MINUTES
ARTS COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
7 p.m. Council Chambers
SALUTE TO FLAG
Chair Draganowski Davis led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
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Present: |
Chair Monica Draganowski Davis |
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Vice Chair Wallace Harper |
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Commissioner Susan Buchs |
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Commissioner Dixie Carney |
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Commissioner Robert Obrey |
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Staff Present: |
Robert Walker, Director |
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Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director |
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Nancy Bolgard Steward, Arts & Youth Services Superintendent |
SCHEDULED PRESENTATION - None
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. A. Approval of Draft Minutes (Regular Meeting of January 19, 2005)
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Commissioner Buchs moved, Commissioner Obrey seconded, to approve the January 19, 2005, Arts Commission minutes.
Motion carried unanimously 5-0 |
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Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Buchs seconded, to approve the Commission 2005 Work Plan Calendar.
Motion carried unanimously 5-0 |
Two members of the Sunnyvale Art Club, Charlie Fenton, Vice President, and Jorge Castrillo, Co-President, requested information on the re-opening of the Community Center Art Gallery, and indicated the club is seeking non-profit status and now has over 240 members. They were joined at the podium by Ms. Lucy Marcoux who gave an overview of the various dates and locations the club currently has booked to exhibit the members’ artwork.
Chair Monica Draganowski Davis thanked the club members for coming to the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2. Review Euphrat Museum Application for Outside Group Funding (OGF)
Ms. Merrill, Assistant to the Director, presented the staff report, highlighted the Outside Group Funding Policy, and noted the program year 2003/2004 assessment of the Euphrat Museum of Art Program, which offers after-school art classes at Braly, Fairwood, Nimitz, Lakewood and San Miguel elementary schools. She then introduced Ms. Diana Argabrite, Director, Arts and School Program, Euphrat Museum, who gave an overview of the application, the programs they offer and then read some of the feedback they have received from program participants and/or their parents.
Director Walker responded to questions asked by the Commissioners regarding Euphrat Museum’s eligibility for grants from the Dorolou Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund.
Chair Draganowski Davis opened the Public Hearing. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.
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Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Buchs seconded, to recommend that Council increase the amount of the Outside Group Funding to be provided to the Euphrat Museum for after-school art programs. |
Vice Chair Harper noted that California is the 50th of 50 states supporting education in the arts, and he feels anything the City can do is important and for the City’s benefit.
Commissioner Obrey asked staff if it is acceptable to recommend more funding for the Euphrat Museum program. Staff noted it is best to be more specific in terms of the amount that the Commission is recommending.
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Commissioner Obrey amended his motion, Commissioner Carney seconded, to recommend that Council increase the amount of the Outside Group Funding to be provided to the Euphrat Museum for after-school art programs, up to $10,000 more. |
Vice Chair Harper approached discussion at what would be “reasonable” to Council rather than state an amount; he highly recommended that Council consider an increase in funding. Chair Draganowski Davis agreed.
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Motion failed 4-1
Buchs, Carney, Draganowski Davis, Harper: Noes
Obrey: Yes |
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Vice Chair Harper moved, Commissioner Obrey seconded, to recommend that Council support the requested amount of $12,298 for Outside Group Funding to be provided to the Euphrat Museum after-school art programs. |
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Vice Chair Harper amended his motion, Commissioner Obrey seconded, to recommend that Council support the requested amount of $12,298 for Outside Group Funding to be provided to the Euphrat Museum after-school art programs and that Council consider increasing the funding for this program, if possible. |
Vice Chair Harper and Commissioner Obrey spoke in favor of the positive program and funding.
Chair Draganowski Davis was concerned that the Commissioners should give more specific direction and offered a friendly amendment to the motion.
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Chair Draganowski Davis offered a friendly amendment to recommend that Council support the requested amount of $12,298 for Outside Group Funding to be provided to the Euphrat Museum after-school art programs and that Council consider the option to increase the funding by 10%, if there are available funds.
The makers of the motion accepted the friendly amendment.
Motion passed unanimously 5-0 |
Commissioners noted they would like to see examples of the Euphrat Museum after-school program artwork and Ms. Argabrite offered to return at a later date with samples of the artwork.
3. Draft RTC – Recommendation Regarding a Process for the Award of Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund Grants to Agencies Supporting Disadvantaged Youth (Council Action 3/29/05)
Ms. Merrill presented the staff report. Commissioners’ questions were answered regarding the City’s philosophy on use of outside funds for on-going City programs, current participation in the Mobile Recreation Program, and the role of the Arts Commission, City Manager, and City Council in approving the budget.
Discussion followed regarding at what point staff decided to make its recommendation to use proceeds from the Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund to supplement the City’s Mobile Recreation Program rather than a grant program. Commissioner Carney felt that much time was spent by both staff and Commissioners that could have been spent elsewhere. Director Walker responded that staff and the Commissioners started at a good place, especially since City philosophy is not typically to use grants or separate monies to support ongoing operations. Now, during budget reductions, monies are being cut from Parks and Recreation programs so staff suggested that funds be used for the Mobile Recreation Program. Director Walker said he did not feel that the time was wasted and that the Commission could still recommend any of the alternatives.
Superintendent Steward clarified that the Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund is within the budgetary oversight of the Parks and Recreation Department; 1/3 of the fund is going to Sunnyvale Community Services and 2/3 of the fund is what is being discussed.
Chair Draganowski Davis opened the Public Hearing. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.
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Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Buchs seconded, to recommend that Council accept staff’s recommendation, Alternative No. 1: Use proceeds from the Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund to supplement the City's Mobile Recreation program or an equivalent City program rather than using the funds for grants to outside groups. The City Manager would include a recommendation for the use of funds (consistent with the Trust) with the budget submittal each year.
In addition, it was requested that Council return this item to the Arts Commission next year to be again considered for a grant program to agencies serving disadvantaged youth. |
Vice Chair Harper proposed a friendly amendment to clearly recommend to Council that this item be returned to the Arts Commission after the first year for additional review and discussion, rather than to request that it be returned. The maker and seconder of the motion accepted the friendly amendment.
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Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Buchs seconded, to recommend that Council accept staff’s recommendation, Alternative No. 1: Use proceeds from the Swirsky Youth Opportunity Fund to supplement the City's Mobile Recreation program or an equivalent City program rather than using the funds for grants to outside groups. The City Manager would include a recommendation for the use of funds (consistent with the Trust) with the budget submittal each year.
In addition, it was recommended that Council return this item to the Arts Commission after the first year to be considered for a grant program to agencies serving disadvantaged youth.
Motion carried unanimously 4-0 with 1 abstention
Chair Draganowski Davis abstained because she felt she did not have time to digest the impact. |
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
BOARDMEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS ORAL COMMENTS
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Vice Chair Harper moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to request a Study Session to discuss and review the Art in Private Development (AIPD) Council Policy. The Study Session would give the Commission an opportunity to review the past Study Issue regarding the AIPD Program, review the tape of the Council meeting when the AIPD Study Issue was presented last year, discuss areas they may want to work on, and make recommendations. |
Director Walker suggested that staff return to the Commission with suggestions of a time for the Study Session so staff has time to prepare. Vice Chair Harper responded that he was not looking for additional work from staff. He would like an open forum and invite other community members.
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Motion carried unanimously 4-0 with 1 abstention
Chair Draganowski Davis abstained because she does not have a strong feeling about this matter. |
Commissioner Obrey asked Vice Chair Harper to prepare specific questions before the Study Session next month. Vice Chair Harper agreed to do so.
STAFF ORAL COMMENTS
None
INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS
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Commissioner Buchs moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried unanimously |
ADJOURNMENT - 8:55 p.m.
Cathy E. Merrill
Assistant to the Director
Parks and Recreation Department
Reviewed by:
Curtis Black
Interim Director
Parks and Recreation Department