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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.16.2023 Cultural Arts Commission Minutes MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO Thursday February 16, 2023 Teleconference Meeting I. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners: Boldenweck (7:46 p.m.) *, Bond, Bowen, DeNatale, Foley, Maharaj, Pomposo Absent: Commissioners: Luster, Mardahay, Ramos, Zelaya Staff Present: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation Angela Duldulao, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Erin O’Brien, Business Manager Ercie Santos, Cultural Arts Specialist Keren Solano, Administrative Assistant II III. AGENDA REVIEW: Chair Bond requested to have agenda item IX. Subcommittees move before item VII. Unfinished Business. Additionally, Chair Bond requested to move agenda item IX. 5 Fundraiser to be the first item in VII. Unfinished Business. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of January 19, 2023: Minutes for January 19, 2023 stand as sent.  Motion to approve by Commissioner Boldenweck, followed by a second from Vice Chair DeNatale. V. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:  Marie Patea, President of South San Francisco Friends of Parks and Recreation. VI. PRESENTATION AWARD FINALISTS: “ABUNDANCE” TWO-DIMENSIONAL ART SHOW  Specialist Santos gave a presentation of the award-winning artwork.  Second place winner, Mark Monsarrat, thanked the Commission for the opportunity to showcase his artwork at the art show.  First place winner, Nadine Levin, spoke about her photograph and thanked the Commission for their investment in arts in the City. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Cultural Arts Funding Review  Deputy Director Duldulao gave a presentation to guide the Commission’s discussion on: Cultural Arts Commission Minutes of February 16, 2023 Page 2 i. Determining an appropriate rolling balance for the Cultural Arts Donations Account. ii. Continued discussion on a methodology to plan for and prioritize art projects.  Deputy Director Duldulao shared three suggested options for the Commission to determine an appropriate rolling balance for the Cultural Arts Donations account.  Commissioners discussed aspects they liked about the proposed options and other suggestions including: i. Support for establishing a portion of the fund as a “rainy day” reserve fund. ii. Spending the available balance only for local grant opportunities that favor South San Francisco residents. iii. Considerations for using the Donations account primarily for grants/scholarships since general fund can be used for art acquisition. iv. Increasing the scholarship award amount. v. Identifying specific goals if an Art Investment Reserve is established.  Commissioner Foley suggested the idea of establishing a nonprofit such as Friends of the Arts to qualify to receive grant money. He asked about how those groups are established.  Special guest, Marie Patea from the City Manager’s Office and the South San Francisco Friends of Parks and Recreation President informed the Commission that the group was primarily formed to apply for grants and to fundraise to support park and recreation programs.  Specialist Santos informed the Commission she was involved in the early years of the Friends of Parks and Recreation. The idea of starting a friends group was proposed by past Cultural Arts Commissions to get volunteers to supports the Commission’s work.  Vice Chair DeNatale proposed to set aside $20,000 as a reserve, which could cover approximately four years of fundraising efforts.  Chair Bond motioned to set aside $20,000 in a reserve fund and to ask the Fundraising subcommittee to develop a proposal on what to do with the surplus of money.  Followed by a second from Vice Char DeNatale.  Roll Call Vote Results | The Commission will set aside $20,000 of the Donations account in a reserve fund. (AYES: Boldenweck, Bowen, Foley, Maharaj, and Pomposo. NAYES: None ABSENT: Luster, Mardahay, Ramos, and Zelaya).  Deputy Director Duldulao reviewed changes she made to the Cultural Arts Fund Summary report, including the addition of a section for Capital Projects and $100,000 added to the New Aquatic Center Project.  In response to a question from Chair Bond about if the $100,000 budget for the New Aquatic Center has already been designated for specific art, Deputy Director Duldulao responded this is for the Commission to decide.  Chair Bond asked if projects that indicate no funding on the report may later realize some available funding for art.  Director Greg Mediati responded that it is not likely for the Centennial Trail project since the project is hoping to use some community development block grants pay for some project expenses.  Vice Chair DeNatale noted that the Caltrain Plaza sculpture budget started with $500,000 and inquired if the Commission could have access to the $36,000 balance since the sculpture is showing a budget of only $464,000. Cultural Arts Commission Minutes of February 16, 2023 Page 3  Director Mediati and Deputy Director Duldulao explained that the balance is being held as contingency for installation costs.  Deputy Director Duldulao reviewed current projects by subcommittee and shared a sample menu of art projects and budget estimates under review for the Sculpture subcommittee.  Chair Bond proposed that the Strategic Vision subcommittee be tasked with reviewing funding opportunities and coming up with a proposal for how to designate funds that will be reviewed by the whole Commission. Commissioners discussed this topic and no objections were received.  The Commission discussed having the Strategic Vision Subcommittee suggest a budget for the Sculpture subcommittee based on the information presented by Deputy Director, Angela Duldulao. VIII. NEW BUSINESS:  No update. IX. SUBCOMMITTEES: 1. Fundraiser  Vice Chair DeNatale informed the Commission the Friends of Park and Recreation will be partnering with the Commission for fundraising efforts at the opera event, “Bohéme Out of the Box.”  Vice Chair DeNatale informed the Commission this event requires the participation of all Commissioners, as it is a 3-day event with 11 different roles and shifts to fill on each day. He added that friends and family are welcome to volunteer but will need to fill out a waiver form prior to volunteering.  Marie Patea, the president of South San Francisco Friends of Park and Recreation, informed the Commission they are looking forward to partnering with the Commission for this event.  The subcommittee is working on ordering merchandise to sell at the opera event, noting the merchandise will have a temporary South City Cultural Arts logo. 2. Sculpture  Vice Chair DeNatale informed the Commission that the installation of Windswept at the Native Garden at the Library | Parks and Recreation Center (LPR) may not be installed in time for the building’s opening due to challenges with it being installed over a Bart tunnel; the subcommittee still supports this installing Windswept at this location.  Also at LPR, the subcommittee is working with staff to identify areas to install footings for future art or sculpture projects. 3. Strategic Vision  Vice Chair DeNatale informed the Commission the final plan for the Public Art Master Plan is expected to be ready in July 2023. 4. Urban Arts  Chair Bond reported that an agenda items for the subcommittee’s next meeting will include the request for qualifications (RFQ) for mural artists related to the graffiti abatement project. 5. Youth Arts Programs Cultural Arts Commission Minutes of February 16, 2023 Page 4  Commissioner Bowen informed the Commission the Youth Art Show will take place on March 10-11. She also informed the Commission Specialist Santos, sent the docent sign up list for this art show and encouraged Commissioners to sign up.  Commissioner Bowen informed the Commission the Jack Drago Scholarship is open to accept applications and the deadline to submit is April 17. This is the first year the Commission will be accepting online applications. 6. “Abundance:” 2-D Art Show  Specialist Santos informed the Commission the online art exhibit is available online and in-person at the Municipal Services Building atrium window through February 27, 2023.  Specialist Santos shared some statistics from the art show with the Commission. The exhibit featured 50 submissions by 30 artists. The entries were judged by professional judge, Colleen Sullivan. Seven entries were awarded ribbons, three cash awards were given, 80 visitors signed the guest book and two of the artist’s entries were sold. The art show also featured a performance by Commissioner Maharaj. 7. Performing Arts  Commissioner Maharaj reported that the subcommittee met with City staff to discuss the details of the Cultural Activities Grant Program. X. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:  Vice Chair DeNatale invited Commissioners to attend the virtual artist showcase from the Yonsei Project to honor the Day of Remembrance. XI. ITEMS FROM STAFF:  Business Manager, Erin O’Brien, reminded the Commission of upcoming events which were included in the correspondence packet provided by Specialist Santos. She also reminded the Commission that in-person meetings will resume in March.  Specialist Santos announced Charlene Shane Looper, a former Cultural Arts Commissioner, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023. She highlighted Shane’s accomplishments during her 13 years of service advocating for the arts in the City. XII. CORRESPONDENCE:  Specialist Santos informed the Commission the correspondence was sent to all Commissioners. XIII. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Bond adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m. Next Meeting: March 16, 2023 Respectfully submitted, Keren Solano Administrative Assistant II