MINUTES
ARTS Commission
OCTOBER 18, 2006

  

The Sunnyvale Arts Commission met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7 p.m. with Chairperson Harper presiding.

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

 

ROLL CALL

 

Commissioners Present:

Chairperson Wallace Harper

Vice Chairperson Robert Obrey

Commissioner Dixie Carney

Commissioner Charlie Fenton

Commissioner Roland Wanigatunga

 

 

Absent:

None

 

 

Staff Present:

David Lewis, Director of Parks and Recreation

Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director

Diane Moglen, Recreation Supervisor

 

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

1.A.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Joint Arts and Parks and Recreation Commissions’ Special Meeting of August 29, 2006.

 

1.B.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Arts Commission Meeting of September 20, 2006

 

MOTION:  Vice Chairperson Obrey moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar.

 

VOTE:  Passed 5-0

 

STAFF RESPONSES TO PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None


 

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

 

2.  Ranking of Proposed Study Issues for 2007

 

Following is the list of 2007 proposed study issues to be ranked by the Commission.

 

DPR-01

Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices

DPR-08

Consider Options for Use of Raynor Activity Center

DPR-10

Establish Framework for Assessing Community Recreation Fund Services to Determine Relative Priorities of Needs and Allocation of Resources to Specific Activities and User Groups within the Community

DPR-13

Update of Arts Sub-Element

DPR-16

Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities

DPR-17

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Art Projects for Public Properties

DPR-18

Consider Public Use of the Hendy Iron Man Museum for a Cultural Amenity Walkable from Downtown

OCM-03

Explore Revisions to Council Policy Regarding Conference and Training for Board and Commission Members

 

Assistant to the Director Merrill reviewed the process for ranking study issues and summarized the key elements of the study issue papers. Commissioners’ questions were addressed.

 

Chairperson Harper opened the Public Hearing. There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.

 

Chairperson Harper called for motions to drop study issues.

 

MOTION:  Commissioner Fenton moved, Vice Chairperson Obrey seconded, to drop OCM-03 Explore Revisions to Council Policy Regarding Conference and Training for Board and Commission Members.

 

Chairperson Harper inquired about current training for Board and Commission members.

 

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

 

MOTION:  Vice Chairperson Obrey moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to drop DPR-16 Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities.

 

Vice Chairperson Obrey looked at the history of DPR-16 and said that the same reason the Arts Commission voted against this study issue in 2005 still applies, i.e. uncertain fiscal environment.

 

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

 

MOTION:  Vice Chairperson Obrey moved, Commissioner Wanigatunga seconded, to drop DPR-17 Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Art Projects for Public Properties.

 

Vice Chairperson Obrey said, based on Commissioners’ discussion, he does not see the rationale for this study. Chairperson Harper favors ranking this study issue as the Commission can be an autonomous advisory board but still be more involved in selecting public art projects. He believes it would be more advantageous to have the Commission select from among all the art proposals submitted, not just the top three proposals that staff selects from all those submitted. Vice Chairperson Obrey pointed out that if staff recommends more than three proposals, then they would all come forward to the Commission.

 

MOTION WITHDRAWN: Motion was withdrawn by Vice Chairperson Obrey and Commissioner Wanigatunga.

 

Chairperson Harper called for motions to defer study issues.

 

MOTION:  Commissioner Fenton moved, Commissioner Obrey seconded, to defer DPR-18 Consider Public Use of the Hendy Iron Man Museum for a Cultural Amenity Walkable from Downtown.

 

Commissioner Fenton said that other study issues are more pressing than study issue DPR-18.

 

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

 

Commissioners took a five minute break. The meeting was called back to order at 8:45 p.m. Chairperson Harper asked if there were any more motions to defer study issues.

 

MOTION:  Vice Chairperson Obrey moved, Commissioner Fenton seconded, to defer DPR-01 Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices.

 

Commissioner Fenton recommended that this study issue be addressed in the Update of the Arts Sub-Element.

 

RESTATED MOTION:  Vice Chairperson Obrey restated his motion, Commissioner Fenton seconded, to clarify that DPR-01 Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices be deferred until DPR-13 Update of Arts Sub-Element is completed.

 

VOTE:  Passed 3-1 (Commissioner Carney dissented and Commissioner Harper abstained).

 

Commissioner Carney said she voted against the motion because she is inclined to worry that this would get rolled into something else.

 

Commissioners ranked the remaining four study issues individually and privately on the provided scorecard. Assistant to the Director Merrill calculated the results of the ranking, and the following information indicates the action taken by the Commissioners.

 

Rank

No.

Study Issue

1

DPR-13

Update of the Arts Sub-Element

2

DPR-17

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Art Projects for Public Properties

3

DPR-10

Establish Framework for Assessing Community Recreation Fund Services to Determine Relative Priorities of Needs and Allocation of Resources to Specific Activities and User Groups within the Community

4

DPR-08

Consider Options for use of Raynor Activity Center

 

MOTION:  Commissioner Obrey moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to accept the study issue ranking as noted above.

 

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

 

 

Following is a summary of the Commission’s action regarding ranking of 2007 proposed Study Issues.

 

Arts Commission

Proposed 2007 Study Issues

 

Proposed 2007 Study Issues

Commissioners’ Ranking

#1 = highest Priority

 

Composite Score of ALL

Final

Ranking

Study Issues marked with an asterisk (*) fell below the line or were deferred last year. These will be reviewed by Council regardless of any Commission recommendation.

 

 

Staff Rec

Carney

Fenton

Harper

Obrey

Wanigatunga

 

 

DPR-01

Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defer

DPR-08

Consider Options for Use of Raynor Activity Center

None

4

4

4

3

4

19

4

DPR-10

Establish Framework for Assessing Community Recreation Fund Services to Determine Relative Priorities of Needs and Allocation of Resources to Specific Activities and User Groups within the Community

None

3

2

3

2

3

13

3

DPR-13 *

Update of Arts Sub-Element

For Study

2

1

1

1

1

6

1

DPR-16 *

Exploration of Youth and Senior Participation in Recreation Programs and Activities

Against Study

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drop

DPR-17

Consider Ways Arts Commissioners Can Be More Involved in Selecting Public Art Projects for Public Properties

Against Study

1

3

2

4

2

12

2

DPR-18

Consider Public Use of the Hendy Iron Man Museum for a Cultural Amenity Walkable from Downtown

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defer

OCM-03

Explore Revisions to Council Policy Regarding Conference and Training for Board and Commission Members

Against Study

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drop

 


3.  Commission Work Plan Calendar Review

 

Chairperson Harper opened the Public Hearing. There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.

 

Assistant to the Director Merrill and Commissioners reviewed the work plan calendar for the remaining of calendar year 2006.

 

4.  Promotion of National Arts and Humanities Month

 

Chairperson Harper opened the Public Hearing. There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.

 

Recreation Supervisor Diane Moglen presented the staff report. She distributed and reviewed a memo to Commissioners regarding strategies and suggestions for promotion of National Arts and Humanities Month. Commissioners asked questions and made additional suggestions which Supervisor Moglen added to the list of promotional ideas. Chairperson Harper requested that “Promotion of National Arts and Humanities Month” be placed on the next meeting agenda.

 

Commissioner Fenton will address Council to thank Mayor Swegles for issuing the National Arts and Humanities Month Proclamation. Chairperson Harper will prepare the script.

 

Chairperson Harper thanked staff for sharing ideas to promote the arts. He suggested that promoting National Arts and Humanities Month would allow the Commission a stronger voice to promote the arts, fight against budget cuts, and assist in giving more importance to arts than is often perceived.

 

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

 

COMMISSION

 

Commissioner Wanigatunga stated the public does not know about or understand what the Arts Commission does. He suggested that Commissioners reach out and attend service organization meetings (such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Toastmasters, etc.) to inform the public about the Arts Commission. He said when Council asked him to serve on the Arts Commission he was unaware of the existence and duties of the Commission. Vice Chairperson Obrey noted that, with basic format from staff, the Commissioners could work this project.

 

Commissioners requested to add action item to next meeting to select a representative to attend the November 28, 2006, Council public hearing on potential study issues.

 

Commissioner Harper talked about the purpose and meaning of art and distributed articles for Commissioners to read.

 

STAFF

None

 

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

  • Staff Liaison Written Report
  • Roster of Elected and Appointed Officials for general distribution, 9/06
  • Miscellaneous Items of Interest

 

ADJOURNMENT 9:40 p.m.

Chairperson Harper declared the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

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

 

 

Reviewed by,

David A. Lewis
Director
Parks and Recreation Department