Arts_Task_Force
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ARTS TASK FORCE
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
5:30 p.m.
SomArts, 934 Brannan Street
Revised Minutes
- Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:36 p.m.
- Roll Call
Voting Members Present
Jeffrey Ferns
Rick Galbreath
Ron Gallman
Tim Gaskin
David Gluck
Elaine Katzenberger
Krissy Keefer
Tony Kelly
Pamela Wu Kochiyama
Maria X. Martinez
Vinay Patel
Richard (Rick) Putz
Alma Robinson
Virginia (Ginny) Carollo Rubin
Darryl Smith
Debra Walker
Voting Members Excused
Pamela Peniston
Laird Rodet
Marc Vogl
Voting Members Absent
Ken Foster
Nonvoting Members Present
Renee Hayes
John R. Killacky
Richard Newirth
Elizabeth Murray
Geraldine O’Brien
Charles Roppel
Nonvoting Members Excused
Bob Davis
Nonvoting Members Absent
Rich Hillis
Daniel Homsey
P.J. Johnston
Gloria Woo
- Approval of Minutes
Through a technical error, minutes of the May 18, 2005, meeting were not posted timely. The Task Force was thus unable to take action. The minutes of the May 18 meeting as well as this meeting will be on the agenda for approval at the June 15 meeting.
There was no public comment.
NOTE: ALL VOTES ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE RECORDED.
- Announcements by the Chair
The chair made several announcements of a housekeeping nature and commented on the content of future agendas.
There was no public comment on this item.
- Election of Vice-Chair
Tim Gaskin renewed the nomination of Tony Kelly, which was duly seconded by Maria X. Martinez and adopted by acclamation.
There was no public comment on this item.
- Outreach Strategy
Tim Gaskin and Maria X. Martinez are coordinating an informal workgroup to develop a comprehensive outreach strategy. Their brief presentation stressed the need for talking points, a media strategy, developing a speaker’s bureau for the purpose of building a constituency for support of Task Force recommendations by raising awareness, and getting public input through town hall meetings. Members wishing to have input in this issue are encouraged to contact the above-named individuals, provided that no more than ten Task Force members join the informal discussion group.
Public Comment: Andrew Wood suggest that members look at who allies might be regarding Hotel Tax issues, and seconded the idea of town hall meetings.
There was no further public comment on this item.
- Presentation from the San Francisco Controller’s Office
Deputy City Controller Monique Zmuda was recognized. Ms. Zmuda provided a handout regarding current budget proposals and a brief explanation of how allocations are being handled in light of decisions that may require all Hotel Tax funds now being deposited into the General Fund. The Task Force members held a vigorous discussion about the inherent political problems surrounding the two-thirds vote requirement for special taxes under Proposition 218, and about the Task Force’s possible recommendations regarding the Hotel Tax allocation in the current budget cycle.
Beth Murray proffered a Resolution addressing the current legislative process set forth at length:
Whereas, By Resolution No. 781-04, the Board of Supervisors has established an Arts Task Force to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor whether and how to update or restructure the various elements of the City’s agencies, programs and policies concerning the arts in San Francisco; and
Whereas, The Arts Task Force held its first public meeting on April 7, 2005, is continuing to meet on a bi-weekly basis, and is scheduled to submit to the Board of Supervisors a final written report by November 1, 2005; and
Whereas, The Arts Task Force has been advised of possible changes to the City’s legislative process of funding City agencies that support and serve arts organizations and artists in San Francisco;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved, By the Arts Task Force that it hereby recommends to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor that no action be taken or approved by the Board of Supervisors and/or the Mayor to change the City’s existing legislative process of funding City agencies that support and serve arts organizations and artists in San Francisco, until the Arts Task Force has undertaken and completed the purposes and duties, and has submitted its final written report, as set forth in Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 781-04.
Further Resolved, By the Arts Task Force that it hereby recommends to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor that the City’s budget for fiscal year 2005-2006 include funding for City agencies that support and serve arts organizations and artists in San Francisco pursuant to the City’s existing legislative process.
Public Comment: Jeff Jones wanted to know about the short term, i.e., the current budget recommendation. He strenuously objected to additional money going to what he described as elitist western arts organizations at the expense of community-based artists and arts.
An unidentified person wanted to clarify why the Hotel Tax came about and why we value the arts. He said that there is a tax on Candlestick Park tickets that comes back to the arts, and asked where the accounting is for that revenue.
Andrew Wood indicated that the worst-case scenario is the Hotel Tax revenue going to the General Fund so that the arts and artists must negotiate with the Mayor and Board of Supervisors for an equitable share. He argued that politicians have an inherent disinterest in tying their hands with specific set-asides. He suggested that the Convention and Visitors Bureau could be key in building alliances to pass a better allocation formula. Mr. Wood supports the Murray resolution as submitted.
An unidentified person suggested getting an opinion from former City Attorney Louise Renne as to why the Hotel Tax allocation is what it is.
There being no further public comment, the Task Force took up the resolution proposed by Ms. Murray. David Gluck moved to divide the question to consider each clause of the resolution separately. After the motion was duly seconded, a roll call vote was taken. It was noted that an absolute majority of the Task Force, or eleven votes, was need to pass any motion. The motion to divide was approved by fourteen ayes to zero nays.
The resolution as divided was then restated as to the first resolution clause and a motion to approve as restated was duly made and seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion failed: nine ayes to four nays.
The resolution as divided was then re-stated as to the second resolution clause and a motion to approve as restated was duly made and seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion failed: four ayes to ten nays.
- Continued Discussion about San Francisco Arts Infrastructure
Discussion of this item was begun out of order pending the arrival of Ms. Zmuda.
Maria X. Martinez drafted a worksheet as a tool to help guide the Task Force’s discussions. Copies were distributed to members and to the public in attendance. When Ms. Zmuda arrived, the Task Force returned to take up the previous item, her presentation.
Discussion of Ms. Zmuda’s presentation having been concluded, the Task Force returned to this item.
David Gluck distributed revised organizational charts of the agencies and funding streams of the arts infrastructure of the City and County. A brief discussion and explanation of the revised charts ensued, with several members commenting on the need for fine tuning. Mr. Gluck will work individually with those members to continue to improve the organizational charts.
There was no further public comment.
- Outline Report
This item was continued to the next meeting. The chair noted that the chart prepared by Maria X. Martinez may be helpful in considering this item.
There was no public comment on this item.
- New Business
There was no new business, and no public comment on this item.
- Public Comment
There was no additional public comment.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
revised 3/1/06 RG/spr
