COMMISSION MEETING

Present:

Commissioners Dane Andrew Beezley

Dixie Carney

Jeanne DiLeo

Staff Present:

Ilona Bell, Administrative Aide/Recording Secretary

Kristin Dance, Visual Arts Coordinator

Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director

Nancy Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Youth Services

Robert Walker, Director

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Beezley called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Special Order of the Day

Ms. Merrill, Assistant to the Director, suggested the Special Order of the Day-- Recognition for Ralph Durham, out-going Commissioner--be tabled to the end of the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARNEY, TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE ARTS COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2002.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Chair Beezley opened the meeting for Public Hearing. No appearances were made and the Public Hearing was closed.

GENERAL BUSINESS (PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS)

Review Three Conceptual Proposals for Public Art at the Downtown Plaza.

Ms. Steward, Superintendent of Arts and Youth Services, presented the staff report. The Commission would rank the three preliminary proposal concepts for Public Art in the Downtown Plaza. Ms. Steward noted at the September 18 meeting, the Commission identified three areas for incorporating the 1% public art fee for public projects in the Downtown Plaza¾ the labyrinth; medallions in paving and retaining walls; and pedestal columns.

Ms. Steward commented the important reason to rank the project rather than select the artist is due to complicated issues that may not be resolved within the time frame constraints of this project. A concept the Commission is not interested in pursing should not be ranked. Staff will work with the artist on the Commission’s highest ranked concept and proceed to the second choice, should issues not be clearly resolved within timeframe constraints.

Ms. Silan stated she shared her support of the fruit theme and commented that a circus did not always carry a positive image. Chair Beezley thanked Ms. Silan for her comments and closed the Public Hearing.

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO TO DROP THE CONCEPT OF THE LABYRINTH ART DESIGN WITH IN-LAID GLASS WITH COPPER POWDER COATING.

MOTION NOT SECONDED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARNEY, TO RECOMMEND THE BRONZED FRUIT PEDESTAL CAPS BE RANKED NUMBER ONE.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO TO RANK NUMBER TWO, THE CONCEPT OF CIRCUS THEME CERAMIC TILED PEDESTALS.

MOTION NOT SECONDED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM TO RANK NUMBER TWO, THE CONCEPT OF THE LABYRINTH ART DESIGN WITH IN-LAID GLASS WITH COPPER POWDER COATING.

MOTION NOT SECONDED

The Commission directed staff to ask the artist to work with fruit local to Sunnyvale’s agricultural history.

Consideration of Study Issues for 2003

Ms. Merrill advised the Commission that they had six study issues to rank and they could make motions to drop issues from consideration or defer them to a future year for consideration. Ms. Merrill then gave a brief review of each study issue paper including description, origin and staff's recommendation. Ms. Merrill addressed the Commissioners' questions on each of the study issues:

1. Update of Arts Sub-Element

Ms. Merrill concluded her presentation by reviewing the ranking form and process. She reminded the Commission that all items would appear as recommendations to Council unless the Commission voted to drop or defer a study issue the Commission originated this year. Since Council may rank, defer and/or drop any remaining item, she recommended the Commission elect a representative to speak before Council at their December 12^th meeting to emphasize the Commission's consensus.

Chair Beezley opened the meeting for Public Hearing. No appearances were made and the Public Hearing was closed.

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARNEY TO DROP AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "E": FEASIBILITY OF ORGANIZING AND HOSTING A "SUNNYVALE CITY FAIR" SIMILAR IN PURPOSE TO AN OLD FASHIONED COUNTY FAIR WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS CAN SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFT.

MOTION PASSED 3-1

COMMISSIONER BEEZLEY DISSENTED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARNEY TO DEFER AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "A": UPDATING THE ARTS SUB ELEMENT.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM TO DEFER AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "D": CONSIDER WAYS ARTS COMMISSIONERS CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN SELECTING PUBLIC ARTS PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC PROPERTIES.

MOTION PASSED 3-1

COMMISSIONER CARNEY DISSENTED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM TO ACCEPT THE STUDY ISSUES AS RANKED.

MOTION NOT SECONDED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO TO RE-RANK STUDY ISSUE "F": EXPLORATION OF YOUTH RATES FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FROM NUMBER TWO TO NUMBER ONE.

MOTION NOT SECONDED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BEEZLEY TO ACCEPT THE RANKED ORDER OF THE STUDY ISSUES WITH STUDY ISSUE "E" DROPPED AND NOT RANKED AND STUDY ISSUES "A" AND "D" DEFERRED AND NOT RANKED.

MOTION TIED 2-2

COMMISSIONERS CARNEY AND DILEO DISSENTED

Discussion followed as Commissioners sought clarification of various aspects of the proposed study issues.

MOTION PASSED 3-1

COMMISSIONER CARNEY DISSENTED

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DURHAM TO DROP AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "E": FEASIBILITY OF ORGANIZING AND HOSTING A "SUNNYVALE CITY FAIR" SIMILAR IN PURPOSE TO AN OLD FASHIONED COUNTY FAIR WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS CAN SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFT; AND DEFER AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "A": UPDATE THE ARTS SUB ELEMENT; AND DEFER AND NOT RANK STUDY ISSUE "D": CONSIDER WAYS ARTS COMMISSIONERS CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN SELECTING PUBLIC ARTS PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC PROPERTIES.

MOTION PASSED 3-1

COMMISSIONER CARNEY DISSENTED

Both Ms. Merrill and Ms. Steward clarified that ranking provides the Commission consensus of the prioritized list of Study Issues recommended to Council for 2003.

Ranked 2003 Study Issues

Proposed 2003 Study Issues

Staff Recommendation

Composite Score of ALL Commis-sioners

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.

Recommen-dation

DB

SB

DC

JD

RD

A.

*Update of Arts Sub-Element

Recommended for Study

Deferred

B.

Co-Sponsorship Policy

Recommended for Study

3

3

3

2

11

3

Newly Proposed Study Issues 

C.

Explore Concept of Digital Marquee at Corner of Wolfe and El Camino to Promote City and City Co-sponsored Activities and Events

dation

1

1

2

1

5

1

D.

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

Recommended Against Study

Deferred

Deferred

E.

Explore feasibility of organizing and hosting a "Sunnyvale City Fair" similar in purpose to an old fashioned County Fair where local artists can showcase their craft

Recommen-dation

Dropped

Dropped

F.

Exploration of Youth Rates for Recreation Programs and Activities

dation

2

2

1

3

8

2

SB - absent

RD=Ralph Durham

** NOTE: "Review Council Co-Sponsorship Policy" is pending results of OCM current study.

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

Staff Liaison Report

Ms. Merrill discussed the written staff report as follows:

• November 26, 2002, is the date of the Council Public Hearing on study issues. Council ranks study issues on at their December 12, 2002 meeting.

• Regarding the Master Plan for Public Art requested by Chair Beezley, staff secured funds to develop this master plan in fiscal year 2003-04.

• Recruitment Status: Per the Office of the City Clerk, to date there are no formal applications for the Arts Commission. However, the interest is good and the application deadline is November 15, 2002.

• Dr. Mitra will review the results from the recent Community Recreation Needs Assessment at an important joint Study Session with the Parks and Recreation Commission in the West Conference Room on November 4.

• Per Chair Beezley's request, the City Attorney is investigating what actions might be taken if installed public art is no longer made available to the public; for example, the stolen public art from Mathilda Avenue.

Other Reports

• Ms. Steward reported a fire in the kiln room 4 years ago resulted in reworking the entire room. The project has been completed and the Grand Opening was Monday, October 14.

Communications

Communications distributed at the meeting:

• Staff Report

• Corrected Agenda

• Revised draft of "Updating the Arts Sub Element" study issue.

• Revised draft of "Explore feasibility of organizing and hosting a "Sunnyvale City Fair" similar in purpose to an old fashioned County Fair where local artists can showcase their craft" study issue.

• Flyer: "Picking Up the Pieces," Euphrat Museum of Art, DeAnza College, October 1- November 27, 2002 (Attachment C)

• News Release: "Arts Council Awards Funds for Arts Groups," California Arts Council, September 25, 2002 (Attachment D)

• Article: "Design Raises Ire of Residents," Sunnyvale Sun, October 2, 2002, (Attachment E)

• Article: "Community Players Bring out the Best," Sunnyvale Sun, October 2, 2002, (Attachment F)

OTHER ITEMS (INFORMATION ONLY)

Commissioners’ Comments

Commissioner Carney passed.

Commissioner Buchs absent.

Commissioner Durham announced although this is his last meeting with the Sunnyvale Arts Commission; he will be volunteering to work with the Silicon Valley Arts Council.

Chair Beezley commented that the Silicon Valley Arts Council will not be contributing funds to many projects this coming year due to reduced funding in the State's budget.. Staff responded that their monetary contributions for Sunnyvale's Hands on the Arts Program have continued to decline over the years. Staff believes the program will be scheduled for this Spring with only minor changes; however, the publicity may be focused more locally rather than at a regional level.

Commissioner DiLeo passed.

Special Order of the Day

On behalf of the Arts Commission, Chair Beezley presented Ralph Durham, out-going Commissioner, a plaque featuring a photograph of Yahoo!! public artwork in recognition for his contributions over his extended four-year term.

COMMISSIONER DURHAM MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DILEO, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADJOURNMENT – 8:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Ilona Bell
Recording Secretary

Reviewed by:
Cathy E. Merrill, 
Assistant to the Director