Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, April 6, 2009
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston, President
   Maya Draisin, Vice President
   René Bihan
   Topher Delaney
   Lorraine García-Nakata
   Alexander Lloyd
   Sherene Melania
   Pop Zhao
   Ron Miguel, ex officio
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Nínive Calegari
   John Calloway
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Cass Calder Smith
   Dede Wilsey
   Sherri Young
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-073:
   Motion to approve February 2, 2009 Minutes.
   
   Because the March 9, 2009 minutes were not yet final, this motion was withdrawn.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston began his report with two matters taken up by the Executive Committee. First, work has begun on setting up a strategic planning process. President Johnston reported that Mr. Cancel and staff are researching how other departments and arts organizations have done it. While it is still a question how to pay for the necessary facilitation, President Johnston is committed to helping staff find and justify funding for this crucial process. He added that the Executive Committee will hold a special meeting with a presentation from the facilitator.
   
   Secondly, President Johnston announced the appointment of Commissioner Calegari to chair a new Ad Hoc Revenue Committee. The Committee will consist of three Commissioners, and at least three staff members chosen by Mr. Cancel. The first meeting of the Committee should take place by May.
   
   Finally, President Johnston reported the good news from the Mayor’s office that a well-respected young architect would be appointed very soon to the vacant seat on the Commission.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. Cancel began by thanking the Commissioners in attendance on such a beautiful spring day. Elaborating on President Johnston’s remarks about strategic planning, he explained that he has met with various consultants who have worked with public agencies, which are different from corporations or private nonprofit organizations. He has proposed taking three to four months for strategic planning; most of the consultants have said they think it should take six to twelve months, but would work with the Commission to see what could be done in the shorter timeframe. Their estimates have ranged from approximately $65,000 to $100,000. Mr. Cancel also looked for in-house City resources, and found a group within the Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) headed by Teri Jourgensen. She will meet with the Executive Committee and some staff members before developing a proposal. Mr. Cancel said that, even though it is a challenge to find the resources to pay for strategic planning, it is a priority for the agency and for the cultural community. He noted that there may be grant funds available for this purpose.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that he had participated in the Americans for the Arts “Arts Advocacy Day” on March 30 in Washington, DC. California participants came from all parts of the state, with Brad Erickson of Theatre Bay Area as the state captain. Every state was represented, with more than 800 participants, one of the largest turnouts in the history of the event. They met with Congressional representatives, urging them to continue and increase federal funding for the arts. Among the specific issues discussed were funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which should be at $263 million, not the current $200 million, to keep up with inflation; funding for arts education, currently included with overall education funding; and proposed changes in the tax law to allow artists to donate their own artwork at market value instead of the current limit, the value of the materials. This last change could significantly improve the arts infrastructure
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that music legends Linda Ronstadt, Wynton Marsalis, and Josh Groban, along with other arts advocates, testified before the Congressional Arts Caucus, and the event generated a lot of press attention. Observing other groups lobbying on many other issues, he thought it was very important that the arts advocates meet with congressional staffers, noting that if they don’t make a consistent effort, arts issues are pushed aside. He added that the representatives and their staff were welcoming and receptive to the arts advocates. Finally, he noted that since the majority of the staffers are young, this is a significant opportunity to shape their views over the long term.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that former Arts Education Manager Dia Penning has accepted a job in Chicago, and he has taken this as an opportunity to meet with various parties in San Francisco’s arts education community, including school district staff, principals, presenters, teaching artists, and Arts Education Funders Collaborative members, to discuss needs and priorities, and what to look for in hiring the next Arts Education Manager.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported on a joint anti-graffiti initiative called Street SmARTS, with a kick-off meeting set for April 23. He noted that the Department of Public Works (“DPW”) spends millions of dollars each year on graffiti abatement without making much headway. Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff is working with school district staff on a curriculum focused on positive alternatives to graffiti, including murals incorporating the visual urban vernacular, and the impact of graffiti on the community. The project hopes to establish links between young people, artists, private property owners and the community. Mr. Cancel was hopeful that DPW would see this project as a more effective use of some of their anti-graffiti funds. He promised more information after the April 23 meeting.
   
   Mr. Cancel observed that this was the last Commission meeting at which Nancy Gonchar still served as Deputy Director, and that her last day would be May 1. He acknowledged the incredible positive contributions she has made to the community over her fourteen years of service. He said that Commissioners and staff really recognize the significance of her contribution.
   
   Mr. Cancel reviewed the new reporting structure necessitated by elimination of the Deputy Director’s position. To insure continuity in leadership, the Deputy’s responsibilities will be divided between Kan Htun, San San Wong and Jill Manton, who will serve as Interim Deputy Director. In order to manage the current workflow, while the strategic planning process gets underway and the agency works to clarify its future direction, Mr. Cancel has grouped the programs and staff into three divisions headed by Mr. Htun, Ms. Wong and Ms. Manton.
   
   Additionally, he has created standing workgroups focused on three areas: Information and Database; Communications and New Media; and Community Initiatives. These are open to anyone on the staff, regardless of program or title, and offer an opportunity for staff development and increased teamwork across programs. As an example of the kinds of projects they might take up, he cited Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama’s podcasting, which she has been developing as an outside interest, and which she will now be able to bring to the Arts Commission as a new communication vehicle. He also cited, as an example in the Community Initiatives workgroup, the project of developing an arts district using long-vacant storefronts for artists’ workspace, performance or exhibition.
   
   This structure will be reevaluated after the strategic planning is substantially complete, in perhaps six to ten months.
   
   President Johnston thanked Mr. Cancel for his responsiveness to the Commission, which had asked him to develop a short-term strategy for day-to-day reporting and functioning at the agency pending the outcome of the longer-term strategic plan. President Johnston added the caution that the budget situation could still get worse before it gets better, necessitating further changes. Finally, he appreciated Mr. Cancel’s inclusion of the Arts Providers Alliance in his thinking about the organizational structure.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   President Johnston severed item 1 from the Consent Calendar, approval of minutes of the Ad Hoc Planning Committee meeting of February 19, 2009, because the minutes had not been distributed.
   
   The Commission approved the remaining Consent Calendar as follows.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-074:
   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. 0406-09-075: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of February 24, 2009.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-076: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2009.
      
      
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-077: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2009.
      
      
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-078: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of March 16, 2009.
      
      
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-079: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2009.
      
      
      Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Recommendations March 10, 2009)
      
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-080: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for the Programs in the Community grant panel:
      
      Marc Vogl, Program Officer at the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
      Kirthi Nath, Digital Pathways Manager/Video Instructor/Next Gen Media Distribution Coordinator at Bay Area Video Coalition
      Nacala Jendayi, San Francisco Foundation Multicultural Fellow in Education
      Elvin Padilla, Executive Director of the Tenderloin Economic Development Project
      Evan Bissell, visual artist
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-081: Motion to increase the 2008-2009 grant agreement to African American Art and Culture Complex by $22,373 for a total grant not to exceed $491,919, contingent upon a budget revision.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-082: Motion to increase the 2008-2009 grant agreement to Bayview Opera House by $14,460 for a total grant not to exceed $319,611, contingent upon a budget revision.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-083: Motion to increase the 2008-2009 grant agreement to Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts by $12,618 for a total grant not to exceed $539,671, contingent upon a budget revision.
      
      
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-084: Motion to increase the 2008-2009 grant agreement to South of Market Cultural Center and sub-grantees by $43,889 ($25,507 to SomArts, $9,191 to sub-grantee Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, and $9,191 to sub-grantee Queer Cultural Center) for a total grant not to exceed $800,621, ($603,763 to SomArts; $98,429 to sub-grantee Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center; and $98,429 to sub-grantee Queer Cultural Center) contingent upon a budget revision.
       
       
       Street Artists Committee Recommendations (March 11, 2009)
       
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-085: Motion to approve authorization of Street Artists Program Director to request Board of Supervisors for permanent designation of nine (9) street artist selling spaces for weekend usage on the north side of Market Street at the intersection of Steuart Street.
       
       
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (March 16, 2009)
       
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-086: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the San Francisco General Hospital with the contingency of creating openings in the fence off of Potrero Ave, and examining access to the seating area and strategies for the podium.
       
       
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-087: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the North Beach Branch Library.
       
       
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-088: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the San Francisco Botanical Gardens Nursery: Center for Sustainable Gardening.
       
       
   15. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-089: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the La Grande pump station with the contingency of creating a green wall on the front of the building and modifying the louvers.
       
       
   16. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-090: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Joaquin Pipeline.
       
       
   17. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-091: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the SFMTA Cable Car Kiosk.
       
       
   18. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-092: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Alameda Siphon No. 4.
       
       
       Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (March 18, 2009)
       
   19. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-093: Motion to approve a mural by lead artists Dan Anh Nguyen and Dana Irving in collaboration with Visitacion Valley Business Opportunities and Outreach to Merchants (“VVBOOM”), covering the exterior wall at 91 Leland Avenue, with funding provided by a San Francisco Community Challenge grant, pending evidence of community support.
       
       
   20. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-094: Motion to approve the selection panel pool for the Chinese Recreation Center Artist Selection Panel:
       
       Abby Chen, Program Director, Chinese Cultural Center
       Hilda Shum, artist
       Sabina Chen, former Director, Chinese Culture Center
       Francis Wong, Deputy Director, Chinese Historical Society
       Judy Hu, Communications Manager, Chinese Historical Society
       Mona Shah, Interim Director, Oakland Asian Cultural Center
       René de Guzman, Senior Curator, Oakland Museum of California
       Michael Almaguer, artist, educator
       Susan Schwartzenberg, artist
       Kevin Chen, Program Director, Intersection for the Arts
       Ellen Oh, Director of the Kearny Street Workshop
       Hou Hanru, Director of Public Programs, San Francisco Art Institute
       
       
   21. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-095: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the following cotton tapestries by Lewis deSoto, commissioned for Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center as auxiliary to the series “Woven, the Laguna Honda Hospital History Project”:
       1908: The Construction of Clarendon Hall, 2004-2009, 80-1/2" x 116"
       1929-1941: Patient Care During the Great Depression, 2004-2009, 80-1/2" x 119-1/2"
       1947-1954: University of California, San Francisco Establishes a Clinical Research Project at Laguna Honda, 2004-2009, 80-1/2" x 119-1/2"
       1949-1958: Community Activities at Laguna Honda, 2004-2009, 80" x 120"
       
       
   22. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-096: Motion to approve revised design proposal by Janet Echelman for Terminal Two at San Francisco International Airport.
       
       
   23. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-097: Motion to approve the City Hall Commemorative Bust Guidelines pending modification to fee structure.
       
       
   24. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-098: Motion to endorse the George Washington Alumni Association’s fundraising efforts for the conservation and restoration of George Washington High School’s frescos.
       
       
       
6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston said that his report earlier covered the discussion of the Executive Committee, which focused on starting the strategic planning process. He reiterated the need to do this well and not rush through it.
         
         
         
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Bihan reported that the Committee had reviewed several projects, including a second review of General Hospital, where the Committee requested a more porous design for the front gate. They unanimously approved the North Beach Library and a new LEED-certified Platinum nursery for the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which he praised as a beautiful addition to Golden Gate Park. On the Children’s Quarter pavilion in the park, he reported that the Committee challenged Recreation and Park Department staff to focus more on sustainability, and asked them to return with a revised design.
         
         He noted that the Committee is eager to have its vacant seat filled; President Johnston thought that would happen no later than May.
         
         Commissioner Bihan presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-099: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the San Joaquin Pipeline.
         
         
         
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
      1. Vice President Draisin began her report by calling attention to the new WritersCorps book published with City Lights. The Committee was pleased to be able to increase funds for the Cultural Centers. Their original budget was based on an estimate of the Hotel Tax Fund, but the actual proceeds were greater than estimated.
         
         Vice President Draisin reported that the Committee continued its conversation on policy issues including the direction for the cultural centers and the granting process. She noted that Ms. Wong did a great presentation on the pool of panelists and the pool of applicants. The Committee will continue to look more carefully at the grants process over the next several months, including how many grantees are new and how many carry over from year to year. Vice President Draisin referred Commissioners to the minutes for a review of the Arts Education report.
         
         Mr. Cancel reported that the Creative Capacity Fund initiative is being implemented under the leadership of Ms. Wong.
         
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
      1. Commissioner Lloyd reported that the Committee approved nine new spaces for Street Artists, noting that providing additional spaces is one of the most important things the Committee does.
         
         Mr. Cancel reported that the Committee approved a fee increase, as drafted and approved by the City Attorney’s office. The Mayor’s Budget Office decided to delay it until the Mayor’s full budget is submitted.
         
         Commissioner Lloyd presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-100: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Alex George, John Thomey, Hyo Jae Hyun, Edgar Jimenez, Glendon Coddling, Wing Chan, Valery Fargo, Mamemor Mbacke, Capella Parrish, Homan Yim, Fred Grandy, Santiago Alonso.
         
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Przyblyski, Commissioner Lloyd commented that the Committee had held an interesting meeting and seen several beautiful projects. President Johnston reported that the Committee had several important projects underway, some of which were concurrently under Civic Design Review, including General Hospital, where many important artworks will be installed, moved or reinstalled.
         
         President Johnston reported that the Committee has discussed guidelines for the placement of busts, almost all of past mayors, in City Hall. He noted that Ms. Manton is focusing on forestalling controversy by developing consistent and fair guidelines, rather than reacting after the fact, since the location of a bust is always political. While the Arts Commission is working cooperatively with the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission, the ultimate responsibility for placement of these works rests with the Arts Commission.
         
         President Johnston presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0406-09-101: Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the Chinese Recreation Center Artist Selection Panel:
         
         Hou Hanru, Director, San Francisco Art Institute Gallery
         Kota Ezawa, artist, faculty, California College of the Arts
         Patricia Watts, independent curator
         Renee Green, artist, Dean of Graduate Studies, San Francisco Art Institute
         Amy Trachtenberg, artist
         Mark Johnson, Professor of Art and Gallery Director, San Francisco State University
         Stephanie Syjuco, artist
         
         
         
7. New Business
   There was no new business.
   
   
   
8. Reports and Announcements
   Mr. Cancel reported that the Mayor’s office is reviewing the proposed legislative amendment on art enrichment funding. The proposed legislation concerns the percent paid by private developers in the downtown C-3 district, and expands the benefit district by half a mile.
   
   Mr. Cancel also announced that the show he curated in New York, before he came to the Arts Commission, has been touring and will open at the Mission Cultural Center, with a reception on May 2. The show, entitled 5x5 Pluralism, features work by five Venezuelan and five U.S. artists. He added that the San Francisco Examiner will print another pullout, as they did for the Bill Fontana show at City Hall; this will be their first bilingual (Spanish-English) printing.
   
   Commissioner Miguel requested an informational presentation to the Planning Commission on current projects.
   
   There were no further reports or announcements.
   
   
   
9. Public Comment
   There was no further public comment.
   
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
    
    
    

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