HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Arts Commission 01-08-2025 Approved Meeting MinutesCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES
Newport Beach Civic Center – Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach 92660
Thursday, January 8, 2026 – 5:00 PM
City Arts Commission Members:
Heather Ignatin, Chair
Vanessa Moore, Vice Chair
David Anastos, Commissioner
John Blom, Commissioner
Cory Glass, Commissioner
Tiare Meegan, Commissioner
Laurel Tippett, Commissioner
Staff Members:
Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director
Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager
Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Heather Ignatin called the City Arts Commission Regular Meeting to order at
5:02 P.M. II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Chair Heather Ignatin Vice Chair Vanessa Moore
Commissioner David Anastos Commissioner Laurel Tippett Commissioners Absent: Commissioner John Blom (excused) Commissioner Cory Glass (excused) Commissioner Tiare Meegan (excused) Staff Present: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Ignatin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
The Notice to the Public was read, explaining the public comment procedures and
requesting that cell phones be turned off or set to silent mode.
City Arts Commission Meeting January 8, 2026
Page 2 V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Consent Calendar Items 1. Minutes of the December , 2025, City Arts Commission Meeting 2. Financial Report Review of financial information.
Chair Ignatin asked for commissioner comments on the Consent Calendar items, which
included the minutes from the December 11, 2025, meeting and the financial report. Seeing
no comments from commissioners or the public, the Chair called for a vote.
Motion by Chair Ignatin, seconded by Commissioner Anastos, to approve the consent
calendar. Motion carried unanimously (4-0-0-3).
VI. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 3. Spin Art at the Mayor’s Egg Race
Staff recommend the City Arts Commission review and approve the Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee’s recommendation to provide a Spin Art Activity at the 11th Annual Mayor’s Egg Race.
Manager Rebecca Lightfoot presented a recommendation from the Music and Live
Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee to provide a spin art activity at the 11th Annual Mayor's
Egg Race scheduled for March 28, 2026. The activity would cost approximately $1,250 for
200 spin arts. This anticipated cost would include the vendor bringing all supplies, running
the spin art stations, handling artwork displays, and cleaning up after the event.
Vice Chair Moore added that the vendor would also provide stencils of bunnies or eggs for
the children to cut out after their artwork dried, thematically connecting the art activity to the
event. Commissioner Anastos inquired about cleanup responsibilities, and Manager
Lightfoot confirmed the vendor would handle cleanup specific to the spin art activity, while
Parks and Recreation would manage general event cleanup.
After no public comments, the Chair called for a vote.
Motion by Chair Ignatin, seconded by Vice Chair Moore, to approve Spin Art at the Mayor’s
Egg Race. Motion carried unanimously (4-0-0-3).
4. 2025 Student Art Exhibition Winners Staff recommend the City Arts Commission approve the winning submissions of the 2025 Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
City Arts Commission Meeting January 8, 2026
Page 3 Manager Lightfoot presented the Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee's
recommendations for the 2025 exhibition winners across three categories: Pre-K through
3rd grade, 4th through 7th grade, and 8th through 12th grade. Each category would have
first, second, and third place winners, with prizes of $100, $50, and $25 Amazon gift cards
respectively, totaling $525 from the programming budget.
The winning artwork is on display in the Central Library lobby until February 23rd, and
ribbons would be placed on the winning pieces. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia
clarified that winners would be invited to a presentation ceremony at the beginning of the
February 12th City Arts Commission meeting.
Commissioners Anastos and Tippett, who served on the Student Art Exhibition
Subcommittee, noted the quality of submissions, with Commissioner Anastos describing the
selection process as "rigorous" and noting there were some "budding artists" among the
submissions.
With no public comments, the item was put to a vote.
Motion by Commissioner Anastos, seconded by Commissioner Tippett, to approve the
2025 Student Art Exhibition winners. Motion carried unanimously (4-0-0-3).
5. Summer Concerts on the Civic Green and Fall Concert at Marina Park
Staff recommend the City Arts Commission review and approve the Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee’s recommendations of two bands, a Pacific Symphony performance, and one alternate band for the summer concert series on the Civic Center Green, as well as review and approve a band and an alternate for the Fall concert at Marina Park.
Manager Lightfoot presented the Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee's
recommendations for performers at the summer concerts on the Civic Center Green and
the fall concert at Marina Park. The recommendation included two bands (Flashback Heart
Attack and Redneck Rodeo), a Pacific Symphony performance, and Yachty by Nature as
an alternate for the summer series. For the fall concert at Marina Park, Diego's Garage was
recommended with Sega Genocide as the alternate.
The total budget for band performances, sound engineering, children's activities, and other
costs was approximately $36,750, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year due to
one band's fee being $5,000 instead of the usual $3,250. Additionally, the Pacific Symphony
performance fee was $45,000, with a funding request submitted to the Newport Beach Arts
Foundation to help with this expense.
The Subcommittee also recommended adding a stage with a metal truss and promotional
banner, similar to the previous year. Food trucks and children's activities would be available
at each concert.
Vice Chair Moore noted the Arts Foundation would be meeting the following week to
consider the funding request, with another meeting before the Commission's February
meeting.
City Arts Commission Meeting January 8, 2026
Page 4 Commissioner Anastos inquired about sponsorship opportunities, and Vice Chair Moore
indicated this would be discussed in the monthly report from the Public Relations and
Marketing Subcommittee.
During public comment, Jim Mosher noted the staff report lacked information about how
many applications were reviewed by the Ad Hoc Committee. He also mentioned that in
previous years, the entire Commission had reviewed applications and made collective
choices, noting that tastes differ among commissioners.
Vice Chair Moore confirmed that last year's process was the same as this year's, with the
Ad Hoc making the selections rather than the full Commission.
Motion by Vice Chair Moore, seconded by Commissioner Tippet, to approve the Music
and Live Entertainment’s recommendations for the following performances:
2026 Summer Concerts on the Civic Green
• Flashback Heart Attack
• Redneck Rodeo
• Pacific Symphony
• Yachty by Nature (alternate)
2026 Fall Concert at Marina Park
• Diego’s Garage
• Sega Genocide (alternate)
Motion carried unanimously (4-0-0-3).
6. Cultural Arts Activities
Monthly review of cultural arts activities from the Library Administrative Office for
upcoming Library and City arts events and services
Manager Lightfoot reported that the Central Library Gallery Wall currently featured silver
gelatin contact print artwork by Hugo Zhang, with digital photography scheduled to be
installed next month. She also noted that the City Arts Commission had distributed 100
custom-made commemorative holiday ornaments at the Marina Park Community Center
Family Fun Night on December 19th.
Manager Lightfoot informed the Commission that the Sculpture Exhibition Phase X
recommendations would be on the City Council agenda for January 13th, 2026, at 4:00
PM, inviting commissioners to attend if interested.
B. Monthly Reports
The Chair noted that these reports from the Commission's ad hoc subcommittees were informational only, and public comments would be taken after all oral reports were finished. 7. Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee
City Arts Commission Meeting January 8, 2026
Page 5 Commissioner Anastos, Commissioner Meegan
Commissioner Anastos reported that they met and are in the process of touring all possible
public places for art and will be looking at the City’s art inventory currently being kept in
storage soon.
8. Art Week Ad Hoc Subcommittee
Chair Ignatin, Vice Chair Moore, Commissioner Tippett Vice Chair Moore reported they did not meet this month, but applications were starting to
come in.
9. Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Ignatin, Vice Chair Moore The Chair appointed Commissioner Cory Glass to this Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
10. Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee
Vice Chair Moore, Commissioner Meegan Vice Chair Moore reported they did not meet.
11. Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Ignatin, Vice Chair Moore
The Chair reported that they did not meet. 12. Public Relations and Marketing Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Ignatin, Vice Chair Moore Vice Chair Moore reported they met and were discussing with staff and the City’s
Attorney Office the potential sponsorship opportunities through the Foundation for
events the Commission holds.
Commissioner Anastos asked who was handling the discussion on the city's side, and
Rebecca Lightfoot confirmed it was the city attorney. The Chair appointed Commissioner
Corey Glass to this Ad Hoc subcommittee.
13. Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Ignatin, Commissioner Blom
Chair Ignatin reported that there was no meeting.
City Arts Commission Meeting January 8, 2026
Page 6
14. Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioner Anastos, Commissioner Meegan, Commissioner Tippett
Commissioner Tippett reported that there was no additional report beyond the earlier
agenda item.
15. Newport Beach Arts Foundation Liaison
Vice Chair Moore Vice Chair Moore reported that the Foundation’s meeting would be the following week.
16. Historical Resources Liaison Commissioner Blom
No report was provided as Commissioner Blom was absent.
17. General Plan Update Ad Hoc Subcommittee
Ignatin, Moore, Blom
No report was provided.
VII. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION, OR
REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) No items were suggested for a future agenda.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
There were no public comments on non-agenda items.
IX. ADJOURNMENT – 5:21 P.M. Chair Ignatin adjourned the meeting.
Approved by: Heather Ignatin