Meeting Information

Executive_Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
4:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

1. Cultural Equity Grants Program Director Report
   Explanatory Documents: Panel Comments/Scoring
   
   Ms. Louie explained that CEG received 24 applications for Cultural Equity Initiatives--Level One, and the panelists recommended 19 applications to be supported. President Johnston wanted to know if the groups were different from the previous year. Ms. Louie responded that they were mostly previous grantees. She noted that new grantees in this applicant pool included Asian American Orchestra, Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project, Armenian Film Festival and Global Women Intact.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve panel recommendations for 19 grants in the 2005 cycle of the Cultural Equity Initiatives - Level One category totaling $303,822. 
   
   Moved: Mirikitani/Cochran
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the following panelists for Cultural Equity Grants panel pool:
   
   Robin Stanton, Aurora Theatre
   Alisa Rasera, Axis Dance
   Nora Heiber, AGMA, A.F.L.C.I.O.
   John Simpson, Theatre Rhinoceros
   
   Moved: Mirikitani/Brown
   
   
2. Budget Report
   Explanatory Documents: proposed budgets
   
   Ms. Gonchar said that this year's budget, while difficult, did not appear to be as extreme as in the past three years. The General Fund (“GF”) support for the Arts Commission has been cut by nearly 50% in the last four years. In 2000-2001, the GF supported five administrative salaries and four program salaries, as well as the full rent ($122,000), IT costs, reproduction, mailing, office supplies and insurance. Today the GF funds 3.71 salaries, $72,000 of the rent, IT, a small portion of the office supplies and reproduction costs and insurance. She explained that the midyear reduction from CEG's budget was decreased to $150,000 from $183,000. The Chief Accountant is working on developing a baseline target for the Mayor's Office. The worst-case scenario is that the Arts Commission's target reduction is approximately $43,000 and the rent allocation would be reduced accordingly. This would necessitate a reduction in office space and an additional burden to the programs that would have to contribute more to overhead expenses from their program budgets.
   
   In addition to these cuts, the Commission needs to develop a contingency plan for a possible reduction of 5%, or $25,584. If the cut is necessary, it will reduce the GF rent allocation to $3,244. Ms. Gonchar reported that in fiscal year 2006-2007, the Mayor's Office is projecting a $75 million deficit. In FY 2006-2007, the Arts Commission will not have any more to offer from the General Fund. President Johnston wondered about the funds related to rent. Mr. Newirth said that there was not much space to give up and that a substantial part of the space is the conference room. Mr. Newirth and Ms. Gonchar are looking at opportunities to consolidate the staff into one space. President Johnston felt that it was inconsistent that some agencies in City Hall do not have to pay rent. He noted that it is odd that the Mayor's Office provides an allocation for rent which is then paid to Real Estate.
   
   Ms. Gonchar described the different types of revenue streams for the Arts Commission. The budget proposed at this meeting related to the administrative portion of the General Fund. In 2001-2002, nine positions were supported by the General Fund. In FY 2004-2005, the GF supports only 3.71 positions. Some of those positions were eliminated and others are now supported by other funding; for example, WritersCorps is supported by DCYF and the Library. Ms. Gonchar said that the Arts Commission has taken a disproportionate burden in terms of the budget cuts over the last several years. President Johnston agreed that the impact on the Arts Commission was severe.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the FY 2005-2006 Arts Commission budget submission to the Mayor's Office.
   
   Moved: Brown/Mirikitani
   
   CEG Budget
   Ms. Gonchar explained that in the last few years, some funds have been put on reserve since the Hotel Tax was decreasing and not meeting projections. The FY 2005-2006 budget projection is flat, and no funds will be reserved because the Hotel Tax Fund is recovering. Commissioner Mirikitani asked about the midyear reduction of $150,000 and Mr. Newirth and Ms. Gonchar explained that it was at the request of the Mayor's Office and was entered into the budget in January.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the FY 2005-2006 Cultural Equity Grants budget.
   
   Moved: Cochran/Mirikitani
   
   Street Artist Program
   Ms. Gonchar pointed out that there was a surplus in previous years' budgets. However, the annual program budget costs have been exceeding revenue. She explained that the fees for licensing will increase over the next few years to meet the increasing costs of the program. In the meantime, the surplus will be used to cover the costs. President Johnston asked about the street patrol line item. Mr. Newirth explained that the program used to cover these costs and that the Program Director has been doing much of the patrolling himself.
   
   Motion: Discussion and motion to approve the FY 2005-2006 Street Artists budget.
   
   Moved: Brown/Cochran
   
   Cultural Centers
   Ms. Gonchar discussed the administrative portion of the budget, which currently accounts for 9.6% of the total. It is likely that the Hotel Tax legislation will be open to amendment during the budget process. If so, Ms. Gonchar recommends that the administrative fee be increased to 12.5%, as is allocated for Cultural Equity Grants. Mr. Newirth explained that CAE Program Director Judy Nemzoff and Ms. Gonchar will be meeting with the Cultural Centers and working out a number of outstanding issues. Supervisor Ammiano's office is convening these meetings.
   
   

3. Adjournment 5:11
   

Revision Date February 3, 2005

Notices
Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 240, San Francisco CA 94102 during regular business hours. Tel: INFO: (Sarah Lenoue 415-252-3257).

Public comment in regard to specific items will be taken before or during consideration of the item.

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