5-19-2025 ACC Minutes
MINUTES
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
Monday, May 19, 2025
At 6:32 p.m. Chair Rohra called the regular meeting to order at the Quinlin Conference Room,
10185 North Stelling Road, and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Kiran Rohra, Vice Chair David Wang, Commissioners Susan Chen, Gurmeet S Lamba,
and Archana Panda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Approval of the March 24, 2025 Arts and Culture Commission
Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve the March 24, 2025 Arts and Culture
Commission Minutes
Commissioners asked questions and made comments, which Senior
Planner Martire responded to.
MOTION: Panda moved and Lamba seconded to approve March 24, 2025 Arts and
Culture Commission Minutes. The motion carried with the following vote: Ayes:
Lamba, Panda, Wang, Rohra Noes: None. Abstain: Chen. Absent: None.
POSTPONEMENTS
MOTION: Roha moved and Lamba and Panda seconded to hear the New Business
Item before the Old Business item.
The motion carried with the following vote: Ayes: Chen, Lamba, Panda, Wang, Rohra
Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR- None
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
NEW BUSINESS
3. Subject: Presentation by SVCreates to the Commission about the functions and
services the organization can provide to the City and Cupertino community.
Recommended Action: Receive presentation.
Arts and Culture Commission May 19, 2025
Chair Rohra introduced Alexandria Urbanowski, CEO of SVCreates and Jessica
Kwong, Community Engagement Manager of SVCreates who gave a presentation.
Commissioners asked questions and made comments on the presentation.
OLD BUSINESS
2. Subject: Study Session to revisit the Municipal Code standards for art in public and
private development, including the standards in the Municipal Code and developing
an Art-in-lieu fee policy.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation and provide feedback for Staff.
Senior Planner Martire gave a presentation.
Commissioners made comments and asked questions. Senior Planner Martire
responded to Commissioner questions.
Commissioner Lamba recommended changing restrictions to the Public Art fund in
the City Council Art in-lieu Fee Policy, under the Public Art Fund section – by
striking the two or three lines describing the restrictions to the funds, and instead of
General Fund, they specifically state Public Art Fund – and develop a criteria for what
the Public Art Fund can be used for, one criteria being it is not committed for the
following years – leaving things like grants up to yearly determination.
Vice Chair Wang suggested that the language is too restrictive – stating that the in lieu
fees should not be limited to physical art. He recommended that it also be used for
programming, funding art shows, creating scholarships, supporting education, and
other potential items as determined by the Commission.
Commissioners agreed that the Public Arts Fund should not be used for staffing and
administrative fees.
Chair Rohra stated that they should add examples, but not add negatives about what
not to use the fund for.
Vice Chair Wang recommended they state what the Public Art Fund cannot be used
for.
Commissioners agreed to recommended to refine the second paragraph, under
“Public Art Fund” to state not use the art in lieu fees for staffing and administration.
Commissioner Panda recommended that they should not restrict the Public Art Fund
Arts and Culture Commission May 19, 2025
to art, but instead make it more open and inclusive.
Commissioners discussed the Art Walk and potential improvements for marketing,
using the website.
Vice Chair Wang recommended they increase funding to Art in Unexpected Places,
increase funding to a rotating art gallery on city property, for example libraries, city
hall, or Quinlan, finally adding community grants for local art projects, artists, and art
organizations.
Chair Rohra expressed a desire to have an Art Tour in the summer incorporating the
Parks and Recreation department for the youths in the City.
Commissioner Panda and Lamba expressed a desire to incorporate seniors.
Chair Rohra discussed a desire to do an Art and Wine show in Memorial Park,
potentially to celebrate a holiday, and expressed a desire to work with non-profits.
She also discussed doing single artists features in the library, and using other city
facilities to showcase art. She also expressed a desire to create semi-permanent or
permanent exhibitions in city facilities.
Commissioners agreed they would like to showcase art on Main Street.
Chair Rohra expressed a desire to partner with the Chamber of Commerce to add art
to the Wine Walk.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Senior Planner Martire reported that Jollyman Park has been completed with a grand opening
occurring in June, and that he would send Commissioners invites.
He also announced that the art piece in Westport was completed, and would ask if there was to be
a grand opening.
He announced that there weren’t any projects to be approved in 2025, and about ten different
development projects are scheduled to come through in 2026 – meaning an increase in in leu fees.
He also announced that July was the beginning of the Artist Awards season, during which they
will be adopting the theme, and in November, they will be voting on the art pieces.
He also mentioned a publicity piece the communications department was doing, and that it was
planned for mid summer/fall. He stated that he communicated there was interest from the Arts
Commission to be interviewed.
He also reported that the Mayor was potentially bringing back hybrid meetings for Commissions –
Arts and Culture Commission May 19, 2025
which would affect public comment.
Chair Rohra also emphasized the importance of Commissioners attending the Arts and Culture
meetings.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:22 p.m. Chair Rohra adjourned the Regular Arts and Culture Commission
Meeting.
Minutes prepared by:
Lindsay Nelson, Administrative Assistant