DRAFT  MINUTES
SUNNYVALE
ARTS COMMISSION
October 20, 2004

The Arts Commission met in regular session in Council Chambers at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Avenue at 7:10 p.m. with Chair Draganowski Davis presiding.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Present:                 Chair Monica Draganowski Davis

                          Vice Chair Wallace Harper      

                          Susan Buchs    

                          Dixie Carney

                          Bob Obrey

 

Staff Present:        Robert Walker, Director of Parks and Recreation

                          Cathy E. Merrill, Assistant to the Director of Parks and Recreation

Nancy Bolgard Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Recreation

                           

 

SCHEDULED PRESENTATION           None

 

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff provided the ‘Arts Commission Role Regarding Artwork’ Study Session in the West Conference Room of City Hall on September 29, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

1.a. Approval of Draft Minutes, September 29, 2004 Meeting

 

Commissioner Buchs moved, seconded by, Commissioner Obrey to approve the September 29, 2004, Arts Commission Minutes as submitted.

Motion carried unanimously 5-0

 

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD                  

 

Chair Draganowski Davis opened the meeting for Public Appearances.  There were none and the Public Appearances were closed.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 

 

2. Ranking of Study Issues for 2005

 

A.

Update of Recreation Sub-Element and Open Space Sub-Element (continuing for 2005)

B.

Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities (new for 2005)

C.

Update of Arts Sub-Element (deferred for 2004)

D.

Explore the Costs and Benefits of Declaring the Second Saturday in August as "Family Day" and Open Recreation Facilities to the Entire Community. (new for 2005)

E.

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Arts Projects for Public Properties (deferred for 2004)

F.

Explore Options for Reopening the Creative Arts Center Gallery (new for 2005)

G.

Consider New Policies to Reduce or Waive Fees for Community Use of City Recreation Building for Specific Types of Events (new for 2005)

H.

Explore the Feasibility of Installing a Memorial for Sunnyvale Citizens and Employees Who Have Given Their Lives on Behalf of the City or Their Country (new for 2005)

 

Ms. Merrill briefly reviewed the Study Issue process and presented an overview of the Study Issues for consideration by the Arts Commission for calendar year 2005.  She explained the key elements and related impacts of the individual Study Issues and answered the Commissioners’ questions to their satisfaction. She noted that the Commission’s recommendation would be forwarded to Council for consideration in December.

 

Chair Draganowski Davis opened the meeting for Public Hearing.  There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.

 

Commissioner Buchs moved, Commissioner Obrey seconded, to recommend to City Council that the following Study Issue be dropped:

E.

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Arts Projects for Public Properties (deferred for 2004)

Discussion followed.  Since Commissioner Carney proposed this Study Issue last year, Chair Draganowski Davis asked her to clarify the increased degree of involvement she envisioned for the Arts Commission.   Commissioner Carney commented that the Study Issue process may not be the best way to obtain a clear consensus from a great number of people—including staff—in this matter.  Commissioner Harper asked if a Study Session on this particular item, similar to the one held before the meeting, might be appropriate?  Chair Draganowski Davis asked staff for any other routes the Commission might take?  Staff replied that the Study Issue process is the method used to propose items of interest for consideration by Council.   

Motion Passed 4 – 0

Commissioner Carney abstained (noting the Study Issue process is not the way to go)

 

 

Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Harper seconded, to recommend to City Council that the following Study Issues be deferred:

B.

Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities (new for 2005)

C.

Update of Arts Sub-Element (deferred for 2004)

D.

Explore the Costs and Benefits of Declaring the Second Saturday in August as "Family Day" and Open Recreation Facilities to the Entire Community. (new for 2005)

Commissioner Harper offered a friendly amendment to also defer Study Issue Item G: Consider New Policies to Reduce or Waive Fees for Community Use of City Recreation Building for Specific Types of Events (new for 2005). 

 

The friendly amendment was accepted and Chair Draganowski Davis restated the motion.

Motion Passed 4 – 0

Commissioner Carney abstained (noting the Study Issue process is not the way to go)

 

Commissioners ranked the two remaining Study Issues.

 

Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Harper seconded, to accept the Commission’s ranking of the proposed 2005 Council Study Issue items as noted below:

Rank

Item

Study Issue

1.

F.

Explore Options for Reopening the Creative Arts Center Gallery (new for 2005)

2.

H.

Explore the Feasibility of Installing a Memorial for Sunnyvale Citizens and Employees Who Have Given Their Lives on Behalf of the City or Their Country (new for 2005)

Motion Carried 4 – 1

Commissioner Carney dissented

 

Following is a summary of the Commission’s action regarding ranking of proposed 2005 Study Issues.

 

Arts Commission

Proposed 2005 Study Issues

 

Proposed 2005 Study Issues

Staff

Recommendation

Commissioners’ Ranking

#1=highest Priority

 

Composite Score of ALL

Final

Ranking

 

Staff

Recommendation

Buchs

Carney

Dragan-owski

Davis

Harper

Obrey

 

 

A.

Update of Recreation Sub-Element and Open Space Sub-Element (continuing for 2005)

Continuing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.

Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities (new for 2005)

No Recommendation

Defer

Abstained

Defer

Defer

Defer

Deferred

C.

Update of Arts Sub-Element (deferred for 2004)

Against Study

Defer

Abstained

Defer

Defer

Defer

Deferred

D.

Explore the Costs and Benefits of Declaring the Second Saturday in August as "Family Day" and Open Recreation Facilities to the Entire Community. (new for 2005)

Against Study

Defer

Abstained

Defer

Defer

Defer

Deferred

E.

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Arts Projects for Public Properties (deferred for 2004)

Against Study

Drop

Abstained

Drop

Drop

Drop

Dropped

F.

Explore Options for Reopening the Creative Arts Center Gallery (new for 2005)

No Recommendation

1

2

1

1

1

6

1

G.

Consider New Policies to Reduce or Waive Fees for Community Use of City Recreation Building for Specific Types of Events (new for 2005)

No Recommendation

Defer

Abstained

Defer

Defer

Defer

Deferred

H.

Explore the Feasibility of Installing a Memorial for Sunnyvale Citizens and Employees Who Have Given Their Lives on Behalf of the City or Their Country (new for 2005)

No Recommendation

2

1

2

2

2

9

2

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

  • BOARDMEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS ORAL COMMENTS 

Commissioner Carney stated she enjoyed the Art In Private Development Tour held on September 29 – especially the artwork pieces that were incorporated into the landscaping. 

Commissioner Obrey highly recommended the ‘History of Broadway’ program from Public Television Station KQED.

Commissioner Buchs and Chair Draganowski Davis passed.

Commissioner Harper stated the September 29 Art In Private Development tour was very informative and that he would like to see more tours for the Commission.  He also recommends more dialog to explore suggestions and make informative decisions, as occurred in this evening’s Study Session.

In response to Commissioners Harper and Obrey, Chair Draganowski Davis will contact Stanford for information regarding a docent tour of “The Questions” art exhibit and plan a future visit for the Commission.

STAFF ORAL COMMENTS   

  • Director Walker noted recent Council actions:
    • RTC-#04-366, Provide Greater Enforcement of Art in Private Development Requirements – Study Issue.  Council voted 5-1 (Fowler dissenting; Hamilton absent) against staff's recommendations regarding increased enforcement efforts for art in private development (i.e., require businesses to repair or replace artwork initially installed under the "art in private development" program, but subsequently damaged or stolen). The main reason was clearly based on a desire not to further financially burden local businesses. Several businesses spoke before Council, indicating this would be an undue hardship and that they could be relied upon to care properly for their artwork without the threat of civil penalties.   Director Walker noted the absence of any Arts Commission representative at the Council meeting and indicated this was a missed opportunity by the Arts Commission to advise Council of the Commission’s positions on policy issues it felt were important enough to address as a study issue.

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS 

  • Staff Liaison Written Report

Ms. Merrill stated her staff report remains as submitted.

  • Communications:

Distributed at meeting or included in packet

  • Article and Cartoon:  “Art Installed in New Plaza to Honor the City’s Roots,” Sunnyvale Sun, October 20, 2004
  • Agenda:  Valley Transit Authority Community Oriented Design Enhancement (CODE) meeting and Minutes, October 8, 2004
  • Sunnyvale Activity Guide:  November 2004 – February 2005.
  • Flyer:  Ortega Park Volunteer Neighborhood Planting Workday and BBQ, Saturday, October 30, 9 a.m. to noon, BBQ to follow
  • Memo:  Microsoft Art Collection and related programs, exhibitions and tours information at website www.microsoft.com/mscorp/artcollection
  • Article:  “Artist to Fix Misspellings of Livermore Library Mural,” San Jose Mercury News, October 6, 2004
  • Article:  “Fuss Goes Global Over Mosaic in Need of Editor,” San Jose Mercury News, October 12, 2004
  • Miscellaneous Items of Interest 

Moved by Commissioner Buchs, seconded by Commissioner Harper to adjourn the meeting.

Motion carried unanimously 5-0

 

 

Adjournment:  8:25 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

Cathy E. Merrill
Assistant to the Director
Parks and Recreation Department

 

Reviewed by,

 

Robert Walker, Director
Parks and Recreation Department