MINUTES
ARTS Commission
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 17, 2007
The Sunnyvale Arts Commission met in regular session on October 17, 2007, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7 p.m. with Chair Obrey presiding.
CALL TO ORDER/SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Obrey called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL/CONSIDERATION OF ABSENCES
|
Commissioners Present: |
Chair Robert Obrey
Vice Chair Tara Martin-Milius
Commissioner Dixie Carney |
|
|
|
|
Absent: |
None |
|
|
|
|
Staff Present: |
Parks and Recreation Director David Lewis
Assistant to the Director Cathy Merrill
Recreation Superintendent Nancy Bolgard Steward
Visual Arts Coordinator Kristin Dance |
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A. Approval of Draft Minutes from Regular Meeting of September 19, 2007
MOTION: Vice Chair Martin-Milius moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 3-0.
STAFF RESPONSES TO PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2. Art in Private Development (AIPD): 780-820 E. El Camino Real, Walgreens, Sand Hill Property (moved from 9/19/07 meeting)
Visual Arts Coordinator Dance presented the staff report and background information on the project. The proposed artwork will continue the series of sculptures already approved and installed in front of the Best Buy and PetsMart sites. The first and second sculptures have already been approved and installed. The Commission is being asked to review the fourth and final sculpture for the series, which will be installed along with the approved third sculpture.
Chair Obrey opened the public hearing.
Mr. John Tze, Sandhill Properties, commissioned a fourth sculpture by the same artist, Mr. Brad Howe, to continue the series. Mr. Tze said the artist has designed a brightly colored, abstract sculpture which is designed to work within the series of already approved sculptures. He said the sculptures are fun and colorful; and since the project is not an office building, whimsical abstract sculptures would create a visual impact.
Commissioners’ questions were answered regarding colors to be used for the proposed sculpture and whether the series will look like they belong together. Lighting of the sculpture was discussed. Superintendent Steward said staff will work with the property owner regarding the lighting so the sculpture will be easily seen from the street. Chair Obrey said no parking signs along El Camino Real distract from the sculptures. Vice Chair Martin-Milius commented that she was surprised at the scale of the artwork and hopes that once sculptures three and four are installed, they will stand out more.
Chair Obrey thanked Mr. Tze and closed the public hearing.
MOTION: Commissioner Carney moved, Vice Chair Martin-Milius seconded, to accept staff’s recommendation to approve the artwork.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Vice Chair Martin-Milius made a friendly and clarifying amendment to accept staff’s recommendation to approve the artwork, as it is proposed, with the following three conditions of approval:
- Final landscaping plans shall be designed to assure that visibility of the artwork is not impaired by initial or future growth of landscaping.
- Final lighting plans shall be reviewed and approved by the Visual Arts Coordinator prior to installation of the lighting, completion of the project and the subsequent release of the Art bond.
- A final accounting of eligible costs, with documentation provided by the developer, will be submitted to the Visual Arts Coordinator prior to the completion of the project to ensure the 1% expenditure has been met.
The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker of the motion.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 3-0.
3. Ranking of Proposed Study Issues for 2008
Following are the proposed 2008 study issues to be ranked by the Commission.
|
SI No. |
Proposed 2008 Study Issue |
Staff Rec |
|
DPR-01 * |
Update of Arts Sub-Element |
For Study |
|
DPR-03 * |
Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices |
None |
|
DPR-08 |
Consider hosting an event in which original artworks or symbols representing Sunnyvale are painted by local artists, displayed and auctioned off with proceeds to benefit local art program |
None |
|
* 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. |
Assistant to the Director Merrill gave an overview of the process for ranking study issues. Assistant to the Director Merrill and Recreation Superintendent Steward summarized the key elements of the study issue papers. Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners as noted below.
DPR-01 Update of Arts Sub-Element
In response to what was the length of time between updates, staff explained that the first update of the Arts Sub-Element was in 1985; the second update was in 1995. The proposed third update is primarily due to waiting for the completion of the revised Open Space and Recreation Sub-Element which was adopted in January 2006.
DPR-03 Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices
In response to what was the driver of this study, staff noted that the theatre is the most heavily used/scheduled theatre in the Bay Area. It is sometimes scheduled for 2-3 different shows per day which means that each group has to put up and take down their sets every day. The thought was that perhaps one group could reserve the theatre over several days so they would not need to put up and take down sets and store them out of the way.
DPR-08 Consider hosting an event in which original artworks or symbols representing Sunnyvale are painted by local artists, displayed and auctioned off with proceeds to benefit local art program
Assistant to the Director Merrill gave an overview of DPR-08 and responded to questions.
Chair Obrey opened the public hearing. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.
Chair Obrey called for motions to drop study issues. There were no motions.
MOTION: Vice Chair Martin-Milius moved, Commissioner Carney seconded, to defer DPR-03 Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices.
In response to questions about this item being an issue of convenience to a group or is the schedule working as is, staff said, from the City’s perspective, the schedule is working; but other groups may agree or disagree depending on their perspective. There could be the convenience of leaving sets up between shows but that would result in less use of the theatre.
Vice Chair Martin-Milius withdrew her motion to defer DPR-03.
MOTION: Vice Chair Martin-Milius moved, Chair Obrey seconded, to drop DPR-03 Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices.
No discussion.
VOTE: Motion passed 2-1, with Commissioner Carney dissenting.
Commissioner Carney voted against the motion because she felt a Councilmember made a good case when the study issue was first raised, but she does not know anymore about the situation now other than what staff has presented tonight.
Commissioners ranked the remaining two 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 final action taken by the Commissioners.
Rank |
No. |
Study Issue |
|
1 |
DPR-01 |
Update of Arts Sub-Element |
|
2 |
DPR08 |
Consider hosting an event in which original artworks or symbols representing Sunnyvale are painted by local artists, displayed and auctioned off with proceeds to benefit local art program |
|
Drop |
DPR-03 |
Consider the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Community Center Theatre Use Policies and Practices |
MOTION: Vice Chair Martin-Milius moved, Vice Chair Obrey seconded to accept the study issue ranking as noted above.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 3-0.
4. Commission Work Plan Calendar Review
Commissioners reviewed the work plan calendar for the remainder of 2007.
The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.
Commissioners requested that staff arrange a visit to the Hendy Iron Man Museum. Assistant to the Director Merrill said arrangements would be made and staff would be contacting the Commissioners with the date/time.
5. Create an Arts Plan for the City of Sunnyvale
Vice Chair Martin-Milius raised her concerns related to artwork which would give a destination quality for artworks installed in Sunnyvale. She investigated different cities’ websites and noted City of San Jose’s website was among the best related to public artwork in downtown.
She expressed an interest in how to get community involvement in the development of public art. She would like the Arts Sub-Element to better define the high traffic corridor; how to discuss scale, shape, and size of public artwork. She would be much more comfortable working with planners, developers, staff, and Council if there were a better overview of what is currently required for Sunnyvale’s artwork.
Superintendent Steward suggested that Commissioner Martin-Milius start with a review of Art in Private Development (AIPD) and Art in Public Places (AIPP) guidelines and regulations for developers. The Commission has guidelines and criteria of what to consider in recommending the projects that come before them for recommendation.
Superintendent Steward offered to meet with Vice Chair Martin-Milius to review the current regulations, requirements and criteria that the Commission can use in reviewing artwork projects.
Superintendent Steward continued with suggestions on how Commissioners can add new items to consider as an initiative which warrants further study when the Arts Sub-Element is being revised/developed.
Chair Obrey asked how the Commission can learn and provide more related to review of artwork.
Assistant to the Director Merrill said a Study Session on the review of AIPD requirements would be scheduled prior to the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
COMMISSION
None
STAFF
Recreation Superintendent Steward provided an announcement regarding the Evening of Cultural Arts. She said that ticket sales are starting to increase this year with marketing of programs.
INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS
· Staff Liaison Verbal Report
· Miscellaneous Items of Interest
ADJOURNMENT 8:09 p.m.
Chair Obrey declared the meeting adjourned.
Assistant to the Director
Parks and Recreation Department