Jan. 13 meeting for appointment or other direction. Staff also announced a volunteer work party Jan. 17 at Nis Park through Family Foresters and demonstrated a new “call to artists” form posted on the city web page for parks and arts.
A substantial portion of the meeting centered on Music in the Park planning. A committee member said most slots are filled but an opener remains unconfirmed; commissioners discussed a sound vendor based in Burien that quoted $800 per day plus $100 per extra band (about $1,000 for a finale day) compared with the commission’s prior daily rate around $900. Staff noted the quoted fee appeared to fall below the formal procurement threshold and that the city could obtain informal multiple bids for services. "It's under the threshold that we need in order to, like, require us to go out to bid," the Staff member said.
Commissioners also discussed event logistics: recruiting nonprofit booths and bake-sale vendors, whether to pursue food trucks, how to handle drink service and licensing (the city foundation often helps oversee liquor permits), and whether to co-sponsor events with partners such as The Cove to reduce costs. One commissioner summarized the budget opportunity, saying there was "somewhere in the vicinity of $13" available and urging the group to develop a compelling plan for programming across months that are currently empty on the commission’s calendar.
The group reviewed past events including Solstice and a Santa party and debated whether the community value matched event costs — for example, one speaker cited a music line-item of $14,000 for six weeks of performers and others estimated a higher total for the season once sound and advertising are included. Commissioners discussed alternatives such as an artists-in-residence program, quarterly public art purchases, or small recurring events that might create a longer-term asset for the city.
Staff urged commissioners to gather numbers and ideas so the commission can decide next steps at a future meeting. The Chair moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded and the meeting ended by voice vote.
