City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco Arts Commission

Full Commission - May 5, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

Full Commission - May 5, 2014

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, May 5, 2014
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place


Minutes

Commission President JD Beltran called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.

  1. Roll Call

    Commissioners Present
    JD Beltran, President
    Abby Sadin Schnair, Vice President
    Gregory Chew
    Simon Frankel
    Dorka Keehn
    Roberto Ordeñana
    Marcus Shelby
    Janine Shiota
    Barbara Sklar
    Kimberlee Stryker
     
    Commissioners Absent
    Leo Chow
    Charles Collins
    Sherene Melania
    Jessica Silverman
    Cass Calder Smith
    Gwyneth Borden, ex officio
     

  2. Approval of Minutes
    President Beltran called for public comment on the minutes.
     
    Public Comment:
    Paula Datesh said that the minutes were posted late and the closed session was not properly noticed.
     
    There was no further public comment, and the minutes were unanimously approved as follows.
     
    RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-115: Motion to approve April 7, 2014 Minutes.
     
  3. President’s Report
    There was no report and there was no public comment.
     
  4. Director’s Report
    Mr. DeCaigny announced the opening of Flag Stories at SOMArts, with a reception on Friday, May 30 from 5:30 to 9:00. President Beltran added that the Art Institute’s City Studio program partnered with SOMArts on this youth exchange program with Malaysia.

    Mr. DeCaigny announced that the nonprofit displacement working group was scheduled to present its report on nonprofit rent stabilization to the Board of Supervisors in the next week. With its acceptance of the report, the Board would release $2 million for arts nonprofits, and $2.515 million for other nonprofits, to address the crisis. The working group, representing several City departments and headed by Brian Cheu of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, investigated a number of promising practices and models, including Denver’s Shared Spaces initiative and the Community Arts Stabilization Trust. Mr. DeCaigny said that the report would make several recommendations, including the issuance of a Request for Proposals for two intermediary organizations to actually manage the disbursement of funds and technical assistance to nonprofits.

    He added that he would discuss the report and the Board’s response to it at the June meeting of the full Arts Commission for input on next steps.

    Commissioners asked about resources for individual artists and the Commission discussed other potential strategies to address the needs of individual artists.

    Noting that the affordability crisis was one of the issues the Commission had mentioned in its list of policy priorities, Mr. DeCaigny asked the Commission to prioritize the items on that list. They agreed to discuss affordability at the next meeting of the full Commission. Commissioners also pointed out that some of these policy issues could be addressed in Committee meetings, and several Commissioners volunteered to take the lead on a few of the issues.

    There was no public comment.
     

  5. Consent Calendar
    President Beltran called for public comment on the Consent Calendar.
     
    Public Comment:
    Paula Datesh spoke about the posting of minutes and the closed session. She added that she had received a grant and would be going to the East Coast.

     
    There was no further public comment.

    President Beltran severed items 4 (regarding Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions grants) and 18 (regarding the AT&T Wireless project at the North Beach Police Station) for separate consideration to allow two Commissioners to recuse themselves because of possible conflicts. Regarding the former item, Commissioner Shelby reported that he participates in the Yerba Buena Festival, one of the grantees. Regarding the latter item, Commissioner Ordeñana reported that AT&T is a financial supporter of his employer.

    Commissioners Shelby and Ordeñana left the meeting room at 3:37 p.m., and President Beltran called for public comment on the two following items. There was no public comment, and the two items were approved unanimously, with the recusal of Commissioners Shelby and Ordeñana.

    RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-120: Motion to approve recommendations to award nine grants totaling $83,500 in the 2013-2014 cycle of Native American Arts & Cultural Traditions (“NAACT”) to the following organizations and individuals, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization and individual for the amounts listed:

    Brava Theater Center/Brava! For Women in the Arts, $7,500
    Cultural Conservancy, $15,000
    Galeria de la Raza, $15,000
    Instituto Familiar de la Raza, $1,000
    Katie Dorame, $7,500
    Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu, $7,500
    Seventh Native American Generation, $15,000
    Wicahpiluta Candelaria, $7,500
    Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, $7,500

    RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-134: Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the North Beach Police Station and Parking Garage, AT&T Wireless Modification project, contingent upon (1) concealing elements on the Vallejo Street side behind the existing façade as far back as possible; (2) placing a screening element around the antennas along the Vallejo Street side and making the mounting, conduit and cabling as clean and contained as possible; (3) relocating the elements from the rear façade to the roof.

    Commissioners Ordeñana and Shelby returned to the meeting room at 3:38 p.m.

    President Beltran called for public comment on the remaining Consent Calendar, excluding the items approved above.

    There was no further public comment, and the Consent Calendar was unanimously approved as follows.

    RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-116:
    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. 0505-14-117: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2014.
       
    2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-118: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2014.
       
    3. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-119: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2014.
       
      Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (April 8, 2014)
    4. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-121: Motion to increase the 2013-2014 grant agreement to the Bayview Opera House, Inc. for 3rd on Third by $12,000 for a total grant not to exceed $57,000.
       
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (April 16, 2014)
    5. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-122: Motion to approve Justin Hoover, Curator and Gallery Director, SOMArts Cultural Center, as a potential panelist for artist selection panels for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
       
    6. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-123: Motion to approve the Design Development Phase deliverables (artwork renderings) by Clare Rojas for the Central Subway: Chinatown Station Crosscut Cavern Wall.
       
    7. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-124: Motion to approve a curatorial honorarium for Ann Jastrab in the amount of $2000 for her work on a City Hall photography exhibition about California’s Central Valley. The exhibition will take place from June 17 through September 19, 2014.
       
    8. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-125: Motion to recommend the proposed revision to Section 3.19 of the Administrative Code “Appropriation for Art Enrichment of Proposed Public Buildings, Aboveground Structures, Parks and Transportation Projects” to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
       
    9. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-126: Motion to approve the Guy Place Mini Park Public Art Project Outline.
       
    10. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-127: Motion to approve the selected finalists, Jenny Heishman, Scott Oliver, and Emily White and Jenna Didier, with Michael Arcega as an alternate, as recommended by the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project Selection Panel to develop conceptual proposals for the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project.
       
    11. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-128: Motion to approve the licensing agreement to reproduce three artworks from the Forever in the Sky series: Mission, Golden Gate Bridge, and City Hall by Sanaz Mazinani for San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 3 East Departures, for an amount up to $4,500.
       
    12. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-129: Motion to approve the licensing agreement to reproduce three artworks from the Landscape series by Vanessa Marsh for San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 3 East Departures for an amount up to $4,500.
       
    13. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-130: Motion to approve the licensing agreement to reproduce six artworks from the Strangerhood series by Lordy Rodriguez for San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 3 East Baggage Claim for an amount up to $9,000.
       
    14. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-131: Motion to approve the Conceptual Design Phase deliverables by James Melchert for a ceramic artwork at San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 1 Secure Connector.
       
    15. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-132: Motion to approve the Conceptual Design Phase deliverables by Carmen Lomas Garza for artworks at 17th Street and Folsom Park.
       
    16. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-133: Motion to approve the Public Art Project Outline for the Ocean Ave Public Plaza Historic Photography Project.
       
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (April 21, 2014)
    17. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-135: Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the North Beach Police Station and Parking Garage, Stockton Green, Verizon Wireless Modification project, contingent upon (1) concealing elements on the Vallejo Street side behind the existing façade as far back as possible; (2) p;replacing the fins with a simpler treatment and making the mounting, conduit and cabling as clean and contained as possible; (3) relocating the elements from the rear façade to the roof.
       
    18. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-136: Motion to approve Phase 1 of West Side Recycled Water Treatment Plant project, contingent upon (1) eliminating the door on the second floor; (2) using small horizontal sunshades on the control room on the south façade rather than the more expensive electrochromatic glass; (3) eliminating bumps and jogs on the south stairway; (4) eliminating the “water drop” wall; (5) on the west façade, keeping the parapet flush with the two wingwalls; (6) using the façade treatment detailed in drawing 6.1c.6 and (7) supplying more detail on the landscape plan.
       
    19. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-137: Motion to approve Phases 2 and 3 of the Mission Bay Park P26 project, contingent upon (1) integrating more face-to-face or L-shaped seating; (2) developing the children’s play area to better integrate it with the butterfly garden, with less structured play area; (3) including a water element as part of the butterfly habitat; (4) using hard paving for the roundabout; (5) minimizing the signage and integrating it into the overall design language; (6) presenting final sketches before construction.
       
    20. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-138: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Alameda Creek Diversion Dam Passage project, contingent upon (1) spanning the two buildings with a single roof; (2) reorienting the site elements and the shape of the enclosure so they are all aligned in a simple rectangle; (3) further developing and simplifying the design of the fence and separating it from the concrete wall.
       
      Executive Committee Recommendations (April 28, 2014)
    21. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-139: Motion to provide a letter of support from the San Francisco Arts Commission for the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association (“NOPNA”), Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council (“HANC”) and Panhandle Residents Organization/Stanyan-Fulton (“PRO/SF”) joint application to San Francisco Recreation and Parks Community Opportunity Grant program for improvements to the Panhandle segment of Golden Gate Park.
       
  6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
    1. Executive Committee—JD Beltran, Chair
      1. President Beltran reported that the Committee met and discussed the third-quarter budget report, and the revised organization chart. She added that the budget would be discussed only annually at the full Commission meeting, while the Executive Committee would review the quarterly budget reports.
         
        Mr. DeCaigny reviewed the revised organization chart, explaining that it incorporated recommendations from the strategic plan to make the two grantmaking programs more unified, providing a clear focus on the values of cultural equity and neighborhood arts, as well as clear points of contact for grantees and applicants.

        President Beltran left the meeting at 3:45 p.m., and Vice President Schnair chaired the remainder of the meeting.

        Mr. DeCaigny added that the new structure would be effective with the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, and announced with some sadness that Cultural Equity Grants Interim Program Director Lucy Lin would be leaving to pursue graduate studies. He thanked her for her seven years of service, to general applause.

        There was no public comment.
         

    2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Stryker reported that the Committee reviewed several projects, including the addition by AT&T and Verizon of wireless antennas and related equipment on top of the North Beach Police Station, a water recycling plant near Ocean Beach, a park at Mission Bay and a group of small utility buildings to support a fish ladder on Alameda Creek.

        There was no public comment.
         

    3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Melania, Commissioner Shiota reported that the Committee reviewed the Native American grants program, and she reiterated the Committee’s appreciation of and respect for Ms. Lin’s diligence and hard work at the agency.
         
        Commissioner Shiota added that the Committee received a report on 3rd on Third, and discussed the future of the program.
         
    4. Street Artists Committee—Barbara Sklar, Chair
      1. Commissioner Sklar made no report, noting that the Committee meets only in odd-numbered months, and would next meet on May 14.
         
        There was no public comment.
         
    5. Visual Arts Committee—Dorka Keehn, Chair
      1. Commissioner Keehn reported that the Committee reviewed projects at the San Francisco Airport, and discussed proposed revisions to the art enrichment ordinance. She noted that the Board of Supervisors would take up the ordinance in June, and had final authority over whether to accept the Arts Commission’s recommendations.

        She reported that the Committee also discussed Living Innovation Zones, an initiative of the Mayor’s office with the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works, along with the Exploratorium and other external partners. She noted that these projects will need review by the Visual Arts Committee, and that the Civic Design Review Committee has waived its review of temporary projects of less than two years’ duration.

        There was no public comment.

        Commissioner Keehn presented the following motion; Mr. DeCaigny explained that the proposed exhibits had been reviewed by the Visual Arts Committee, but the final amounts of the honoraria had not been determined at that time.

        There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
         

      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-14-140: Motion to approve artists’ honoraria to the following artists for the development and production of works for the SFAC Galleries upcoming City Hall exhibition, The Valley/El Valle (June 17–September 19, 2014): Matt Black, $1000; Sam Comen, $500; Lou Dematteis, $500; Francisco Dominguez, $500; Kathya Landeros, $300; Ken and Melanie Light, $300; Charlotte Niel, $300; Antonio Olmos, $300; and Mimi Plumb, $500.
         
  7. Coit Tower Update
    Public Art and Collections Senior Registrar Allison Cummings gave an update on the restoration work at Coit Tower, undertaken in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks, which has responsibility for the building as a whole, along with Pioneer Park. She discussed the historical significance of the federally-funded Depression-era murals in the building, and discussed the growing respect for these cultural treasures over the past twenty years or so.

    Ms. Cummings explained that Arts Commission staff worked closely with Recreation and Parks and other City agencies to coordinate the timing of roof repairs, ADA upgrades and other structural work with the mural stabilization and restoration, minimizing the amount of time the building was closed.

    She discussed the materials involved, the damage the artworks have suffered, and the restoration work in progress. She showed images of the murals, before, during and after the work, and explained that lead conservator Anne Rosenthal worked in partnership with ARG Conservation Services and a team of experts to restore the murals. Since Ms. Rosenthal and her colleagues had worked on the last restoration of the murals in 1989, they are far and away the most knowledgeable team for this project. Ms. Cummings added that the murals were in much better shape before the current restoration than before the 1989 restoration, allowing the first phase to be completed early.

    Ms. Cummings listed several of the improvements, including new protective barriers in the lobby to keep visitors from accidentally coming too close to the artworks, and new didactic labels for the first time in decades. She explained that the building would be reopened on May 14, although work would continue in some areas normally closed to the public for several weeks afterward.

    Communications Director Kate Patterson-Murphy presented a report from her counterpart at Recreation and Parks, Cassandra Costello, about the new vendor who will operate at Coit Tower. She pointed out that there will now be professional docent tours, and the new gift shop will be more upscale, with apparel, books on the history of San Francisco and the tower, and limited edition prints, and will reflect the period with a beautifully designed space. She explained that the flow of visitors through the space has been rethought to minimize bottlenecking, and to encourage visitors to notice the murals. She added that staff will greet and orient visitors, and they have been trained to enforce the mural protection guidelines.

    Ms. Patterson-Murphy also discussed the funding for the project, including a potential corporate grant, and said that the portion of revenue allocated to benefit the Arts Commission is now projected to be at least twice what was originally projected. She predicted that visitors will be dazzled.

    The Commission complimented Ms. Cummings, Ms. Patterson-Murphy and the Collections staff on their work, with a round of applause.

    Mr. DeCaigny announced that after the opening ceremony on May 14, Coit Tower will reopen to the public. He echoed the Commission’s praise for the team’s work on this very big project.

    There was no public comment.
     

  8. Public Comment
    There was no further public comment.
     
  9. New Business and Announcements
    Mr. DeCaigny reported that Western City magazine had interviewed him and a number of policymakers in California for an article on the power of the arts in local economies, both urban and rural; 3rd on Third was one of the programs cited.
     
    He invited everyone to the North Beach Branch Library on May 10 for the opening of a wonderful sound piece by Bill Fontana, using sounds captured from the neighborhood.
     
    There was no further public comment.
     
  10. Closed Session–Conference with Legal Counsel for Pending Litigation:
    Blackstone v. City and County of San Francisco (Claim No. 14-01933) (contract/purchase order claim).
    1. Vice President Schnair called for public comment on all matters pertaining to the closed session; there was no public comment.
       
    2. The Commission voted unanimously to hold closed session to confer with legal counsel under San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(d) and California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2).
       
    3. The Commission met in closed session beginning at 4:25 p.m., pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(d) and Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2). In addition to the Commissioners, Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah, Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny and Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie remained for the closed session.

      Commissioner Frankel left the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
       

    4. The Commission reconvened in open session at 4:52 p.m., and made no report on action taken in closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.1(a)(2) and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(b).
       
    5. The Commission voted not to disclose any of its discussions held in closed session (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a)).
       
  11. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:54 p.m.

     

5/19/14 spr


Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助,Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.