HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-10 CAC Minutes APPROVEDNewport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 10, 2021 Regular Meeting – 5:00 PM Civic Center Council Chambers 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660
I.CALL MEETING TO ORDER – 5:07 P.M.
II.ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Marie Little, Chair Arlene Greer, Vice Chair Maureen Flanagan, Secretary Wayan Kaufman, Commissioner Leonard Simon, Commissioner
Commissioners Absent: Miriam Baker, Commissioner (excused) Ritch LeGrand, Commissioner (excused)
Staff Present: Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant
VII.A.6 6.Proclamation in Honor of Lila Crespin – The City Arts Commission extendsits sincere appreciation and deepest regards to Lila Crespin for her contributions
to City arts and the residents of Newport Beach.
This item was moved from its scheduled position later in the meeting. Chair Little read the Proclamation in Honor of Lila Crespin. Dr. Crespin thanked the City Arts Commission (CAC) and asked people to remember that the arts tell us who we are. There were photographs taken with Dr. Crespin. Afterwards, Pat Jorgensen of the Newport Beach Arts
Foundation (NBAF) presented a Certificate of Recognition to Dr. Crespin. The NBAF is also discussing an arts scholarship in Dr. Crespin’s name.
III.PRESENTATION
1.Presentation of 2020-21 Cultural Arts Grants
Chair Little explained how the CAC and City Council awarded the Cultural Arts Grants, which was set at a budget of $30,000 for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Chair Little read the descriptions of each Cultural Arts Grant award and introduced the members of the Cultural Arts Grant Ad Hoc Subcommittee. The CAC presented the following 2020-21 Cultural Arts Grant awards:
•Arts & Learning Conservatory ($2,000)
•Backhausdance ($4,000)
•Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar ($4,000)
•The Laguna Playhouse ($5,000)
•Pacific Symphony ($5,000)
•South Coast Repertory ($5,000)
Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes June 10, 2021
Page 2 There were individual pictures of grant recipients and a group photograph. Five of the six
recipients accepted their awards; Pacific Symphony was unable to attend. IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
V. PUBLIC COMMENT None. VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes of the May 13, 2021, City Arts Commission Meeting
2. Draft of 5/13/2021 Minutes Vice Chair Greer had the following edit: Page 4, handwritten page 8 (paragraph 3): Vice Chair Greer thanked Chair Little, not Commissioner Flanagan. Chair Little had the following edit: Page 6, handwritten page 10 (paragraph 8): Changed ‘reticent’ to ‘reluctant’. Motion made by Commissioner Simon, seconded by Vice Chair Greer, and carried (5-0-0-2) to approve the May 13, 2021, meeting minutes as amended. AYES: Little, Greer, Simon, Kaufman, Flanagan NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Baker, LeGrand B. Consent Calendar Items 3. Financial Report – Review of financial information
Library Services Director Tim Hetherton reported that due to the COVID-19 restrictions there were very few public events over the last Fiscal Year (FY) so most budget lines are substantially higher than normal. City Council approved the City Budget on June 8, 2021, and the CAC’s budget will remain the same as FY 2020-21. In response to Commissioner questions, he broke the budget down by category and reiterated that the budget is flat. 4. Cultural Arts Activities – Monthly review of cultural arts activities from the Library Administrative Office for upcoming Library and City arts events and
services
Library Services Director Hetherton reported meeting with staff and Public Works about decorative utility boxes. Several neighboring communities have a program that could be adopted; therefore, he recommended placing it on the July agenda.
In response to Chair Little’s question, Library Services Director Hetherton stated that there are hundreds of utility boxes in Newport Beach and that generally other cities provide an
honorarium and guidelines for this type of program. Some cities are using wraps, like
Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes June 10, 2021
Page 3 Costa Mesa. This program could be another opportunity to provide Newport Beach
residents with a cultural experience. Chair Little stated that her neighborhood is undergrounding utilities and there were concerns over which properties would get utility boxes. Library Services Director Hetherton reported the installation of Phase VI at Civic Center Park was complete and that there was no damage to the park during the installation, but the paths are still closed to patrons for repair until the end of the month. The installation went smoothly and was paid for by a state grant at no cost to Newport Beach. Vice Chair Greer stated she thought the sculpture installation was great.
Chair Little stated she drove by the butterflies and appreciated them.
Commissioner Simon said he was awestruck by the butterflies. He also noted that Long Beach has a utility box program.
In response to Commissioner Simon’s question regarding the budget for the utility boxes, Library Services Director Hetherton explained that he did not know where the budget for the utility box program would come from yet. He will bring full information to the July meeting. In response to Chair Little’s question, Library Services Director Hetherton said it was possible for the CAC to request additional funds for the program as there are many funding sources that could be considered. Motion made by Vice Chair Greer, seconded by Commissioner Flanagan, and carried (5-0-0-2) to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Little, Greer, Simon, Kaufman, Flanagan NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Baker, LeGrand VII. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action
5. Summer Concerts on the Green – Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission approve the performers recommended by the Performing Arts
for Concerts Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the summer 2021 Concerts on the
Green series.
Library Services Director Hetherton stated that the summer concerts are held on Sundays on the Civic Center Green, with each concert costing about $6,000. The Performing Arts Concerts on the Green Ad Hoc Subcommittee selects the bands for recommendation for the CAC to vote.
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Chair Little explained they would show the CAC a quick video of each performer. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee first recommended a Journey tribute band, Don’t Stop Believing (DSB). The results of the Community Arts Survey were considered and led the Ad Hoc Subcommittee to recommend Shelley Rusk, a pianist/vocalist that sings classic Broadway hits with a string trio or quartet. The third selected band is SantanaWays, which is a Santana tribute group. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee also selected two alternates, The Sully Band and a string quartet that plays a mixture of classical jazz and pop. Vice Chair Greer voiced her excitement over the lineup, especially considering last year’s concerts that were cancelled due to restrictions on large public gatherings during the pandemic. She also thanked Chair Little for ensuring the variety of the concerts for the
2021 summer concerts. In response to Chair Little’s questions, Library Services Director Hetherton stated that so
long as everyone was satisfied, they could forgo watching the videos. Staff will forward the links to the Commissioners. Once the performers are approved, they will be contacted regarding concert dates.
In response to Commissioner Kaufman’s question, Chair Little stated that they did not contact the artists scheduled for last season. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee felt that they needed to change things up based on the responses to the Community Arts Survey. Some of the selections lined up for last year will be considered for Fall concerts. Commissioner Simon stated that, as they paid attention to the Community Arts Survey and chose performers accordingly, the marketing material for the concerts should mention their effort to reflect public interest in the musical lineup. Chair Little stated that could be discussed further during their meeting on June 16, 2021.
Library Services Director Hetherton clarified that the Journey tribute band was booked for Summer 2020.
Vice Chair Greer stated that Yachty By Nature, one of the bands that was scheduled for the cancelled 2020 concert series, is also being considered for the fall concert at Marina
Park. Chair Little called for public comment, but there was none. Motion made by Vice Chair Greer, seconded by Commissioner Simon, and carried (5-0-0-2) to accept the recommendation by the Summer Concerts Series Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the three bands and two alternates as set forth in Library Services Director Hetherton’s report. AYES: Little, Greer, Simon, Kaufman, Flanagan NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Baker, LeGrand
Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes June 10, 2021
Page 5 6. Proclamation in Honor of Lila Crespin – The City Arts Commission
extends its sincere appreciation and deepest regards to Lila Crespin for her
contributions to City arts and the residents of Newport Beach. Item moved to the beginning of the meeting. B. Monthly Reports 7. Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee - Commissioners Maureen Flanagan, Arlene Greer, Marie Little Chair Little stated there was nothing new to report. 8. Newport Beach Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioners Wayan Kaufman, Arlene Greer, Marie Little
Chair Little reported they are on schedule and thanked Cultural Arts Assistant Camille Escareal-Garcia for her work.
Chair Little stated that the Performing Arts for Balboa Peninsula Ad Hoc Subcommittee had nothing new to report.
9. Cultural Arts Grants / Youth Programming Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioners Wayan Kaufman, Leonard Simon Commissioner Kaufman stated they set aside $4,500 from the Cultural Arts Grant Fund to be held for programming at the CAC’s discretion. They have reached out to South Coast Repertory (SCR), one of the organizations that applied for and received Grant funds. The CAC will subsidize 150 “tickets” for families to access the virtual recordings of SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences production of Red Riding Hood. Cultural Arts Assistant Camille Escareal-Garcia stated that they had a total of 45 people
sign up. Staff marketed the program through the Library website and social media accounts, as well as in Stu News. There is one more day to register. The video can be viewed until the end of the day on June 13th.
Chair Little thanked Commissioners Kaufman, Simon, and Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia.
Chair Little said the NBAF had nothing to report. VIII. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM)
• Announcements: The CAC will move forward in planning the 2021 Concert at
Marina Park in October.
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• Future Agenda: A Utility Box Art program will be formally presented at the July CAC meeting.
Chair Little gave a reflection on the past year and highlighted the CAC’s achievements considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancelations it caused. She thanked the Commissioners for supporting her in her role as Chair, Vice Chair Greer, Library Services
Director Hetherton, Administrative Support Specialist Francine Jacome, and Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia. Chair Little stated that this was the final meeting for Commissioners Baker and LeGrand. Even though they were unable to make it, Chair Little thanked them both for their time serving on the City Arts Commission. IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None.
ADJOURNMENT – 6:18 P.M. Chair Little adjourned the meeting at 6:18 P.M.
Approved by: Arlene Greer