Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Arts Commission 05-08-2025 Approved Meeting MinutesCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Newport Beach Public Library 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Thursday, May 8, 2025 – 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 Maureen Flanagan Commissioner Wayan Kaufman Commissioner Vanessa Moore Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Barbara George (excused) Staff Present: Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant Staff Absent: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Kandel led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC - Waived V. PUBLIC COMMENTS None VI. CONSENT CALENDAR City Arts Commission Meeting May 8, 2025 Page 2 A. Approval of Minutes of April 10, 202, City Arts Commission Meeting 1. Draft of 04/10/2025 Minutes Chair 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 item for discussion. Hearing non, she opened the item for Public Comment. Jim Mosher reported from the Finance Committee’s meeting there are no changes to the City Arts Commission budget proposed other than an increase of close to $200,000 related to the Sculpture Exhibition. He reported there are two-line items missing from the Commission’s budget, one for $4,248 for Maintenance and Repair and another for $1,000 for Publications and Dues that are both included in the City’s budget. He reported hearing staff was deferring art maintenance and expressed his concerns over if the funds have in fact been allocated. Library Services Manager Rebecca Lightfoot thanked Mr. Mosher for asking this of her during the Finance Committee’s meeting in advance so she could research it. She reported the $1,000 for Publications and Dues is an internal fund used for their Orange County Arts annual membership while also paying for public performance music licenses. She could not explain why it is not listed and pledged to ask Library Services Director Melissa Hartson upon her return. She added the $4,248 has traditionally been used to clean sculptures, noting it is a small amount they regularly exceed and dip into the Professional Services budget to cover the remainder. She could not explain why this line is missing either but added the funds have been used in the past. In response to Commissioner Flanagan’s inquiry, Library Services Manager Lightfoot confirmed staff is working on standardizing the cleaning schedule. She confirmed the funds are still available in their Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget because they are not moving it out of Professional Services. Commissioner Flanagan stated there should be a clearer representation of how cleaning and repair works in their budget. Library Services Manager Lightfoot agreed. Chair Kandel closed Public Comment. Motion made by Secretary Ignatin seconded by Chair Kandel to accept the Consent Calendar and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner George absent) City Arts Commission Meeting May 8, 2025 Page 3 VII. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 4. Sculpture Exhibition Phase X Timeline The Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee recommends the City Arts Commission approve the timeline for Phase X of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park. Library Services Manager Lightfoot reported this item is for the Arts Commission to approve the timeline as written in the staff report and not the details of it. She added a timeline needs to be approved so staff can bring the matter to City Council as planned on July 8th for approval of a contract with Arts Orange County (ArtsOC). She added the timeline is similar to those from previous years with an exception being an earlier period for the public survey so it can close before the December holiday season and hopefully generate more participation. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiries, Library Services Manager Lightfoot confirmed the survey ends on December 5th. She confirmed it has historically ended 2-3 weeks later. In response to Vice Chair Blom’s inquiries, Library Services Manager Lightfoot clarified she is not part of the contracting process but stated her impression the City has been working with ArtsOC for Phase X. She confirmed the event skipped a year. She confirmed ArtsOC did not perform any work this year because there were no sculptures to be installed. Cultural Arts Assistant Camille Escareal-Garcia clarified ArtsOC did perform other work during the year such as contacting artists, handling honorariums, and assessing the condition of the Sculpture Garden. She added this work was part of last year’s sculpture exhibition funds. In response to Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia’s inquiry, Vice Chair Blom clarified his questioning is because Phase IX was extended. ArtsOC Vice President Patrick Brien confirmed they notified the artists their pieces will be kept longer than planned because of the exhibition skipping a year, adding all artists were amenable to this change. He added ArtsOC worked with City staff on extending the contractual agreements. He reported they walked the Sculpture Exhibition as Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia stated. He added ArtsOC did not seek additional compensation for any of this work as they considered it part of Phase IX and an extension of their responsibilities. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiry, Vice Chair Blom clarified his quandary was whether the Commission paid ArtsOC additional funds to perform these tasks over the past year. In response to Vice Chair Blom’s inquiries, Library Services Manager Lightfoot stated the City Attorney’s office is working with ArtsOC on next year’s contract. She was unable to confirm whether the Commission has input on what goes into the contract. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiry, Vice Chair Blom stated he would like to see changes made to the ArtsOC contract around who is approached to submit sculptures. City Arts Commission Meeting May 8, 2025 Page 4 Library Services Manager Lightfoot clarified the ArtsOC contract is not for the submissions but rather for the scope of work. She added they can still change stipulations for submissions regardless of the contract, noting it is a matter for the Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee to bring to the full Commission for consideration. In response to Vice Chair Blom’s inquiry, Chair Kandel stated, if the result of this discussion creates extra work for ArtsOC, they would have to see if there is need for a corresponding fee change. Library Services Manager Lightfoot agreed it could conceivably call for an amendment to the contract. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiries, Library Services Manager Lightfoot confirmed today’s vote is only for the proposed timeline. She confirmed the only change from previous years is the public survey window being earlier. Chair Kandel opened the item for Public Comment and there were none. Motion made by Vice Chair Blom, seconded by Secretary Ignatin, to approve staff’s recommended Sculpture Exhibition Phase X timeline and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner George absent) B. Monthly Reports 5. Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner Flanagan, Commissioner Moore Commissioner Moore stated there is nothing to report. In response to Commissioner Moore’s inquiry, Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia reported she is still working on the frame in question. 6. Art Week Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Secretary Ignatin, Commissioner Moore Secretary Ignatin reported visiting many local businesses who are excited about the Art Week idea. She requested assistance in crafting a formal proposal for City Council consideration. Chair Kandel reported the Subcommittee met and decided to gauge interest. She added a next step is continuing to find interested parties, exploring when the event could best fit on the calendar, and creating a rough plan like the timeline they just saw for the Sculpture Exhibition. She added this can be brought to the Commission for a vote to then be presented to City Council. 7. Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Secretary Ignatin, Commissioner Flanagan Secretary Ignatin reported there was no meeting. 8. Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner George, Commissioner Moore City Arts Commission Meeting May 8, 2025 Page 5 Commissioner Moore reported they continue to receive entries with upcoming rounds on Friday and Monday. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiries, Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia reported they have received about 180 entries so far with the final number potentially reaching 220. She confirmed this is about the right number to fit the space. She reported it is too soon to discuss volunteering for the event, but volunteer needs will be discussed by the Subcommittee when the time is appropriate. Commissioner Moore noted the Newport Beach Arts Foundation meets next week and they should see if the attendees want to sign up for something. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia stated she can have a sign-up sheet available for potential volunteers to sign at the meeting. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiry, Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia added they have also previously reached out to the Youth Council for volunteers. She added they often find the most attention is needed when the artwork is being returned to the artists. She added a common complaint from artists is the length of the line to get their work back and suggested more helpers could be beneficial. Chair Kandel recommended not only generally calling for volunteers at places like the Arts Foundation meeting but also calling for volunteers to work in specific areas and at specific times to help ensure they have enough people to cover all times of day. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia confirmed the sign-up sheet can be arranged in a manner including specific areas and times of interest. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiry, Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia confirmed she could have something ready for the next Arts Foundation meeting on Wednesday. 9. Public Relations and Marketing Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin reported there was a meeting with continuing discussions. 10. Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin reported meeting to review the timeline approved by the Commission in Item No. VII-A-4. 11. Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioner Kaufman Commissioner Kaufman stated there was nothing to report. She reported this will be her last Commission meeting. She noted the City has been holding $10,000 in a restricted fund for over six years designated for youth arts programming. She encouraged the Commission to use those funds for a Student Art Exhibition. Chair Kandel thanked Commissioner Kaufman for her service. City Arts Commission Meeting May 8, 2025 Page 6 12. Newport Beach Arts Foundation Liaison Commissioner Moore Commissioner Moore reported they will meet again next week and she did not attend their previous meeting that had been rescheduled. 13. Historical Resources Liaison Vice Chair Blom Vice Chair Blom reported attending the annual Corona del Mar community meeting along with Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia and another library staff member. He reported, along with the staff members, promoting the Commissions’ musical options this summer, receiving significant interest in the Pacific Symphony’s upcoming performance. He cautioned there could be an overflow crowd for the event and encouraged advance discussions on how to handle it. He reported also sensing community enthusiasm for the Tijuana Dogs’ scheduled performance. He added the event’s attendees were rather knowledgeable about the Sculpture Exhibition. In response to Chair Kandel’s inquiries, Vice Chair Blom and Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia reported they did not take any pictures of the event. She reported Stu News Newport Beach attended and took a picture of their table along with another library staff member. VIII. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION, OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) None. IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Mosher reported the Special Collections section of the Newport Beach Public Library’s website notes the Commission helps maintain several Special Collections related to the City’s history and development, including the Local History Collection and the Nautical Collection. He stated he was unaware of the Commission’s role in maintaining Special Collections despite many years of attending meetings. He encouraged the Commission to investigate its role in maintaining the collections. X. ADJOURNMENT – 5:27 P.M. Chair Kandel adjourned the meeting. Approved by: Melissa Kandel