Street_Artists_Committee
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STREET ARTISTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes (as amended by November 8, 2006 meeting)
- Roll Call
Members present: Commissioners Alexander Lloyd, José Cuellar, P. J. Johnston
Members absent: none
Staff present: Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth, Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar, Program Assistant Evelyn Russell
Commissioner Lloyd, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.
- Informational presentation on proposal for Board of Supervisors designation of four (4) street artist spaces on the 400 block of Hayes Street, north side, at Octavia Street.
Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar referred the Commissioners to a map he had drawn of the northwest sidewalk of Hayes Street, at Octavia Street, where four new spaces, proposed by street artists Bill and Bob Clark, could be situated. The locations of the spaces would be able to meet all of the fire and safety regulations with the exception of the requirement for spaces to be not within eighteen inches of the curb. In order to allow for the required eight feet of pedestrian passageway between the spaces and the opposite edge of the sidewalk, the three-foot-deep spaces would have to be placed twelve inches from the curb, necessitating an exemption from the Board of Supervisors. As to their proximity to nearby stores, two of the spaces could be placed closest to the Octavia Street corner, the first space being ten feet away from the Flipper's Hamburgers building. The other two spaces could be adjacent to an eighty-four-foot long fenced parking lot.
Should the Commissioners wish to pursue the proposal, Mr. Lazar stated that he would contact the merchants of the area for their consent and would invite them to give input at a subsequent Street Artists Committee meeting.
Street Artist Bill Clark stated that he was disappointed that the Program Director did not notify the merchants about the hearing on the item because he had asked that the item be put on the agenda without requesting a motion in order for the merchants to express their opinions and the committee to hear the item without the pressure of having to take an immediate vote. He further stated that the sidewalk in question offered much latitude for placement of the spaces, and that he envisioned the spaces as being farther away from Flipper's.
Street Artist Bob Clark stated that, rather than dividing the spaces into two groups, he proposed that all four be placed further down the sidewalk (eastward) so that they could not be blamed for adversely affecting the stores. Mr. Clark went on to say that, rather than requesting the Board of Supervisors to exempt the spaces from the curbside regulation, he, as a street artist, would be willing to set up his table in a two-and-a-half-foot (instead of a three-foot) deep space.
The Commissioners requested the proposal to be pursued, that more selling spaces be obtained for the artists, and that the Program Director meet with representatives of the Department of Public Works and merchants of the area.
- Hearing and possible motion to approve proposal by Street Artists Program Director for Board of Supervisors designation of temporary winter holiday selling spaces for street artists in the Downtown area and at Harvey Milk Plaza; designation for November 15, 2006 through January 15, 2007.
Program Director Lazar submitted his proposal for the same temporary spaces that had been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the previous three years: sixty-four temporary spaces in the Downtown area (fifty of these spaces approved for the previous thirteen years) and the same seven temporary spaces at Harvey Milk Plaza (which had been designated for the previous eleven years and the winter season of 1992-93). The time period of usage of the spaces would be the same as had been approved for the previous sixteen years: November 15 - January 15. If recommended by the Arts Commission, this would be the twenty-fifth consecutive year that the Commission would submit a request-package of temporary winter holiday spaces, on behalf of the street artists, to the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Lazar informed the Commissioners that both the Union Square Association and the Union Square Business Improvement District were in support of the proposal.
No comments were received from the public.
Commissioner Johnston moved that the proposal for temporary street artist spaces for the 2006-07 winter holiday season be approved; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Cuellar and unanimously approved.
Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth recommended that the Program Director, before marking the spaces, verify that none conflict with the public's view of recently installed historic panels.
- Street Artists Program Director's report.
The Program Director reported on the success of the street artists' participation at the July 23rd "Summer in the City" concert at Dolores Park. The Symphony had again requested the artists' presence; the Street Artists Program's 400 hundred artists were notified, fifty-four responded, and twenty were selected by lottery to set up their booths at the concert. If street artists were to be invited next year, the Program Director recommended that a lottery be initiated prior to the day of the event to determine the exact locations for the artists.
Director of Cultural Affairs Newirth and Program Assistant Russell reported their observations of the artists' participation at the concert: certain types of crafts did better than others; some of the artists seemed very pleased to be present, while others seemed not so enthusiastic.
The Program Director further reported on his relocating four year-round spaces on the Market Street sidewalk for compliance with the new doorways of the Westfield/Bloomingdale's shopping complex. Mr. Lazar thanked Ms. Leigh Ann Baughman, Executive Director of the Union Square Business Improvement District, and street artists Jimmy Sha, Mario Hernandez, and Sabino Sevilla for their help in measuring and marking the new locations for the spaces.
In an effort to ensure street artist compliance with the display space regulations, the Business Improvement District began a monitoring program over the summer to electronically report the artists' activities daily to the Street Artists Program Director. As a result, the Program Director sent out several written warnings and, as hearing officer, conducted three public hearings with alleged violators who ultimately signed statements pledging compliance with the law in order to receive renewal of their certificates.
Mr. Lazar further reported that on September 20th Mr. Newirth and he will be requesting the Board of Supervisors' Finance Committee to recommend passage of an ordinance to allow the Street Artists Program to reimburse members of the Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Craftsmen Examiners for reasonable travel expenses to and from screenings, studio visits, and monitoring assignments.
- New business.
Street Artist Philip Northrop asked about the status of United Nations Plaza as an area for street artist usage. Program Director Lazar responded that twenty-five years ago the Board of Supervisors had designated fifty spaces for street artists at the Plaza and that an agreement had been arranged between the artists, the Market Street Association, and the farmer's market using the Plaza whereby on farmer's market days the artists would be restricted to selling in the area of the Plaza east of the Leavenworth Street line and west of Market Street.
Commissioner Johnston requested Mr. Lazar to show interested artists where they can set up their displays in the Plaza.
Street Artist Bill Clark read from a list of proposals he had submitted and requested that they not be heard at any one time but considered over the course of a year. Mr. Clark requested (1) a hearing to discuss enforcement of the bead stringing criteria; (2) a hearing on the current Program policy of giving free street artist certificates to disabled veterans; (3) a hearing "to discuss what the Arts Commission suggests a street artist do if they become aware of any street artist who is required by federal law to have a green card and does not have a green card"; (4) a hearing on a proposal for any street artist certified to sell a "non-handmade item" to not be allowed to have a family unit member; (5) a hearing on a proposal to change the language on the back of the street artist certificate relating to "handmade craft product"; (6) a hearing on a proposal to change the language on the back of the street artist certificate relating to "the vendor or his family unit"; (7) a hearing on a proposal to allow any street artist who misses a main lottery to be given a last number at the following day's sign-in of the same lottery period; (8) a hearing on a proposal to not allow certification of computer-generated paintings on canvas, wood, etc.; (9) a hearing on a proposal to not allow street artists to be lottery helpers who do not know the English alphabet and/or who cannot count from 0 to 9 in English; (10) a hearing to discuss the "F"-line streetcar proposals; (11) a hearing on a proposal for the Arts Commission to request a Board of Supervisors hearing to consider "asking the City to return to the street artist special fund all the interest from 1991 - 1997 which accrued from the surplus in the street artist fund"; (12) a hearing to request that a letter be sent by the Arts Commission to the Port Commission to enforce the law against all unlicensed street vendors on Port property; and (13) a hearing on a proposal for the Arts Commission to request the chairperson of the street artist Lottery Committee to attend all Street Artists Committee meetings.
Street Artist Rostislav Kovarik commented that street artists do not want to attend the Street Artists Committee meetings when there are only two items on the agenda.
Street Artist Bob Clark commented that he disagreed with some artists who feel that they cannot express themselves to the Street Artists Committee; because every agenda provides for public comment.
Street Artist Michael Addario read from a proposal he submitted requesting the Arts Commission's assistance in acquiring funds, outside of the Street Artists Program's fund, to provide for (1) a brochure "spotlighting this historic program" and "the artists involved"; (2) a celebration of the Program's 35th anniversary with food, refreshments, banners, and a closure of Beach Street; (3) reduced admission fees for licensed street artists to San Francisco museums; and (4) enforcement and removal of unlicensed vendors "who are confusing the public, merchants, and certain city officials" from discerning licensed street artists from unlicensed vendors. Mr. Addario submitted photos he had taken of numerous unlicensed vendors selling at Fisherman's Wharf during the previous summer. The majority of these vendors were shown selling in prime areas where, Mr. Addario stated, the Port has refused to allow street artists to sell. Mr. Addario further stated that because enforcement of the illegal vendors was not a priority of the police, he was seeking funding to hire off-duty police officers to cite and remove the vendors and confiscate their merchandise.
Commissioner Lloyd said that his committee would consider Mr. Addario's request, as the Commissioners did not wish to see illegal vending taking place.
Street Artist Edward Steneck requested that the Street Artists Program staff resume producing an attrition list of expired certificates which would enable the lottery personnel to ascertain valid from invalid permits. Mr. Steneck also requested that the Arts Commission rescind its policy allowing artists to pay their fees after their certificates expire (but within their renewal grace period).
Street Artist Susan Pete expressed disappointment over the Street Artists Committee not meeting for eight months and asked that the Commissioners make monthly meetings a priority. Ms. Pete also requested resumption of an attrition list, as this would help the lottery personnel decipher not only expired certificates but fraudulent certificates as well. She further requested that the Program re-screen the artists every three years to verify that they are continuing to sell items for which they were initially approved.
Street Artist Rostislav Kovarik stated that in the previous week he counted 126 illegal vendors selling on the city's streets.
After public comment, Commissioner Cuellar moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Johnston and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Howard Lazar
Street Artists Program Director
June 14, 2007
