HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2015 FAC reg mtg minutesFINE ARTS COMMISSION
MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015
In Attendance: Gigi Hanna, City Clerk
Paul Reed, Junior University
Robert Kitner, Junior University
Sherman Ballard, Junior University
Commissioners: Dorothy Garcia, Chairperson
Barbara Babcock, Alternate
Deborah Bunger
Donna Howard
Lynette Kaplan
Velia Marquez
Michael Segura
Absent: Tony Barber
Bronica Taylor
Meeting called to order on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 4:05 p.m. in the MIC Room, 6th Floor
of City Hall.
COMMISSIONER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Lynette Kaplan announced that Black Butterfly will be playing at CSUSB in the coming
days, that the Robert Burns dinner is set for January 24 at The Hotel, and that the Lunar
Festival at UC Riverside is set for January 30.
• Barbara Babcock mentioned that the one -year anniversary of the SBx line is April 27 and
that Omnitrans is interested in a tour of the art at the bus stops.
• Michael Segura asked if the Commission would write a letter of recommendation for an
artist who is set to paint a mural on the wall at American Sports University, to aid him in
getting business donations for the project. He also mentioned that the Byrne Project is
considering funding two murals in the San Bernardino area, one next to a community
garden.
• Gigi Hanna reminded announced that the Richardson Prep High Jazz band would be
playing at the Third Thursday Food Truck Event that week. She said she would be at the
FAC table with tickets for Black Butterfly, Symphonie Juenesse, SB Symphony and
California Theater.
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Fine Arts Commission — January 13, 2015
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• Dotti Garcia announced that February 7 is the San Bernardino Symphony's American
Jazz Composers concert and that a related event, on February 5th will honor Cheryl and
Hardy Brown, with the jazz band from Cal State playing at the event, to be held at the
California Theater.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Paul Reed, Robert Kitner, and Sherman Ballard, of Junior University, spoke about the financial
shortfall facing Junior University this year, estimated at $13,000 to $14,000. The 52- year -old
organization has been holding their productions at Roosevelt Bowl for 50 years and organizers
are hoping to keep JU from moving to University of Redlands, based on board concerns about
safety and loss of revenue.
They attributed the estimated shortfall to declining audience and revenues, and increasing costs.
Among those expenses are costs to store JU equipment, and security for performances and
practices at various sites other than the Roosevelt Bowl.
The group also does not charge the actors to participate, except to cover the cost of their shoes, if
they can afford it. They also discussed the desire to have an electronic sign, similar to the one at
Sturges Center, to help attract audience members.
Sherman Ballard asked what the FAC could do for Junior University. Garcia said a new grants
process needs to be worked through first and the committee will get back to them once that is
decided.
Currently JU is working with Mickey Valdivia, Parks Director, about getting bids on an electric
sign.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Michael Segura, seconded by Donna Howard to approve the minutes of
the November 18, 2014 meeting. It passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Barbara Babcock, seconded by Michael Segura, to approve the minutes
of December 9, 2014. It passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
The Multicultural Festival was not discussed because Commissioner Bronica Taylor was not in
attendance. It will be agendized for the February 10, 2015 meeting.
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Fine Arts Commission — January 13, 2015
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OLD BUSINESS
Arts Grants process. The grants process was approved in October 2014, along with a timeline.
Chair Garcia said the Commission is now at the point to make decisions about how to proceed,
how much available for grants, how to cover the requests.
Kaplan said she was opposed to making a decision about arts grants without the 2013 -14 audit
completed.
A motion was made by Lynette Kaplan, seconded by Deborah Bunger, to hold off the grants
process until the audits for FY 2012 -13 and 2013 -14 are completed. The motion passed, 4 -2 with
Barbara Babcock and Donna Howard voting no. Chair Garcia did not vote.
Criteria for Micro - grants. Chairperson Garcia read the January 5, 2015 staff report to the
Mayor and Common Council with the criteria set for awarding of micro - grants. She indicated
that Council Members Marquez and Mulvihill have ideas about how to award their grants.
Kaplan said Council Member Nickel would not be submitting any requests until the audits are
completed. Garcia said there had been a question about whether council members could pool
their money and collaborate on projects and she said the language of the criteria dedicates the
awards to each ward individually for promotion of arts in each ward.
Third Thursday Food Truck Event. A band from Richardson High Prep has agreed to play at
the January 15 Food Truck event, with Council Member Virginia Marquez covering the cost of
buses with part of her micro -grant funds. Hanna and Garcia said they would sit at the FAC table
at the event to run the drawing for free concert tickets.
Report on window display on Arts on 5th Street. Garcia said she'd spoken to Juan Delgado
and Tom McGovern, of CSUSB, about creating window displays of poetry at Arts on 5th Street.
Council Member Mulvihill has contracted with them to use his $5,000 micro -grant to do this in
the 7th Ward, along Highland Avenue, between Sterling and Waterman. Michael Segura said he
scouted the downtown windows /addresses of businesses with empty windows that could be used
for the poetry displays. Kaplan suggested that the Kendall Plaza shopping center at Kendall and
Palm is a potential site for displays until businesses open in the shopping center. The group
agreed via consensus to support the concept of moving ahead with this project in downtown,
specifically in the Arts on 5th building. The commission also agreed via consensus to speak to
Mr. Villanueva, owner of the Arts on 5th building, about the potential art display.
Fine Arts Commission — January 13, 2015
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Quarter Sheet for Artists, venues to distribute. Gigi Hanna handed out a postcard for artists to
add their names to the city's database of performers and venues.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None were received
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned January 13, 2015 at 5:35 p.m. The next Fine Arts Commission meeting will
be on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 4:00 p.m., in the MIC Room, Sixth Floor of San Bernardino
City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Gigi Hanna
City Clerk