City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco Arts Commission

September 12, 2011

Full Commission - September 12, 2011

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, September 12, 2011
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416


Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
 

  1. Roll Call
    Commissioners Present
    P.J. Johnston, President
    Mark Breitenberg
    John Calloway
    Gregory Chew
    Amy Chuang
    Lorraine García-Nakata
    Dorka Keehn
    Sherene Melania
    Jessica Silverman
    Barbara Sklar
    Kimberlee Stryker
    Sherri Young

    Commissioners Absent
    Leo Chow
    Cass Calder Smith
    Christina Olague, ex officio
     
  2. Approval of Minutes
    RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-189:
    Motion to approve June 6, 2011 Minutes.
    RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-190: Motion to approve July 11, 2011 Minutes.


  3. President’s Report
    President Johnston said that he was unbelievably pleased at how well the Commission’s decision to hire Ms. Beltran as Interim Director has turned out. He added that the past couple of months have seen a flurry of activity, which Commissioners had seen in their Committee meetings. To general applause, he praised Ms. Beltran for stepping into the position in a very chaotic period and doing an amazing job.

  4. Director’s Report
    Ms. Beltran began her report by thanking President Johnston for his support and leadership, and calling for applause for the staff.

    Turning to the search for a new Director of Cultural Affairs, Ms. Beltran reported that in consultation with Laura Dancer Huge of the Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) and with President Johnston, and in light of the imminent mayoral election, the timeline has been slightly extended. She invited Ms. Dancer Huge to give an update on the search.

    Ms. Dancer Huge began by explaining that she and Melissa Cayabyab of DHR are partnering with the Arts Commission to select a new Director. She reported that the application filing period ended on Friday, September 9, after five weeks, including regional and national networking and publication of the announcement. She and DHR staff are reviewing the 52 applications to confirm that they meet the minimum qualifications. Recalling that the Commission had requested input from community stakeholders in the search process, Ms. Dancer Huge reported that DHR staff had solicited about 70 groups, inviting them to attend one of two focus meetings. While less than a dozen people actually attended the meetings, the groups all appreciated being asked. Those who did attend, she said, came with their hearts and minds very engaged, and they identified key qualities and competencies they would like to see in the new Director. She planed to summarize their discussions to help the Commission understand what is important to stakeholders. She thought this was a good way to reach out to those who will be affected by the new Director.

    Ms. Beltran thanked Ms. Dancer Huge, and reported that she had attended the first focus group, and sensed that participants really appreciated the opportunity to weigh in; one asked whether all Commissions did this. She added that video of the discussions and transcripts will be posted on the Arts Commission’s website.

    Continuing her report, Ms. Beltran reported that one of her first tasks was to review the organizational structure. She recalled that the Deputy Director position was eliminated in 2009. The Deputy Director had been responsible for overseeing staffing policy and human resources issues, internal agency policy and, perhaps most important, fiscal policy. Ms. Beltran acknowledged that although Kan Htun did as much as he could when called to take on that responsibility, he is trained as an accountant, not a chief financial officer. Ms. Beltran was very excited to announce that, with the facilitation of the Mayor’s office and DHR, Rebekah Krell has been hired as Deputy Director. Ms. Krell thanked Ms. Beltran and said that she was thrilled to join the Arts Commission staff. She explained that she has worked in the Mayor’s Budget Office for the past three years, working with the Fine Arts Museums, the Asian Art Museum, and some of the public safety departments, as well as the Arts Commission, on their budgets during that time. Before that, she served as an aide to Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, and before that, she worked with the Board of Supervisors’ budget analyst, Harvey Rose. She said that she was looking forward to working with the Commission and staff.

    Ms. Beltran distributed an updated organization chart reflecting the reinstated Deputy Director’s position. She explained that Jill Manton’s position has been changed to Deputy Director for Planning, Policy and Development. Ms. Beltran explained that the creation of this new position recognized Ms. Manton’s incredible strengths in finding ways for the Arts Commission to collaborate with other City agencies for mutual benefit. Calling these collaborations invaluable, she noted that partnerships with other City agencies strengthen the Arts Commission, countering the effects of the fluctuations in funding for Public Art projects. Because of the long lead time of these bond projects, the effects of the financial downturn take two or more years to affect project funding at the Arts Commission. Ms. Beltran explained that Ms. Manton is currently working with the Public Utilities Commission and other agencies to make up some of the funding lost from other sources, and Ms. Beltran is pleased to be able to take advantage of Ms. Manton’s expertise and experience in this area.

    Ms. Beltran added that Ms. Krell will be working on personnel and human resource issues, where her experience with the Mayor’s office will be helpful, and she will be working on office management, facilities management, and information technology issues. Ms. Beltran thanked Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, Finance Director Kan Htun and Civic Design Review Program Manager Vicky Knoop for filling the gap in these areas.

    Returning to the question of the agency’s financial management, Ms. Beltran was pleased to announce that the Controller’s office was conducting a management review of the Arts Commission, with three objectives: evaluating the organizational structure, assessing financial practices with respect to funding sources, and reviewing grantmaking processes. She explained that the Controller’s office staff has been busy gathering information and meeting with staff one-on-one, and they expect to have their final report by September 16. She anticipated that the report would be a terrific road map for the agency, particularly for Ms. Krell’s responsibilities as CFO.

    Ms. Beltran reported that Gallery Director Meg Shiffler has just returned from a hugely successful trip to Sydney for the Sister City show, Urbanition, and invited her to report on it. Ms. Shiffler explained that the Gallery had commissioned three artists from San Francisco and three from Sydney for the exhibition, which ran in San Francisco from April 28 through July 2. The artists were asked to develop a vision of how the two cities could be more sustainable and more livable, and a curatorial goal was to give exposure to the artists in both cities. Ms. Shiffler explained that the SFAC Gallery partnered with Sydney’s CarriageWorks, a multi-venue center of some 60,000-70,000 square feet, encompassing several theaters and exhibition spaces; it also hosts a big market on Saturdays. She reported that the show drew people who came to CarriageWorks for the market, for the theaters and for other galleries, attracting a much bigger audience than saw the show in San Francisco. She explained that CarriageWorks constructed walls in their lobby specifically for the show, and she showed several slides of the installation. Ms. Shiffler reported that artist Sergio De La Torre traveled with her. She reported that Sydney’s hugely popular Lord Mayor Clover Moore opened the celebration of the exhibition, and that the show was featured on the cover of the city’s weekly publication, City Hub.

    Noting that this was the first time she had traveled internationally on behalf of the Arts Commission, Ms. Shiffler added that she met with dozens of her colleagues there, including gallery directors. She said that there was much more participation by the Australians, both in San Francisco and in Sydney, than by San Franciscans, including San Francisco officials, and that her goal was to get much more support locally. She reported that Lord Mayor Moore hoped to have more international collaboration. Ms. Shiffler added that she is in discussions with the Contemporary Jewish Museum about Haifa, another Sister City. A project with Haifa might be more like the Shanghai Sister City events, involving several institutions.

    Echoing the enthusiasm of the Australians, Ms. Beltran added that virtually every Sydney dignitary attended the openings in both San Francisco and Sydney, but the same was not true of San Francisco officials. She recounted how she attended a performance by Hugh Jackman following the San Francisco opening, and that the actor announced from the stage that the Australian Consul was in the audience and had just come from the opening of this very important show. Mr. Jackman added that he was sorry to miss the opening because of his performance.

    President Johnston added that Urbanition was a great show, and he hoped the Gallery could build on its success.

    Finally, Ms. Beltran reported that Ms. Manton received a prestigious Rockefeller grant for a residency at the Bellagio Center in Italy. Ms. Manton reported that she had a wonderful trip, and felt privileged to have been invited to apply. She explained that this was a ten-day residency, and not a conference. She used the time for research and writing on the proposed public art trust. She expected public meetings on the trust to be held starting at the end of September. Ms. Manton had the opportunity to present her draft to colleagues at Bellagio, including residents from Ireland, Singapore and New York. She added that the New York resident, the director of an alternative arts space, gave her valuable feedback about cultural facilities. She reported that the setting on the Lago di Como was beautiful, and explained that the Center’s residents have a room and an office, and are required to have dinner together, fostering interaction. Besides the residencies, she explained, the Center holds twice-yearly conferences, and hosts small groups. She was very gratified that her work with the Arts Commission allowed her to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she added that there was no cost to the City, as the Rockefeller Foundation gave her a scholarship for airfare.

    On another note, she reported that she would be part of an American Institute of Architects panel on art about place.

    Ms. Beltran was pleased to acknowledge Ms. Manton, adding that although she had flown back from Italy, she had spent the morning with a twenty-person delegation from China.

    Finally, Ms. Shiffler distributed a postcard for Shift, the Gallery’s exhibition opening Friday, September 16. She invited Commissioners to the opening, thanked the sponsors of the exhibition, and said she was excited about the contributors for the catalogue, scholars on contemporary race studies and postcolonial studies.

     
  5. Consent Calendar
    Items 5 and 7 were withdrawn from the Consent Calendar, and Item 32 was severed from the Consent Calendar and deferred to the Visual Arts Committee Report.

    The remaining items were approved as follows.

    RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-191:
    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. 0912-11-192: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 16, 2011.
       
    2. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-193: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 25, 2011.
       
    3. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-194: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 20, 2011.
       
    4. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-195: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of July 13, 2011.
       
    5. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-196: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of July 20, 2011.
       
    6. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-197: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of August 17, 2011.

      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (July 18, 2011)
    7. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-198: Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the Golden Gate Transit Bus Stop Redesign on the condition that the kiosk has a more open design and smaller signs are used in place of kiosks whenever possible.
       
    8. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-199: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the 2008 Restroom Park Bond Contemporary Design contingent upon using glazed CMU block and a revised color palette.
       
    9. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-200: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Palega Playground Renovation with the contingencies that the playground surfaces have more color, the trees on the path are grouped, and the base of the building is painted a darker color.
       
    10. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-201: Motion to approve Phase 2 on the contingency that the team look into planting on the upward slope and using native grasses for the bioswale.
       
    11. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-202: Motion to approve Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Uptown Tenderloin Historic District Plaques on the condition that the sidewalk plaques are shifted to the corner of each sidewalk square.

      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (July 20, 2011)
    12. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-203: Motion to approve former Civic Design Commissioner René Bihan to serve as a panelist for the North Beach Library Artist Selection Panel, to take place in September 2011.
       
    13. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-204: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $5,000 to Anthony Torres for curatorial contributions, research and development of the SFAC Gallery exhibition project Shared Histories.
       
    14. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-205: Motion to approve Design Development of graphics package and final design of granite elements for Susan Schwartzenberg and Peter Richard’s Philosopher’s Way at McClaren Park.
       
    15. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-206: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify the agreement with Anna Valentina Murch to increase the agreement by $575,512 for a total contract amount not to exceed $620,512, to add fabrication, transportation and consultation during installation of artwork to the scope of work for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Plaza.
       
    16. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-207: Motion to approve the artist Jovi Schnell and the artist’s proposal as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel for an artwork at the SoMa West Skatepark.
       
    17. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-208: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with artist Jovi Schnell for design, fabrication, transportation and installation/consultation during installation of an artwork for SoMa West Skatepark in an amount not to exceed $51,000.
       
    18. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-209: Motion to approve tile samples and proposed color palette for Kelly Ording’s ceramic tile mosaic for the interior of Palega Recreation Center, as proposed by Kelly Ording and Pippa Murray Mosaics.

      Executive Committee Recommendations (July 25, 2011)
    19. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-210: Motion to approve a recruitment plan for the hiring of a new Director of Cultural Affairs.
       
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (August 15, 2011)
    20. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-211: Motion to approve Phase 3 of Firehouse No. 1.
       
    21. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-212: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the SoMa West Skatepark with the contingency that the fence and wall visually relate to each other.
       
    22. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-213: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Regional Groundwater Storage and Recovery Project contingent upon the project team presenting a materials board at Phase 3 review and using an integral color concrete.
       
    23. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-214: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the 2008 Restroom Bond Program—Contemporary Design, with the contingency that the design use steel form concrete with snap ties and use blue tile in place of brown tile on one of the restrooms. The design team should present the modified design prior to Phase 3 review.
       
    24. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-215: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the aboveground portion of the Central Subway Union Square Station with the contingency that multiple varieties of climbing plants are used to screen the building, and that the design team look into alternative types of glass for the terrace level floor.

      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (August 17, 2011)
    25. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-216: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with the Independent Curators International for an amount not to exceed $2,750 for touring the FAX exhibition to the SFAC Gallery.
       
    26. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-217: Motion to increase the contract amount for Tom Otterness Studio authorized by Resolution Number 1206-10-340 by $150,000 to correct an error in the amount listed in the resolution, from an amount not to exceed $600,000 to a new total amount not to exceed $750,000 for design development, fabrication of molds, fabrication of sculptures, transportation and consultation during installation for Central Subway: Moscone Station.
       
    27. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-218: Motion to approve Excelsior Portal, a tile mural by Elizabeth A. O’Connor on the 280 freeway overpass between Mission and Trumbull streets. The mural will be executed by Excelsior Boys & Girls Club youth and is sponsored by the Excelsior Action Group.
       
    28. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-219: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Scott Attie, selected by the Public Safety Building Artist Selection Panel for design and engineering of an artwork for the Public Safety Building: Police Memorial in an amount not to exceed $74,000.
       
    29. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-220: Motion to approve Construction Document Phase deliverables (budget, material samples, written costs estimates, schedule and maintenance plan) by Moto Ohtake for Fulton Playground.
       
    30. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-221: Motion to approve designs developed by designer Adrienne Aquino for the WritersCorps Market Street Kiosk Poster Series based on the youth writing from the San Francisco Arts Commission’s WritersCorps program. Exhibition will be displayed in 36 bus shelter kiosks on Market Street from October 31, 2011 to January 27, 2012.
       
    31. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-222: Motion to approve the Project Outline for 4th and Brannan Platform Public Art Project.
       
    32. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-223: Motion to approve the following arts professionals as potential panelists for the 4th and Brannan Platform Public Art Project Artist Selection Panel:
      Jennifer Easton, Project Manager, San Jose Public Art Program
      Lex Leifheit, Executive Director, SOMArts
      Justin Hoover, Curator and Gallery Director, SOMArts
      Ellen Oh, Director, Kearney Street Workshop
      Julia Hamilton, Adjunct Professor, UC Berkeley
      Steven Huss, Cultural Arts Manager, Oakland Public Art Program
      Judy Moran, Former Project Manager, San Francisco Arts Commission
       
    33. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-224: Motion to approve the proposal design submitted by Susan Narduli Studio and Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture for a veteran’s memorial located in Memorial Court in the War Memorial Complex.
       
    34. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-225: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Susan Narduli Studio for $420,560 for design and project management services (schematic design through construction) for a veteran’s memorial located in Memorial Court in the War Memorial Complex.
       
    35. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-226: Motion to approve final design revisions of artwork fence panels by Michael Bartalos for Mission Playground.
       
    36. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-227: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Julie Chang for the 2011-2012 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist to develop and complete six unique poster designs for an amount not to exceed $10,000.
       
    37. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-228: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Christina Empedocles for the 2011-2012 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist to develop and complete six unique poster designs for an amount not to exceed $10,000.
       
    38. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-229: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Paul Madonna for the 2011-2012 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist to develop and complete six unique poster designs for an amount not to exceed $10,000.
       
    39. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-230: Motion to rescind Resolution No. 0504-09-120, which re-implemented the Civic Art Collection Loan Program in May 2009 at the request of the Director of Cultural Affairs, with the borrowing department assuming all costs associated with the loan.
       
    40. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-231: Motion to suspend the Civic Art Collection Loan Program until further notice in order to facilitate the completion of the collection inventory and subsequent evaluation of resources required to maintain the loan program successfully.

      Executive Committee Recommendations (August 22, 2011)
    41. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-232: Motion to enter into a grant agreement with Community Initiatives in an amount not to exceed $25,500 to support project oversight and management of the San Francisco Arts Commission publication Arts of the City: A Cultural History of San Francisco.
       
    42. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-233: Motion to enter into a grant agreement with Community Initiatives in an amount not to exceed $25,000 to support research and writing of the San Francisco Arts Commission publication Arts of the City: A Cultural History of San Francisco.
       
    43. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-234: Motion to enter into a grant agreement with Community Initiatives in an amount not to exceed $45,500 to support 2012 completion costs of the design, public promotion and release of the San Francisco Arts Commission publication Arts of the City: A Cultural History of San Francisco.
       
    44. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-235: Motion to enter into a grant agreement with Community Initiatives in an amount not to exceed $2,500 to support a collaboration with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in hosting “ArtFabric,” a community social gathering of artistic directors, curators and community arts organizations, and for “SLIDESLAM,” an open submission slide slam for all Bay Area current art students and art students graduating within the past three years.

       
  6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
    1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee mostly discussed revised plans for the Arts Commission’s 80th anniversary. He reported that the planned book has been reconceived to be less focused on the anniversary, and more a history of public art. He added that several factors influenced the decision on the book, including contractual obligations already incurred. Finally, he reported, the Committee discussed the director search.
         
    2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Breitenberg reported that the Committee reviewed the Union Square station for the Central Subway. He reported that there was a lot of debate on the design, and on the question on whether to move the station to another part of Union Square. He explained that the environmental impact report prohibits moving the station, unless the agency would like to postpone construction for about three years. Commissioner Breitenberg added that the Committee wanted to see the station integrated with the design and function of Union Square, to blend in rather than be a kind of monument on its own.

        He reported that the Committee also approved the wonderful Palega Playground removation, and work on the site will begin soon. They also reviewed an interesting project installing plaques in the Tenderloin; the Committee offered the team a little help on placement of the plaques. The Committee was very pleased with the new Firehouse No. 1. Commissioner Breitenberg explained that the existing firehouse will need to be moved before the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art can begin work on its addition. Noting that the press has reported some unhappiness from the neighbors, Commissioner Breitenberg thought it was now resolved. Finally, the Committee reviewed a number of restrooms; he added that the discussion was more interesting than one might think.
         
    3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherri Young, Chair
      1. Commissioner Young reported that the Committee did not meet in August for lack of a quorum, and thus she presented the following motions.

         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-236: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
        Patricia-Ann Farrell, Lighting Designer, Ethnic Dance Festival
        Elissa Perry, Writer, dancer, installation artist and nonprofit and philanthropic consultant
        Tanya Mayo, Nonprofit organizational development and capacity-building consultant
        Alfredo Vergara-Lobo, Nonprofit and philanthropic consultant
        Taraneh Hemami, Interdisciplinary artist and Adjunct Professor, California College of the Arts

         
        Turning to the next motion, Commissioner Young explained that the Committee would review the Management and Program Plan (“MPP”) for Bayview Opera House in detail at their meeting on September 13, and was requesting the Commission’s approval now in order not to delay the Opera House’s funding for another month.

        Community Arts and Education Program Manager Robynn Takayama echoed Commissioner Young’s statement that the MPP would be fully reviewed the next day, and added that the reporting procedure has been overhauled to better align with the California Cultural Data Project practices. She said that the Opera House is a valuable part of the community, and in the wake of the recent shooting, provided a critical space to air residents’ strong feelings. She reported that the Opera House has increased visibility, and mentioned several arts activities, including a backpack distribution. She also reported that the Opera House has recently completed its third year of summer programming, which is now a permanent part of the center’s programming. She added that the Opera House’s Board of Directors has offered a permanent position as Executive Director to Barbara Ockel, and the center has additional staff support and stability. Ms. Takayama explained that the focus of this year’s MPP is to increase and diversify funding, to grow the Dare to Dream youth arts program, and to increase audiences for the Opera House’s activities.

        Ms. Ockel thanked the Commission and staff for their support, including Ms. Manton for her help in finding funds for building repairs, and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff and Ms. Takayama for their support and advice. She was very pleased with the Commission’s choice of Ms. Beltran, a true community artist, as Interim Director, and added that she could stay forever as far as Ms. Ockel was concerned.

        Ms. Ockel reported that last year the Opera House entered the National Register of Historic Places, with the tireless support of the Commission and staff. She said that the Opera House had received many e-mails and messages of support for the designation, and the recognition of this irreplaceable historic community and arts center.

        She said that she often hears from people that they came to the center as children, that they took a dance class or a class in basketry that stuck with them into adulthood. She explained that the Opera House’s priority is to put resources into youth development, that children come first. She wants people to have positive experiences at the Opera House, connected to the arts. She gave a brief overview of Dare to Dream, now a year-round afterschool and preschool program serving about 170 students. Students as young as third grade are learning about photography, about all kinds of traditional and culturally sensitive art forms. She said that the Commission’s support is hugely important.

        Ms. Beltran added that Ms. Ockel has been able to accomplish a great deal by collaborating with a variety of organizations, including BAYCAT, SCRAP, the local YMCA, and others. She praised Ms. Ockel’s terrific expertise and skill in finding resources.

        President Johnston noted that he was a past member of the Committee, and that they have long emphasized programming at the Cultural Centers. He, too, acknowledged that the Committee will carefully review the Opera House’s MPP and budget at its upcoming meeting.

        The motion passed unanimously.
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-237: Motion to approve the proposed 2011-2012 Management and Program Plan and budget for the Bayview Opera House, for a grant not to exceed $311,658, contingent upon completion of revisions and submissions.

         
        Commissioner Young presented the final motion, approving the hiring of two WritersCorps teachers. Ms. Nemzoff added that the number of teachers will be stabilized at six, and that one of the teachers was unable to return this year, due to ill health.

        The motion passed unanimously.
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-238: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the following teaching artists to work in the WritersCorps program for 2011-2012:
        Roseli Ilano, $34,000
        Harold Terezon, $34,000

         
    4. Street Artists Committee—Gregory Chew, Chair
      1. Before presenting the following motions, Commissioner Chew pointed out that street artists bring in more than $4,000,000 to the San Francisco economy, and welcomed the returning artists back to the program.

        Commissioner Chew presented the following motions.
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-239: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Wayne Olson, Xi Qing Guo, Shan Jiang, Juanita Washington, Matt Summers, Craig Marshall, Mackenzie Marshall, Eric Ruston, Rob Nehring, Min J. Brown, Michael Johnson, Nicole Ballard, Steven Cox.
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-240: Motion to approve request by applicant for waiver of 15-day requirement for obtaining a certificate: Manny Munoz.
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-241: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $150 plus cost of paint to Jimmy Sha for assisting Program Director in painting street artist spaces at Hallidie Plaza (northeast side) and various spaces on Market Street and on Stockton Street.
         
      5. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-242: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $75 plus cost of paint to David Campos for assisting Program Director in painting street artist spaces on Market Street, north side, at Steuart Street.
         
      6. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-243: Motion to approve re-issuance of previous certificate number (#387) to street artist Matt Summers.


        Commissioner Chew presented the following motion, explaining that there had been ongoing discussion about the possible relocation of up to forty street artist selling spaces because of construction along Muni’s F-Line.

        Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar explained that the F-Line would be extended along Beach Street to Fort Mason, and he presented a map of the area, with its 56 street artist selling spaces, the most lucrative ones at Fisherman’s Wharf. He explained that the latest plan he has seen proposes to place a platform that would displace 30 of those spaces. He explained that these spaces predate his tenure with the program, and that the Board of Supervisors made them permanent in 1974. He added that the proposed location would completely eliminate the spaces, and there was no way to compensate for their loss.

        He offered a proposal to move the transit stop west on Beach Street closer to Larkin, near the senior center. Mr. Lazar added that the current plan also presents a serious public safety problem, since there is a huge volume of pedestrian traffic, and there is also a lot of aggressive driving on this street. He thought the current plan was both dangerous and bad for the artists.

        Street Artist James Millard explained that he has been in the program for many years, and thought the Muni plan was a big problem. He explained that the original Street Artists ordinance has tight restrictions on how close the spaces can be to driveways, doorways, etc. He thought it was not realistic that the lost spaces could be compensated. He added that the spaces had been recognized for almost fifty years, and talked about how San Francisco, and the West Coast, set trends for the nation. He criticized the National Park Service and Muni for the plan.

        As President Johnston pointed out that he had exceeded his time and that the Commission understood his position, Mr. Millard asked the Commission to appear at a meeting of the Municipal Transportation Agency (“MTA”) Board of Directors and contact Muni. He added that it was important to change the stop location before the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) was final.

        Ms. Manton volunteered that, if the Commission was in agreement, she could set up a meeting with Ms. Beltran and MTA director Ed Reiskin. She thought he seemed sensitive to the issues, and the Arts Commission has a good relationship with him through the experience of the StreetSmARTS program.

        Ms. Beltran reported that she and Mr. Lazar have been drafting a long and detailed letter to MTA, taking a non-adversarial strategy. She thought they could come to a win-win solution that would allow MTA to accomplish their goals without hurting other parties.

        Commissioner Sklar thought the plan was always for the F-Line to continue to Fort Mason.

        Street artist Sharon MacDougall, who has sold her paintings in the program since 1971, called Beach Street the birthplace of the program, and asked for the Commission’s help.

        Street artist Brian Hopper, in the program since 1980, agreed with the other speakers, and asked for the Commission’s help in having the Muni stop moved near the Maritime Museum and the senior center, where there is already a Muni platform.

        President Johnston thanked the speakers and said he understood the issue and thought most of the Commissioners were sympathetic. Commissioner Chew clarified that the motion before them called for approval of the letter described by Ms. Beltran. President Johnston suggested that the Commission approve the motion as stated, allowing the Interim Director to write the letter without further approval by the Commission. He supported the position of the street artists requesting relocation of the stop. He thought it would be important for Arts Commission staff to meet with MTA staff, and agreed that it would be better to resolve the issue before finalization of the EIS. He added that one requirement of the approval process was that the department must address issues raised in public comment.

        The motion was approved unanimously.
         
      7. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-244: Motion to approve a request to the National Park Service and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to relocate the new F-line boarding platform (to be constructed) from the current proposed location on Beach Street, between Hyde and Larkin Streets, to a location half a block west, on Beach Street, between Larkin and Polk Streets. The current proposed location for the platform (between Hyde and Larkin) would eliminate approximately 30 street artist spaces at one of the prime selling locations in the city, while the alternative proposal would only eliminate nine street artist spaces in a lesser-trafficked area, and would also make the boarding platform more convenient to the senior resident communities located between Larkin and Polk Streets.

         
    5. Visual Arts Committee—Lorraine García-Nakata, Chair
      1. President Johnston introduced the motion regarding the Bernal Heights Library mural, item 32 severed from the Consent Calendar. He explained that this was not a mural commissioned by the Arts Commission, but it is City property and the Arts Commission now has jurisdiction. He suggested that if the Arts Commission had been involved from the inception of the mural, the decision might have been different. He explained that the Library has come to a resolution regarding the mural, and thought it was important to respect that. He called for public comment.

        Peter Warfield, Executive Director of the Library Users Association, said that his organization worked on better libraries for all. He said that he had gone to Library Commission meetings for more than a decade. He said that words were important, especially to a library, and he said that the mural in question includes not only charming art, but also words, in Spanish and English. He said that the history of the branch included a big dispute over inclusion of a preschool program, then the dispute over the mural. He said there had not been much discussion of the qualities of the mural; he thought the words were most important, though they were not discussed in the subcommittee. He complained that the Library Commission’s minutes omitted the discussion of the words.

        Ellen Egbert said she appreciated the opportunity to speak to the Visual Arts Committee. She said that Supervisor Campos had emphasized process over product, but she thought it would be too bad if the product is ignored. She hoped to come up with something that would meet the Commission’s goals, straightforward and dignified. She thought that lots of whirls and swirls didn’t harmonize with the lines of the architecture. She said that the Visual Arts Committee had granted approval on the process, on the the Library Commission’s determination, but she thought it remained unspoken that this was better than what there was before. She looked forward to the next meeting of the Visual Arts Committee, to see a revised tablet of color and tile samples.

        Brandon Powell and Terry Milne, of the Bernal Library Art Project Task Force, said that the process had been extended, that there had been a couple of very large meetings with the artists and the community, held during both afternoon and evening, to allow greater participation. They explained that artists had been asked to submit something appropriate but not directed to do one thing or another. They were at today’s meeting to request that the Arts Commission approve that “something appropriate.”

        President Johnston thanked members of the public for their comments. He explained that there was no presentation by staff because the matter was on the Consent Calendar and had been approved by the Committee. He asked for the Commission’s approval. He said that, as is often the case with art in the public realm, people are not always in agreement. He explained that the Commission tries always to work with credible artist teams, and that Precita Eyes is certainly that. He thought that, had the Arts Commission done this project from the beginning, because this is what the agency does, the process would have been more harmonious. He acknowledged Ms. Egbert’s point about the product. He explained that the Library would like to move forward on what began as a seismic upgrade but turned out to be more complicated.

        Again, he recommended approval.

        Commissioner García-Nakata added that when the project was first brought to the Arts Commission, the roles of the parties had to be clarified She said that there was a lot of division, and the Arts Commission pushed back on the process question. She said that the group went back and did their homework, and that the decision to change the medium to tile came from colleagues. She agreed with President Johnston that there would always be someone unhappy with the outcome.

        The motion was approved unanimously.

         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0912-11-245: Motion to approve mural designs for the Bernal Heights Library by the artist team of Precita Eyes and Reuben Rude with the stipulations that the team change the color palette to colors prevalent during the WPA period, which also compliment the architecture of the period, and present tile samples at a Visual Arts Committee meeting for design approval.


        Commissioner García-Nakata said that the Committee had also passed seventeen motions on a variety of projects, including Market Street kiosk posters; she reported that the Committee was really happy to hear about incorporating the writing of WritersCorps youth. She reported that the Committee also reviewed one of the Central Subway stations and the Veterans Memorial design. She reported that the Committee had an update on the pending discussion and draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Utilities Commission, and she complimented staff on keeping this process moving. She reported that the Committee reviewed the design of fence panels at Mission Playground, and that the artist was very good in looking at safety issues, to eliminate areas where children could get their heads or hands stuck. She reported that the Committee voted to suspend the Collections loan program, in light of limited resources and staff, and agreed to focus on what the agency can realistically do well. She said the collection was a huge responsibility, but the resources were tiny, and she thanked staff for their tireless work on this impossible but necessary task.

        She said that the Committee had an update from staff on the rebranding project, and on the Moscone West kinetic artwork. Ms. Beltran added that there has been some rapid and exciting progress on that piece, with a new engineer hired to succeed the now-elderly artist, who has difficulty traveling. President Johnston noted that the Mayor mentioned to him that he had heard the good news about the artwork.

         
  7. Public Comment
    There was no further public comment.
     
  8. Reports and Announcements
    Ms. Manton reported sadly that jazz musician and former Arts Commissioner Eddie Marshall had passed away on September 7. Commissioner Calloway added that Mr. Marshall served on the Commission from 2000 to 2003. He said that Mr. Marshall had played with all the greatest jazz musicians of his time, and was an important mentor to Commissioner Calloway. He reported that he had attended a memorial celebration the night before at the Jazzschool, a very moving event. He requested that the Commission adjourn this meeting in memory of Eddie Marshall.

    Commissioner Breitenberg announced that California College of the Arts (“CCA”) was hosting a show by artist Chiharu Shiota of Osaka, one of San Francisco’s Sister Cities, and he invited everyone to the opening reception. He added that this residency was the result of an initiative by former Mayor Gavin Newsom, and that CCA hoped to bring a second Osaka artist-in-residence. President Johnston thanked Commissioner Breitenberg and CCA for stepping forward to help, and added that Ms. Shiota is an incredible artist.

    Ms. Beltran announced the upcoming SLIDESLAM at Yerba Buena, an opportunity for current art students and recent graduates to show images of their work. She said they expect over 100 students from more than ten schools, including artists who graduated from schools outside the Bay area who are now living here. She added that there would be a taco truck, and invited Commissioners to attend. President Johnston joked that the taco truck symbolized a new era at the Arts Commission.

    Development Director Rachelle Axel distributed the recently-published annual report; Ms. Beltran applauded her on a great job. Ms. Axel thanked Book Researcher Brianna Smith for her work on the report.
     
  9. New Business
    There was no new business.
     
  10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m., in memory of Eddie Marshall.
     

10/3/11 spr