Executive_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
4:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: Stanlee Gatti, Andrea Cochran, Ralph Guggenheim, Janice Mirikitani
Absent: Denise Roth
Staff Present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Jewelle Gomez, Sarah Lenoue, Kan Htun
Call To Order: 4:06 p.m.
- Cultural Equity Grants Program Director Report
Ms. Gomez announced that Sam Green, a recipient of a 1999 Individual Artist Commission for the film, The Weather Underground, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Motion to approve 10 grants totalling $148,375 for the 2004 cycle of Creative Space Grants.
Moved: Cochran/Guggenheim
Motion to approve the following individuals as panelists for the Cultural Equity Grants panel pool:
Ben Yalom, Artistic Director, FoolsFury
Jennifer Walsh, Executive Director, ABADA Capoeira San Francisco
Pat Krakov, Program Director, NonProfit Finance Fund
Kim Mizuhara, Development Associate, Kearny Street Workshop
Eugene Sakai, Architect
Moved: Guggenheim/Cochran
- Budget and Director's Report
Ms. Gonchar opened the budget discussion by explaining that the city has an estimated $257.9 million shortfall projected for FY 2004-05. She introduced and invited to the table Dawn Kamalanathan, Fiscal & Policy Analyst of the Mayor's Office of Public Policy & Finance and the Arts Commission's Senior Accountant, Kan Htun.
Ms Gonchar directed the Commissioners to the CEG and Street Artist budgets, pointing out that she has budgeted a 10% Hotel Tax Revenue (HTR) reserve as a prudent measure since the Controller’s estimates have been inflated for several years. She also discussed the steady decline in Street Artist license fees and noted that legislation was passed to allow for the slight increase of license fee each year for four years while gradually exhausting the Street Artist reserve fund.
Commissioner Guggenheim asked why we are expecting Hotel Tax to go up. Ms Gonchar explained that it has been going up slightly but that recovery is slower than expected.
Ms Kamalanathan said that the next 6-month report, due out within the next 2 - 3 weeks will include an update, but that for 13 consecutive quarters there were losses in Hotel Tax revenue. Ms Gonchar pointed out that the 10% reserve should cover the difference between the initial budget and current estimates.
Ms Gonchar explained that the Mayor’s Office had requested a contingency budget with a 7.5% reduction in the current year (FY 2003-04) General Fund budget. It may not be necessary to make the entire cut which is $57,453 and includes salary savings, materials and supplies, postage, reproduction and a portion of the rent. For the upcoming fiscal year (2004-05) there is a mandated 5.5% ($43,080) cut of the General Fund budget which be accomplished in the same manner as previously explained. In addition, the Mayor’s Office is requesting a 15% ($111,030) contingency reduction plan. The initial strategy to accomplish this drastic cut would be to move the WritersCorps salaries ($72,161) to DCYF and take the remaining funds from materials and supplies, postage and rent. Ms Gonchar explained that if all the reductions were implemented the Arts Commission’s General Fund budget would be reduced from $1,010,138 in FY 2001-02 to $629,169 in FY 2004-05. The loss of General Fund revenues in the last three years has necessitated a greater dependency on the annual San Francisco Symphony contribution, which currently funds a large portion of programmatic salaries ($315,000). This fund previously funded Arts Commission special projects and new initiatives. Should the most drastic cut (20.5%) become necessary, the entire fund would be expended on program salaries and infrastructure. The Arts Commission has reserved carryforward as seed money for a capital campaign to renovate the Grove Street gallery building.
Motion to approve the FY 2004-05 budget for the Street Artist and Cultural Equity Grants programs.
Moved: Cochran/Mirikitani
Discussion: Commissioner Gatti asked about the Public Art Fund. He is concerned that the Arts Commission doesn't have another discretionary funding source and that the Commission is being asked to use these funds for necessities when the original intent was for advancement and new initiatives.
Mr Newirth reminded the committee that we eliminated three positions in the current year to meet mandated funding reductions.
Commissioner Gatti expressed concern that the arts are given the least amount of General Fund allocations in the City already and that further cuts will seriously impact the Arts Commission’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Commissioner Mirikitani said that to spend this money was like spending down your portfolio and was very dangerous.
Commissioner Gatti said that in his discussions with the Mayor, all three projects they discussed require additional funding and we don't even have the funds to cover current program costs.
Ms Kamalanathan reminded the Commissioners that the 5.5% base cut must be met, but that the 15% is just a plan and these plans will be subject to negotiations.
Ms Kamalanathan further explained that the 15% cut would only deal with 40% of the deficit and that there will be serious cuts across the board. She emphasized that departments will have to struggle with difficult choices. Everyone is taking a hit but it is better to make these plans sooner rather than later and regardless of whether the 15% is taken in its entirety or not, these discussions need to occur.
Motion to approve the proposed General Fund reductions up to 7.5% or $57,453 in the current year, FY 2003-04.
Moved: Guggenheim/Mirikitani
Motion to approve the proposed General Fund reductions of 5.5% or $43,080 for FY 2004-05.
Moved: Cochran/Guggenheim
Motion to approve the proposed General Fund reductions up to 15% or $111,030 for FY 2004-05, subject to DCYF funding the WritersCorps salaries and further review.
Moved: Cochran/Guggenheim
Adjournment: 5:08p.m
Revision Date 02/18/04
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.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code sections 2.100 - 2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 581-2300, fax (415) 581-2317 and web site.
