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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/14/2012 - City Arts Commission - 01 Draft Minutes City of Newport Beach Newport Beach City Arts Commission Thursday, May 10, 2012 – 5:00pm Central Library Conference Room Convened at 5:00pm 1) Call Meeting to Order: Commission Chair Robyn Grant called the meeting to order and asked staff to take roll call; 2) Roll Call: Commissioners Present: Robyn Grant, Chair; Robert Smith, Vice Chair; Gil Lasky; Christopher Trela; Carole Boller, Arlene Greer, Rita Goldberg, Secretary. Commissioners Absent: None Staff Present: Kyle Rowen, Deputy City Attorney; Cynthia Cowell, Library Director; Jana Barbier, Cultural Arts Coordinator Public Present: Rita Stenlund, Cynthia “Sunny” Gallagher, Leslie Perovich 3) Public Comments: Rita Stenlund introduced herself to the commission. She is President of the ExplorOcean/Nautical Museum. Ms. Stenlund asked about loaning historic photographs of Newport Beach to the City for an interactive display at the new civic center. Stenlund explained that the photos owned by the museum highlighted historic races and events and were unmatched. Ms. Stenlund noted that she’d seen an opportunity to produce an interactive display or two-dimensional display at the new civic structure that could be rotated. Ms. Stenlund left a summary of this proposal. Commissioner Grant noted that this topic had been introduced by Councilman Henn and that she had assigned Commissioner Trela to find out more about the photos and memorabilia available for display from the Nautical Museum. She noted that Trela would be reporting back on this topic at the next Arts Commission meeting. Cynthia Gallagher introduced herself and noted that she had lived in Newport Beach for 27 years. Ms. Gallagher had been exploring history in area, including 61 homes in the Newport Beach Historical Register. She expressed that there was not enough public art in Newport Beach and that she wanted to see more. Ms. Gallagher is applying for the Arts Commission. She was welcomed by Commissioner Grant. 4) Approval of Minutes: It was MSP (Greer/Trela) to approve the April 12, 2012 Minutes 5) Current Business: A. Consent Calendar 1. Cultural Arts Activities - Grant asked if there were any comments on the staff report. 2. Correspondence and Press – Various invitations and announcements that had been received in the cultural arts office were disseminated to the Arts Commission. 2 B. Items for Review and Possible Action - None C. Monthly Reports – 1. Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Committee – Commissioner Smith noted that he had received an EIR on the Medical Arts Bldg. on Westcliff Dr. and that the Arts Commission was asked to weigh in on this. Mr. Smith also noted that he and Arts Commission chair, Robyn Grant had met with City Council persons and Steve Badum regarding the financing process for new public art. 2. Fine Arts Committee – Commissioner Boller noted that the Newport Beach Art Exhibition and Sale was a fine exhibit and thanked Commissioner Greer and staff for their assistance. Boller noted that the cost to host the event this year had been $5,144.79; she stated that the awards had increased in 2012, and that this was well- received. Boller noted that the award-winning artwork would be on display at Oasis Senior Center until June 30. Commissioner Greer thanked the donors and commissioners for their hard work – including spouses. She thanked Commissioner Trela for the photography and advertising he had coordinated. Commissioner Greer noted that the Lenahan collection, which had been on display at Oasis Senior Center, was now at Central Library and that it looked great. Commissioner Greer discussed the Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hilbert’s collection on mid- century American artwork and noted that commissioners and staff had been in the process of meeting Mr. Hilbert and reviewing the collection at his home and offices. Greer planned to complete the review by the following week. She noted that Mr. Hilbert had suggested displaying watercolors of the region from the years 1930-1999. This kind of display would offer some historical perspective on Newport Beach, surrounding communities, and the artists who lived and worked here. Commissioner Boller provided a book of Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert’s art collection. Commissioner Grant provided a recap of this exhibit opportunity to Deputy City Attorney Kyle Rowen. Discussion ensued as to appropriate display areas, glass that would be in most of City Hall and what kind of insurance would be required to host this kind of exhibition. Library Director Cowell noted that staff and commissioners had considered the idea of rotating an exhibit of Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert’s collection, perhaps quarterly, for a year in Central Library. Commissioners decided to discuss these options in committee and report back to the Arts Commission. 3. Performing Arts Committee - Commissioner Goldberg noted that there were no changes to the summer line up of concerts and plays. The event dates were June 10 – Jerry Mandel Jazz Band at Grant Howald Park; July 22 – the Bracken Band at Bob Henry Park; and, on August 5 – The U.K. Beat at Bonita Canyon S.P. Shakespeare by the Sea would be performing on July 7 and 8. 4. Museum Tours - Commissioner Goldberg noted that she would look into some dates in October for a museum tour and that she was looking into a tour to the Skirball Center. 5. Arts Foundation Liaison Committee - Commissioner Greer noted that she had received a flyer for the Art in the Park event on June 16. She requested, on behalf of the 3 foundation, assistance on the day of the event from the Arts Commissioners. Commissioner Trela offered assistance and would bring his interns to help as well. 6. Publicity Committee – Commissioner Trela noted that he had attended the Newport Beach Film Festival Seminar at the Port Theater with documentary filmmakers, and that it was a worthy event. Trela noted that he’d been a good spokesperson for the City Arts Commission when he gave a speech on KOCI. 7. Budget Committee – Commissioner Lasky noted that the City budget was winding down. Lasky reported that there was $788 in reserve for the fiscal year, but that this would be utilized for marketing and banners for the June concert event. Commissioner Lasky was happy to report that every nickel would have been spent. He posed the question, since the commission was so close on the budget, would it be wise to take more funds from the Cultural Arts Grant program next year, and noted that it was something to consider. Library Director Cowell discussed that budget requests were in for the next fiscal year and that directors had been instructed to submit flat budgets, with the consideration that costs had again gone up. She explained that Council had not yet voted on the 2012/13 FY Budget. Commissioner Grant discussed that she still wanted to tackle the question of money going in and coming out and that the answer was still the same, that there would be no change. She wanted to resolve this issue and requested an independent meeting prior to the budget being approved in 3 or 4 weeks. Commissioner Goldberg stated that she thought the museum tours would be self- sustaining. Commissioner Grant strongly suggested remedying the situation or reconsidering offering the museum tours. Grant asked if the budget issue was business as usual and asked Commissioner Lasky to take the lead on accepting revenue back into an expenditure account. Commissioner Lasky agreed to set up a budget committee meeting and Commissioner Goldberg stated that she was interested in attending. Commissioners asked to meet with staff, budget coordinator, Melissa Kelly about requesting an increase in their expenditure account before the next Arts Commission meeting. Arts Commissioner Greer noted that she would attend a budget committee meeting for some tutoring, but not if there would be too many Commissioners in attendance. 6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) – Commissioners requested adding a Cultural Arts Grants Committee to the agenda. Commissioners Greer and Goldberg requested that staff forward the Cultural Arts Grant application materials to them for review. 7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items – Commissioner Trela asked if there was a date set for a Boards and Commissions Training Session with the Planning Commission in August. 8) Meeting Adjourned 6:20pm Approved Minutes Signed by Chairperson: _____________________