T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Arts and Culture Alliance Director Amber Danielson, front, asks for a show of hands from the audience on how many are there to support the Arts and Culture Master Plan during Monday night’s Marshalltown city council meeting.

Before a packed house of supporters in the council chambers Monday night, Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance Executive Director Amber Danielson presented the first ever Arts and Culture Master Plan, a 10-year roadmap designed in conjunction with what was described as a broad cross-section of the community.

Before she started, Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Ladehoff congratulated Danielson on receiving recognition from Gov. Kim Reynolds as an emerging arts leader in Iowa, which drew a round of applause in the chambers. From there, she segued into the matter at hand and said that while the process took “a little longer than anticipated,” she believed good things happen to those who wait.

Danielson then provided a “high level overview” of the plan, which was crafted in conjunction with a 13-member planning steering committee and a consulting firm, along with some of its core tenets and how she believes continued promotion of the arts in Marshalltown will improve quality of life for those already living here along with aiding in growth goals for the future.

“The intention of this planning effort was not to have another plan. It was, though, to have a deeper dive and another level to the plans that already exist and is essentially to be an implementation strategy for how we realize the priorities and recommendations through a creative approach in those plans,” she said. “How do we make Marshalltown unique, distinct and authentically reflect the people who call it home?”

Describing the plan as both ambitious and aspirational, Danielson said it belongs to the entire community and noted outreach efforts to both the Latino and Burmese populations during the process of creating it, offering a survey in 21 different languages. It includes five specific placemaking themes — revitalize over restore, build bridges, activate hope, elevate youth and heritage of innovation.

“Successful places attract people beyond those who are required to be there. Creative places draw people, and businesses want to be there,” Danielson said. “As a place becomes more active, commerce is likely to respond, thus giving people even more reasons to attend.”

Citing the destruction of the 2018 tornado and 2020 derecho, Danielson said Marshalltown was in a unique position to be rebuilt and reinvigorated with an emphasis on arts and culture. She also called the implementation of the plan the committee’s top priority.

“Making what matters in Marshalltown will take all of us. Making a vibrant and welcoming Marshalltown alive with arts and authentic cultural opportunities, it’ll take everybody,” she said. “A community that dreams together grows together, so we invite you to take part with us.”

After Danielson introduced him, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Hall, who served as a co-chair of the planning steering committee, praised her leadership through the process and elaborated on how he felt arts and culture would positively impact the business environment within the community.

“Things like these within this master plan are absolutely avenues for helping us win those arguments, those battles and those wars we’re gonna face with regards to workforce,” Hall said. “And we know that businesses want to be in places where community arts, community culture and community aesthetics matter.”

When Ladehoff opened the floor up to questions and comments, Councilor Gary Thompson thanked everyone involved in creating the plan along with those who were there to offer support and jokingly invited them to stick around for the remainder of the meeting.

“It’s obvious a lot of work went into this, so hopefully we can help you on your path. I really appreciate it,” he said.

Fellow Councilor Barry Kell echoed Ladehoff’s earlier praise of Danielson’s work leading the Alliance and said the plan codifies the impact of what has already been done in the arts and culture realm while also showcasing the potential of what can be done in the future.

Members of the public also came to the podium to show their support, including planning steering committee members Neil Dalal and Jesus Rios.

“This master plan has a broad representation, a lot of voices, and it helps build those bridges and a deeper connection through everybody in this community, so we really like that,” Dalal said.

Rios, who moved to Marshalltown from Mexico when he was eight years old, said he originally hoped to leave his hometown after graduating from Iowa State University and “see what the rest of the world had to offer,” but programs like the one being proposed were the things that drew him back.

A motion to accept the plan received unanimous support from the six councilors in attendance as Gabe Isom was absent. The plan can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.artsandculturealliance.org/master-plan.html.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a resolution conveying the property at 4 N. 12th Ave. to Jesus and Brenda Villa for $7,501.

• Approved a resolution conveying the property at 519 S. 5th St. to LIF Enterprises LLC at for $3,100.

• Approved a resolution conveying the property at 500 Lee St. to Levis Ndihokubwayo for $501.

• Approved an amendment to the housing code removing mobile homes from the rental housing inspection requirements by a 5-1 vote, with Thompson opposing, and subsequently voted to waive second and third readings by the same margin.

• Approved an amendment to the city ordinance pertaining to parking schedules by a unanimous vote and waived second and third readings.

• Approved the consent agenda as listed.