HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 - Board and Commission Scheduled Vacancies - Confirmation of Nominees - CorrespondencePUBLIC COMMENTS TO NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL
RE: CITY ARTS COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS
Date: June 13, 2017
Reading through the applications, there is a part that says:
"Please state any past, current or foreseeable future financial interests of any kind that may conflict with the Board,
Commission or Committee you are applying for."
I observed the following of three potential appointees:
Michael Kerr
NB City Arts Commission Vice Chair 2015- current
Pacific Symphony Board of Directors Chairman (2013-2016) 2003 —current
Backhausdance Board of Directors Chairman (2015 -current) 2015 —current
Think Together Board of Advisors 2006- current
His application states he is Chairman of Board of Directors with two organizations and Board of Advisors of another. He
also states on his application that he has lived in Newport Beach just 3 years. In the years he has been on the NB City
Arts Commission, he has spent over $65,000 of the Arts Commission money on those organizations listed on his
application as those he is Chairman of the BOD. This is more than 1,000% more than parallel events common to the Arts
Commission. And, the events were a complete fail financial, albeit in their first year of presentation. A review of the
financials of each should prove sufficient for evidence. He not only suggested these events, but also was somewhat of a
bully to get others to agree to them. Also, it seems he doesn't have time often enough to regularly attend the City Arts
Commission meetings, much less put the requisite 30 hours per month toward the committee. I would strongly
recommend that Mr. Kerr not be re -appointed to the commission. We would miss a man's input, such as the wonderful
leadership we had in Commissioner Smith who's leaving the commission made a vacancy for Michael.
Lynn Selich
Recused herself at the last meeting for portions having to do with Pacific Symphony because she has an offer on the
table to work for Pacific Symphony again. With no proof that she is affiliated with Michael Kerr in that regard, and in
light of the fact she has attended almost every NB Arts Commission meeting and shows to be quite a good team player, I
would NOT recommend she be deleted.
Miriam Baker
It seems at this time that Miriam Baker may want a seat on the commission for reasons personal. Her art has been the
subject of meetings in the most current City Arts Commission meetings, the Balboa grant and the President Reagan
purchase. Is she the kind that uses a commission to promote her own financial interests? She has attended just one
meeting in the past two years. And, that one meeting was to talk about placement around one of her sculptures on
Balboa Island. In that The City has already purchased the Ronald Reagan statue from her, it seems at this time, she may
want to have more of a hand in placement of her own art within the City limits. However, once that is completed, I
wonder if she could be a cooperative and contributing member as the others have been, especially one we just said
farewell to last Thursday, Caroline Logan.