May 3, 2010

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, May 3, 2010
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston, President
   Gregory Chew
   Leo Chow
   Amy Chuang
   Lorraine García-Nakata
   Astrid Haryati
   Barbara Sklar
   Cass Calder Smith
   Sherri Young
   
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Maya Draisin, Vice President
   JD Beltran
   John Calloway
   Sherene Melania
   Ron Miguel, ex officio
    
2. Approval of Minutes
   RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-104: Motion to approve February 1, 2010 Minutes.
   
   The remaining items were withdrawn.
    
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston was glad to report that the budget discussion was finally over, with painful budget cuts decided over the last few months. He reported that the Executive Committee had a long, intense meeting, with testimony from arts organizations and the Cultural Centers, which will be taking a big hit in the coming fiscal year. He acknowledged that it was very difficult, but this is a tough year. He hoped for the best in the economy, and that there would not have to be midyear cuts as there have been in the current year, but he thought it very likely. He said that all the “creative financing” has been done, such as moving staff positions to other appropriate funding. He said that if there are midyear cuts, they will affect staff, and he warned everyone to be prepared. He thought it was wise to comply with the Mayor’s budget office early; they take the budget from this point, and then it goes to the Board of Supervisors. He advised bracing ourselves, warning that it was likely to get worse before getting better.
   
   President Johnston reported that at the April meeting, a big issue involved the street artists at Justin Herman Plaza, and the Recreation and Parks Department’s Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for a vendor to program the area, including bringing in additional vendors. He said that the issue will come back to the Arts Commission over time, and that Recreation and Parks will probably present to the Commission at some point. He reported that there was a meeting in the preceding week with the Director of Recreation and Parks and staff. President Johnston reported that the idea was still a “moving target.” Recreation and Parks hopes to bring in, on a trial basis of perhaps a year, maybe more, a vendor to program the space, including arts, crafts, music, maybe food. Mr. Cancel reiterated the priority of the street artists. He said that they were very receptive, and still waiting for the results of the RFP. He expected the discussion to continue in a collegial manner, and thought it was good that he and Mr. Cancel explained the Street Artists Program to them.
   
   President Johnston reported that just outside City Hall, on the other side of the Civic Center Plaza, Zhang Huan’s Three Heads Six Arms was being assembled as he spoke. He announced the dedication on May 12, which he thought would be a fabulous kickoff to the Shanghai Sister City celebration; a celebration of San Francisco’s international awareness, and its place in the worldwide arts scene.
   
   Noting that a lot of events are happening, he announced Art Impact, featuring all-pro 49er and painter Vernon Davis, in a panel discussion with Director of Cultural Affairs Luis Cancel and School Superintendent Carlos Garcia, followed by a fundraiser at Morton’s the Steakhouse. President Johnston added that he can’t wait to see how Mr. Davis approaches the arts.
   
   While, he said, this was not directly in the Arts Commission’s bailiwick, he was pleased to announce that the Impressionist masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay were coming to the De Young Museum, thanks to the incomparable Dede Wilsey (a former Arts Commissioner). He added that the show will have two parts; half of the artworks will be shown at the beginning, and the second half later in the summer.
   
   Commissioner Sklar asked if the Recreation and Parks proposal was intended to affect Justin Herman Plaza every day. President Johnston said it was intended to be regular, but probably not every day; they were specifically looking at the holiday season. Commissioner Sklar said that in Venice and Florence, there is a market three or four times annually, and that the artists loved it; it brought locals to the plazas. Mr. Cancel added that the plan is still a work in progress, and still being figured out.
   
   President Johnston said that, candidly, they see this as an opportunity to bring in half a million or a million dollars annually, to save recreation programs. He certainly understood that, but wants to be sure they think this through. He added that Recreation and Parks is, so far, emphasizing that this will be a pilot program, running a year or two at most.
   
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. Cancel began his report with an update on the budget. He said that the Mayor’s office was on track to deliver his overall budget to the Board of Supervisors on June 1. He said that the Mayor’s budget office had made a few last-minute requests, including cuts in office supplies, travel and administrative cuts. He reported a positive response from the unions to the Mayor’s proposals, which are expected to save a little more than $250,000,000, a major step forward. He was hopeful there would be no further cuts required before June 1.
   
   He has requested a meeting with the budget director to discuss the capital budget for the Cultural Centers’ buildings. He said that this, unfortunately, is a sliding target, where there is said to be some money in the future, but the future never seems to materialize, and the buildings continue to deteriorate. Mr. Cancel reported that the Commission would be asked today to authorize a fifty-year easement, a condition for a federal grant which is critically needed to remove asbestos and restore the floor in the main space of the Bayview Opera House. He added that all of the Cultural Centers have significant capital needs, which he hopes to raise at a higher level in the City government. Only the African American Art and Culture Complex, he said, has been successful in getting any significant capital expenditures.
   
   Mr. Cancel said that the Shanghai Sister City celebration would include the dedication at 10:00 a.m. on May 12 of the long-awaited Zhang Huan Buddha sculpture, Three Heads Six Arms. He said that the piece is 26 feet high and weighs 15 tons. He said that there were many people to thank, and he wanted to single out some who lost a lot of sleep—literally, because of the time differences. He thanked Director of Programs Jill Manton and Collections Senior Registrar Allison Cummings, to general applause. He said that the artwork would not be here without their support. In addition, he thanked Commissioner Greg Chew for his key role in securing funds to pay for the transportation of the massive sculpture from Shanghai to San Francisco; he, too, received a round of applause.
   
   Mr. Cancel gave more information on the Art Impact event with Vernon Davis on May 13. He said that RSVPs for the panel were on schedule, with 140 responses so far; the room holds 200. He asked the Commissioners’ help with the benefit, which still had several tickets available. He urged them to consider friends and acquaintances, sports enthusiasts who might like to spend some time with Vernon Davis, which was well worth the $125 ticket. He added that the proceeds of the benefit would be divided between the school district and the Arts Commission for arts education. In response to a request from Commissioner García-Nakata, Mr. Cancel agreed to send a pdf of the invitation to the Commissioners.
   
   Noting that staff development is important to him, Mr. Cancel reported that the first of a series of Director’s Digital Bootcamps was held, offering senior staff to polish their IT and technical skills.
   
   He reported that there has been a renaissance of public art, and asked Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious to present a major project underway.
   
   Ms. Pontious began her presentation on the new Acute Care Unit of General Hospital by thanking Public Art Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn, who shares the major responsibility for this project, for her excellent management and ferocious efficiency.
   
   
   Ms. Pontious recalled that the percent-for-art ordinance was passed in 1969, and San Francisco General Hospital (“SFGH”) was the first project under the ordinance, with somewhat mixed results. The current renovation is a tribute to how far the Public Art Program has evolved.
   
   In 1990, when Ms. Pontious came to the Arts Commission, her first project was the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility (“MHRF”) at the hospital. She related that when she began the Acute Care unit, the hospital staff suggested that she tour the MHRF because that’s what they wanted to see in the new building. She was happy to say that she was very familiar with the work, because she put it there in 1990.
   
   She said that there had been serious issues of maintenance, and artwork that was no longer where it was supposed to be. Early in the project, there was a thorough inventory and very serious scrutiny by the Collections staff.
   
   Ms. Pontious presented the concept of “evidence-based design,” which has been supported by clinical studies. The research shows that artwork actually has a medical effect, in addition to creating an environment for staff and the family members of patients. She emphasized that art has a job to do in the hospital. She gave a brief overview of what kinds of elements and qualities in artwork have a positive effect within the hospital setting, including more representational artwork, particularly landscapes with depth of field. She said that, unfortunately, a lot of what has grown up in other medical settings in response to the evidence-based design criteria is formulaic. For SFGH, they made a strong effort to meet the design criteria and still be really creative.
   
   She explained that the public art program encompassed all the major public spaces in the hospital. One of the main concerns in the Civic Design Review was that the main pedestrian entry be warm and welcoming. Ms. Pontious said that the hospital staff very much love their hearts as their symbol. (Hearts have been painted by artists as part of a major fundraiser for the hospital.) The Public Art team wanted to incorporate the hearts in a non-kitschy way. Ms. Pontious said only one artist in the country could do that well: Tom Otterness. She showed the bronze sculptures done in his signature style. The mother and child heart characters in various attitudes are fun, and unique to San Francisco.
   
   Ms. Pontious showed images of various spaces in the hospital, and the artworks placed there. The plaza between the old entry and the new entry is a very active space, with lots of traffic between the two buildings. She showed artist Anna Murch’s redesign of the whole landscape scene, including planters, moiré seating lit from within, and sculptures also lit from the inside.
   
   She showed the work of Nagase for the roof garden, which consists of a paving design and carved granite boulders.
   
   She explained that every floor has an identity related to a San Francisco neighborhood: for the first floor, it is the Mission, not in a cliché way, but with strong, rich, vibrant design. Ms. Pontious showed Rupert García’s tulip design for the terrazzo floor and the two-story stairway. In response to a question, she explained that the scale was very big, and the design creates an entire environment. She said that hospital staff was very happy not to have beige spaces.
   
   Ms. Pontious showed the work of Lena Wolff for the second floor maternity area. Ms. Pontious cited her as an example of an artist who had not previously done a public art project; Public Art Program staff pride themselves on being able to work with artists to translate their two-dimensional work into more permanent materials.
   
   On the patient care floors (3-7), there are atriums that penetrate the hospital to bring in light. In the public areas, the need is for this glass to be translucent, but not transparent. These glass atrium windows, along with a curved wall of backlit glass that marks the entry onto each floor from the elevator lobby, provide the major art opportunities on these floors. Five artists have been selected to create art glass for these areas. Ms. Pontious also showed the work of Mildred Howard, Nancy Blum, Julio Morales, Arthur Stern and Alan Masaoka.
   
   Ms. Pontious described the surgery waiting room, where families wait for their loved one to come out of surgery, as one of the most stressful spaces in the building. It is in the basement, with no view to the outdoors. Video artist Paul Kos is creating a 45-minute loop of aspens moving in the wind, framed like window glass, for the room.
   
   Finally, she said that an artwork for the turnaround island at the entry is expected to be reviewed in mid-May.
   
   President Johnston thanked her, adding that he and other members of the Visual Arts Committee have seen the projects in much greater detail, and unfortunately, the City Hall video system didn’t do justice to the vibrant images.
   
   Commissioner Young was very impressed, commenting that the artwork makes the hospital a warm and vibrant place instead of an institutional place with an atmosphere of illness. She asked when it was expected to be complete; Ms. Pontious replied that 2018 was the completion date.
   
   Ms. Pontious added that a great number of two-dimensional works were being purchased, and many of the existing artworks were being restored and maintained. The project incorporates stewardship of the artwork already in place at the hospital.
   
   President Johnston said that work at Laguna Honda Hospital would be completed and the hospital rededicated in June. He hoped Commissioners would take a tour, and suggested a possible overview of the project at the Commission’s August meeting.
   
   Ms. Pontious replied that every week, another artwork is completed or installed at the hospital, and that she has been working on it for ten years. She said she would love to give a tour to any interested Commissioner, and added that the collection is extensive.
   
   President Johnston said that the artwork was very impressive, and thought perhaps the Commission could have a meeting there sometime.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that on May 20, at Fort Mason, the Fine Art Fair was hosting a reception to honor Ruth Braunsein in her fiftieth anniversary as a gallerist in San Francisco. He praised her as a major champion of public art, founder of Art Care, which will adopt public artworks most in need of conservation and maintenance. Ms. Braunstein has insisted that any funds raised that evening be used to formally launch the Art Care fund. He added that there are proposals to major foundations pending. He said that this event will be an opportunity to acknowledge a major art world figure, as well as to shed light on the need to preserve the City’s artwork.
   
   Mr. Cancel announced that this was Ms. Manton’s 27 th anniversary of working at the Arts Commission, and thanked her for all those years of great service to the City.
   
   Finally, Mr. Cancel announced that he and Commissioner García-Nakata will be bringing the National Museum of the American Latino (“NMAL”) Commission to meet in San Francisco on August 12 and 13, and they hope to arrange a meeting with the Arts Commission. Later this week, he said, the NMAL Commission would meet in Washington, DC, including a dinner with President and Mrs. Obama for Cinco de Mayo. They will also meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The NMAL meetings will be about site selection for the museum.
    
5. Consent Calendar
   RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-105:
   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. 0503-10-106: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010.
       
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-107: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2010.
      
      
      Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Recommendations (April 13, 2010)
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-108: Motion to approve recommendations to award fourteen grants totaling $111,500 in the 2009-2010 cycle of Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions to the following individual artists and organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each for the amounts listed:
      
      Andrew Ruiz, $7,500
      Asociacion Mayab, $7,500
      Carmen Lomas Garza, $7,424
      Galería de la Raza, $15,000
      Jennifer Elise Foerster, $7,363
      Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory, $6,975
      Native American AIDS Project, $13,950
      Native American AIDS Project, $1,000
      One Love Oceania, $1,000
      Richard Bluecloud Castaneda, $7,500
      Ross Cunningham, $7,500
      Sean Levon Nash, $6,813
      Seventh Native American Generation, $15,000
      Yerba Buena Arts and Events, $6,975
      
      
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (April 19, 2010)
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-109: Motion to approve Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse, Phase 2.
       
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-110: Motion to approve Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, Phase 3.
       
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-111: Motion to approve San Joaquin Pipeline, Eastern Segment, Phase 1, with the following changes to strengthen the relationship between openings in the building and the grid of score lines on the walls as discussed: on the west elevation, combine two louvers into one; on the east elevation, use one rectangular window or eliminate windows; on the north elevation, use one window or eliminate windows, and narrow the open slot to align with score lines; and on the south elevation, use a louver or window, aligned with the score lines.
       
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-112: Motion to approve Calaveras Dam Replacement Project, Phase 1.
      
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (April 21, 2010)
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-113: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve a mural by lead artist Cy Wagoner on the Friendship House building on Caledonia Street between 15th and 16th Streets. The mural tells the story of the impact of the 1954 Relocation Act on Native Indians in the Bay Area.
       
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-114: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve a mural by lead artist Johanna Poethig on the front of the International Hotel at 868 Kearny Street at Jackson Street. The mural, Placesetting, represents a dinner plate and a communal life of sharing.
       
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-115: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve a mural by lead artist Josef Norris on the back wall of the Strategic Storage Building at 190 Otis Street. The mural, Forest of Life, will overlook a play structure and entrance to the San Francisco Human Services Agency at 170 Otis Street.
        
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-116: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve a mural by lead artist Max Allbee on the guard rail along the sidewalk on either side of Mission Street on the bridge over Alemany Boulevard and Highway 280, between Trumbull and Bosworth Streets. The mural will create a gateway into the Excelsior neighborhood.
        
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-117: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve the design development phase (final dimensions and locations) of the three proposed artwork mosaics by Lena Wolff for the San Francisco General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Second Floor.
        
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-118: Motion to approve the preliminary proposal for prototype of Ned Kahn’s wind-activated turbine sculpture for Baker Street.
        
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-119: Motion to approve project outline for Memorial Court.
        
   15. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-120: Motion to approve the conceptual design of artwork fence panels by Michael Bartalos for Mission Playground.
       
       
       Executive Committee Recommendations (April 27, 2010)
   16. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-121: Motion to approve the decision of the Director of Cultural Affairs to give administrative approval for a commemorative plaque at 575 Castro Street honoring Harvey Milk.
        
   17. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-122: Motion to approve an amendment to the grant agreement between the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Mexican Museum to increase the grant amount from $250,000 to $600,000, pending approval by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission on May 4, 2010 to work-order these additional funds to the Arts Commission.
        
   18. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-123: Motion to approve the Arts Commission’s budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.
        
6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston said that the earlier reports had really covered the discussions of the Executive Committee. He echoed the importance of working with the Capital Planning Committee; it is important to fight for the needs of the Cultural Centers, particularly as part of the limited resources of the City’s arts community. With the acceptance of the budget, President Johnston and Mr. Cancel have discussed going with the Executive Committee, and with Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff, approaching the Capital Planning Committee and City Administrator Ed Lee about the Centers’ enormous needs.
          
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
      1. Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee has reviewed some very nice projects, including Terminal Two at the San Francisco Airport. He and Commissioner Chow met with Gensler, the architects on the project, and got as much integration as possible. He said that the Committee liked the Boeddeker Park project, which is not large but has a high profile.
         
         Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee sent a small project back to the Bureau of Architecture. It is a small hydropower generation project within the San Francisco water system, which captures energy as the water moves from a higher to a lower elevation. There will be a small building in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood, visible to pedestrians. The Committee took the position that the design team should not simply try to match one of the other buildings on the site, but should do something that expresses what is taking place in the building. He said that the project has high visibility, and particular interest from the Mayor’s office.
         
         Finally, Commissioner Smith suggested presenting one of the Committee’s projects to the full Commission, noting that some are quite interesting and quite good.
         
         Commissioner Smith presented the following motion.
          
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-124: Motion to approve Phase Two of the San Francisco International Airport Terminal Two design.
          
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
      1. In the absence of Vice President Draisin, Commissioner Young reported that the Committee had a great meeting. Director of Grants San San Wong discussed the Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions (“NAACT”) grants program. She explained that there used to be funding for a Native American cultural center, but when that became defunct, the funds were transferred to a grants program targeting the Native community. Commissioner Young said that Program Associate Jaime Cortez gave a great report on the program, and on the funds going to artists. She said that the NAACT program is expected to continue for the next few years, and that there is still some interest in creating a cultural center. She said that staff and the Committee are listening to the community to hear what they want.
         
         Mr. Cancel explained the following motion. He said that Bayview Opera House has applied for federal funding from Save America’s Treasures. One stipulation for this funding is that the building must be preserved for a long time, and the motion allows for a preservation easement agreement to satisfy this requirement. Mr. Cancel said that oversight will be held by a third-party local preservation nonprofit, not yet identified by the federal government. Action is required now in order to meet a deadline set by the grant; otherwise, the funds would be lost. In addition to the Commission’s action, there will be several layers of oversight, including the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor. Mr. Cancel explained that taking this action today preserves the $197,000 grant for renovation of Bayview Opera House.
         
         President Johnston called for comment from Bayview Opera House Interim Managing Director Barbara Ockel. She gave a big thank-you to the Committee for hearing the Opera House’s concerns, and to Mr. Cancel, with whom she spoke on a Sunday. She said that the Opera House began some of the work at their own risk. She especially wanted to thank Ms. Nemzoff for working tirelessly with the City Attorney’s office on this question. She urged the Commission to pass the motion, which will help with much-needed work on the building’s waterlogged wall and floor.
         
         President Johnston said he saw no reason why any of the Commissioners would want to block this opportunity, and that the motion allowed plenty of opportunity to protect the City’s interests.
         
         When the motion was unanimously approved, Mr. Cancel thanked the Commission, noting that though its language is not poetry, it does the job.
          
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-125: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to negotiate, in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office, a proposed preservation easement agreement as required by Save America’s Treasures (a historic preservation program of the National Park Service) for the Bayview Opera House with San Francisco Architectural Heritage or other appropriate nonprofit third party entity, subject to any additional required City approvals including any required approvals or review and comment by the Historic Preservation Commission, Mayor, and Board of Supervisors.
          
   4. Street Artists Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Melania, Commissioner Haryati said that the Committee continued its work, and they looked forward to continuing to support the artists. The Committee hoped to have a win-win situation with the pending Recreation and Parks Department proposal for Justin Herman Plaza. She reiterated that it will be important to consider the viability of the street artists in those plans.
         
         Commissioner Haryati presented the following motions.
          
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-126: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Gloria Cardaenas, Javier Diaz, Marlin Beaver, Santiago Alonzo, Andrea Kuncar, Byron Hay, Javiera Kuncar, Maria Sanchez, Wayne Olson, Frank Dong, Mamemor Beacke, Barbara Brown.
          
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-127: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $200 plus cost of paint to Drew Flores and honorarium payment of $200 to David Campos for assisting Program Director in painting street artist spaces in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
          
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Lorraine García-Nakata, Chair
      1. Commissioner García-Nakata reported that the Committee discussed a number of projects, including a proposed wind turbine by artist Ned Kahn at Baker Street near Crissy Field. She said that the Committee is really looking for things that are not only beautiful artworks, but also possible sources to use one of the city’s abundant resources, the wind. They are curious to see how the project moves along.
         
         She reported that the Committee reviewed a memorandum of understanding for the Memorial Court, and that War Memorial staff want to work with Arts Commission because of their expertise, their ability to keep projects moving along, and the agency’s hardworking staff.
         
         Commissioner García-Nakata reported that the Committee reviewed several projects at the airport, which are moving along. The Committee heard about some technical and structural issues which need to be resolved.
         
         They also liked the fence and panels at the Mission playground, and held conceptual discussions about other projects in the early stages of development.
         
         Commissioner Chew thanked Public Art Project Manager Kate Patterson for leading the way on outreach for the Zhang Huan sculpture. He added that there was a blessing as well as several speeches at the dedication event.
         
         Commissioner García-Nakata presented the following motion. She explained that one of the artists selected by the panel for this project dropped out, and the motion adds an artist with the next highest panel ranking as an additional finalist.
          
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0503-10-128: Motion to approve Matthew Passmore/Rebar as an additional Finalist for the SOMA West-McCoppin Garden Art Project.
          
7. New Business
   Commissioner Chew reported that the kickoff of the Veterans Memorial project was very interesting, and he noted that George Shultz was one of the notables in attendance. He praised Ms. Pontious and Ms. Manton, and thought the memorial will be sensational. He said that the War Memorial Steering Committee was planning to raise the funding.
    
8. Reports and Announcements
   Commissioner Young announced that on April 28, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre co-founder Quentin Easter died. She had long known him as a colleague in the theater. Commissioner García-Nakata added that he had been part of the theater community since the early 1980s, and that he was tenacious in keeping the company going for all this time.
   
   Calling it a sad day, President Johnston, without opposition, adjourned the meeting in honor of Quentin Easter.
    
9. Public Comment
   There was no further public comment.
    
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

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