Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, July 7, 2008
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   Maya Draisin
   René Bihan
   John Kriken
   Alexander Lloyd
   Sherene Melania
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Sherri Young
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Nínive Calegari
   Topher Delaney
   Leonard Hunter
   Dede Wilsey
   Pop Zhao
   Christina Olague
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-157: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of June 2, 2008.
   
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston reported that since Gallery Director Meg Shiffler was out sick, her presentation on the Gallery’s activities would be postponed. Thanking several Commissoners who attended, he reported that the Gallery’s fundraising event on June 14, 2008, at Electric Works (formerly Trillium Press), featuring artist Ala Ebtekar, was a really enjoyable and informative opportunity to see how the printmaking process works.
   
   He reported that the Arts Town Hall, held at Yerba Buena Center on June 9, 2008, was also a great success. He was very pleased to see so many members of the larger Bay area’s arts community enthusiastically participating, and found it heartening to get a larger regional perspective. He noted that several Commissioners participated, including Commissioner Young, who led three workshop sessions. President Johnston thanked Cultural Equity Grants Program Director San San Wong and staff for their work bringing the event together.
   
   President Johnston announced that the second Mayor’s Art Award presentation is scheduled for October 1, 2008, and that the nominating process would begin shortly. He recalled that the first Mayor’s Art Award event in 2007 was also a great celebratory gathering of the arts community, and he looked forward to this year’s event.
   
   President Johnston reported that Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel was traveling, and so was not able to report on the Mexican Museum, which was addressed by item 15 on this meeting’s Consent Calendar. He explained that the next step was for the Redevelopment Agency to approve the Memorandum of Understanding, which he thought was on the agenda for their next meeting, within the week. He noted that there had been a great deal of work by the staffs of the various agencies since the Commission’s last meeting.
   
   President Johnston reported that the Arts Commission’s budget had largely survived the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee process intact, except for the proposed Cultural Voucher Youth Program, which Mr. Cancel has not abandoned.
   
   Finally, President Johnston reminded Commissioners of the Summer in the City concert series, jointly presented by the Arts Commission and the Symphony, and thanked Commissioner Melania for agreeing to represent the Commission on opening night.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   In the absence of Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel, Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar made this report. She expanded on President Johnston’s comment on the budget, noting that the Board of Supervisors had added back $325,000, some of which would be used for grants and some for electrical work needed at the African American Arts and Culture Center. She explained that although the agency’s budget remained level, this was in effect a cut, since expenses are increasing. She said that the Commission needs to develop strategies for funding Arts Commission infrastructure.
   
   Ms. Gonchar reported that Mr. Cancel and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff met with Hydra Mendoza, the Mayor’s Education Advisor, regarding moving the School of the Arts. Ms. Gonchar offered to discuss the budget and budget process in more detail with any interested Commissioner individually, or at the Executive Committee; because it can be difficult to follow, she was hesitant to attempt a full presentation of all the technical details in the forum of the full Commission meeting.
   
   President Johnston added that he hoped to have reports from each of the programs over the next several months, noting that it was refreshing to hear the Gallery report at the June meeeting.
   
   
5. Gallery Director’s Report
   There was no report from the Gallery Director, who was absent due to illness, as noted.
   
   
6. Consent Calendar
   Agenda item 5 was severed from the Consent Calendar because the Executive Committee’s minutes for June 17, 2008, had not been distributed.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-158:
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
   
   Approval of Committee Minutes
   
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-159: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 19, 2008.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-160: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2008.
      
      
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-161: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2008.
      
      
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-162: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2008.
      
      
      Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Recommendations (June 10, 2008)
      
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-163: Motion to fund Brothers for Change to support the Western Addition Black Family Day Festival for a grant for $3,000.
      
      
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-164: Motion to award a grant to the City Lights Foundation in the amount of $5,000 to support printing costs for the National WritersCorps Teachers’ Anthology to be published in 2009.
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-165: Motion to approve the proposed 2008-2009 Management and Program Plan and budget for the Bayview Opera House, Inc., for a grant not to exceed $302,939, contingent upon completion of revisions.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-166: Motion to approve the proposed 2008-2009 Management and Program Plan and budget for Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts for a grant not to exceed $521,336, contingent upon completion of revisions.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-167: Motion to approve the proposed 2008-2009 Management and Program Plan and budget for South of Market Cultural Center and sub-grantees for a grant not to exceed $749,128, contingent upon completion of revisions (including $570,652 to SomArts, $89,238 to sub-grantee Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center contingent upon completion of revisions, and $89,238 to sub-grantee Queer Cultural Center).
      
      
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-168: Motion to approve the proposed 2007-2008 Management and Program Plan and budget for the African American Arts and Culture Complex for a grant not to exceed $462,627, contingent upon completion of revisions.
       
       
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (June 16, 2008)
       
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-169: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Sunnyside Conservatory.
       
       
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-170: Motion to approve the Phase 1 of the Sunol Yard with contingency of addressing storm water treatment, views from the road, sustainability, and development of a site plan.
       
       
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-171: Motion to approve changes to the previously approved Phase 3 design of the SFMTA Transit Shelters.
       
       
       
       Executive Committee Recommendations (June 17, 2008)
       
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-172: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs, or his designee, in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office, to proceed with and implement a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (“SFRA”) to use SFRA funds to help support and encourage the operational and financial stability of the Mexican Museum, as well as the public programs and activities of the Mexican Museum as an important cultural and community resource, subject to the adoption of the MOU by the Redevelopment Agency Commission.
       
       
       
7. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee met and discussed a few significant items. They received a report from Mr. Cancel, who attended the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee hearings. President Johnston agreed with Ms. Gonchar that Mr. Cancel had worked strategically to build relationships with the Committee members, and that he had learned a lot in the process.
         
         President Johnston reported that the Committee received the report that the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development is still discussing options for the old Gallery space at Grove Street, and he hoped to have more information to report at the Commission’s next meeting.
         
         President Johnston reported that the Committee discussed the Mexican Museum; the Arts Commission would act as a fiscal sponsor while the Museum works to improve its sustainability. Commissioner Przyblyski added that while she supported the Museum, she was concerned about its viability when it is so far behind on its rent. President Johnston explained that Mr. Cancel shared this concern and had expressed it clearly to the Museum.
         
         
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      1. Commissioner Bihan reported that the Committee discussed four projects. Commissioner Hunter had met with the design architect on the Sunnyside Conservatory regarding the fence, and the Committee unanimously approved the project. The Committee sent the second project, the Bay Division Pipeline upgrade, back to the design team for more work. The Committee considered the third project, at the Sunol yard at Hetch Hetchy, which is near an historic water temple. They asked the design team to incorporate information about the contemporary story of water in the Bay area. The final project was the citywide transit shelters and kiosks. The designers came back to the Committee with a revised design, using stainless steel instead of the previously approved bronze, as there was a concern about the risk of “urban mining” (theft) of bronze. Commissioner Bihan reported that they are working with the Better Streets master plan.
         
         
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
      1. Vice President Draisin reported that the Committee focused on the Cultural Centers’ Management and Programming Plans (“MPP”), and approved two small grants, for the Western Addition Black Family Day Festival and for the newest WritersCorps publication. She reported that they held a lengthy discussion regarding the proposal to bill their utility costs back to the Centers, with testimony from Cultural Center directors and some of their constituents. The Committee approved all of the MPPs, and will continue to monitor the Centers during this period of transition, working with staff to set short-term and long-term goals and direction.
         
         Vice President Draisin presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-173: Motion to amend Resolution No. 0602-08-127, awarding Neighborhood Festival grants, to reflect the correct fiscal sponsor for the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema. The corrected information for this grantee is as follows:
         
         Urban Resource Systems for Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema to support the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, $3,000
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
      1. Commissioner Lloyd reported that the Committee had not met. He presented the following motions.
         
         Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar explained that the second motion was intended to add new Street Artist spaces next to Justin Herman Plaza, near the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He explained that these spaces will not congest the sidewalk because it is so wide there. The spaces are for weekends only and thus will not impact the bus zone.
         
         In response to a question, Commissioner Lloyd explained that these spaces would not generate any additional revenue for the Arts Commission or the program, but would only benefit the artists.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-174: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Marc Melancon, Heidi Wyckoff, Larry Lowell, Ava Austin, Ming Hu, Danny Yin, John Thomas Hayes, Linda LaTouche.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-175: Motion to authorize Program Director to request Board of Supervisors for temporary designation for six (6) months of nine (9) street artist spaces for weekend usage on Market Street, north side, at Steuart Street.
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      1. Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the Committee did not meet, as they were unable to reach a quorum. She added that she looks forward to welcoming Commissioner Lloyd to the Committee.
         
         Commissioner Przyblyski presented the following motions. She explained that the Committee had looked at many images for the murals in the first motion, adding that work was expected to begin in July and end in August. She also commented that the Gallery project was a really good use of the Grove Street space.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-176: Motion to approve a series of seven murals on roll-down metal gates in front of the following businesses along the 24th Street corridor; La Espiga De Oro, Lo Cost Meats, Casa Lucas Market and Mani Vanh Thai Restaurant. Lead artists Eli Lippert, Fred Alvarado and Catalina Gonzalez will work with youth from the Urban Youth Arts Program and the Mission Girls Mural Project. Painting will commence in early July, 2008 and be complete by late August, 2008.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0707-08-177: Motion to approve artist honorarium in the amount of $500 for artist Jacqueline Gordon for her installation at 155 Grove Street to be installed July 18, 2008.
         
         
8. New Business
   Commissioner Kriken asked about the Memorandum of Understanding and proposed location for the Mexican Museum; it is in the Yerba Buena plaza opposite the new Contemporary Jewish Museum. He said that he understood there was a proposal to develop the project as a joint public-private partnership, like the Museum of the African Diaspora. President Johnston added that he understood that the private partner has already selected an architect for the project.
   
   There was no further new business.
   
   
9. Reports and Announcements
   There were no announcements.
   
   
10. Public Comment
    There was no further public comment.
    
    
11. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:37 p.m.
    
    

9/3/08 spr