Commissioners Present:
Barbara Sklar, Chair
Greg Chew
Marcus Shelby
Janine Shiota

Commissioners Absent:
Simon Frankel

Staff present: Deputy Director Rebekah Krell, Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar, Street Artists Program Assistant Alyssa Ventre

The meeting was called to order at 2:33 p.m.
 

2.  Public Comment.
Discussion.

Tad Sky said that Justin Herman Plaza is a “gray area” which needs full legal status. He said that this should be a priority and asked that the Director of Cultural Affairs talk to the head of the Department of Rec and Park. He said that, since 1992, there has only been a verbal agreement for artists to sell at the Plaza. He said that he would like to see an MOU for Justin Herman Plaza be addressed. He said that the volunteer lottery committee at Justin Herman Plaza will be stepping down on May 1^st. He said that the Program office is closed on weekends and that they don’t have a manager available for the Plaza on the weekends. He said that it is too much for volunteer work. He said that the farmer’s market has a full time manager and assistant. He quoted from the Kate Faust study on page 17 and 19 regarding Justin Herman Plaza and the market manager role.

Katie Carrin said that she is a lottery committee member at Justin Herman Plaza. She said that working the lottery she spends a lot of time away from her business and it has hurt her business. She said that there are constant safety issues and artist issues. She also works with other departments and agencies. For example, on her vacation in Mexico, she got many texts and calls from the Rec and Park ranger regarding the NFL takeover of the Plaza. She said it is a big job and a lot of work for volunteers. She said it is easier to have a manager to manage the Justin Herman Plaza area because there are a lot of artists in one place. She said that May 1 is coming and they need to come up with a solution before that happens.

Claire Cade said that she is also a lottery committee member. She said that they need a manager to deal with all of the issues. She said that she’s been in the program for 5 years and it seems like the managers eventually get burned out. She said that Justin Herman Plaza is growing and that there can be 130 vendors on a Saturday morning. She said that she appreciates the prime area which is Justin Herman Plaza and she thinks it is worth investing in and fighting for.

Maria Sky explained that some artists collected money to pay for maps of Justin Herman Plaza (to determine where the artists can set up their displays). She presented this map to the Commissioners. She said that there is less support from the Arts Commission. She said that the maps hope to improve the market; it’s easier to sign in and looks more professional. She said that she is part of the lottery committee and that working at the Plaza is how she makes a living. However, as a committee volunteer, she has been burdened and has given up time and lost income. She is proud of her booth and she asked the Commissioners to consider making the area legal and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Abby Ellis said she was concerned about the wording of the agenda. She said she hoped that the Commissioners would not approve the item as one but approve the item’s recommendations piece by piece.

Linda Pedersen said she doesn’t own a vehicle. She said that she sells at Justin Herman Plaza and that her cart is light enough to wheel. She is concerned about any changes for uniformity. She said that her display is designed for her work and that a homogeneous display will not work for each artist. She said that she is a low-income senior citizen, that her social security pays for her rent and anything else she makes is extra. She said that she can’t pay for her license in a lump sum which is why she pays quarterly. She said that she has seen the level of art change. She said that graffiti art has gotten better while street artist art has devolved into a flea market.

In response to a question from Rebekah Krell, Ms. Pedersen clarified that she sells all year but pays for her license quarterly.

Michael Addario said that Superbowl 50 was a fiasco and disallowed 120 artists from setting up to sell. He said that there was mismanagement. He said that Kate Patterson said that there were alternative spaces and some musicians got paid. He said that the 10 spaces were not comparable. He said that the artists for these spaces were curated but, he said, the Street artists Program cannot curate artists because of the law; he said that every artist gets a designated spot. He quoted an article from 1972 where Mayor Alioto gave artists full use of the Plaza. He said he sent a letter to the Controller telling them that the artists were adversely affected and lost $475,000. He said that he heard many complaints that the artists couldn’t pay rent or bills; and he is not sure why the artists aren’t talking about it today. He said that PJ Johnston, who is a past Street Artist Committee commissioner, was on the host committee of the Super Bowl and he should know how to get artists compensated. He said that nothing is changing. He said that Commissioner Sklar and Commissioner Chew have been on the Committee for a while. He asked for the resignation of Commission Sklar and Commissioner Chew immediately.

Debra King said she has been a street artist for 40 years and sells at Justin Herman Plaza and is very appreciative. She said that she was appreciative of John Tunui as a market manager since he left his own business to manage street artists and troubleshoot issues. She said that he helped build a coalition of the street artists with restaurants and other departments which was a gift to all of the artists and allows them to set up without fear of losing spots. She asked that the Arts Commission find a way to maintain the level of cooperation and public relations which needs a hands-on manager at the Plaza on busier days.

In response to Commissioner Sklar’s question, Ms. King said that John Tunui would come to the Plaza every day even if he wasn’t working.

Anne dal Pozzo said that she seconded Debra and Linda. She loves being a street artist and appreciated John Tunui. She said that she pushes her cart 8 miles round trip and that it would be hard to carry an EZ up. She said that if the Program got more expensive, it would be very difficult to renew her license since there are a lot of expenses.

Robin Noel said that he has been in the program for 2 years and he’s worked in many areas around the country before. He said that the problem is the Plaza is not allowed to have promotion which causes concern for artists. He said the artists should be promoted as selling “Art in Public Places”. He said that the artists are cultural ambassadors for San Francisco and that the idea needs to be supported. He said that that there are a lot of good things in the Program. He said, however, there is favoritism and it is hard for women to work in the system. He said everyone is trying to make a living and puts a lot of heart into selling. He said that what’s broken should be fixed and the issues dealt with. He said that the Super Bowl was a problem but a lot of people came to visit the city. He said that the Arts Commission did best they could. He said that Seattle and Portland markets are good examples and that the Plaza artists need a paid manager.

Phyllis Williams said that she has been an artist since 2008. She said that she agrees that the artists need a paid market manager. She said that the lottery doesn’t need to be fixed but that they need someone managing the artists and the outside forces. She noted that there was also a need to have public decorum at the meetings among each other.

Ahmad Safavardi said that he helps his wife, Mahmaz Jafari, set up. He has lived in San Francisco since 1973 and was a cab driver. In addition, he said, he got his master’s degree from SFSU and PhD from Riverside. He said that he’s been to 56 countries and that they all have the same program. He said that he’s done his own studies from being at the Plaza since last October. He surveys the number of visitors who stop at his wife’s booth and he explained the statistical information he’s accumulated.

Kathy Hallinan said that she’s been an artist for 40 years. She said that she sets up at the Wharf and that she wants to speak about the value of the Program. She said that she’s always busy with tourists and visitors. She said that the Clark brothers said that the market is making decisions and that the public knows and appreciates what is well made. She said that it’s easy for her to sell at the wharf since she lives 5 minutes away and that she’s never going to sell at the Plaza. She said that she makes $150-$200 a day and that everything she makes she’s made because of the public. She said that she’s created new lines of items from the public’s demands.
 

3. Hearing and possible motion to approve the work plan and project scope statement relating to Kate Faust's Evaluation and Feasibility Study reports.
Action.

Deputy Director Krell thanked commissioners, staff and artists for attending the meeting and giving public comment. She said that there have been two meetings so far focusing on Kate Faust’s Evaluation and Recommendations. At this meeting, she said, the work plan is being introduced for approval to start implementing pieces of the recommendations made in the report. She said that Anh Thang Dao-Shah is continuing the work that Kate Faust started, and that today is a chance for commissioners and public to review and give feedback about the work plan. She said it’s important to look holistically at what is wanted and then the implementation will be piece by piece.

Anh Thang Dao-Shah said that it is extremely encouraging to see many of the artists at the meeting because the basis of the project is collaboration between the SFAC staff and the artists. She said that it won’t succeed without it. She said that she hopes to give artists more information about what the agency is trying to do. She said that she has been helping Kate Faust in the focus group. She said that the theme of her work has been to help the Arts Commission with several programs and how to serve the community better.

Anh Thang Dao-Shah explained the project scope and said that the aim is to bring Kate Faust’s two projects together. She said the project scope explains the recommendations that the Commissioners and the artists can implement together to improve the Program administratively with maximum impact. She said that community engagement is key for project success. She read the work plan step by step and said that all of the steps allow the program to improve administratively so the market quality is increased, the efficiency of the Program is increased, and ultimately this will help to serve the artists better.

Commissioner Sklar emphasized that the work plan is a plan and that this is only phase one of the overall plan.

In response to questions from the commissioners, Deputy Director Krell said that there is a concern about the budget reflected in both reports, and she has updated the Commission about financials. She said that staff is looking into exact data to pinpoint the issue and she explained that revenues are declining while expenditures are increasing and that the Program is receiving general fund subsidy which is not guaranteed to continue. She said that the Program is currently in a deficit. She said she agrees with needing a market manager, but she wants to find a way to meet the need within the current resources. She said she has heard artists say they don’t want the fee to increase. She said that the agency has been asked to make reductions in the budget which is due on Monday. She said that legislatively the requirement is that the revenues must not exceed the cost and nowhere does it say that the Program can’t receive additional sources. She explained the City model is to be cost-recovery. She said that there are concerns about uniform displays being carried by the artists; she said that the report was not envisioning artists hauling all of the extra uniform displays around the City. She said that the Board of Supervisors approves new spaces but the exception is Justin Herman Plaza as there is no agreement at this time.

Public Comment:
Brian Hopper asked what spaces will be retained and what spaces will be eliminated. He also asked what the actual impact of street artist input will have on the final restructuring of the Program.

Kathy Hallinan said that she was part of the focus group but all the other artists were from the Plaza. She said that she is interested in staying at the Wharf spaces; she hopes that the Program doesn’t get rid of the Wharf area since it’s a viable place with a lot of history. She reiterated that she was the only member from the Wharf at the focus group and it was held in August which is peak season for the artists. She said that the original survey made no effort to get input from Wharf artists and that the Lottery Committee could have helped with translations. She said that she has a feeling that the Wharf will be eliminated. She said that she is a proponent of community interaction and that the store merchants are unaware of what’s happening in the street. She said this is an excellent opportunity to interact with businesses and community. She said that the Charter mandated staying within the budget which is the original point of the Program. She said it was a “craft” program in the beginning and that it shouldn’t be an art gallery.

Michael Addario said that the artist membership is below 300 and declining. He said that when artists talk about what they make, he asks them to quote their gross sales when talking in public. He said that when artists say they make $200-$400 a day, it’s not true because it doesn’t take their expenses into account. He said that, after all of the expenses, that’s your income. He said that this isn’t an art market; it’s the Street Artist Program so don’t change it into an art market; it can’t be juried. He said that if the artists want a market manager, they’ll be paying $2500 for a license to balance the budget. He said that Ms. Faust had no training in markets; she had just gotten out of college and had no track record and experience to make her recommendations valid. He said that she was from Deputy Director Krell’s alumni. He recommends putting this on hold. He said that an attorney in San Francisco pays for a license that is $430 and that street artists pay too much. He said that attorneys can get 25% off the license fee as well if they make $40,000 a year. He said to look at other cities that pay much less for a license. He said that the government is overreaching. He said that it is ridiculous that the artists don’t have control over their Program and that they must distance themselves from the Arts Commission.

Abby Ellis said that she did not initially respond to the survey because Ms. Faust was introduced to her as a grad student and she didn’t know the survey would affect her in any way. She said she is interested in management and system theory and explained the theory. She said that in Buddhism, they start their activities from the left and she didn’t think the Commission should take this item holistically.  She asked about voting on each item and if the Commission would discuss or just implement the recommendations. She said she saw that the Board of Supervisors was giving $100,000 to merchants regarding the Super Bowl.

Debra King said she agreed with Kathy Hallinan and that any spaces that are already acquired should be maintained and kept. She said that spaces are hard to get and people spent time acquiring those spaces. She said that the majority of businesses are open 7 days a week and 14-16 hours a day. She said she is asking the Commission to be more flexible to adjust to the 21^st century. She said that when the artists need help, she is asking for flexibility in adjusting to meeting the needs of artists on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Tad Sky said he is happy to work with Commissioner Sklar and Commissioner Chew and asked the Commissioners to not listen to a previous comment about the commissioners. He said that the only way to get things done is through agendas, proposals, voting and that this is progress. He said that after 40 years of the Program, the evaluation is overdue. He said that part of the reason the Program is in trouble budget wise is because the economy for the artists isn’t as good as it used to be. He said that before the recession, there was a waiting list to get into the Program. He said that 2008 hurt everyone but as the economy recovered, the artists didn’t recover. He said his business isn’t as good as it used to be and that’s why the number of artists are going down. He said that new artists only last a month or two. He said that while older artists have rent control or may have already bought a house so it’s easier for them, it’s hard for new people. He said that some people come into the Program with false pretenses and are really “vendors” who make money selling things they don’t make because they don’t have labor costs. He said that the commissioners should approve the work plan because there has to be a start to make any changes. He said that it’s a good start. He said he interviewed with Kate one on one and was part of the focus group. He said that he didn’t agree with everything but there were some good ideas and he would love to move forward. He said that the went to the Gallery and that there is a 2 year waiting list so he suggested getting on the waiting list quickly because there’s wonderful work. He suggested that everything should not be put off to the last minute and that the artists and the Commission should work together to get something done.

Robin Noel said that there is a lot of frustration making the Plaza work for artists financially. He suggested finding a way to get marketing and promotion for the artists since the license says “Art in Public Places” and hopefully that will get everyone to make a little more money. He said, regarding Kate Faust, that she did her best and to take everything into consideration and keep it simple. He said the Program should ally itself with experienced markets that it could learn from. He suggested Fractured Atlas and Pike Market. He said that he doesn’t think it’s a huge deal getting a market manager and asked to find a way to make it work within the Program’s budget to provide a good market for the artists. He said that there is a lot of good stuff on which to focus and that a positive viewpoint of the artists should be created in the public’s eye.

Drew Flores said that he has been a street artist for 25 years and that he reiterated what Tad Sky said.  He said that the Wharf lottery used to have 140 artists and now it has 10. He said that a lot of selling spaces are gone. He said that the problem with Kate Faust is that she is saying things that are already known. He asked how much she was paid because he heard many rumors about the amount. He said that it’s been said that nothing can be done with lost Wharf spaces but he doesn’t agree. He said the artists don’t have anyone to represent them and that’s what is needed. He said he would do it if he was paid. He said that the street artists are struggling; but that anyone walking by the Wharf artists say they are a part of the ambiance of the city. He said that no one was helping the artists to save a dying program.

Claire Cade said she’s worried about what’s going to happen on May 1 when the Plaza’s lottery committee steps down. She said it’s pretty scary. She said right now is the time to get the MOU to be acknowledged so legitimate enforcement can start. She said that problems come up with the same artists but they’re managing with no consequences. She said that Howard said that the Commission can’t really enforce things at the Plaza so it’s a catch 22. She said that visitors said that they were happy the artists are still there after the Super Bowl. She said that she was a street artist in Berkeley but that she sees artists and culture going away. She said there isn’t a program like San Francisco’s. She said that she doesn’t want the Program to become snooty where an artist has to pass an excellence test. She said that the public tells them if they’re going to set up and make money. It works. She also added that it is a bad idea to leave the Arts Commission.

John Cage said that he has been a street artist for 4 years and has enjoyed being in the Program and does relatively well with his unique craft. He said that he’s been completely oblivious of the evaluation process to what’s happening in the Program. He said that he thinks his opinions are valid and that he has a unique perspective since he’s only been an artist for 4 years. He said that he’s not opposed to change for the better but he thinks more self-management and oversight is needed. He said that the Plaza needs to be managed better and he doesn’t want to lose spaces but thinks more spaces are needed. He said that the Program is unrepresented promotionally. He suggested getting supporters to help subsidize through various different media.

Maria Sky said she agreed with Claire Cade and that an MOU with Rec and Park needs to get done as soon as possible. She said that it’s hard to enforce rules when there is no backup. She said that the artists need assistance to make the market better.

Linda Pedersen said that there has been a question about the authority at Justin Herman Plaza since there’s just a gentleman’s agreement right now. She said that she doesn’t understand how that can be. She said that once the recommendations are carried out, she wants to know if they will have legitimacy at the Plaza so that if a large corporate entity wants to take over, the artists will have a leg to stand on. She said that right now there is no recourse for the artists to defend themselves.

Phyllis Williams asked if there was a way to use the hotel tax fund to help the street artist fund.

Julian Meyer said that for 3 or 4 years, he’s been in the Program but sells once a week and does pretty well. He said that Super Bowl City was awful and he lost half of his income. He said that there are some good things in the feasibility study and some scary things. He said that the generalized market display is scary because the artists have their unique displays that they make themselves and it’s part of the uniqueness of the Program. He said that the Program is like an incubator program for young artists, and a general display would take away from the uniqueness of the artist. In relation to the deficit, he asked why there can’t be a corporate sponsor or grants to help promote the Program. He said that he works at an art school and that the Program should be branded as in incubator program for young artists since it’s affordable for art students and more people could get into the program which would help the deficit. He said that one of the main concerns is that there isn’t the capability for an entire marketing and advertising apparatus that the artists pay for with a spot at the market.

Ahmad Safavardi said that there are many missing points and that the impact to the artists on the street must be considered. He said that if the Program wants to improve, the artists must be given muscle. He explained many statistics about San Francisco and visiting tourists. He said that icons of San Francisco are the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica building. He thinks that the artists should be an icon of San Francisco as well. He said that he’s visited many other countries and that the people are the icon of those cities.

Katie Carrin suggested getting a grant to help pay for the market manager.

Commissioner Shiota commented that she liked the idea of the incubator program and artists being cultural ambassadors.

In answer to Commissioner Shiota’s questions, Deputy Director Krell said that it was a recommendation for the idea of the market clusters but that is not a recommendation that the Commission would be moving forward with at this time during phase 1. She said that the vision was to have concentrated clusters which would need Board of Supervisors approval.

In answer to Commissioner Shiota’s questions, Anh Thang Dao-Shah explained the idea of the community engagement group which would be a group of key stakeholders such as artists, other City departments, business owners, etc. which would meet on an ad hoc basis with decision making functions, work with staff, introduce concerns and help come up with creative solutions. She explained the criteria for participants in the group. She said that they would like to have a group of artists participate to get a diverse perspective as possible. The group would also help with community needs and inform the community as well. She said that without the group participation and involvement, this process cannot be successful.

Commissioner Sklar thanked the artists and asked for their participation in working with the Commission in this process.

Motion: Motion to approve the work plan and project scope statement relating to Kate Faust's Evaluation and Feasibility Study reports.
Chew, Shiota

The motion was unanimously approved.

In answer to Commissioner Shiota’s questions, Deputy Director Krell said that a short term plan for a “market manager” after May 1 could be to potentially have an Advisory Committee member at Justin Herman Plaza, that there are funds that could be relocated for the member to be at the Plaza on Saturdays since Saturdays are critical days. She said that the Program will work with the artists to figure out the most critical day and time.

Commissioner Shiota suggested getting an intern or partnering with CCA to give school credit.


4. New Business and Announcements.
Discussion.

Program Director Lazar announced that there would be no March Street Artists Committee meeting.

Public Comment:
Tad Sky talked about the three market clusters proposed in the Kate Faust study. He said that half of the Program sells at Justin Herman Plaza and that that area needs a market manager. He said that if there is no lottery committee, there will be chaos since artists will fight to mark their spaces. He suggested finding grant money for the market manager. He read from a 1991 mayoral proclamation and a 1997 Board of Supervisors resolution, each proclaiming “Street Artist Day” and complementing the artists’ cultural significance and commending the Arts Commission. He said that the street artists are still a vital part of the community and that the hard working artists should be supported. He said that he doesn’t want Justin Herman Plaza to fail. He suggested possible corporate funding as a way to get creative about the Program’s deficit.

Abby Ellis said that she heard that the Board of Supervisors was allocating $100,000 to people whose businesses were affected and she thought it included street artists. She said that there were a lot of good ideas at the meeting; she suggested funding from corporations like Starbucks. She said that the downtown artists are wonderful ambassadors to the tourists and that the Program shouldn’t lose the downtown spots since a lot of local people buy from them on their lunch breaks.

Michael Addario thanked Supervisor Peskin, Supervisor Kim and Supervisor Avalos. He clarified that the (proposed) Super Bowl fund covers street artists and other businesses so it won’t come out to a large amount of money per person. He said that the problem is that the fund relates to sales tax. He thinks that the loss of money should be billed to the NFL or Arts Commission since they “dropped the ball”. He said that there are legal documents where artists should be compensated. He said that PJ Johnston has been on many commissions and he was the NFL’s spokesperson. He said that the Arts Commission should pay or ask the NFL and wants to know why the street artists have to do all of the work.

Maria Sky submitted Justin Herman Plaza flyers to the Commissioners. She explained that the Justin Herman Plaza artists buy these cards to give to customers. She said they’ve been doing this for about 5 years.

Ahmad Safavardi said that he has a background in risk management. He said that last year there was a big fight at the market that attracted bad publicity. He said that most artists are working an average of 10 hours per day and attracting people and visitors to the Plaza. He said that it’s the most crowded space in San Francisco. He asked what would happen to Justin Herman Plaza if the artists weren’t there.


5.    Adjournment.
Action.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.

3/2/16,  10:45 a.m. AV
approved 3/7/16

Respectfully submitted by:
Alyssa Ventre, Street Artists Program Assistant

Minutes approved by:
Howard Lazar, Street Artists Program Director

An audio recording of this meeting is available online at the following address: http://www.sfgov3.org/index.aspx?page=4151

The schedule of the Street Artists Program Committee is available here: http://sfgov.org/arts/street-artists-committee/meetings

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Howard Lazar, 415-252-2222, howard.lazar@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，Howard Lazar, 415-252-2222, howard.lazar@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Howard Lazar, 415-252-2222, howard.lazar@sfgov.org.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Howard Lazar, 415-252-2222, howard.lazar@sfgov.org.