EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, April 25, 2022
12:30 p.m.
Remote Meeting via video and teleconferencing
 

Minutes 

 President Ordeñana called the meeting to order at 12:31 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   (0:20)
   
   Commissioners Present
   Roberto Ordeñana, President
   Janine Shiota, Vice President
   JD Beltran (joined the meeting at 12:32 p.m.; left the meeting at 1:14 p.m.)
   Charles Collins
   Debra Walker
   
   Staff Present:
   Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs
   Rally Catapang, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration
   Joanne Lee, Deputy Director of Programs
   Sandra Panopio, Senior Racial Equity and Policy Analyst
   Coma Te, Director of Communications
   Alyssa Ventre, Commission Secretary
   
   President Ordeñana shared virtual meeting instructions.
   
   Commission Secretary Ventre announced public comment instructions.
   
   President Ordeñana began the meeting reading the Arts Commission’s land acknowledgement statement.
    
2. General Public Comment
   (6:11)
   
   There was no public comment.
   
    
3. Director’s Report
   (6:45)
   
   Director Remington reported on a number of items and events that occurred in the month of April. He shared that he attended the GARE Conference in Portland, Oregon where he participated in the closing plenary. He also announced that masks are no longer required in public hearing rooms at City Hall as of April 25, 2022.
   
   He provided the following HR updates: Debbie Ng was promoted to Senior Program Officer with Community Investments and Jackie von Treskow was promoted to Senior Program Manager with Public Art. He said that an offer has been made for the Capital Program Manager position. He said there is currently one open job posting for a Public Art Project Manager and there will soon be a job posting for a Communications and Partnerships Officer.
   
   He announced a number of calls for artists including the Public Utilities Commission’s City Distribution Division at 2000 Marin Street (deadline April 29) and the 2023 Art on Market Street Poster Series (deadline May 17), He noted that public feedback is open regarding the proposed artwork for Herz Recreation Center and that there is a public art proposal display at Coffman Pool that will be up through May 1st.
   
   He shared some recent events which included the Dream Keeper Initiative Economic Power Showcase at City Hall on April 14 and the 116th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake on April 18, He said he spoke at the unveiling of a beautiful new mural by artist Serge Gay Jr. entitled “Never Alone” at Maitri Compassionate Care in District 8. He also announced that some of the Art Vendors will participate in the spring City Hall Pop Up Shop at City Hall that will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 3.
   
   He provided other agency updates which included a note that the next Monument and Memorials Advisory Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 27 at 2 p.m. He also shared a status update about the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts landmark designation legislation. He added that the three exhibitions that were on view at the SFAC Main Gallery and City Hall have now closed.
   
   President Ordeñana congratulated the promotions of staff. He also added that Serge Gay’s mural is a beautiful piece.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Racial Equity Update 
   (14:40)
   
   Senior Racial Equity & Policy Analyst Sandra Panopio provided updates of the agency’s racial equity work. She said she is working on the Racial Equity Action Plan progress report. She described some future priorities for her work included a review of the commission bylaws, streamlining the racial equity orientation for new commissioners, and working on an agency racial equity resolution which will be aligned with the agency’s strategic planning process. She also provided a quick update on the Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee.
   
   She proposed a future discussion regarding processes and areas the agency can improve, and how to dismantle the white dominate culture and white supremacy in the agency’s practices.
   
   Commissioners and Director Remington discussed the need for commissioners to learn about the agency’s processes in depth. They suggested that commissioners should participate in panels especially during their first year so they can see the depth of the work and understand what it takes to bring items to the full Commission. They also discussed the possibility of hosting commission meetings or non-commission meetings at the cultural centers or other community hubs that engage marginalized and vulnerable communities.
   
   President Ordeñana noted that he appreciated the work of adding a racial equity onboarding for new commissioners as well as an orientation with the chairs of the subcommittee. He asked Commission Secretary Ventre to send her commissioner recommendation form to the commissioners on a regular basis.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
5. Cultural Center Allocations
   (31:53)
   
   Deputy Director Joanne Lee presented this item. She explained that there was a change to enter into multi-year grant agreements to increase financial stability, reduce the administrative burden and demonstrate trust in the cultural centers. She noted that last year the agency entered into five-year leases with the cultural centers. She added that the new operating grants would be for four years to align with the lease. She provided details about the budget structure of the motions. 
   
   Commissioners asked about the budget allocations for future budget years. They also said they appreciated the significant changes to stabilize the organizations. They suggested multi-year commitments for other grantees in the future.
   
   Director Remington thanked Deputy Director Joanne Lee, Director of Community Investments Denise Pate and their staff for making this change happen. He said that this change occurred due to a direct response to requests from the cultural center directors. 
   
   Commissioner Shiota, seconded by Commissioner Walker moved to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into sole source lease and operating grant agreements with the African American Art and Culture Complex, the Bayview Opera House Inc., Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and SOMArts for four (4) fiscal years, 2022-2023; 2023-2024; 2024-2025; 2025-2026, to ensure the City-owned cultural centers remain open, accessible, and vital contributors to the cultural life of the City. Grant amounts for fiscal year 2022-2023 are below along with the expected total grant amount through 2026, which includes 10% increases per year, and a 15% cap on the total grant amount; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to determine the subsequent grant amounts for the remaining three years.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Ordeñana, Shiota, Collins, Walker.
   
   President Ordeñana recused himself due to a potential conflict relating to the Queer Cultural Center which at times rents space from his employer, the SF LGBT Center. President Ordenana left the meeting at 1:16 p.m.
   
   Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Collins moved to approve the Cultural Center fiscal year 2022-2023 grant amount not to exceed $698,745 to the African American Art and Culture Complex; and to sub-grantee Queer Cultural Center for the amount not to exceed $136,255; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a total grant agreement amount not to exceed $4,456,521 for fiscal years 2022-2026.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Shiota, Collins, Walker.
   
   President Ordeñana joined the meeting at 1:18 p.m.
   
   Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Shiota moved to approve the Cultural Center fiscal year 2022-2023 grant amount not to exceed $427,297 to the Bayview Opera House; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a total grant agreement amount not to exceed $2,280,549 for fiscal years 2022-2026.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Ordeñana, Shiota, Collins, Walker.
   
   Commissioner Shiota, seconded by Commissioner Collins moved to approve the Cultural Center fiscal year 2022-2023 grant amount not to exceed $690,149 to Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a total grant agreement amount not to exceed $3,683,428 for fiscal years 2022-2026.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Ordeñana, Shiota, Collins, Walker.
   
   Commissioner Shiota, seconded by Commissioner Walker moved to approve the Cultural Center fiscal year 2022-2023 grant amount not to exceed $786,202 to SOMArts; and to sub-grantee Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center for a grant amount not to exceed $136,255; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a total grant agreement not to exceed $4,923,290 for fiscal years 2022-2026.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Ordeñana, Shiota, Collins, Walker.

 

6. New Business and Announcements
   (51:21)
   
   Commissioner Collins noted that the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center 25^th anniversary event will be hosted on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at SOMArts.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
7. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:24 p.m.
    

posted 5/6/2022, 8:55 a.m., adv
Approved 5/9/2022

Archives Available
A recording of this meeting will be available online after the meeting at the following address: https://sfgov.org/arts/audio-archive-9.
 

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@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 Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org