CITY OF SUNNYVALE
ARTS COMMISSION
Wednesday,  April 21, 2004
Council Chambers, City Hall

MINUTES

COMMISSION  MEETING

Following a Joint Study Session with the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding 'Develop Process to Solicit and Award Grants from the Dorolou P. Swirsky Youth Opportunity Trust Fund,' from 6-7 p.m. in the West Conference Room; the Arts Commission met in regular session at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, California on April 21, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., with Chair Beezley presiding.

Commissioners Present: Chair Dane Andrew Beezley, Vice Chair Monica Draganowski Davis, Susan Buchs, Dixie Carney, Wallace Harper

Absent: None

Staff Present: Nancy Bolgard Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Recreation, Cathy E. Merrill, Assistant to the Director of Parks and Recreation

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Beezley called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Buchs moved, seconded by Commissioner Harper, to approve the March 17, 2004, Arts Commission meeting minutes.

Motion carried 4-0 with Draganowski Davis abstaining (absent 3-17-04)

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Chair Beezley opened the meeting for Public Appearances.

There were none and the Public Appearances were closed.

GENERAL BUSINESS (PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS)

CANCELLED Exploration of Youth Rates for Recreation Programs and Activities (Council Action May 18).

Ms. Merrill explained that this report was not yet ready to be released as planned, and the Arts Commission will need to determine a date for a special meeting to take action on this report. She continued that the report was expected to be ready by the end of the week. The Commissioners' determined that a special meeting on Monday, May 3^rd at 6:00pm would be in order, Ms. Merrill will notify the public and the Commission of the meeting location.  

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

Staff Liaison Report

Ms. Merrill stated her staff report would stand as submitted.  She thanked Commissioner Harper for agreeing to serve as a judge in two different poster contests involving 4^th to 8^th graders -- one requested by the SMART station and the other from Project Sentinel.

City Council Update

3/30 – RTC 04-109 Agreement between City of Sunnyvale & Sunnyvale Singers for Use of Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre – Council voted unanimously (6-0, Fowler absent) to support staff’s recommendations. 

Other Reports

None

Communications

Correspondence Distributed at the Meeting:

• Memo:  Artist's RFQ, Nancy Bolgard Steward, 4/16/04
• Sunnyvale Senior Center Activity Guide
• Department P&R Newsletter
• Miscellaneous Items of Interest 

Commissioners’ packets contained the following items:

• Agenda:  "Dorolou Swirsky Youth Opportunities Trust Fund,"  Joint Study Session with Parks and Recreation Commission, April 21, 2004, 6:00 p.m., West Conference Room
• Updated Sunnyvale City Council Sheet
• Valley Transportation Authority Community Oriented Design Enhancements (CODE) Committee 4-9-04 Agenda and 3-26-04 Memo
• Miscellaneous Items of Interest

Commission Pre-packet Mailing Communications Listing

• RTC #04-109:  "Agreement between City of Sunnyvale and Sunnyvale Singers for use of the Community Center Theatre," Arts Commission recommendation incorporated 
• Invitation:  "Silicon Valley Arts & Business Awards," Arts Council of Silicon Valley, May 6-7, 2004
• Press Release:  "State Fair Wins Grant to Produce Tire-Derived Sustainable Building Project," California State Fair, March 19, 2004
• Press Release:  "State Fair Announces Acceptance of Online Entries," California State Fair, March 19, 2004

OTHER ITEMS (INFORMATION ONLY)

Commissioner Comments:

Commissioner Buchs, Carney and Vice Chair Draganowski Davis passed.

Commissioner Harper stated that he was curious why there were only eight submittals from artists for the collaborative tapestry art project for the Senior Center, since he expected there would be more interest. After researching this, he recommended in the future the City may want to include and advertise well known supporters of the arts on the judging panel since many artists are seeking to have their artwork better known. Artists will be more likely to submit a proposal based on who is judging, rather than the monies planned for the project.

Ms. Steward clarified that it is a City Council policy that the Arts Commission has the final decision regarding the selection of the artist, therefore the Commissioner may want to propose a study issue to address a change in the process.

Chair Beezley noted that when Councilman Fred Fowler was mayor and met with the Board and Commission Chairs and Vice Chairs, it was suggested that the Council host roundtable discussions with representatives from the boards and commissions on issues related to the effectiveness of Boards and Commissions. Chair Beezley indicated that Mayor John Howe had recently indicated to him that he may be interested in pursuing a similar roundtable.