HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 21 2021 Cultural Arts Commission Minutes
MINUTES OF THE
CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MEETING
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
Thursday January 21, 2021
Teleconference Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER: 6:31 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners: Boldenweck, Bond, Bowen, Campagna,
Hobson-Coard, Foley, DeNatale, Looper, Ramos
Absent: N/A
Staff Present: Sharon Ranals, ACM/Director of Parks and Recreation
Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation
Angela Duldulao, Recreation Manager
Ercie Santos, Cultural Arts Specialist
Cristina Simmons, Administrative Assistant
III. AGENDA REVIEW:
N/A
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of December 10, 2020:
Minutes for December 10, 2020 stand as sent.
V. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:
N/A
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Gardiner Park Playground Mural
a. Presentation: Sirron Norris, Muralist
Chair DeNatale introduced Sirron Norris, Bay Area artist, muralist, and illustrator for
Fox Network’s Bob’s Burgers.
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Deputy Director of Capital Projects Philip Vitale reviewed the Gardiner Park project
and process for the addition of a playground mural to be placed on the three walls
surrounding the basketball court.
Deputy Director Vitale reviewed the mural project timeline, reporting that Muralist
Norris will be developing his final design and presenting it to the Cultural Arts Commission in February, and then to City Council for final review before its
installation in March or April 2021.
Deputy Director Vitale reported on the results from a survey distributed in November
2020 that sought input from community members on mural themes. Muralist Norris
used the survey feedback to create a preliminary design for the mural. Deputy
Director Vitale invited Muralist Norris to describe his mural design.
Muralist Norris provided Commissioners with some background information for his
concept of the mural for Gardiner Park by referencing his design for a temporary
mural recently approved by the San Francisco Arts Commission, which depicts the
history of San Francisco’s Bayview District.
Muralist Norris informed the Commission that his sketches are rough concepts that
will be stretched out against each mural wall and can show a linear form of history in
South San Francisco.
Muralist Norris informed the Commission that the mural will have an interactive
element with the blue bears he has placed throughout the mural. Deputy Director Vitale asked Muralist Norris to clarify his explanation of the preliminary mural design
being stretched out over the three walls. Muralist Norris confirmed that the concepts
being shared are a general theme, and that the mural will focus on what the community has stated are important.
Deputy Director Vitale invited comments from the Commission and several Commissioners and staff responded with their questions, suggestions, and ideas.
Muralist Norris asked the Commissioners to create a list of icons or landmarks they
would like to see added to the context of the three walls.
Deputy Director Vitale reviewed the process of the mural timeline and asked the
Commission and staff to submit their lists to him by February 4, 2021. Muralist
Norris will present his final design at the February Cultural Arts Commission meeting.
Deputy Director Vitale and Commissioners thanked Muralist Norris for his
presentation.
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2. Caltrain Public Art Selection
Deputy Director Vitale reviewed the Caltrain improvement project and gave a status
update on the Caltrain Public Art request for proposals (RFP). He informed the Commission that the budget for art is $500,000 and artists had the opportunity to propose
a single piece or multiple pieces of art in the tunnel and throughout the plaza.
Deputy Director Vitale thanked Specialist Santos for helping craft the RFP, as well as
sharing the RFP with her contacts. He reported that over 100 people viewed the RFP, the
application was downloaded 60 times, and 15 proposals were received. Deputy Director
Vitale shared that the next step is for proposals to be reviewed by the Caltrain Public Art
Selection Committee (CPASC) in January through February. Interviews for the finalists
will be held in March, and a preferred finalist will then be recommended to City Council
for award in April.
Deputy Director Vitale informed the Commission that the CPASC is composed of seven
members, two of whom are Cultural Arts Commissioners, Vice Chair Campagna and
Commissioner Foley. Representatives from City Council are Mayor Mark Addiego and
Councilmember Flor Nicholas. The three community member representatives appointed
by the mayor are Madeline Banfield, Katie DeLeuw, and Karyl Matsumoto.
Deputy Director Vitale briefly described the proposal review process and types of
proposals received, ranging from strictly murals to murals and sculptures, and some with lighting components, which range from within the tunnel to the plaza.
Deputy Director Vitale said he will come back to the Commission with an update once the finalists have been selected. He stated that interviews with finalists would be open to the
public and encouraged the Commission to attend.
3. 2021 Goals and Committees
Cultural Arts Specialist Santos informed the Commission that included in their packet was the updated 2021 Goals/Committees listing. Specialist Santos created this list based on
the survey responses submitted by Commissioners and asked the Commission to let her
know of any changes. She also mentioned there will be an update to follow because she
has to incorporate a response from a new survey participant.
Specialist Santos noted an attachment with the list that covered responsibilities for art
show subcommittee chairs and members, particularly for in-person art shows. She
mentioned that currently the first two art shows will be virtual and in-person art shows
might not take place until July.
Chair DeNatale asked for clarification on whether or not subcommittees are still in place
for virtual exhibits and future art shows with a status still pending. Specialist Santos
confirmed that the subcommittees are still in place and the committee information is
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reflected in the attachment under Gallery Shows and Events. She also confirmed that the
first two shows, which includes the Youth Art Show, will be virtual. But she remained
hopeful that the July & October shows could take place in person.
Commissioner Bond asked Specialist Santos if she could be the sub-committee chair for
the July art show. Specialist Santos stated she would make note of the request.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Art Impact Fees Manager Duldulao introduced the Commission to the City Council staff report regarding the new public art ordinance adopted by City Council at the end of November 2020 that implements new fees for developers. She mentioned this was for non-residential projects
and invited ACM/Director Ranals to share more information.
ACM/Director Ranals informed the Commission that no deposits have been received yet from this funding source, but staff suspect it could generate some significant revenue. ACM/Director Ranals explained that the fee is calculated by the City’s Planning staff when projects occur and applications are processed, and is not a function of the Parks and Recreation Department.
ACM/Director Ranals informed the Commission that staff could collect any questions
from the Commission, research the answer, and respond with more information.
Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Mediati noted that the fee is an in-lieu fee, meaning that the City will only collect the money if developers choose not to develop artwork on their campus. He stated this will make projections of revenue difficult because there is no baseline of how many people will take advantage of building on campus versus
paying the in-lieu fee.
Discussion took place with several Commissioners commenting and asking questions related to how funding could be spent, and confirmation by ACM/Director Ranals that the fee does not apply to residential developers. VIII: SUBCOMMITTEES:
1. Future Public Art Plan
Chair DeNatale shared and introduced a Public Art Plan document that compiled
information collected by the Future Art Plan Subcommittee. He stated the document will
serve as a guide and foundation for when consultants are engaged and would help create
a master plan.
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Chair DeNatale gave a high-level overview of the document, encouraging
Commissioners to read it on their own time. Topics reviewed include Guiding
Principles, Commercial Development Art Ordinance, Public Art Fund, Economic
Development, Art Education and Community Building, Community Investment, and
Future Goals.
Chair DeNatale shared a list of all public art locations identified so far and stated the
information would help provide consultants with insight into what the Commission and
the community would like to see. He said the next step was to work with the City on a
timeline for when the consultant would be brought in. Chair DeNatale invited the
Commission to send him feedback of any information Commissioners would like to
include in the document.
Vice Chair Campagna reviewed the Public Art Survey findings and statistics.
Commissioner Bond provided examples of how other subcommittees could use the
guidelines in the future art plan and survey results to help guide their work. She
mentioned having a display of the virtual art would allow the art to be more visible,
increase inclusion, act as marketing for the Commission, as well as promote the artist.
She stated that this could be considered for continued use after the pandemic.
Chair DeNatale asked the Commissioners to adopt these survey results into their
subcommittees.
Manager Duldulao informed the Commissioners that she shared the survey results with
the Parks and Recreation team since the survey feedback could apply to other recreation
programs.
2. Sculpture
Commissioner Boldenweck said she had nothing to report. Chair DeNatale informed
the Commission that the Orb sculpture has been installed at Lux and Maple.
Commissioner Boldenweck said the greenery surrounding the Orb has been changed and
looked great, and that the giraffe looked very whimsical.
3. Photography Exhibit 2021
Commissioner Hobson-Coard stated there have been four submissions for the
photography exhibit. She also mentioned that Commissioners can participate in the
show, and reminded them that there is no fee for Commissioners, but they cannot win a
ribbon.
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Specialist Santos updated Commissioner Hobson-Coard that she had received more
entries, and there will be 12 to 15 exhibits. She also said that there is a required entry
fee for artists and that artists needed to submit their art to Specialist Santos. Specialist
Santos mentioned the deadline is January 27, 2021 and that she would reach out to some
of the regular artists to see if they were interested. Specialist Santos would be sending
entry forms to the Commissioners, as well. Commissioner Bond asked why there is a
fee for the virtual show. Specialist Santos said that it is customary and the money goes
directly into the Commission’s budget.
4. Fundraiser
Commissioner Bowen reported that the subcommittee met last week and they are
working with staff to find a viable platform to hold the virtual fundraising event. She
stated that they have received a lot of gracious donations from the Commission, and
wanted to start collecting pieces and taking photos to get everything prepared.
Commissioner Bowen mentioned that she would conduct either a pick up or drop off to
collect the pieces.
Manager Duldulao introduced Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor, Erin O’Brien
as the staff person who would be helping with fundraising projects in the New Year.
5. Youth Art Show
Vice Chair Campagna reported Specialist Santos would organize a meeting on this soon.
He also mentioned that Specialist Santos has reached out to the school district.
6. Jack Drago CAC Youth Art Scholarship 2021
N/A
7. Other Subcommittee
N/A
X. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
N/A
XI. ITEMS FROM STAFF:
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Manager Duldulao encouraged the Commission to review the Department’s Year in
Review attached to the Commission packet.
Specialist Santos informed the Commission that former Commissioner Florida Ventura,
through her organization, the Odd Fellows, sent the Commission a $200 donation.
Chari DeNatale asked to send former Commissioner Ventura a formal thank you, and
Specialist Santos confirmed that she has already done so.
ACM/Director Ranals mentioned that City Council is interviewing applicants for the two-year, vacant City Council seat. She stated the interviews were available to the public and
there is a tentative spot on the January 27, 20201 City Council agenda to confirm the
appointment of a new City Councilmember. Chair DeNatale asked for clarification if the
City Council may or may not appoint a councilmember, and ACM/Director Ranals
confirmed that it was not certain.
XII. CORRESPONDENCE:
N/A
XIII. ADJOURNMENT:
Chair DeNatale adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cristina Simmons
Administrative Assistant
Next Meeting: January 21, 2021