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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/2014 - City Arts Commission - Approved Minutes 1 Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 – 5:00pm Central Library Friends Meeting Room Convened at 5:00pm 1) Call Meeting to Order Chair Goldberg called the meeting to order. 2) Roll Call Commissioners Present: Rita Goldberg, Chair Arlene Greer, Vice Chair Caroline Logan, Secretary Judy Chang Michael Magrutsche Robert Smith Charles Ware Staff Present: Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director Elaine McMillion, Administrative Assistant Terri Cassidy, Deputy City Manager/H.R. Director Tara Finnigan, Public Information Officer Council Present: Nancy Gardner, Council Member 3) Public Comments Jim Mosher noted that he would like the financial report and the Cultural Arts Activities removed from the Consent Calendar to have a separate discussion regarding them. He stated that is his privilege to exercise and would like to discuss each item. 4) Approval of Minutes Motion made by Vice Chair Greer and seconded by Commissioner Logan and carried (7-0) to approve the minutes of February 13, 2014 minutes as amended. AYES: Goldberg, Greer, Logan, Smith, Magrutsche, Chang and Ware NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: None Vice Chair Greer asked that on page 5, it be noted that she made the comments and not Chair Goldberg in the first paragraph of Item.8. Commissioner Logan noted that Nancy Gardner should be recorded as a Council Member and not a Commissioner on page 3, second paragraph. 5) Current Business A. Consent Calendar - 2 1. Correspondence and Press Library Services Director Tim Hetherton stated that Vice Chair Greer would discuss this item later in the meeting. 2. Financial Report - None Chair Goldberg asked for any public comments regarding this item. Mr. Mosher stated that the Cultural Arts activities report refers to staff performing the duties that the Arts and Cultural Services Coordinator once performed. However, the Arts Commission budget shows $40,000.00 has been allocated for “Professional Services”. He asked if there are multiple contracts, as well as the one budgeted for the Arts Orange County services. Chair Goldberg stated that the Arts Commission contracts the services of Dinwiddie Events. Director Hetherton further explained the City’s contract and what the contract entails. The City Council has approved the contract and the money was pre-budgeted. 3. Cultural Arts Activities Mr. Mosher discussed the Concerts in the Park, noting that the City has contracted three different groups. Mr. Mosher questioned the manner in which performers are chosen, asserting that their selection should be approved by the Arts Commission. Director Hetherton noted that the artists for the concerts are not publicly voted upon, and instead chosen by the sub-committee. Jim Mosher stated that if a sub-committee is authorized to make a decision on behalf of the larger Commission then the meeting needs to be publicly noticed. Chair Goldberg asked staff to check with the City Attorney on the legal background of this and report back. B. Items for Review and Possible Action – 1. City Arts Commission By-Laws - Review and revision - Continued to the April 10, 2014 City Arts Commission Meeting. Vice Chair Greer asked to postpone this item and have it placed on the agenda for the April meeting, as there have been last minute revisions. 2. Uprooted II Sculpture – Decision. Commissioner Smith provided a background and brief history of the sculpture. He introduced the artist, Sarah A. Wilkinson, a local artist and landscape architect, who was present at the meeting. The sculpture was installed in front of the Council Chambers and approved by City Council in March 2013, at a lease cost of $750 to display it for one year. The lease agreement is nearing an end. The City Arts Commission may propose the purchase of this sculpture for $25,000, or extend the lease for an additional year at a cost a $1,000. They may choose neither option and choose to end the lease. Chair Goldberg asked for comments. No comments were offered. Chair Goldberg asked for a motion. 3 Motion made by Commissioner Logan to approve an extension of a one-year lease at the additional cost of $1,000. Sarah Wilkinson added that she would like to see the sculpture stay, with the lease extended. The motion was not seconded. Commissioner Ware noted that it was intended as a temporary exhibit and he is unclear on the role of this particular piece. Chair Goldberg thanked Ms. Wilkinson for loaning the City the sculpture but they will not be continuing on with the piece. Sarah Wilkinson noted that City Council has been delighted with the sculpture and because it has already been installed, the lease should be renewed. Chair Goldberg stated that she should speak to the Commissioners independently as to why the motion was not seconded. Chair Goldberg opened for public comment. Jim Mosher stated that City Council saw something different in this sculpture and that the installation does not look like much. He has heard negative comments and that architect Bill Ficker has tried to find a more suitable location for it. Seeing no further public comments, Chair Goldberg closed public comments. 2. Meeting Date Change- Request to change City Arts Commission meeting from April 10 to April 17. Chair Goldberg noted that the date change will better suit the discussion regarding the Sculpture Garden, and that Arts Orange County needed more time to prepare their report. Motion made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Vice Chair Greer and carried (7-0) to change the City Arts Commission meeting from April 10 to April 17. AYES: Goldberg, Greer, Logan, Smith, Magrutsche, Chang and Ware NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: None Commissioner Smith noted that at this meeting there will be discussion and presentation of possible sculptures which will be available to all Commissioners. 4. New Business- Newport Beach/Okazaki Sister City (Verbal Report by Commissioner Logan) Commissioner Logan provided a report on the two City of Newport Beach sister cities, Antibes and Okazaki, and their cultural arts efforts. Newport Beach is a one of a kind city, and photographs of some of the unique aspects of the City were displayed in pastels donated by Gary Sherwin of Newport and 4 Company donated to be presented to the city of Okazaki. These art pieces represent the unique nature of the City of Newport Beach. Chair Goldberg thanked Commissioner Logan for her report. C. Monthly Reports - 1. Newport Beach Sculpture Garden Ad Hoc Committee Commissioner Smith deferred to Arts Orange County Executive Director Richard Stein to provide an update on the process of selecting sculptures for the Civic Center Park. Richard Stein thanked the Commission for changing the April meeting date, noting that 260 works of art have been submitted from 171 different artists. Entries will close next week and the committee will then sort through each submission. Afterwards, the selection panel will meet and make their recommendations. Commissioner Smith noted that the committee was pleasantly surprised by the amount of submissions and number of artists, adding that the CaFÉ website was very successful. 2. Fine Arts Ad Hoc Committee Sub Committee Chair Greer reported the fourth and last installation will be installed this week. The current display will be available through mid-May. Several new artists will be exhibited in the library throughout the coming year have been selected by the committee. Also, the Newport Beach Arts Exhibition will be held on the Civic Green on Saturday, June 14, which will celebrate this event’s 50th anniversary. The event begins at 1:00pm. The National Charity League will help to install the artwork with the help of the Newport Beach Arts Foundation and the City Arts Commission, and will be held on the Civic Green and in the Community Room. The art will be on exhibit from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, with a reception held the last hour. There will be cash prizes awarded within each category. 3. Museum Tour Ad Hoc Committee Vice Chair Greer reported on the highly successful LACMA museum tour on March 4th. The tour included a continental breakfast, and reference materials and DVDs pertaining to Turrell. Attendees were exposed to numerous amazing exhibits. The Calder and Turrell exhibits were highlights, as was lunch and the camaraderie of the guests. City staff and the committee members were thanked for their extraordinary contributions. No negative comments were received and budget expenditures were much less than the proceeds received. It was a well-received tour and research has already begun on the next tour. 4. Arts Foundation Liaison Ad Hoc Committee Commissioner Smith shared updates regarding underwriters needed for the Arts in the Park on the Civic Green, to be held on October 12. The event was very successful last year, and they are expecting about one hundred artists at the upcoming event. Additionally, a museum event is being explored for mid-April and an email will follow with more information. 5. Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Committee Chair Goldberg noted that this committee is currently sunsetted. 5 6. Art Site Suitability Ad Hoc Committee Commissioner Magrutsche noted this project will take an organic route and that currently there are more pressing topics. In the meanwhile, whenever there is a new location, art will be reviewed and handled. Director Hetherton added that the approach will be to focus on where in the City owned pieces could be displayed. Chair Goldberg urged the Committee to find empty walls within the City to hang art that the City currently owns. 7. Civic Center Art Placement Ad Hoc Committee Chair Goldberg noted they will see what art the Civic Center wants. 8. Art Owned by the City of Newport Beach Ad Hoc Committee Vice Chair Greer noted that they are working with an art appraiser to organize the art, providing a synopsis and value of each art piece. A report will be available in the near future. 6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) Council Member Gardner commended the City Arts Commission for their decision on the Uprooted II sculpture. She noted that artists have a personal investment in their art work; however, the Commission must do what they feel is best for the City. 7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items Deputy City Manager and H.R. Director Terri Cassidy provided information on the training available for the Commission by Trudy Sopp, Founder and Consulting Partner of The Centre for Organization Effectiveness. The day and time availability options will be forwarded to staff who will then forward to each Commissioner. Because many commissioners are new, the training will provide training in official City matters. She would like it to be held before the summer and the training will be provided in either two 2-hour sessions or one 4-hour session. Commissioner Smith noted that he attended this training several years ago and it was extremely beneficial. Jim Mosher discussed the program, Tuesdays @ 2, which is held in the new media center and provides the public with education on technology. He also looks forward to the City Arts Commission finding the locations within the City for art pieces to be placed. 8) Adjournment – 6:04 p.m. Submitted by: Chair Rita Goldberg