MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, November 23, 2015
12:30 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125

Minutes
 

President Beltran called the meeting to order at 12:44 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present 
   JD Beltran, President
   Abby Sadin Schnair, Vice President
   Simon Frankel
   Roberto Ordeñana
    
   Commissioners Absent 
   Paul Woolford
    
2. Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. President Beltran added that the event was very moving, with the Mayor, House Leader Nancy Pelosi and many other elected officials, as well as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg in attendance.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny thanked the many staff who worked on the hospital’s extensive public art program, and announced that in March, there will be an event celebrating the artworks with the artists before the official opening of the hospital.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reported that he had just returned from the World Cities Culture Forum in London, at the invitation of Mayor of London Boris Johnson. He reported on the forum, and referred the Committee to their website to review its report (http://www.worldcitiescultureforum.com/assets/others/WCCF_Report_D2.pdf). He added that he was joined by SF Travel’s Howard Pickett, and participated in a panel discussion on the growth of the tech sector and its impact on arts and culture. Mr. DeCaigny described the forum, which brought together representatives from 32 global cities. He noted that all share challenges related to balancing economic growth and affordability. He added that San Francisco, despite its relatively small population compared to some cities, does very well per capita in arts-related jobs, public investments in the arts and other measures. He was also struck by the level of detail of knowledge people in far-flung cities have of San Francisco, its businesses and its politics. He asked staff to share the link to the report (above).
    
   Mr. DeCaigny asked Deputy Director Rebekah Krell to present a budget report on the fiscal year that ended on June 30. Finance and Accounting Manager Kevin Quan was also present to answer questions. Ms. Krell presented a summary of the FY2014-2015 budget versus actual expenditures by program and budget category, and the Committee discussed it in detail. Mr. DeCaigny pointed out that the Public Art Program includes carryforward balances and encumbrances because these bond-financed capital projects span many years.
    
   In response to a question, Mr. DeCaigny and Ms. Krell explained that revenue for the Street Artists Program (from licensing fees) was significantly lower than budgeted, and because the Mayor’s office wanted to keep fees low, his office agreed to balance that portion of the budget with money from the General Fund.
    
   Ms. Krell also presented the FY2015-2016 budget, by program and category; the Committee likewise discussed this in great detail.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny said that the midyear report would be presented in January or February.
    
   President Beltran praised Ms. Krell for her excellent work.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Cultural Equity Grants Panelists
   Mr. DeCaigny explained that scheduling challenges for potential panelists, and the need to have panelists with particular expertise, make it necessary to add potential panelists to the pool from time to time.
    
   Vice President Schnair said that one of the named panelists, Jonathan Moscone, teaches in the Master of Fine Arts Program at the American Conservatory Theater, where she is a board member. While there is no financial conflict requiring her recusal, she wanted to note the connection for the record. There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   Motion to approve the following panelists to serve, as selected by staff, on SFAC review panels for the 2015-2018 Fiscal Years:
   Michelle Bermúdez, Manager of Collaborative Philanthropy, Northern California Grantmakers
   Anushka Fernandopulle, Management Consultant, Anushka Consulting & Coaching
   Brian Freeman, playwright
   Christie Harbinski, Construction Consultant Manager, 380
   Zakiya Harris, Programming Strategist, Impact Hub Oakland
   Karen Jenkins-Johnson, Founder, Jenkins Johnson Gallery
   Maria Jenson, Community Relations Public Partnership Manager, SFMOMA
   Fernando Martí, printmaker, community architect, writer, poet
   Jonathan Moscone, Chief of Civic Engagement, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
   Evren Odcikin, director
   Trevor Parham, Founder and Director, Oakstop
   Steven Suzuki, Co-Principal Architect for Asian Neighborhood Design
   Cynthia Taylor, Associate Director of Public Programs, Oakland Museum of California
   Valerie Troutt, artist, teacher, activist
    
5. New Business and Announcements
   Mr. DeCaigny distributed the draft schedule for 2016 meetings of the Commission and its Committees, noting two potential conflicts with religious or cultural holidays: the Civic Design Review Committee on February 8, the lunar new year, and the full Commission meeting on October 3, Rosh Hashanah. The Committee discussed the conflicts and requested that staff look for an alternate date for the full Commission meeting in October, and work with Civic Design Review Committee members and relevant staff to confirm the February meeting date.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny announced the joint open house for Grants for the Arts (“GFTA”) and the Arts Commission on Friday, December 4, the grants submission deadline for GFTA.
    
   Vice President Schnair praised the installation Forty Part Motet at Fort Mason, where President Beltran serves on the board of directors. Mr. DeCaigny encouraged everyone to see the work of City Hall Artist in Residence Jeremy Fish in City Hall and in the Decaux kiosks on Market Street. He also announced a public meeting on December 12 with Supervisor Avalos on plans for the Geneva Car Barn; he added that information would be on the Arts Commission’s Facebook page.
    
   President Beltran announced that her film work had been chosen for a major public art project for San Mateo County, and she had found it interesting to be on the other side of the panel review process.
    
   There was no further new business or announcements, and no public comment.
    
6. Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny
   President Beltran called for public comment on all matters pertaining to the closed session.
    
   There was no public comment, and the Committee voted to go into closed session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b), for the performance evaluation of the Director of Cultural Affairs, Tom DeCaigny.
    
   Closed Session
   The Committee met in closed session from 1:35 p.m. until 3:28 p.m. Commissioners Beltran, Schnair, Frankel and Ordeñana, and Deputy Director Rebekah Krell were present in the closed session.
    
   Open Session
   The Committee reconvened in open session at 3:28 p.m., with Commissioners Beltran, Schnair, Frankel and Ordeñana, Ms. Krell and Mr. DeCaigny in attendance. Pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a), the Committee voted not to report any of the discussions held in closed session.
    
7. Adjournment 
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:29 p.m.
    

posted 12/7/15 12:30 p.m. spr
approved 2/1/16

 

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, 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, 415-252-2256, 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, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.