Executive Committee - January 27, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, January 27, 2014
2:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Draft Minutes
 

President JD Beltran called the meeting to order at 2:09 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   JD Beltran, President
   Abby Sadin Schnair, Vice President
   Leo Chow
   Simon Frankel
   Roberto Ordeñana
    
   Commissioners Absent
   None
    
2. President’s Report
   President Beltran reported that the Mayor’s State of the City address highlighted affordable housing as an important issue, and she encouraged everyone to watch the video posted on the City’s website.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the Nonprofit Displacement Working Group, consisting of City staff and nonprofit representatives. He reported that they were gathering information on the current situation as well as reviewing the effectiveness of solutions proposed in the 2000-2001 technology boom. He explained that the working group was scheduled to report its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor later in the spring. The Committee asked some clarifying questions, and requested further updates in the coming months.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (“CAST”), an initiative to acquire real estate assets, restricted to arts uses, at today’s prices, and hold them in trust, allowing arts organizations to buy them at today’s prices over seven to ten years, replenishing the trust. He noted that the organization has a very strong board of directors, with pilot funding from the Rainin Foundation; he reported on additional funding being sought from other sources. He reported that Counterpulse and the Luggage Store were the first two organizations to benefit from CAST, and suggested that it might be a model for cultural corridors in other parts of the city. The Committee discussed other funders who might be interested.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reported that he and President Beltran had attended the dedication of two new artworks at San Francisco Airport’s Terminal 3, Boarding Area E. President Beltran added that this was one of the most beautiful terminals she has seen, with gorgeous artwork, clean lines and quality vendors; Mr. DeCaigny added that they are locally-owned businesses.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Grants Panelist Pool
   Mr. DeCaigny explained that the Committee was being asked to approve the addition of another member to the pool from which grants review panelists could be drawn. He added that, on advice from the City Attorney’s office, panel pool members would henceforward be approved for a specific period of time.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   Motion to approve the following individual as a part of a pool of potential San Francisco Arts Commission grant application review panelists through June 30, 2015:
   Raissa Simpson, Artistic Director, Push Dance Company
    
5. Street Artists Fee
   Mr. DeCaigny explained that the following motion was written in response to a change in California law, in concert with the City Attorney’s and the Controller’s offices. He added that this change affected a number of City departments; fee waivers previously applied to wounded veterans, but now apply to all honorably discharged veterans. The Committee discussed the motion, and in response to a question, Mr. DeCaigny said staff would monitor what effect this change might have on the amount of fees collected.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   For consistency with state law regarding fee waivers for Honorably Discharged Veterans:
   Motion to rescind and replace Arts Commission Resolution No. 0607-93-277 (“procedures for directing staff’s review of applications for exemption from paying fees under California Business and Professions Code sections 16001 and 16001.5”), adopted June 7, 1993, with a new resolution, consistent with current California Business and Professions Code Section 16001.7, to authorize the Street Artists Program Director, under the direction of the Director of Cultural Affairs of the Arts Commission, to waive the Street Artists Certificate fee for Honorably Discharged Veterans upon receipt of the Honorably Discharged Veteran’s Certificate of Release DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other equivalent U.S. government document reflecting honorable discharge and to process fee waiver, consistent with state and local laws.
    
6. Midyear FY2013-2014 Budget Report
   Mr. DeCaigny invited Deputy Director Rebekah Krell and Finance Manager Kevin Quan to present the midyear budget report. They reviewed the report line by line, and the Committee discussed the report in detail, including the various funding sources and expenditures.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
7. Arts Commission FY2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Draft Budget
   Ms. Krell reviewed the budget process and timeline; she and Mr. Quan presented the draft budget for fiscal years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Mr. DeCaigny, Ms. Krell and Mr. Quan reviewed the proposed budget and the Committee discussed it in detail. Mr. DeCaigny added that both this Committee and the full Commission would have further opportunities to review the budget before it is finally submitted to the Mayor’s office.
    
   President Beltran noted that the Controller has now certified that the Commission is fully in compliance with their requests from the 2011 review by the Controller, and she praised the work and leadership of Ms. Krell for that accomplishment. Ms. Krell credited the work of Mr. Quan and the accounting staff.
    
   President Beltran left the meeting at approximately 3:30 p.m., and Vice President Schnair chaired the remainder of the meeting.
    
   The Committee continued its detailed discussion of the budget, and of the agency’s requests to the City’s capital planning committee. The Committee discussed the challenge of getting accurate estimates of capital costs in the context of both an extended City approval process and rapidly rising construction prices.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   Motion to approve proposed Fiscal Year 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Arts Commission budget.
    
8. Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
9. New Business and Announcements
   Mr. DeCaigny announced the impending retirement of Ernie Rivera from SOMArts, which would be marked at the next meeting of the full Arts Commission.
    
   The Committee discussed preferred times for its meetings.
    
   In response to a question, Mr. DeCaigny explained that the strategic plan would be posted on the agency’s website shortly, and that he would be discussing the strategic plan and its implementation with the full Commission.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

6/11/14 spr

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助，Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.