City Hall  
Meeting Minutes  
Arts Commission  
601 4th Avenue E  
Olympia, WA 98501  
Contact: Stephanie  
Johnson  
360.709.2678  
Thursday, April 9, 2026  
6:00 PM  
Room 112  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Dorgan called the meeting to order at 6pm.  
1.A  
ROLL CALL  
Jess Dolezal and child were also in attendance.  
8 - Chair Kathryn Dorgan, Commissioner Sergio Garcia, Commissioner  
Elizabeth Lord, Commissioner Mara Orenstein, Commissioner  
Present:  
Katherine Ransom, Commissioner Andrew Repcik, Commissioner Jay  
Spivak and Commissioner Lauren Thompson  
1 - Commissioner Coral Garey  
Absent:  
2.  
3.  
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Chair Dorgan asked if there were changes to the agenda. Hearing none, the  
agenda was approved.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
26-0256  
Approval of March 12, 2026 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes  
Attachments:  
3.12.26 OAC Minutes  
Chair Dorgan asked if there were changes to the minutes. Hearing none, the  
minutes were approved.  
4.  
5.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
Jess Dolezal shared that they attended the meeting to learn more about the Arts  
Commission.  
ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Commissioners shared information about past and upcoming arts events.  
6.  
BUSINESS ITEMS  
26-0257 Welcome New Arts Commissioners  
Advisory Body Guidebook  
Attachments:  
Proposed 2026 Arts Commission Work Plan  
Proposed 2026 Municipal Art Plan  
Commissioners introduced themselves and shared a bit about what brought them to  
serve on the Arts Commission. Ms. Johnson share an overview of the Arts, Cultures and  
Heritage programs in the City. She also provided a high level overview of the Arts  
Commission Work Plan and Municipal Art Plan, Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan, the  
Comprehensive Plan, and Olympia Performance Metrics to provide context about how  
the Commission's work fits within the larger City government. Commissioners had time to  
ask questions. Ms. Johnson noted it takes time to get settled and encouraged new  
Commissioners to reach out to Chair Dorgan or herself if they had further questions.  
Information only. No action requested.  
26-0195  
Artist in Residence Update  
Ms. Johnson shared that she reached out to a number of residences housing under  
served community members. She either received no response or a decline from most,  
but Billy Frank Jr. Place was very excited about the opportunity to host drumming  
workshops. She also reached out to the instructor who was to teach the second  
workshop series, and who had piloted the initial workshops in 2023. They reached out to  
Community Youth Services, who felt their Haven House crisis residential shelter for youth  
would be a good match.  
Commissioners determined to continue the project at Haven House for the second series  
of workshops and at Billy Frank Jr. place for the third. Commissioners intend to review  
the project at the end of the year, with discussion opening considerations of artistic  
media and audience.  
Information only. No action requested.  
REPORTS  
7.  
Ms. Johnson reminded Commissioners that Board and Commission surveys are due  
April 15. She noted that the Traffic Box Wrap applications are open, there are upcoming  
Poet Laureate events in April, and the Welcome Figure dedication was expected to take  
place early June. She shared that Arts Walk maps had gone out with assistance from  
City staff - she noted that she could use help chalking the Arts Market vendor spaces on  
Percival Landing for Arts Walk - Chair Dorgan, Vice-Chair Ransom and Commissioner  
Garcia volunteered. She also asked for a volunteer to assist the Olympia Downtown  
Alliance (ODA) in their summer music series selection as noted by agreement for the  
Music Out Loud project. Commissioners Repcik and Garcia both volunteered. Ms.  
Johnson noted she would reach out to the ODA to get more information on the process.  
8.  
OTHER TOPICS  
Chair Dorgan shared that the Commission had been considering moving all meetings to  
in-person, but was waiting to hear from the new members. Currently, the majority of  
meetings are held virtually, with quarterly in person meetings held January, April, July and  
October. Commissioner Thompson left the meeting early, but had communicated to staff  
that in person would work. Commissioners Orenstein and Lord noted they preferred  
in-person meetings, and the remainder of the Commissioners in attendance agreed. The  
Commission will begin to meet regularly in person, beginning with their May 2026  
meeting.  
9.  
ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was adjourned at 8pm.  
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