MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, October 24, 2016
12:30 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125

Minutes
 

President Beltran called the meeting to order at 12:48 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present 
   JD Beltran, President
   Roberto Ordeñana, Vice President
   Charles Collins
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   
    
   Commissioners Absent 
   Simon Frankel
    
2. General Public Comment
   Ann Treboux spoke about street artist Steve Pogni selling masks which she said he did not make, and that he had other people selling for him. She said there have been many complaints for over a year, and she has submitted photos. She alleged that Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar selectively enforces the rules, and that Mr. Pogni has upset other artists at the plaza. She told the Committee they need to do something.
    
   There was no further public comment.
    
3. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the internal agency Individual Artists, Cultural Equity and Communications working groups. He reported that the Communications working group is continuing to make progress on the new website; that the Cultural Equity working group is working with the Planning Department and the City’s Public Utilities Commission on training with the Government Alliance for Racial Equity, and is researching cultural equity statements from other national organizations and local governments.
    
   He reported that he and Community Investments staff were invited to the national Grantmakers in the Arts (“GIA”) conference to present an overview of the City’s landmark Cultural Equity Endowment strategy, in a daylong session with colleagues from Seattle and Nashville, in conversation with representatives from a dozen other cities about how to address equity within legislative and other constraints. The Committee asked to receive the written summary prepared by GIA after the conference.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny announced the dedication of Noe Valley Town Square on Thursday, October 27, and the Committee asked about the public artwork.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on his trip to Moscow for the World Cities Culture Forum, a gathering of representatives of 34 global cultural capitals; he was honored to be joined by representatives of San Francisco Travel. He reported that cities around the world are dealing with the consequences of growth and significant pressures on land use. He reported that the San Francisco delegation discussed the Community Arts Stabilization Trust and the Minnesota Street Project as efforts to address these pressures, as well as the zoning in the Calle 24 district to prevent the joining of small parcels. He noted the participation of San Francisco Sister City Shanghai at the Forum, and added that it was great to hear how other cities are responding to these land-use challenges.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Public Art Trust Memorandum of Understanding: Emerald Fund
   Mr. DeCaigny began by discussing the legislation, Planning Code Section 429, which created the Public Art Trust, to which developers of projects primarily in or near downtown may voluntarily contribute some or all of their required 1%-for-art funds. He explained that the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) now before the Committee was for the first voluntary contribution, which will create a public asset to be enjoyed by the public at large, and that Public Art Trust and Special Projects Director Jill Manton has worked with the City Attorney’s office to develop a template for these agreements. He reviewed some of the issues to be addressed in these agreements, including maintenance of the fixed asset, and the possibility of making grants to arts organizations adjacent to the development sites. Mr. DeCaigny explained that these agreements will be the guiding documents for contributions to the Trust, and that the agreements will come to this Committee to ensure that they align with the Commission’s values.
    
   Ms. Manton explained that the City Attorney’s office has reviewed the document, with the understanding that it sets out the responsibilities of the parties and the payment and use of the funds. She explained that the agreement has also been reviewed and approved by attorney Mark Babson representing the Emerald Fund. She discussed the terms of the MOU, and the competitive panel process through which artist Joseph Kosuth has been chosen for the project. She explained that the Visual Arts Committee has approved the proposed artwork, and she is working with the Historic Preservation Commission on placement of equipment for the piece.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny pointed out that future projects would have an MOU, or perhaps a different form of legal agreement, presented to this Committee before work begins on the project, but that the timing of this first project meant that the process had already begun. He emphasized that this was an entirely new model, with a private developer agreeing to use private funds for this kind of public benefit, and it will be an iterative process to refine the workflow and legal documents.
    
   The Committee discussed how developers work with the Planning Department in cases when they choose not to contribute to the Public Art Trust. Mr. DeCaigny pointed out that the developer can’t receive a certificate of occupancy until they fulfill their percent-for-art requirement. The Committee discussed how the developers might benefit from the Public Art Trust, and what might motivate them to participate.
    
   They also discussed the importance of having a written agreement in the public record, both to allow for public comment and to ensure the continuity of the agreement beyond the tenure of any one person, since the development project might go on for several years. Mr. DeCaigny noted that since these projects involved several programs of the agency, this Committee was the appropriate one to review the agreements.
    
   The Committee discussed the panel review process, including the questions of fairness and racial and gender equity, and the role of the developer as one member of the five-person panel.
    
   The Committee discussed the nature and some of the technical requirements of the artwork, a neon sculpture. Ms. Manton noted that the design will be displayed at the Library for public comment. The Committee also discussed plans and funding for maintenance and care of the artwork.
    
   Finally, Ms. Manton noted that Board of Supervisors President David Chiu is working on some revisions of the legislation which could be presented to the Board soon.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Emerald Fund, a private developer, regarding their contribution of $1.5 million to the Public Art Trust for a permanent art project at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium that will become a part of the Civic Art Collection.
    
5. New Business and Announcements
   Commissioner Collins reported on recent events in the Bayview, including murals and a wonderful music festival. He noted that these followed the success of Third on Third, the renovation and celebrations at the Bayview Opera House and the focus on the arts. He thought this highlighted the Bayview as a part of the city that people want to visit, and a magnet for the arts community. The Committee discussed this good news from the Bayview and Hunters Point as the fruit of persistence and collaboration in creating a positive identity.
    
   President Beltran recommended both the Stanley Kubrick show at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Tom Sachs show at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
    
   Commissioner Schnair reported that the Prototyping festival was a lot of fun, with lots of interaction and involvement from the public.
    
   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 1:38 p.m. until 2:33 p.m. Commissioners Beltran, Ordeñana, Collins and Schnair, and Mr. DeCaigny and Deputy Director Rebekah Krell were present in the closed session.
    
   Open Session
   The Committee reconvened in open session at 2:33 p.m., with Commissioners Beltran, Ordeñana and Schnair, and Mr. DeCaigny and Ms. Krell 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 2:37 p.m.
    

posted 11/4/16 4:30 p.m. spr
approved 11/7/16


 

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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.