November 7, 2011 Special Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Monday, November 7, 2011
3:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Revised Agenda

1. Roll Call

2. President’s Report
   Discussion
   Current developments and announcements.
3. Interim Director’s Report
   Discussion
   Current administrative, budgetary and programming developments, announcements, and initiatives.
4. Grammy Awards
   Action
   Discussion and possible motion to approve resolution supporting reinstatement of Latin Jazz and other categories to the Grammy Awards, as follows.

   This resolution to reinstate the 31 categories of music that were dropped by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences (NARAS) for GRAMMY consideration on April 6, 2011 supports the music genres that are truly reflective of the contemporary musical landscape and cultural diversity of the United States.

   WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco, which maintains a proud tradition as a hub of cultural and musical diversity, is home and host to valuable contributors of the American musical lexicon, including numerous GRAMMY®-nominated and -winning composers, artists and professionals; and

   WHEREAS, NARAS, an influential nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, is based in California and home to 30% of its 20,000+ members, and includes a San Francisco Chapter; and

   WHEREAS, the decision to drop the 31 categories from GRAMMY consideration was done by secret committee without consulting the voting membership of NARAS and without local chapters’ Board of Governors’ knowledge; and

   WHEREAS, the eliminated categories include Latin Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Hawaiian, Cajun, Zydeco, Native American, Tejano, Classical Crossover, Instrumental Rock, along with significant reductions in awards given to the categories of Gospel, Blues and R&B; and

   WHEREAS, protests and meetings have occurred in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Hawaii, Chicago, New Orleans, and other national locations to resolve this severe and extremely insensitive blow to cultural expression and recognition in our country; and

   WHEREAS respected GRAMMY-winning and -nominated artists, including Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, John Santos, John Calloway, Eddie Palmieri, Wayne Wallace, Bobby Sanabria and many others have joined NARAS members, colleagues, and past Chapter governors in writing letters and signing a petition with 5,000 cosigners urging NARAS to reverse their secret decision and reinstate the GRAMMY categories; and

   WHEREAS, national and international media coverage (KTVU, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal, etc.) has been given to the outcry against this unjust and harmful decision in over 1,200 national and international stories published and syndicated in print, broadcast, and digital formats; and

   WHEREAS, NARAS has a responsibility to their voting membership to ensure that ethical decision practices are maintained because the GRAMMY is considered to be the highest award achievable for music excellence in the Unites States and therefore should strive to include genres and categories of particular creative and foundational significance; and

   WHEREAS, the thousands of affected musicians, engineers, manufacturers, composers, arrangers, graphic artists, publicists, distributors, and other industry professionals who work in the eliminated categories will suffer economically from not being able to participate in the GRAMMY awards; and

   WHEREAS, thousands of California consumers and patrons of these important musical traditions have also been negatively affected and disrespected by this ill-advised decision; and

   WHEREAS, the NARAS leadership has acknowledged that a “mistake” was made indicates that these genres should never have been eliminated in the first place;

   NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the San Francisco Arts Commission urges the National Academy of Arts and Sciences to immediately reinstate the eliminated categories in order to restore integrity and diversity to the GRAMMY Awards and fulfill the organization’s responsibilities to its membership and as a nonprofit organization representing the interests of diverse musicians and recording professionals; and be it

   FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Arts Commission directs its administrative staff to send copies of this resolution to NARAS National Board Chair George Flanigen, Board Secretary Glenn Lorbecki, and President Neil Portnow.

5. Public Employee Appointment/Hiring: Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission
   Action
   Closed Session to Consider and Interview Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs
   
   1. Open Session: Public Comment on All Matters Pertaining to the Closed Session
      Discussion
   2. Vote on Whether to Hold Closed Session to Consider and Interview Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b))
      Action
   3. Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b)
      Discussion
      Consideration and Interviews of Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Classification 0961, Department Head I
      Action
   4. Reconvene in Open Session
      
      1. Possible Report on Action Taken in Closed Session (Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(b)(4))
         Action
      2. Vote to Elect Whether to Disclose Any or All Discussions Held in Closed Session (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a))
         Action
6. Public Comment
   Discussion
   (This item is to allow members of the public to comment generally on matters within the Committee’s purview as well as to suggest new agenda items for the Committee’s consideration.)

7. Old Business
   Discussion
   (This item is to allow Commissioners to update previous agenda items.)

8. New Business
   Discussion
   (This item is to allow Commissioners to introduce new agenda items for consideration.)

9. Adjournment
   Action
    
   

spr 11/4/11
 

Notices
Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 345, San Francisco CA 94102 during regular business hours. Tel: Sharon Page Ritchie, 415/252-2591.

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 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone 415/252-3100, fax 415/252-3112 and website.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Frank Darby by mail to Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco CA 94102-4689; by phone at 415/554-7724; by fax at 415/554-7854; or by email at sotf@sfgov.org.

Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from Mr. Darby or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the Internet, http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine/