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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/13/2013 - City Arts Commission - Approved Minutes City of Newport Beach Newport Beach City Arts Commission Thursday, June 13, 2013 – 5:00pm Central Library Friends Meeting Room Convened at 5:02pm 1) Call Meeting to Order Chairperson Smith called the meeting to order. 2) Roll Call Commissioners Present: Robert Smith, Chair Carole Boller, Secretary Arlene Greer Gilbert Lasky Caroline Logan Rita Goldberg, Vice Chair Chris Trela Staff Present: Councilperson Nancy Gardner Library Services Director Cynthia Cowell Library Services Manager Tim Hetherton Public Present: Jim Mosher, resident Heather Katz, business owner of TKOart 3) Public Comments - Jim Mosher’s typed comments were dispersed at this meeting. An item not included in these written comments was regarding agenda item B.1. Council Policy I-11 – Revisions. He understood from discussion at the last meeting that this policy would be presented at this meeting for final review and not revisions. Chair Smith stated that it was being reviewed by the City Attorney’s office. A written report on this agenda item was not included for review by the public prior to this meeting. If it is on the agenda as a report then it would be very helpful to the Arts Commission and the public to have it in the agenda packet in writing prior to the meeting so it can be reviewed. He also noted that the minutes from the May 9 meeting under C. Monthly Reports show that other items not pertinent to the listed item were discussed and if discussion of these items is desired they should be noted as agenda items at the next meeting. Chair Smith allowed Mr. Mosher to comment on an item not listed on this agenda which is the decision whether or not to outsource the Cultural Arts Coordinator position. He felt that this decision should be discussed with the City Arts Commission prior to a final decision being made, and feels that this position should be performed by a City staff member. The Uprooted II sculpture that has been placed outside of the City Council Chambers seems quite out of scale, and suggested reconsidering another area to display it. The Civic green as the location of the upcoming Concerts in the Parks series may be a good idea for a year or so and not indefinitely, as it may not be good for the public. Heather Katz owner of TKOart, a consulting firm which had previously been located in Newport Beach and is now located in Irvine, expressed her interest in seeing what the plans are for the development of further art installations in the Civic Center, and how her company could get 2 involved. Chair Smith asked for her business card so that the City Arts Commission could follow up with her. 4) Approval of Minutes It was moved, seconded and passed (Commissioner Greer/Commissioner Boller) to approve the May 9, 2013 minutes with the following revision. Motion carried. Arlene Greer asked that the following sentence be changed in her Arts Foundation Liaison Ad Hoc Committee report from: “Commissioner Greer asked the Foundation that any suggestions or input on their next gallery event ……….” to “Commissioner Greer asked for Commission suggestions or input for the next Newport Beach Arts Foundation gallery event ……….” 5) Current Business A. Consent Calendar - 1. Cultural Arts Activities – Library Services Director Cynthia Cowell noted the recent news articles that have been published recently regarding the art inventory. Incoming correspondence addressed to the City Arts Commission was dispersed. Some of the items included art submissions for consideration, and CD’s for concerts in the Parks, and general information. The Concerts in the Park brochures were distributed to the Commissioners for further distribution. Banners for the three concerts will be displayed at PCH and Marguerite, at the fire station next to the Mariners Branch Library, and above the main entrance of the Central Library. These concerts will be held in the new Civic Green location. All of the press releases are out and all media outlets have been notified of the new location. Chair Robert Smith noted that he will ask Director Cowell to update the Commission on the status of the City Art collection and staffing for the Cultural Arts coordinator position during the Monthly Reports portion of the agenda. 2. Correspondence and Press – Combined in report above. B. Items for Review and Possible Action – Director Cowell presented City Council Policy I-11 - Donation of Art to City of Newport Beach with redlined revisions from previous Commission meetings and the City Attorney on the room’s presentation screen. Some words were removed to prevent redundancy and to provide clarification. Questions were raised on how art that is donated to the City is appraised. Public member Heather Katz gave an overview of the process for art appraisal by a certified appraiser. The City needs to know how much valuation it has on donated art pieces in the inventory and whether the art needs to be insured. Parameters for donations and the use of art after it has been donated, the acceptance of original artwork versus numbered pieces, and contracting with an artist versus abiding by a policy were also discussed. The suggested revisions made at this meeting were noted. Prior to the July meeting all amendments will be forwarded to the City Arts Commissioners and then to the City Attorney for final review. It will be brought to the next City Arts Commission meeting as an action item. 3 C. Monthly Reports – Chair Smith asked Director Cowell to report on staffing and art inventory. She reported that a total of $40,000 of the Cultural Arts budget for the fiscal year 2013/2014 has been set aside to hire an insured consultant to handle the Concerts in the Parks, bus tours and Shakespeare by the Sea and other outside events and programming. The Cultural Arts Coordinator vacancy will not be filled and is not funded for the new fiscal year. Councilmember Gardner explained the decision to not fill that position at this time. Library staff will help to coordinate the events and planning through the outside consultant after negotiations are made and a contract is signed. Until then, staff will oversee the City arts events that have already been scheduled, the first being a concert in the park event to be held on the Civic green on Sunday, June 30. The City arts collection pieces that have a City property sticker on them have been accounted for. Everything that was stored in the art closet, or displayed in a City office has been accounted for. This left a small number of items that were not listed on the City asset sheet or were on the asset sheet but could not be located. Two hundred and thirteen pieces are listed in the inventory and the few unaccounted for items are items that have been unaccounted for prior to 1993. Library barcodes will be placed on each inventory item categorizing it under its own item code designation. It will be checked in and out of storage by City department just like library materials are checked in and out. Every item that the City owns is either in the art storage closet or checked out and accounted for. Chair Smith stated that City Arts Commissioners would be willing to assist staff where necessary. 1. Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioners Smith, Logan and Boller are on this committee. Council Member Selich spoke with the Committee and asked to use Palm Desert’s format to develop the program for their art in public spaces. At the July meeting this committee would like to report on their findings on what could work for the City of Newport Beach along with timelines and a budget, and plan on having it in place by May of 2014, the anniversary of the Civic Center opening. The remaining sculpture at the old City Hall was discussed, and Chair Smith stated that the City was going to arrange this and is hoping that the City will hopefully consult the Arts Commission on plans for this piece. 2. Fine Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioner Boller stated that this committee has contacted several artists who may have art to display in council chambers for a three to fourth month loan period. She listed the upcoming exhibits and events handled by this committee. Director Cowell stated that the City Attorney will need to review art before it can be displayed on the Library’s website. A form for artists to complete in order to display their art is currently located online through the City’s and Library’s website. The upcoming Hilbert event will be held in the Library on August 9th. It will be a small wine reception with refreshments to thank Mr. Hilbert for his loan of art and will be catered and handled by an outside contractor. 3. Performing Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioner Goldberg announced details of the upcoming concert to be held on Sunday, June 30, that are also noted on the brochure that was handed out at the beginning of this meeting. 4. Museum Tour Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Chair Smith stated there is enough in the budget for two museum tours. Commissioner Goldberg reported that the bus tours have been popular for many years and then OASIS started doing them also. In order to not duplicate efforts it was advised that Commissioner Goldberg contact the OASIS Senior Services Manager for more detail on the bus tours facilitated through OASIS. Commissioner Goldberg asked if the Foundation wishes to be more involved in the museum tours. Commissioner Greer will find out and report back. 4 5. Arts Foundation Liaison Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioner Greer reported that the Arts Foundation’s last meeting was held on May 21. The upcoming October 12th Art in the Park was discussed and will be held on the Civic Center green. To date there have been eleven artist’s applications received. She asked that Commissioners keep that date on their calendars and she will keep them informed on details for assistance at this event. The Foundation has decided to not pursue the purchase of the Rex Brandt oil painting located at the City of Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. They would like to spend their money on artwork that would be more visible, and would like to keep some operating funds available as well. The lecture by the author Dr. Meyers, The Art of Eating Well has been postponed until after the first of the year. The next Arts Foundation Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m. 6. Publicity Ad Hoc Committee – Commissioner Trela gave an update on the publicity for the upcoming arts events. Chair Smith expressed his thanks to Commissioner Trela for his years of service on the City Arts Commission, as this is his last meeting. Commissioner Trela is the Editor of the Newport Beach Independent. 7. Budget Ad Hoc Committee – Commissioner Lasky has nothing new to report. 8. Cultural Arts Grant Ad Hoc Committee – Commissioner Greer stated nothing to report at this time. The deadline for grant submittals will be closer to October this year rather than September. Commissioners Goldberg and Greer will work with staff on getting the submittals mailed. 9. Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee for Visual & Public Art Installations – Commissioner Logan gave an update. 6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) – Chair Smith met with Director Cowell today on a new process that is required in placing items on agendas. This process is being followed by City Council and will also be a directive used for placing items on the Commission agenda. An agenda item would need to have a formal vote at the meeting prior to the meeting that it will be presented at. For example if a Commissioner requests that an item be placed on an agenda at this June meeting then that item would be placed on the July meeting agenda as an action item. If Commissioners agree to have it placed on the agenda the item would then be entered as an agenda item for the September meeting. A vote may be made in an emergency situation as a straw vote. Straw votes are not binding votes and must be made judiciously and not in every instance. Such is the case of a finite deadline. Chair Smith asked that City Arts Commission Officer Selection and Nominations, and Reconstitution of the Ad Hoc Committees be put on the agenda for the July meeting. Chair Smith asked Commissioners to send their Ad Hoc Committee selections on which they would like to serve on for compilation prior to the July meeting. 7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items – Jim Mosher respectfully suggests that the Commission ignore the Library Services Director’s instructions for submitting agenda items. Mr. Mosher asserted that nothing in the Brown Act that suggests that this new process is required for placing items on agendas. Mr. Mosher continued to assert that the policy the City Council 5 sets does not determine the policy for this Arts Commission, and that the Commission needs to remain consistent with the Charter and with the Brown Act. It was moved, seconded and passed (Commissioner Greer/Commissioner Logan) to approve adjournment of this meeting. Motion carried. 8) Adjournment – 6:53 p.m. Submitted by: Robert Smith Chair Approval of Minutes