MINUTES

JOINT ARTS COMMISSION AND

parks and Recreation Commission

study session AND MEETING

MAY 21, 2008

6 P.M. JOINT STUDY SESSION

The Sunnyvale Arts and Parks and Recreation Commissions met in a study session regarding the FY 08/09 Recommended Budget at 6 p.m. in City Hall, West Conference Room, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA.

ROLL CALL/STUDY SESSION

Director Lewis provided an overview of the FY 08/09 Recommended Budget and 20-Year Resource Allocation Plan, concentrating on the operating budget. He said there are no major changes in the operating budget, in that City services are proposed to remain unchanged in FY 08/09 and FY 09/10. Some projects will be delayed pending the Parks of the Future study outcome. Next year will be the cycle for review of capital projects. He noted changes in performance measures and “tweaking” of the budget program restructures that were completed two years ago. The city manager’s transmittal letter, budget supplement and budget summary were reviewed. Commissioners opened joint discussion on budget material and questions were answered.

The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

The Commissions adjourned from the study session at 7:02 p.m. and met in regular session in the West conference Room, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7:10 p.m. with Chair Kinder presiding.

7:10 P.M. JOINT MEETING

CALL TO ORDER / SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Kinder called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and led the salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL/MEETING

CONSIDERATION OF ABSENCE

Prior to the meeting, Commissioner Colvin informed Chair Kinder and staff that he would be absent.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Chuck moved and Commissioner Oliver seconded to excuse Commissioner Colvin’s absence.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 4-0. (Commissioner Colvin was absent.)

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS - None

CONSENT CALENDAR

1.A.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 9, 2008.

Commissioner Harms pulled item 1.A. from the Consent Calendar. He inquired about public comments at the April 29, 2008, Council meeting regarding RTC 08-130 Sunnyvale’s Golf Vision: A Look Toward the Future.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Oliver moved and Commissioner Chuck seconded to approve Item 1.A. as presented.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 4-0, with Commissioner Colvin absent.

1.B.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Regular Meeting of the Arts Commission on February 20, 2008.

ARTS COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Martin-Milius moved and Commissioner Estrada seconded to approve Item 1.B. as presented.

ARTS COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 4-0. Commissioner Shinseki abstained since he was absent from the February 20, 2008, meeting.

STAFF RESPONSES TO PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS – None

PUBLIC COMMENT - None

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

2.  FY 2008/2009 Recommended Budget

Director Lewis presented the staff report at the earlier study session. Commissioners opened joint discussion on budget material.

Chair Kinder opened the public hearing. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

ARTS COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Estrada moved and Commissioner Shinseki seconded to recommend that Council approve the FY 2008/2009 Budget and Resource Allocation Plan as presented.

There was no discussion.

ARTS COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 5-0.

ARTS COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Estrada moved and Commissioner Shinseki seconded to recommend that Council approve the recommended FY 2008/2009 Fee Schedule as presented.

There was no discussion.

ARTS COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 5-0.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Chuck moved and Commissioner Oliver seconded to recommend that Council approve the FY 2008/2009 Budget and Resource Allocation Plan as presented.

There was no discussion.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 4-0, with Commissioner Colvin absent.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Harms moved and Commissioner Chuck seconded to recommend that Council approve the recommended FY 2008/2009 Fee Schedule as presented.

There was no discussion.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 4-0, with Commissioner Colvin absent.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Commissioner Oliver moved and Chair Kinder seconded to recommend that Council approve Budget Supplement No. 7, Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center

There was no discussion.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 4-0, with Commissioner Colvin absent.

3.  Consider Public Use of the Hendy Iron Man Museum for a Cultural Amenity Walkable from Downtown (Study Issue) (Council Action 6/10/08)

Assistant to the Director Merrill presented the staff report. She responded to Commissioners’ questions regarding whether local groups responded to the survey before or after it was known what sites Northrup Grumman Corp. would consider making available and whether staff thought it would have made a difference in the groups’ responses. Other questions included whether the concept was considered to handle high-end artworks and exhibits; whether organizations were aware of site cost estimates and descriptions prior to taking the survey; and the possibility of forming a group of interested persons to apply for grants and donations to raise funds for a facility to showcase high-end artworks and exhibits. Assistant to the Director Merrill responded that the survey of local groups was completed in fall 2007 in preparation for this report. The exact parameters of the type of exhibit space were not defined at this time so high-end art exhibits could be considered and the focus of the study was to find out if there are organizations interested in working with Northrup Grumman Corp. and each other to create a cultural amenity near downtown Sunnyvale.

Commissioner Chuck said Sunnyvale Historical Society took five years to raise funds for the Historical Museum, and he credits this success to being approved to build on public land. He raised the concern that building on private lands could take much longer.

Commissioner Shinseki asked why a more diverse group was not contacted. Assistant to the Director Merrill responded that staff contacted those organizations that they were aware of, and no other organization’s name was brought up in the course of the study. Commissioner Shinseki recommended concluding the study.

Chair Kinder opened the public hearing. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

P&R COMMISSION MOTION:  Chair Kinder moved and Commissioner Chuck seconded to recommend that Council accept staff’s recommendation, Alternative No. 3: Direct staff to conclude this study and send a letter of appreciation to the representatives from Northrop Grumman for their offer of space and the time they had committed to assist with this study and to send a letter to the local museums and artist associations to express appreciation for their participation in the study.

There was no discussion.

P&R COMMISSION VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 4-0, with Commissioner Colvin absent.

ARTS COMMISSION MOTION: Commissioner Shinseki moved and Commissioner Carney seconded to recommend that Council accept staff’s recommendation, Alternative No. 3: Direct staff to conclude this study and send a letter of appreciation to the representatives from Northrop Grumman for their offer of space and the time they had committed to assist with this study and to send a letter to the local museums and artist associations to express appreciation for their participation in the study.

There was no discussion.

ARTS COMMISSION VOTE:  Motion passed unanimously 5-0.

Commissioner Shinseki extended his thanks to staff for the hard work performed on this study.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

COMMISSION

Chair Kinder commented that, Michael Bailey, a Sunnyvale resident was chosen to carry the International Olympic Torch in San Francisco in April 2008.

Commissioner Obrey requested to be excused from the June 11, 2008, Commission meeting.

Commissioner Obrey inquired if anyone planned to attend the gala celebration at the Lace Museum on May 30, 2008.

STAFF

The following Commissioners volunteered to present Commissions’ recommendations to Council at the June 10, 2008, meeting regarding the RTC Consider Public Use of the Hendy Iron Man Museum for a Cultural Amenity Walkable from Downtown (Study Issue).

• Parks and Recreation Commissioner Oliver
• Arts Commissioner Martin-Milius

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

• Staff Liaison Report
• Work Plan Annual Calendar (P&R Commission Only)
• RTC 08-043 Revisions to Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions (Arts Commission Only)
• Miscellaneous Items of Interest

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Kinder adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

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

Approved by

David A. Lewis, Director
Parks and Recreation Department

ks