Loading...
FAC 09-25-90 FINE ARTS COMMISSION Regular Meeting--Sept. 25, 1990 Cupertino City Hall MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by chairman Roberta Hollimon at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Hollimon, Sheila Ettinger, Arden, Val Ramsay, Nancy Steele and Robert Lerner Commissioners absent: None Staff present: Donna Krey and Blaine Snyder Doris Harry, Deborah (arrived at 8 p.m.). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ettinger requested the insertion of two phrases on page three. The words "for mural" will be added in regard to the lighting in City Hall and the words "artist award" will refer to former recipients receiving flyers. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. - WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS , Referring to newspaper clippings in the packet, Arden suggested letters of congratulations from the Fine Arts Commission be sent to local artists who achieve distinction, mentioning Zoe Adorno of Cupertino. Members agreed Hollimon should write a letter to the artist and include a grant application. Arden also suggested the Public Art Committee investigate how the city of Grand Rapids received Federal funding for a work of public art. Members agreed. Krey read a letter from Karen Lynn, special projects producer at KNTV, who praised the last chamber music concert at the community center and those responsible for coordinating the event. Hollimon passed out information about cultural events in the area and the latest issue of Sculpture magazine. STAFF REPORT Krey reported the civic Service Awards ceremony will be Nov. 1 at the community center and that two people, Vicky O'Brien and Genevieve Ziegler, would be honored for cultural arts. She also said the mural lighting was nearly ready to be installed and that the artist would be coming in November to seal the painting. Krey also informed the commission that the City Council adopted the FAC-recommended vision statement at a meeting sept. 17. DISCUSSION OF FUND-RAISING/BUDGET Blaine Snyder, finance director, answered questions from commissioners on what restrictions the city has on fund-raising activities. He stated that the city can set up a trust fund for FAC specific projects, but the city council must be made aware of the activity and could, at any time, use the funds for other things, if necessary. snyder spoke about Prop. 4, which does not allow government agencies to make a profit, but indicated overhead costs could be added to actual costs. This extra money could be kept in a separate account and the FAC would ask the council each year to deposit monies earned into a reserve fund. Again, he stressed, the funds would be up to council discretion. Hollimon said she would research further the idea of using the Santa Clara County Arts Council as a repository for FAC-earned funds. On soliciting donations from businesses, Snyder again said the council should be kept informed of FAC's intentions, whether seeking donations for funding or for public artworks. Harry asked if a reserve fund could earn interest and Snyder replied that he was opposed to the idea because a certain amount of work goes into maintaining the fund, but it was possible. Hollimon said the first thing to do was to formulate a plan for a specific project, such as obtaining a piano for the community center and present it to the council. commissioners agreed that fund-raising guidelines should be drawn up for themselves. By consensus, the Business Relations Committee will outline a proposal for the piano, to be discussed at the October meeting. The Public Art Committee will develop a plan for soliciting funding from outside sources for public art. This item will be discussed at the November FAC meeting. ADOPTION OF CO-SPONSORSHIP POLICY Commissioners reviewed a policy and application form developed by Hollimon and made minor wording changes. Before the policy is adopted, Hollimon will get clarification from the Parks and Rec department regarding required use and fund-raising fees. Krey will ask the city attorney if the FAC needs to have co-sponsored groups sign a waiver of liability. This item will appear again on the October agenda. CALIFORNIA CONFEDERATION OF ARTS CONFERENCE The conference takes place Nov. 14-17 in Los Angeles and Hollimon suggested setting aside $400 for someone to attend. Several commissioners expressed interest in going. Hollimon said whoever confirmed first would receive the available funding. Ettinger made a motion allocating $400 for the conference; Arden seconded and the motion passed unanimously. GOALS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Hollimon explained that the city's Goals Committee was meeting with councilmembers and commission representatives for a preliminary look at the "vision" drawn up by the Goals Committee in relation to Cupertino's General Plan. She indicated that the arts were not often mentioned in the Goals Committee report and went through, reading passages where art-related phrases could be inserted. Because the meeting was taking place a day later, commissioners commented on the short time they had to read the report and offer input. By consensus, they authorized Hollimon to suggest places in the report where the arts could fit in. Ramsay said Hollimon should present in writing the inserted arts statements. Hollimon said she didn't think she would have time, but would try before the meeting took place. LETTERS TO LEGISLATORS REGARDING NEA Hollimon said she called a hotline for information and was told that a compromise proposal, the Hatch compromise, was before the Senate. The bill removes the controversial "content restriction" but states that artworks found obscene by a court must have funding returned to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) and the artist may not apply again for three years. Ramsay made a motion that Hollimon FAX a letter to Senator Pete Wilson requesting he support the Hatch compromise and that a similar letter be sent to Congressman Tom Campbell, requesting his continued support of similar legislation. Steele seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Hollimon volunteered to follow up the FAX with a mailed letter, including an FAC bumper sticker in the envelope. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Public Art Committee will request that sculptor Chris Boissevain lend a piece of sculpture to the city for display in City Hall. Business Relations will meet to develop a proposal for the piano. Grants committee member Ettinger reported that 13 application have been received, with requests totaling nearly $80,000. Grant proposals ranged from about $600 to $50,000. She said a formal recommendation will come before the commission at its next meeting. Steele asked the commission to consider what direction to take with the Television Committee, saying interest in devoting time to Channel 30 productions had waned. Krey suggested keeping the committee for special Channel 30 projects and for ongoing spots with the Channel 53. Committee members will meet and discuss doing introductions for Channel 53 art-related programs. COMMISSIONER REPORTS/LIAISONS Arden announced that she will obtain copies of the Euphrat's annual report and distribute them to FAC members and the city council. She also said she would be in touch with the city of Los Gatos to find out where they are locating several pieces of large sculpture recently acquired. Harry said she attended the Sausalito Art Festival, which is highly recommended and is not patterned after a crafts festival. She also mentioned a symphony concert in San Francisco, put on strictly for residents of that city, saying it was something to think about. Steele reported on a trip to Mammoth Mountain, where a 7,000-pound sculpture of a wooly mammoth was being dedicated. She offered to obtain further information on how the project was commissioned. Ettinger stated that a meeting will be held between Caron Blinick of De Anza College, Hollimon, Steele and herself to discuss the FAC co-sponsored summer 1991 event at the college. Krey will reserve a conference room at City Hall for the Oct. 2 meeting. Ramsay displayed promotional materials from various arts organizations and galleries. Hollimon reported on the Mayor's Lunch, saying that ASAC is looking into the city's sign ordinance and that Cupertino has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Traffic Authority on the 280/85 interchange. She also spoke about Joanne Tanner's chamber music concert, reporting that it was a very successful and professional event, with abut 120 attending. Hollimon said the community center also received praise from those attending the FAC-hosted Arts Council meeting and she may be coming back to the FAC with a proposal to host another such meeting. ADJOURNMENT Ettinger moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.; Steele seconded and the motion passed unanimously.