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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Arts Commission 09-12-2024 Approved Meeting MinutesCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Newport Beach Public Library 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Thursday, September 12, 2024 – Regular Meeting City Arts Commission Members: Melissa Kandel, Chair John Blom, Vice Chair Heather Ignatin, Secretary Maureen Flanagan, Commissioner Barbara George, Commissioner Wayan Kaufman, Commissioner Vanessa Moore, Commissioner Staff Members: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Melissa Kandel called the City Arts Commission Regular Meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Chair Melissa Kandel Vice Chair John Blom Secretary Heather Ignatin Commissioner Vanessa Moore Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Maureen Flanagan (excused) Commissioner Barbara George (excused) Commissioner Wayan Kaufman (excused) Staff Present: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Chair John Blom led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC - Waived V. PUBLIC COMMENTS None VI. CONSENT CALENDAR City Arts Commission Meeting September 12, 2024 Page 2 A. Approval of Minutes of the August 8, 2024, City Arts Commission Meeting 1. Draft of 8/8/24 Minutes Chair Melissa Kandel requested edits, changes, or deletions of the minutes, there were none. B. Consent Calendar Items 2. Financial Report Review of financial information. 3. Cultural Arts Activities Monthly review of cultural arts activities from the Library Administrative Office for upcoming Library and City arts events and services. Chair Kandel opened the Consent Calendar for public comment. Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, commented regarding the funds in the financial report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 for Phase X of the Sculpture Garden. As the Commission proposes to extend the contracts for Phases VIII and IX, the current year budget for Phase X would not reflect those changes and therefore should not be listed in the current financial report and questioned how those funds approved by City Council would be recouped if they were not spent during the year they were intended. Motion made by Secretary Heather Ignatin, seconded by Commissioner Vanessa Moore, and carried 4-0-0-3 (with Commissioners Wayan Kaufman, Barbara George, and Maureen Flanagan absent) to accept the Consent Calendar. VII. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 4. Halloween Spooktacular The Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee will present a proposal for the City Arts Commission to host a booth at the 7th Annual Halloween Spooktacular event. Library Services Director Hartson provided the staff report and stated the subcommittee met and brought forth a proposal for the City Arts Commission (CAC) to host a booth at an event ran by the Recreation and Senior Services Department called the Halloween Spooktacular. It is scheduled for Saturday October 26 from 3 PM to 6 PM. The recommendation was that the booth conduct an activity such as decorating small pumpkins and provide a small giveaway. Staff recommended giving away candy. Secretary Heather Ignatin commented that the event is a fantastic opportunity for the CAC to participate in a family-friendly event that provides an art activity for the community. It is a huge collaboration among many of the city departments that is highly attended every year. City Arts Commission Meeting September 12, 2024 Page 3 Library Services Director Hartson stated there is a minimal impact for the CAC to participate. Chair Kandel echoed the sentiments of Secretary Ignatin that it is a perfect opportunity for the CAC to be part of an existing event that is already popular, and they can collaborate with other boards and commissions within the city. Commissioner Vanessa Moore inquired if it is required that Commissioners volunteer. Chair Kandel responded that it is not required but that the CAC members could volunteer if they would like and would be great help managing the booth. Vice Chair Blom inquired who would oversee running the booth. Secretary Ignatin stated she would be in charge. Chair Kandel opened the item to public comment, there was none. Motion made by Vice Chair Blom, seconded by Secretary Ignatin, and carried 4-0-0-3 (with Commissioners Kaufman, George, and Flanagan absent) to accept the Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee’s proposal for the City Arts Commission to host a booth at the 7th Annual Halloween Spooktacular event. 5. Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Phase X Proposal The Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee will present a Sculpture Exhibition proposal that introduces a 3-year rotating exhibit of 10 sculptures in Civic Center Park. Library Services Director Hartson reported and broke down the proposal on Handwritten Page 14 for a 3-year rotation schedule for future phases of the Sculpture Exhibition as opposed to the current 2-year period. Director Hartson noted that on handwritten Packet page 17, there is a layout of how that would look. The Sculpture Exhibition proposal would extend the Phase 8 and 9 contracts for an additional year each. Only partial funding would be needed for this fiscal year to extend contracts. Full funding would be needed for future phases starting next fiscal year for two years in a row. However, as there will now be one year without any installations, the Subcommittee anticipates that this new rotation cycle will allow the Sculpture Exhibition to remain within funding allocated by the City. Commissioner Moore asked if the Phase 8 and 9 artists are okay with extending their contracts. Director Hartson stated that Arts Orange County (ArtsOC) would need to coordinate with artists if City Council approved this 3-year program. Chair Kandel said the Subcommittee put in a lot of time and effort into thinking through all the options, with the goal to be at or below $135,000, which was the City Council’s directive. The secondary goal was to do it in the simplest way possible. She further explained the process and thanked Director Hartson for assisting the Subcommittee navigating the financial aspects of all the different options considered by the Subcommittee. Secretary Ignatin stated that by reducing the cadence of sculpture installations, the Subcommittee found that it would reduce costs while allowing the public to enjoy the sculptures for a longer period. City Arts Commission Meeting September 12, 2024 Page 4 Chair Kandel opened the item for comment. Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, noted that the staff report indicated there was a directive from City Council to provide alternatives for the Sculpture Exhibition and he believed that came about from one councilmember’s comment during a Planning Session and may not actually reflect the entire Council’s feelings on the matter. He suggested the CAC consider proposing that the exhibition stay as it is along with the proposal for a 3-year rotation cycle. He had proposed a 1.5-year rotation cycle which he believed would save on funding and also have a more regular rotation cycle versus a 3-year cycle. He also mentioned an option for a smaller number of sculptures installed each year instead. Mr. Rick Stein, CEO of ArtsOC, provided public comment and noted there were some things to consider if the proposal moved forward: 1. If 1 or more artists from Phases 8 or 9 don’t want to extend their contracts, would the CAC consider sticking with, a reduced number of sculptures on display or look at alternates from Phases 8 or 9 to take their place; 2. He recommended that the CAC retain the $2500/year honorarium for artists for Phases 8 and 9 as that had been the original amount negotiated for their installations. 3. If the CAC decided to reduce the artist honorariums, there may be a higher number of artists requesting earlier de-installation. 4. There may be further maintenance issues due to the sculptures being exposed for a longer period to the sea salt air, which may require significant repair or replacements for each phase. 5. Recommended more alternates for future phases in case more artists wish to withdraw early. 6. Recommended that eligibility requirements not be changed for Phase X to test the impact proposed changes to the Sculpture Exhibition would have on artist submissions. Motion made by Secretary Ignatin, seconded by Vice Chair Blom, and carried 4-0-0-3 (with Commissioners Kaufman, George, and Flanagan absent) to approve the proposal that introduces a 3-year rotating exhibit of 10 sculptures in Civic Center Park. B. Monthly Reports Chair Kandel requested each subcommittee report if they had met and selected a Chair. Chair Kandel also asked that subcommittees please select a Chair by the October meeting if they hadn’t done so already. 6. Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner Flanagan, Commissioner Moore City Arts Commission Meeting September 12, 2024 Page 5 Commissioner Moore stated they emailed each other and if appointed Commissioner Moore as Chair. 7. Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Secretary Ignatin, Commissioner Flanagan Secretary Ignatin stated they met, and she was appointed as Chair. 8. Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner Kaufman, Commissioner Moore Vice Chair Blom initiated an email and didn’t get a response, Vice Chair Blom is Chair. 9. Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioner George, Commissioner Kaufman, Commissioner Moore Commissioner Moore stated an email was sent and there has been no response. 10. Public Relations and Marketing Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin stated the subcommittee met and she was appointed as Chair. 11. Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin stated the subcommittee met and she was appointed as Chair. 12. Student Exhibition Art Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioner Kaufman Commissioner Kaufman was not in attendance to provide an update. 13. Newport Beach Arts Foundation Liaison Commissioner Moore Commissioner Moore stated that the Newport Beach Arts Foundation is gearing up for Art in the Park on Saturday September 14 from 10 AM to 5 PM, they have received the most sponsors ever, they are considering a think tank type process in considering future events. Chair Kandel was provided the Arts Commission with a sign-up volunteer sheet for the tasks at the Art in the Park event and discussed the schedule. 14. Historical Resources Liaison Vice Chair Blom Vice Chair Blom noted he was in contact with Corona del Mar Historical Society president, Ron Yeo, and would be attending an upcoming event at Sherman Gardens. Mr. Yeo is a personal acquaintance of Vice Chair Blom from Corona del Mar who has a lot of knowledge about local sculptors. City Arts Commission Meeting September 12, 2024 Page 6 Chair Kandel opened the item for Public Comment. Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, noted there are other historical societies in Newport Beach besides the one which Vice Chair Blom mentioned; he was confused by the Ad Hoc Subcommittees being on the agenda as they are only supposed to be active when the activity is on the horizon and should have a sunset date, otherwise they may be a potential Brown Act violation. IX. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION, OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) Commissioner Moore requested the formation of a task force for the Arts Foundation. X. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None. XI. ADJOURNMENT – 5:36 P.M. Chair Kandel adjourned the meeting. Approved by: Melissa Kandel