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MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, June 1, 2009
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

In the absence of President Johnston and Vice President Draisin, Commissioner Smith called the meeting to order at 3:17 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present
Nínive Calegari
John Calloway
Leo Chow
Amy Chuang
Topher Delaney
Lorraine García-Nakata
Cass Calder Smith
Dede Wilsey
Sherri Young
Ron Miguel, ex officio

Commissioners Absent
P.J. Johnston, President
Maya Draisin, Vice President
René Bihan
Alexander Lloyd
Sherene Melania
Jeannene Przyblyski
Approval of Minutes
Action
RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-126: Motion to approve March 9, 2009 Minutes.
RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-127: Motion to approve April 6, 2009 Minutes.

Explanatory documents: Draft minutes
President’s Report
In the absence of the President, there was no report.
Director’s Report
Mr. Cancel reported that the Mayor had released his budget, on time and in balance despite the twists and turns precipitated by the state’s budget problems. Mr. Cancel reported that the drastic decline in hotel occupancy rates in 2008-2009 had cut the Hotel Tax Fund, a major funding source for the Arts Commission, by 40%. Recognizing that a cut this size was unsustainable, the Mayor’s Budget Office called for a cut of 25% in the budget. Because the Hotel Tax funds Cultural Equity Grants (“CEG”) and the Cultural Centers, these two programs are most impacted by this reduction. Mr. Cancel reported that he and President Johnston met with the Mayor and successfully made the argument that these cuts were counterproductive. Most of the funds targeted to be cut from CEG were restored; and all of the funds targeted to be cut from the Cultural Centers were restored. Mr. Cancel wanted to publicly thank the Mayor for recognizing that maintaining City support for the cultural sector is the surest way to attract visitors to San Francisco, to help tourism rebound. He noted that tourism and the Hotel Tax contribute more than $140 million to the General Fund, and that it is strategic to continue to invest in the cultural sector and its long-term viability. He also thanked President Johnston for his support.

Mr. Cancel explained that the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee would hear the Arts Commission’s budget on June 22, and he hoped that the arts community would make its feelings known to the Board. Mr. Cancel distributed the Arts Commission’s new annual report, and pointed out the sections reporting by district. Mr. Cancel thanked Clara Azule for her pro bono design work on the document’s user-friendly look and feel, and Civic Design Review and Adminstration Program Manager Vicky Knoop and Development Director Rachelle Axel for their work editing and compiling the report. He noted that it was a time-intensive team effort, and hoped that it would provide useful information to the Board and others.

In response to a question, Mr. Cancel explained that although the budget presented to the Board was intended to cover the entire fiscal year, it often happens during difficult times, as it did in 2008-2009, that projected revenue doesn’t materialize and the budget is revised midyear with cuts in revenue.

Mr. Cancel reported that the Executive Committee had met and reviewed all the proposals for strategic planning for the Arts Commission, and decided that the most prudent and economical choice was the City’s Department of Human Resources team led by Teri Jourgensen. She will lead the first session with staff at the end of July.

Mr. Cancel explained that the successful and highly visible WritersCorps, which is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, has been funded by work orders from different City agencies. Because of its budget cuts, the Department of Children, Youth and Families withdrew its funding, leaving a gap of some $190,000. Thanks to negotiations conducted by Interim Deputy Director Jill Manton and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff, the Library agreed to step into the breach. The program will be a joint venture, funded mostly by the Library.

Turning to the Mexican Museum, Mr. Cancel reported that the Redevelopment Agency had asked the Arts Commission to serve as fiduciary for the Museum, which was planned to occupy the last available plot at the Yerba Buena cultural complex. The Museum, which has experienced significant delays due to leadership and governance problems, now has two new co-chairs, Mario Diaz from Wells Fargo, and museum curator Nora Wagner. Mr. Cancel has met with them and with the Redevelopment Agency to develop a grant agreement, and he announced that Denise Bradley, former director of the Museum of the African Diaspora (“MOAD”), will act as the Arts Commission’s grant manager for the Redevelopment Agency’s funding to the Mexican Museum. He added that the board would be expanded to raise its profile regionally and nationally, in light of the significance of the collection. In response to a question, Mr. Cancel explained that Ms. Bradley will act on behalf of the Arts Commission, exercising fiscal responsibility for disbursement of Redevelopment Agency funds only, since this responsibility would overburden current Commission staff.

The Commission discussed the project further, inquiring about the developer, Millennium Partners, and the architect, Enrique Norton. Commissioner García-Nakata explained that she had been connected with the Museum a decade earlier, and she was glad to see the project moving forward. She expressed concern that the developer would need to accommodate the Museum’s need for collections, exhibition and education space, and suggested contacting Legorreta, the designer previously involved with the museum. The current plan calls for a dedicated museum space of approximately 45,000 square feet within the larger Millennium project, comparable to the way that MOAD is housed within the St. Regis tower. Commissioner Smith offered to meet with Redevelopment Agency director Fred Blackwell, along with Supervisors Campos and Avalos, who have expressed keen interest in the project. Commissioner Miguel added that the Planning Commission will also review the project.

Commissioners discussed the name of the Museum, questioning whether “Mexican” was the appropriate name for the institution in light of the breadth of its collection. Mr. Cancel replied that it was the decision of the Museum’s board of directors whether or not to change its name, and how to reach out to both Latino and non-Latino constituencies.

Mr. Cancel reported that the Arts Commission had applied for economic stimulus grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, with awards to be announced early in July. He said that this was a highly competitive pool, with requests far exceeding the available funds.

Finally, Mr. Cancel reiterated his request for ideas and suggestions for the Ad Hoc Revenue Committee.
Consent Calendar
Commissioner Smith severed item 1 from the Consent Calendar, approval of minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of March 23, 2009, because the minutes had not been distributed; and item 4, on the street artist application and certificate fee, to allow for discussion on this item.

The Commission approved the remaining Consent Calendar as follows.

RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-128:
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. 0601-09-129: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2009.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-130: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of May 6, 2009.
  
  Street Artists Committee Recommendations (May 6, 2009)
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-131: Motion to approve authorization of street artists to sell their wares as permitted by Department of Parking and Traffic for a “mini-plaza” proposed by the Castro Upper Market Benefit Community District for 17th Street, at Castro and Market Streets; motion to approve authorization of Street Artists Program Director to request Board of Supervisors for temporary designation of street artist spaces in “mini-plaza” proposed for 17th Street, at Castro and Market Streets.
  
  Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (May 11, 2009)
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-132: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Transmission System Upgrade with the contingency to look at alternatives to fiberglass and present creative solutions to the roof.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-133: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Golden Gate Library Renovation with the contingency to revise the landscape plan of the street trees.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-134: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Sunol Yard Prefabricated Structures.
  
  Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (May 18, 2009)
7. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-135: Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library with the contingency to find more appropriate courtyard trees, resolve maintenance of the green roof, and revise of the design of the corner entry.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-136: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-137: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the San Antonio Back-Up Pipeline.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-138: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the La Grande Pump Station.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-139: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Tesla Treatment Facility.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-140: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade—Tunnel Shaft Structures.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-141: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade—Pipeline No. 5.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-142: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project—Dam Crest Electrical Building and Downstream Electrical Building.
  
  Executive Committee Recommendations (May 26, 2009)
15. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-143: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the San Francisco Symphony to produce the 2009 Summer and the Symphony concert series, in an amount not to exceed $1,737,925.
  
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (May 27, 2009)
16. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-144: Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the SOMA West Public Art Selection Panel:
  Sheila Ghidini, Artist and Educator
  Stephanie Syjuco, Artist
  Patricia Rodriguez, Artist, Gallery Manager, Mission Cultural Center
  John Roloff, Artist, Educator
  Pamela Winfrey, Curator, Senior Artist, Exploratorium
  Courtney Fink, Director, Southern Exposure
  Maysoun Wazwaz, Exhibitions Program Manager, Southern Exposure
  Barry McGee, Artist
  Aaron Noble, Artist
  Clare Rojas, Artist
  Rigo 23, Artist
  Glen Helfand, Writer, Curator, Educator
  Richard Berger, Artist, Educator
  Shelley Willis, Public Art Administrator
  Terri Cohn, Curator, Art Historian
  Matt Heckert, Artist, Educator
  Hou Hanru, Director of Exhibitions, San Francisco Art Institute
17. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-145: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $3000 to Jamie Vasta for her participation in the exhibition Conversation 5: Nicholas and Sheila Pye and Jamie Vasta, July 24–September 19, 2009 at the SFAC Gallery at 401 Van Ness.
18. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-146: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $1200 to Ajit Chauhan for his participation in a solo exhibition of a new site-specific sculpture at the Arts Commission Gallery Grove Street installation space from July 24 through September 19, 2009.
19. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-147: Motion to approve the proposal design of the bust of Adolph Sutro, a proposed gift to the City from the United Humanitarian Mission, designed by Jonah Hendrickson.
20. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-148: Motion to approve the design proposal by Walter Kitundu for Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport.
21. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-149: Motion to approve the design proposal by Charles Sowers for Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport.
22. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-150: Motion to approve the following artists from the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Artist Short Lists (approved by the Arts Commission with resolution numbers 1201-08-298 and 1201-08-299) to create proposals for the following sites: (1) Tom Otterness for the Potrero Avenue Pedestrian Entry and Walkway; (2) Lena Wolff for the Second Floor Corridor Wall(s); (3) Paul Kos for the Surgery Waiting Room (or Surgery Waiting Room Entry Courtyard); and (4) Masayuki Nagase for the Roof Garden.
23. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-151: Motion to select Kathy Bradford to be included in the pool of seven semifinalists and Joel Meyerowitz as an alternate to create proposals for the light court windows and curved glass elements for Floors 3 through 7 at the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
24. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-152: Motion to approve the following seven artists from the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Artist Short Lists (approved by the Arts Commission with resolution numbers: 1201-08-298 and 1201-08-299) as semifinalists to create proposals for the light court windows and curved glass elements on Floors 3 through 7: Stephen Galloway, Mildred Howard, Paul Marioni, Julio Morales, Anna Murch, Seyed Alavi, and Kathy Bradford.
25. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-153: Motion to approve the artist selection panel’s recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Leland Avenue Streetscape public art project: Michael Arcega, Julio Cesar Morales, and Michael Passmore/REBAR as semi-finalists.
26. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-154: Motion to approve the proposal by artist Ron Moultrie Saunders for the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Ron Moultrie Saunders for the design, fabrication and transportation of an artwork in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Committee Reports and Committee Matters
1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
  1. In the absence of President Johnston, Commissioner Smith presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-155: Motion to approve the selection of the Department of Human Resources Workforce Development Team as a strategic planning consultant for the Arts Commission.
2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
  1. Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee reviewed several projects, and noted that they are improving. He said that the Committee had discussed whether they were too hard on some projects in their attempts to raise the bar on design. The Committee is doing its best to balance the forward momentum of the projects with keeping design standards high, recognizing the design teams’need to consider security, budget, schedule and other factors. They began to discuss the possible creation of a design competition.
    
    Commissioner Smith highlighted several important projects, including the Central Subway to Chinatown, and Terminal Two at the San Francisco Airport. He explained that the Committee did not approve Phase 2 of this project, because of problems with the presentation, including some pieces which had been described but not presented visually. He added that the Central Subway team will return to the Committee for a full conceptual design review. He presented the following motion
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-156: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Central Subway project, with the contingency that the design team will present aboveground design and massing prior to Phase 2, including exploration of relocating the elevators to the same location as the escalators at Union Square Station. The Committee also stipulated that the stations will be reviewed as individual projects for the remaining phases of review, and suggested individual architecture and design teams for each station.
3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
  1. In the absence of Vice President Draisin, Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee had not met. He presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-157: Motion to approve the following individual as a grants application review panelist for Cultural Equity Grants:
    Paula Allen, Traditional Resource Specialist, United Indian Health Services, Inc.
    
    Explanatory document: Biographical notes
4. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
  1. In the absence of Commissioner Lloyd, Commissioner Smith requested a report from Street Artists Program Director Howar Lazar on the item severed from the Consent Calendar above.
    
    Mr. Lazar explained that the Street Artists office does not have dedicated security, and that in the past, they have experienced thefts of cash paid by street artists for licensing. At its May 6 meeeting, the Committee discussed a proposal that the office would only accept payments in a non-cash form.
    
    Commissioner Calegari asked what concerns were expressed at the meeting; Mr. Lazar explained that the concerns were philosophical, not logistical. In response to a question, he added that the cost of a money order was approximately $1.00 to $4.00. The Committee approved the proposal. Mr. Cancel added that he is committed to setting up online payment for the working artists, available 24/7, by credit card or Paypal.
    
    Mr. Lazar reported that in mid-May, a “mini-plaza” was created at Castro and Market Streets, in only 48 hours. He reported that the artists believe it will be a good location; it will be reviewed in six months, and the City and merchants will work together to get some additional spaces. He noted that many new artists have applied to the program, and there is now a slight backlog for screening. He reported that most are artists who had been showing at fairs, but now find that their fees are high and they’re not making much money; this was the argument Mr. Lazar made in testimony to the Board of Supervisors in the past year about what a bargain the Street Artists program is.
    
    There being no further discussion nor public comment, Commissioner Smith presented the following motions.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-158: Motion to approve policy of receiving street artist application and certificate fee payments in the form of checks or money orders only (no cash).
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-159: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Daniel Hennessey, Billy Powell, Alexandria Zyo, Jerry Limon, Vicky Carp, Maryann Milburn, Nancy Pearlman, Laura Mendoza.
  4. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-160: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $100 to Jimmy Sha for assisting Program Director in painting permanent spaces for street artists in Hallidie Plaza.
  5. RESOLUTION NO. 0601-09-161: Motion to approve waiver of 15-day policy in obtaining a certificate: Pamela Little.
5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
  1. In the absence of Commissioner Przyblyski, Commissioner García-Nakata reported that the Committee approved two Gallery shows, along with the concept for the Sutro memorial. They reviewed projects at the Airport’s Terminal Two, General Hospital, the Leland Avenue streetscape, and the Waden Branch Library, where there is some community concern about the removal of a bas-relief during construction.
    
    Collections Senior Registrar Allison Cummings presented a report on the Beniamino Bufano sculpture Small Fish, Big Fish at Valencia Gardens. She reported that Bufano was born in Italy in 1898, came to San Francisco in 1921 and remained here until his death in 1970. She said that people either loved him or hated him; he served on the Arts Commission for a period of time.
    
    Ms. Cummings showed slides of several of his bronze sculptures which had been installed at Valencia Gardens, six outdoors and two in the lobby. They were created in 1935 under the WPA, and installed at Sutro Forest until 1945, when they went to Valencia Gardens and suffered some damage over the years. In 2004, the sculptures went to the Randall Museum while the public housing project was rebuilt; they were recently reinstalled at the new Valencia Gardens. In a Memorandum of Understanding, the Housing Authority has agreed to care for and conserve them in perpetuity.
    
    Commissioner Miguel said that he appreciated the personal notes about Bufano, who was a friend of his mother’s. Commissioner Miguel remarked about Bufano’s dimunitive size contrasted with his massive sculptures. He described the sculptor as temperamental, but a good companion and an asset to the city.
New Business
There was no new business.
Reports and Announcements
There were no reports or announcements.
Public Comment
There was no further public comment.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

7/30/09 spr

Meeting Information

Full_Commission