Dixon council clashes over use of arts and culture fund

DIXON – The mayor wants to create a more transparent process when it comes to dipping into a $100,000 fund meant to promote arts and culture.

The City Council previously earmarked $100,000 in an arts and culture fund, as well as separate funds for beautification when it comes to untidy public areas.

There’s been confusion and frustration over how money in that arts and culture fund has been used and a lack of process with releasing those funds, Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said at Monday’s meeting.

City Manager Danny Langloss said Councilman Mike Venier was approached by a local artist about doing a mural downtown, and he thought it would be appropriate to use the funds. In August, artist Nora Balayti then painted a mural of petunias at the Meraki Spa Salon building next to the riverfront.

So far, only about $9,000 has been used from that fund, Venier said. They wanted a simple process and thought of it as a “council’s fund,” meaning council members could approve using it if they saw something it could be used for, he said.

Arellano said final approval for spending that money needs to be done in front of the full council, and an arts and culture group could be officially created that would be bound by the Open Meetings Act.

Originally, a private arts and culture group was formed through the Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street, which included Venier, but it met only a couple of times before going defunct because of COVID-19, said Jeremy Englund, executive director of Chamber Main Street.

Langloss has authority to sign off on purchases up to $20,000 without a council vote, and Venier said they could have him handle the arts and culture expenses and later tell the council about it, not necessarily at a public meeting.

Arellano said he would rather have a formal, transparent process.

Councilwoman Mary Oros said a coalition representing different groups was put together, and they decided as a council to allocate funding for that group.

The group was an original idea by the Dixon One task force that planned out how to combine the former chamber and main street organizations years ago, but Englund said it didn’t form until 2019.

There were 10 people in the group prior to COVID-19, he said. Councilman Chris Bishop said a simple solution would be to have the group members come before the council when they want to use the funds.

Venier said he would like to see a five-member group under Chamber Main Street’s umbrella.

Councilman Dennis Considine said every dime spent should come before the council.



Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers joined Sauk Valley Media in 2016 covering local government in Dixon and Lee County.