Cultural Plan Draft to Be Presented at October City Commission Study Session

A preliminary draft of Salina's cultural plan will be presented to city commissioners at a study session on Monday, October 26 beginning at 2:30 p.m., staff told the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission.

Representatives from Keen Independent Research are expected to present the draft, which staff said will include "some of the higher level points of goals, findings" and give commissioners "a pretty comprehensive snapshot of what to expect in January when they're asked to adopt the plan." Staff said the consultants were instructed to avoid surprises, particularly regarding any findings with significant budget, facility, political, or social implications.

The study session, which staff said will be open to the public and available on YouTube and Zoom, will also include the department's annual "state-of-the-arts" report to the city commission. Staff said the report will include fact sheets on attendance, budgets, and city support for seven reporting agencies, along with a profit-and-loss statement for the river festival. The fiscal year closes September 30.

Staff noted that the Arts and Humanities Commission will receive a preliminary view of the draft plan at its October meeting, though the material may not appear in the meeting packet because it remains in draft form. Commissioners were told they will not take a formal vote on the draft. Staff said they and consultants have been reviewing draft sections for accuracy, checking facts such as occupancy sizes and budget characterizations.