MINUTES
ARTS Commission
DECEMBER 21, 2005

The Sunnyvale Arts Commission met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7:06 p.m. with Chair Draganowski Davis presiding.

ROLL CALL

Commissioners Present:	Chair Monica Draganowski Davis Vice Chair Wallace Harper Commissioner Robert Obrey
Staff Present:	David Lewis, Director of Parks and Recreation Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director Nancy Bolgard Steward, Arts and Recreation Superintendent Jenny Shain, Manager, Parks and Recreation

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

CONSENT CALENDAR

1.A.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Special Meeting of November 29, 2005

Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Harper seconded, to approve the November 29, 2005, Arts Commission minutes. The motion passed unanimously 3-0.

STAFF RESPONSES TO PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

2. Draft RTC – Adoption of Open Space and Recreation Sub-Element – Study Issue (Council Action 1/24/06)

Ms. Jenny Shain, Manager, Parks and Recreation Department, presented the staff report. Ms. Shain noted changes in the draft report and said the final document will be modified to reflect the following changes:

• Membership will no longer be required at the Sunnyvale Senior Center.
• At the request of the Planning Commission, language will be added to address coordination and linkages with bicycle and pedestrian issues as well as additional wording to support Programming Policy.
• Discussion will be included regarding the surplus property at the Peterson Middle School site.

Ms. Shain said the Arts Commission is being asked to review this document primarily for its relationship to recreation and the delivery of services, rather than for its handling of open space issues and priorities. Ms. Shain reviewed the Planning and Parks and Recreation Commissions’ recommendations.

Discussion and questions followed. Director Lewis responded that a Senior Center membership fee would not be required for 2006. He described the benefits for members, but he noted that non-members would not be automatically excluded. Ms. Shain clarified that specific issues (such as diversity) would not be addressed in the document, but that they would be addressed administratively as study issues and are identified as key initiatives in the document.

Director Lewis said that much of this report does not have to do with the area under the purview of the Arts Commission, but he wanted to note (for the benefit of the person in the audience from the Santa Clara Unified School District) that the Parks and Recreation Department initially expected to have this policy document approved before the Council Study Issue Workshop; since it was not, Council directed staff to look at other options for use of the surplus property at the Peterson Middle School site, as well as recommending a proposed study issue that is not included in the Open Space and Recreation Sub-Element.

Chair Draganowski Davis opened the Public Hearing. There being no one in the audience wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed.

Chair Draganowski Davis commended Ms. Shain for her work on this project.

Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Harper seconded, to recommend that Council accept Alternative No. 1, Adopt the Negative Declaration and approve the revised Open Space and Recreation Sub-Element to the Community Development Element by resolution. The Commission further recommended that the document include recommendations as brought forward by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously 3-0.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

COMMISSION 

Chair Draganowski Davis noted that this section of the agenda should be geared toward business related to the Arts Commission and arts related items in Sunnyvale.

Chair Draganowski Davis said she attended the unveiling of the “Endless Space/Boundless Knowledge” mural at Braly School.

Commissioner Obrey said that the Lowes construction project is near completion, and he would like to visit the project site before their art work is presented to the Arts Commission.

Commissioner Obrey noted that Ms. Merrill recently celebrated her 15^th year anniversary with the Parks and Recreation Department.

STAFF

Ms. Merrill updated the Commissioners regarding Council’s ranking of the 2006 Study Issues and also Council’s action regarding RTC 05-373 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 (Study Issue).

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

• Staff Liaison Written Report
• Sunnyvale Municipal Code Title 19. Zoning Article 4. General Development Standards. Chapter 19.52 Required Artwork in Private Developments
• News article: San Francisco Chronicle, 11/6/05. Art for the city’s sake. Public art adds a touch of class to a city.
• Miscellaneous Items of Interest

ADJOURNMENT 7:35 p.m.

Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. The motion passed unanimously 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Cathy Merrill
Assistant to the Director
Parks and Recreation Department