City Hall

Meeting Minutes

Arts Commission

601 4th Avenue E

Olympia, WA 98501

Contact: Stephanie

Johnson

360.709.2678

Thursday, December 11, 2025

6:00 PM

Online or via phone

Attend:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H0GeF245RUeLHuoI3BBkvA

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Dorgan called the meeting to order at 6pm.

1.A

ROLL CALL

7 - Chair Kathryn Dorgan, Commissioner Jim Burlingame, Commissioner

Sergio Garcia, Commissioner Coral Garey, Commissioner Katherine

Ransom, Commissioner Andrew Repcik and Commissioner Jay

Spivak

Present:

Absent:

1 - Commissioner Christen Greene

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Chair Dorgan asked if there were changes to the agenda. Hearing none, the agenda was

approved.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

25-1021

Approval of November 13, 2025 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes

11.13.25 OAC Minutes

Attachments:

Chair Dorgan asked if there were changes to the minutes. Hearing none, the minutes

were approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioners shared information about past and upcoming art events.

BUSINESS ITEMS

25-1024

Meet Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department (OPARD)

Director Sylvana Niehuser

New Parks Arts & Recreation Director Sylvana Niehuser introduced herself to

Commissioners.

Information only. No action requested.

25-1022

Update on Downtown Olympia Creative District (DOCD)

DOCD Website

Attachments:

Mariella Luz from the Downtown Olympia Creative District (DOCD) provided an update

on various Olympia Artspace Alliance Projects, of which the DOCD is one of them. They

explained the origin of Olympia's Creative District and the transition from a City program

to the DOCD. One of the first tasks was to expand the boundaries of the district to include

the Armory and all of downtown. They shared that their current project is a website that

will allow artists to search for things like studio spaces and venues, and for the community

to search for artist services (muralists) in order to help create opportunity and resources

for the artists who live in Olympia. Commissioners engaged in discussion.

Information only. No action requested.

25-1023

Update on Rebecca Howard Park

Rebecca Howard Park Project Page on Engage Olympia

Attachments:

Sarah Giannobile, Associate Parks Planner, provided an overview of the Rebecca

Howard Park Development Plan including concepts for art features and community hub,

phasing and timeline. She noted that staff were still deciding on the best approach for art

inclusion in Phase 1, and that City Council would be reviewing the plan in early 2026. As

part of that process, she shared that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee had

drafted a letter of support, and wondered if the Arts Commission would be interested to

do the same. Commissioners engaged in discussion about the plan and decided to have

staff draft a letter of support for Chair edit and signature.

Information only. No action requested.

25-1017

Approval of 2026 Arts Walk Cover Artists

Arts Program Specialist Jessica Strauss Tomy shared the recommendation of the jury:

Fern Tallos for Spring, Devin River for Fall, and Fran Potasnik as alternate.

Commissioner Garcia spoke to the process, noting a unanimous decision around the

spring recommendation, and a interest in highlighting fiber arts for fall, as it has not been

represented for some time. The jury felt all three would translate well to print medium.

Commissioner Ransom moved to approve the jury's recommendation of Fern

Tallos for Spring Arts Walk cover, Devin River for Fall, and Fran Potasnik as

alternate, seconded by Commissioner Burlingame. The motion was approved.

25-0949

Arts Commission Leadership Positions for 2026

Advisory Body Guidebook

Attachments:

Ms. Johnson shared that Commissioner Ransom had expresses interest in the

Vice-Chair position, and that Chair Dorgan was interested to stay on another year as

Chair. Commissioners were asked in anyone else was interested in a leadership

position at this time.

Commissioner Garey, moved that Commissioner Ransom be elected

Vice-Chair for 2026, and that Chair Dorgan retain her position, seconded by

Commissioner Burlingame. The motion was approved.

REPORTS

Ms. Johnson noted that Commissioner City email addresses would expire at the end of

2025, and asked Commissioners to send her preferred emails for future

correspondence. She noted an upcoming poetry workshop and City Hall exhibition event,

and provided updates on the Artist in Residence project, recruitment for boards and

commissions, and the resource page on the City public art website.