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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-2014 FAC reg mtg minutesFINE ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 In Attendance: Gigi Hanna, City Clerk Bill Manis, Deputy City Manager Mickey Valdivia, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Valerie Peister, San Bernardino Symphony Jeffrey Thurman Commissioners: Dorothy Garcia, Chairperson Barbara Babcock, Alternate Donna Howard Lynette Kaplan Michael Segura Bronica Taylor Absent: Tony Barber Deborah Bunger Velia Marquez Meeting called to order on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 4:05 p.m. in the MIC Room, 6th Floor of City Hall. COMMISSIONER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairperson Dorothy Garcia handed out copies of Vital Signs book for the commissioners' review. Gigi Hanna announced that two items were going to the Mayor and Council on December 15, 2014. The items are the request of Mr. Jewett in the amount of $2,500.00 and the Micro - grants to the Council Members in the amount of $5,000.00 each. Chairperson Garcia announced that the lease for the Cultural Center on 11"' and "E" Streets has now been signed by both the Water Department and Valley Concert Association. They have the keys and work will begin on Friday when a company comes in to clear all the growth that has not been taken care of, including the three giant cactus plants. By the end of the year there should be a cultural center in San Bernardino that will have art exhibits, performances, offices, etc. �.r+7 Fine Arts Commission — December 9, 2014 Page Two Commissioner Barbara Babcock announced that PBS did a taping of a young singer that was discovered by Pavarotti. It was shown for the first time on KVCR Channel 24 on Sunday. She suggested that we get a copy of that taping to show to the Council. Commissioner Bronica Taylor handed out a flyer she received from Kristin Cameron, Harpist that accompanies her when she performs her praise dancing. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None GUEST SPEAKERS Bill Manis, Deputy City Manager explained his tasks and visions for the City of San Bernardino. He stated that one of his main tasks was to attract new businesses and help get the City back up on its feet financially through our tax base, through sales tax in the community, and jobs. He stated that before the City could attract companies here, the companies would need to know that the City is open for business and the City is business friendly. Mr. Manis pointed out that San Bernardino was very unique and fortunate in that it is in a great market area based on where the City is. The fact that the City is off the major freeways is a huge benefit to the City as far as attracting companies here. Mr. Manis stated that an initial part of what he was going to do is to really brand the City as being safe and clean. Mr. Manis reported that he sent out letters to about seventy -five potential developers and investors regarding the Carousel Mall a couple of weeks ago. He said he did not outline what the City's vision was inasmuch as he wanted to see what their visions were and what the market really drives for that sight. He stated that downtown was the huge focus and he was surprised to see all the great assets that the City had in the downtown area. He mentioned that he wanted to see more of the student population from Cal State, Loma Linda and Redlands downtown, but that the City would need to have things to attract students in order for that to happen. Mr. Manis stated that the Radisson Hotel had an offer last month, but that the ownership never responded. He felt that there really was no interest on the part of the owner. He believed that the next steps for the City would be to take more aggressive actions as it relates to forcing them into a sale to get them to move. He said that vacancies discourage potential businesses to come downtown. Mr. Manis stated that the City has 300 properties that the State essentially controls right now and before the City can do anything with those properties, the State has to see that the City has a plan for them. He stated a plan would be submitted in another couple of months and that it would e Fine Arts Commission — December 9, 2014 Page Three probably take the State six months to review it. He said that once the City received the blessing from the State to move forward on the sites, the City could begin disposing of those properties. Mr. Manis stated that Loma Linda University breaks ground tomorrow on their seventy million dollar building and that will help create jobs in the City. Mr. Manis said he came to work for the City of San Bernardino because he saw a chance to try to help and saw a good team put into place here. He stated that he considered this as an opportunity to have a great story told, hopefully in the next three to five years. Mr. Manis stated that the goal of the bankruptcy was to come out of it by May 30, 2015 and that the City had to have a plan that the Judge would approve. He stated that the main focus of the City Manager's office was to work closely on the bankruptcy plan. Mr. Manis stated that the biggest initial thing that the FAC could do at this point was to brand the City. Speak to friends and business owners and tell them that the City has a plan to welcome responsible development and that the image of our City will be changing for the better. Valerie Peister of the San Bernardino Symphony spoke about the Symphony partnering with the City for their upcoming Mosaico Music Festival on May 3, 2015. She stated that the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department has provided some of the infrastructure that they needed, but that one of the areas that they did not have funding for was for signage. Ms. Peister asked that the Fine Arts Commission consider funding a street banner for promoting this event. Mickey Valdivia, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services gave a short biography of his experience and expertise. He also gave a brief rundown of upcoming events for 2015. He explained that the May 3, 2015 event was the kick off to the spring and summer in getting people outdoors and recommended that the FAC support the San Bernardino Symphony Association with this event. Discussion was made between the Commissioners in regards to grant funds for this project. 1. A motion was made by Commissioner Donna Howard to approve the support of this request, but to attempt to find other resources for funding. 2. A motion was made by Commissioner Donna Howard to approve the funding amount in total with the intention that that will be offset by some percentage based on the various donations that are gathered in this effort. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Barbara Babcock. Motion failed. Fine Arts Commission — December 9, 2014 Page Four NEW BUSINESS 1. Mosaico Festival — May 3, 2015 2. Multicultural Festival L111 A motion was made by Chairperson Garcia to continue discussion on the Multicultural Festival. The motion passed by consensus. OLD BUSINESS 1. Allocation of Micro - grants to City Council Wards for approval on December 15, 2014 Chairperson Garcia presented some Guidelines for Allocation to Council Members to the FAC for review. She stated that if other people had ideas, they would need to incorporate them. Under Fine Arts Performing, it was suggested by Commissioner Lynette Kaplan that music be added. It was also recommended that "existing organization" be changed to "established organization ". Discussion was made whether the two items should go on the December 15, 2014 or January 5, 2015 Council Agendas. It was agreed that the two items remain on the December 15, 2014 calendar. 2. Third Thursdays Fest It was agreed that there not be any participation by the FAC at the Third Thursday Fest on December 18, 2014. 3. Report on window display at Arts on Fifth Street Chairperson Garcia spoke to Greg Villanueva who is an architect in Los Angeles and who owns the entire building and the corner lot. She stated that Mr. Villanueva was pretty excited about doing something with this building. Mr. Villanueva stated he was very interested in working with the FAC. • Fine Arts Commission — December 9, 2014 Page Five Chairperson Garcia received a telephone call from Tom McGovern, professor at Cal State. He is also the photographer for Vital Signs book. Mr. McGovern and Juan Delgado, the poet, made a comment that "they wanted to put some poetry in downtown San Bernardino ". Chairperson Garcia stated that she had a long discussion with both of them and they are both willing to enlarge the photographs, enlarge some poetry, and put them in whatever windows we can find. She said this would probably be done with no money on the part of the FAC and a chance to really decorate the downtown with arts in the windows. Chairperson asked Commissioner Michael Segura of the possibility of Generation Now doing something of an assessment of what windows are vacant in the downtown area. She said that once we have the assessment of those buildings, then the City would be able to find out who owns the buildings. Commissioner Segura stated that he would do the assessment himself. Chairperson stated that she would continue her conversations with Mr. Villanueva regarding the Arts on Fifth Street. 4. Quarter Sheet for Artists, venues to distribute The Quarter Sheets will have to be revised with a return address on it. 5. December Arts Calendar Copies of the December calendar were distributed to commissioners. It was suggested by the FAC that copies of the monthly calendar be distributed to the Community Centers and Libraries. 6. Grants process Chairperson Garcia and City Clerk Gigi Hanna suggested that the Grants Process go on the agenda for the City Council meeting of January 20, 2015. 7. Winter Wonderland Festival — December 13, 2014 Chairperson Garcia asked that commissioners make an appearance at the festival on December 13, 2014. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 0 Fine Arts Commission — December 9, 2014 Page Six: Commissioner Bronica Taylor spoke about the FAC accomplishments to date. She stated that some of those accomplishments were the revisions to the Fine Arts Commission Ordinance, procedures for Mural Policy, Inventory of the City Art, Art Directory /Database, Facebook page, Events Calendar, Film Production catalog, and possible funding for the Rosa Parks statue. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned December 9, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. The next Fine Arts Commission meeting will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 4:00 p.m., in the MIC Room, Sixth Floor of San Bernardino City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Valerie R. Montoya ci Deputy City Clerk