MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, January 29, 2018
12:30 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125

Minutes
 

President Beltran called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present 
   JD Beltran, President
   Charles Collins
   Abby Sadin Schnair
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Roberto Ordeñana, Vice President
   Simon Frankel
    
2. General Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny began by thanking Commissioners for their cooperation in scheduling the all-staff-and-Commission retreat. He reported on his participation in the United States Urban Arts Federation meeting, including the Arts Breakfast with the United States Conference of Mayors. In this group of the sixty largest cities in the country, affordability is a big issue for many, and San Francisco's experience with CAST provides useful lessons. He added that House Leader Nancy Pelosi gave a touching tribute to the late Mayor Lee.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny announced the census survey of arts workers and artists who live and/or work in San Francisco, or who were displaced from San Francisco in the last two years.He briefly discussed the grant with the Mission Economic Development Association ("MEDA") to provide individualized coaching to help artists qualify for existing and new affordable housing.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Nominations for Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners
   Mr. DeCaigny explained that although the Mayor appoints the members of the Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners, which screens the Street Artists before they are licensed, the Commission recommends members. He reported that recent resignations have left two vacancies, and he referred the Committee to the resumes of the four nominees.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
    
   Motion to recommend to the Mayor four (4) candidates to fill two (2) vacant positions on the Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners: Carey Lin, Rodrigo Duran, Deborah Wu and Troy Harris.
    
5. 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Review Panelists
   Mr. DeCaigny explained that the following group represent additional members of a pool to potentially serve on either grants panels or public art selection panels selected by staff, and that, with the advice of the City Attorney's office, they will be eligible for two years rather than only one.
    
   Commissioner Schnair noted for the record that she served on the board of directors of the American Conservatory Theater, the employer of Jasmin Hoo, and that there was no financial conflict of interest. Commissioner Collins noted for the record that he served on the board of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the employer of Caryll Lin, and that there was likewise no financial conflict of interest. There was no further discussion.
    
   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 San Francisco Arts Commission review panels for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years:
   Gregory Dawson, Artistic Director, DawsonDanceSF
   Benjamin De Kosnik, Position X, Gothenburg University, Sweden
   Rodrigo Duran, Parade & Events Director, Carnaval San Francisco
   Zackary Forcum, Managing Director, Epiphany Dance Theater
   Jaime Dylan Goode (aka James Goode), sound designer/composer, James Goode Sound
   Aaron Harbour, Co-director, Et al. Gallery
   Pam Mei Harrison, Grants Manager, Oakland Asian Cultural Center
   Jasmin Hoo, Associate Director of Education & Community Programs, American Conservatory Theater
   Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., actor, Artistic Director and Co-Founder, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Company
   Carolyn Johnson, Associate Director, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
   Nathaniel Jue, copywriter, DAE Advertising
   Paula Levine, artist/educator, San Francisco State University
   Caryll Lin (aka Carey Lin), Visual Artist/Director, Stairwell's; Adjunct Educator, SFMOMA; Membership and Communications Manager, California Association of Museums
   Sarah Lockhart, Associate Director, Pro Arts
   Daniella Luck (aka Dania Luck), Audiovisual Technician, Oakland Museum of California
   Nina Mahdavi, Trustee, Caspian Arts Foundation
   Muisi-kongo Malonga, Executive Artistic Director, Fua Dia Congo
   Cynthia Randolph, Chief Creative Officer, Furda
    
6. Arts Commission FY 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Draft Budget
   Deputy Director Rebekah Krell reviewed the City budget process and schedule, noting that the Arts Commission's proposed budget is due to the Mayor's office on February 21. The Mayor will present the budget to the Board of Supervisors on June 1, the Board will review and modify it in June, and vote in July, with final approval in August.
    
   Ms. Krell presented an overview of the proposed budget and the proposed capital requests. The Committee discussed the budget in great detail, including how it addresses the priorities expressed by Mayor Lee in budget instructions at the beginning of this budget cycle, and how it fits into the overall City budget. Mr. DeCaigny noted that staff will come back to advise the Committee if the Mayor's office requests reductions.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny acknowledged City partners on the Capital Planning Committee, as well as Arts Commission staff who developed multi-year projections for Collections needs, noting that San Francisco is providing a national model for funding maintenance for public art collections.The Committee also briefly discussed the status of the Mexican Museum.
    
   There was no public comment. The motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   Motion to approve proposed Fiscal Year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Arts Commission budget.
    
7. New Business and Announcements
   Commissioner Schnair proposed investigating a new concept to increase funding for the arts, in light of new federal tax laws limiting state and local tax deductions. She suggested that a local City nonprofit to support the arts might be formed, donations to which would still be deductible from federal taxes. Mr. DeCaigny agreed to research the idea and calendar a discussion for a future meeting of this Committee. He noted how this might support the Commission's strategic plan goal regarding innovative public policy. Commissioner Collins advised consultation with the City Attorney's office; Mr. DeCaigny agreed to consult the Assessor's and Treasurer's offices as well, and perhaps invite them to make a presentation to the Commission.
    
   President Beltran announced her new position as Director of the Center for Art & Public Life at California College of the Arts.
    
   There was no further new business or announcements, and no public comment.
    
8. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
    

posted 2/12/18 6:00 p.m. spr
approved 3/5/18
 

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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.