Sunnyvale

CITY OF SUNNYVALE
ARTS COMMISSION
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
West Conference Room, City Hall
MINUTES

COMMISSION MEETING

The Arts Commission met in regular session at City Hall in the West Conference Room, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, California on February 18, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., with Chair Beezley presiding.

Commissioners:

Chair Dane Andrew Beezley

Present:

Vice Chair Monica Draganowski Davis

Dixie Carney

Wallace Harper

Absent:

Susan Buchs

Staff Present:

Ilona Bell, Administrative Aide/ Recording Secretary

Larissa Dahroug, Provisional Recreation Coordinator,

Performing Arts

Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director

Diane Moglen, Arts Supervisor

Nancy Bolgard Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Recreation

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Beezley called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Ms. Merrill asked the January 21, 2004 minutes be corrected on page four in the third paragraph to read:

Since then, approximately 400 ~~local~~ artists (many of whom were local) were invited to submit proposals for the $10,000 ~~soft~~ public art piece for the new Senior Center and ~~approximately eight applications were reviewed~~ staff received eight proposal for consideration. An eight-member panel, comprised of Recreation staff with an arts background, ~~will select up to four of the best entries~~ selected the four best entries to bring before the Arts Commission in February for a recommendation to Council. Staff would usually bring three top proposals for Commission to consider, however, on this occasion we had four proposals that received very high scores/ratings by the panel.

Vice-Chair Draganowski Davis moved, seconded by Commissioner Harper, to approve the January 21, 2004, Arts Commission meeting minutes as amended.

Motion carried 4-0

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Chair Beezley opened the meeting for Public Appearances.

Ms. Moglen introduced new staff member, Ms. Larissa Dahroug, Provisional Recreation Coordinator, Performing Arts.

There were no other appearances and the Public Appearances were closed.

GENERAL BUSINESS (PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS)

1. Adoption of Selection of Artist for Sunnyvale Senior Center Public Art - Collaborative Soft Art Project

Ms. Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Recreation, stated that the artists, Thread Heads, withdrew their application earlier today, leaving only three proposals for the Commission to consider. She then introduced Ms. Moglen, Arts Supervisor, to present the staff report.

Ms. Moglen stated staff is requesting that the Arts Commission recommend one of the artists to lead the project, and select an alternate artist as a back-up if for some reason the recommended artist could not commit to the project. The Commission's recommendation will be included in the Report to Council scheduled on March 2, 2004.

Ms. Moglen further explained that the Commission is being asked to select the artist, rather than approve a specific artwork or design proposal. This process will allow the artist to develop the parameters of the project:

Develop a theme based on input from the Senior Center Advisory Council and other community members;
Establish the proposed size of the individual pieces to be incorporated into the final artwork;
Determine the finished piece size;
Develop the process for selecting the individual pieces for inclusion in the final artwork.

Ms. Moglen identified the three artists: Ms. Marsha Burdick; Ms. Deborah Corsini and Ms. Therese May and addressed their experience and qualifications in working with seniors in a collaborative effort to develop the final artwork. Installation and all materials and labor were included within the $10,000 budget. Project completion is scheduled for the end of this year, 2004.

Ms. Moglen stated the artist's project outline and the proposed theme of the artwork will be returned to the Arts Commission for review and approval prior to initiating the creation of the artwork. The Arts Commission will approve the final project proposal.

After showing projected photo samples of the artists' works, staff answered the Commissioners' questions to their satisfaction.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

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

Moved by Commissioner Carney, seconded by Vice-Chair Draganowski Davis to recommend Ms. Therese May as the artist for the Sunnyvale Senior Center Public Art - Collaborative Soft Art Project with Ms. Marsha Burdick as the alternate artist.

Discussion followed and Commissioner Carney withdrew her motion.

Moved by Commissioner Harper, seconded by Vice-Chair Draganowski Davis to recommend Ms. Deborah Corsini as the alternate artist for the Sunnyvale Senior Center Public Art - Collaborative Soft Art Project

Motion carried unanimously

Chair Beezley thanked staff for the presentation.

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

Staff Liaison Report

Ms. Merrill said the staff report would stand as submitted

Other Reports

Ms. Merrill stated the Report to Council #97-374: Consideration of Enhancing City-Wide Fundraising Opportunities - Study Issue was included in the Commission packet in response to Chair Beezley's request to have 'Fund Raising Opportunities for the Arts Commission' placed on a future agenda. Ms Merrill explained that when this Study Issue was completed in 1997, several alternatives for fund raising were presented for City Council consideration. Ultimately, Council chose to take no action, leaving the existing policies in place. This means there are no policies allowing the Arts Commission to undertake fund raising on behalf of City programs. In fact, existing policy prohibits that type of activity. The role of the Arts Commission is to be advisory to City Council.

Discussion followed and staff clarified that a portion of the Public Art Maintenance Fund is designated for repair and/or maintenance of public artwork but cannot be applied toward on-going operating costs.

Communications

Correspondence:

Revised 2004 Arts Commission Work Plan
Listing: Public Art/Permanent Collection
Newsletter: P&R Department Newsletter, February 2004 Issue
March-April 2004 Activity Guide
Miscellaneous Items of Interest distributed at the meeting

Commissioners’ packets contained the following items:

Revised Arts Commission Master Work Plan, 2/11/04
Memo: "Service Review Worksheet," Cathy Merrill, 2/11/04
Article: "Council Public to Have More Say in Budget," Sunnyvale Sun, February 11, 2004 issue
Report to Council #04-032: 2004 Boards and Commissions Recruitment Plan
Flyer: City of Sunnyvale Below Market Rate Home Ownership Program
Evening of Cultural Arts, Massenkoff--"brings to life the heritage of Russia," March 12 and 13, 8:00 p.m., Sunnyvale Community Theatre, 550 W. Remington
Miscellaneous Items of Interest

Commission Pre-packet Mailing Communications Listing

None.

OTHER ITEMS (INFORMATION ONLY)

Commissioners’ Comments:

Commissioner Harper expressed concern with preserving the presentation of Sunnyvale's public artwork. For public artwork that is donated, commissioned or purchased, are there guidelines for placement and presentation? Is there an overall plan? Ms. Merrill suggested this item be agendized for a future Arts Commission meeting and staff will present current operational practices on the maintenance of public artwork. She further noted that a study issue would be the instrument to use to advise Council of a need for a new policy.

Ms. Steward stated she would be happy to look into suggestions the Commissioners might have regarding the public art viewed by the Commission during the tour of the Civic Center after last month's meeting; however, she noted that staff resources are limited due to current budget constraints.

Commissioner Carney passed.

Commissioner Draganowski Davis passed.

Chair Beezley mentioned the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose from March 3-15.

Staff Comments:

None

Moved by Vice Chair Draganowski Davis, seconded by Commissioner Harper, to adjourn the meeting.

Motion carried unanimously

ADJOURNMENT – 8:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Ilona Bell
Recording Secretary

Reviewed by:

Cathy Merrill
Assistant to the Director