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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-2016 Approved HCAC Minutes tikorr)// HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION /V/ REGULAR MEETING 9'�1�82 . `` �� /. Minutes• CITY OF DUBLIN November 10, 2016 . The November 10, 2016 Regular.Meeting of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission was called.to order at 7:00 PM at the Dublin Civic Center, Dublin, California, by Chair Blackburn. Commissioners (Cm.) Present: Blackburn, Minniear,Tutino, He, Iharosi, Deets Commissioners Absent: Szollos PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Blackburn led the Pledge of Allegiance. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—None. APPROVAL OF.MINUTES 4.1 Minutes of October 13, 2016. Regular Meeting On a motion by Cm. Iharosi, seconded by Cm. Minniear, and by a vote of 5-0-0 with Cm. Szollos and Cm._ Deets absent (Cm. Deets arrived after the vote was conducted), the Commission took the following action: ACTION: . Approved minutes of the October 13, 2016 Regular Meeting, as presented. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS—None. PUBLIC HEARING—None: UNFINISHED BUSINESS- None. NEW BUSINESS 8.1 Cultural Arts Needs Assessment Ms. Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts and Heritage Manager, presented the specifics of the item as.outlined -in the Staff Report. Cm.Deets arrived at 7:05 PM. Cm. Deets asked where affordable housing residents' fit into the Household Income section of the survey: Ms. McLane explained they likely fit into the lower household income brackets, $50,000- - $75,000 and below. Cm. Minniear questioned how Staff determined arts programming needs to be more inclusive. Ms. McLane said the survey asked respondents to state whether they agreed with a statement about arts. programming being "inclusive and reflective of interests of Dublin-.residents."'Comments provided on the survey and through interviews and roundtable meetings also indicated a need: H&CAC Minutes—November 10,2016—Page 2 of 6 Chair Blackburn questioned what respondents meant when they requested more professional performances. Ms..McLane said the survey question did not ask people to elaborate on specific types of professional performances. Cm. Minniear asked the actual numbers of people responding to make up the percentages. Ms. McLane said she had only percentages, not actual numbers available at the meeting, but could provide actual numbers.later. Chair Blackburn asked whether the new amphitheater will have a power source for sound and lighting equipment. Parks & Community Services Director James Rodems confirmed there will be ample power and noted the City is also working to,add a stage covering to provide shade and accommodate stage lights, but how quickly that can be added depends on whether the Emerald Glen Recreation and Aquatic Center is delivered under budget. Cm. Tutino asked how Staff reached out to the young adults (ages 19-34) to participate in the survey. Ms. McLane said young adults were not targeted any differently than the other age groups. The survey was publicized via postcard, newsflashes, social media and traditional media outlets. Cm. Tutino asked how teenagers were targeted. Ms. McLane said the Consultant held a roundtable discussion for teens, which was publicized through the same channels as the survey and though a request to the Youth Advisory Commission to help reach the teen community. Cm. Tutino asked where the teen roundtable responses are shown in the results. Ms. McLane explained that roundtable responses were incorporated in the Consultant's summary. Cm. Deets asked about the recommendation that the City partner with culturally specific groups to deliver multicultural programming. Ms. McLane explained the Consultant is using best practices examples from other cities. The City does not have expertise in culturally specific art forms. Other cities found success by inviting specific cultural communities and artists to participate. Cm. Tutino asked if a Staff member would be hired to manage a partnership with the District and other aspects of these recommendations. Ms. McLane explained at this moment there are no plans to hire additional staff; however existing Staff responsibilities could shift to accommodate this if City Council determines it to be a priority. Staff could also explore partnerships with other organizations and volunteer assistance to implement recommendations. Chair Blackburn asked about the cost to convert the Police Services Wing to a cultural arts center. Ms. McLane cited a Staff report presented to City Council in early 2016, which estimated the cost at $5.6 million. Cm. Minniear asked for clarification on what that$5.6 million would cover. Ms. McLane said it would be for the lower level for the Police Services Wing. Chair Blackburn asked if Staff was satisfied with local arts organizations participation in the Cultural Arts Needs Assessment. Ms. McLane said Staff was happy with the response and is working on building relations with local arts organizations. There are not many organizations based in Dublin, but there are many arts organizations based in neighboring communities, which serve Dublin residents. She said arts organizations are encouraged to register in Dublin's Cultural Arts Database. Chair Blackburn opened the floor for Public Comment. H&CAC Minutes—November 10,2016—Page 3 of 6 Mr. Richard Guarienti, Dublin resident, said he participated in the survey and round tables and appreciated the full study. He asked the Commission to consider adding a recommendation regarding communication about the arts, particularly better communication to the public about what art already exists in Dublin. Mr. Guarienti would like to see a new public art brochure and map. He referenced an art treasure hunt the City produced in the past and suggested the City create something like the Pokemon game, where finding art might be a game, and that schools be invited to visit local art. Mr. Guarienti also suggested a recommendation to better maintain the City's artwork. Ms. Anita Carr, Alameda County Arts Commissioner and Dublin resident, participated in the survey. She noted that she plays Pokemon and most of the art locations in Dublin are Pokemon stops. Ms. Carr suggested the Commission recommend that the City work with the Alameda County Arts Commission (ACAC), as the County Commission has strong ties with the school districts. Ms. Carr encouraged everyone to attend the ACAC meetings. Ms. Tara Bhuthimethee, Dublin Planning Commissioner, made a comment speaking only as a resident and not as a representative of her Commission, saying she also wants to see an update to the Cultural Arts Master Plan. She agreed with Mr. Guarienti's comment on the importance of maintaining public art work. Maintenance of art work reflects how a community values its art. She is personally interested in viewing art in pedestrian areas, specifically in the downtown area. She encouraged the City to find a way to help the public interpret art. Ms. Bhuthimethee suggested the amphitheater be programmed with a themed series of events, such as opera or Shakespeare. Ms. Kit Lau, Dublin resident, strongly agreed with the other suggestions regarding communications and maximizing the use of the new amphitheater. She asked where the amphitheater is located. She also asked if the Cultural Arts Master Plan and Public Art Master plan are available online. Ms. McLane noted that City Council did approve money for art maintenance in this Fiscal Year's budget and work has already begun at some locations. Cm. Tutino asked if the Commission needed to make a recommendation to maintain the art. Ms. McLane explained that would not be necessary, as artwork maintenance is already planned and budgeted. Cm. Minniear asked if maintenance of historical markers was included. Ms. McLane said yes, markers were included. Chair Blackburn discussed how to incorporate communication and partnerships into the recommendations. She suggested these be part of all the other recommendations, rather than specific recommendations themselves. Cm. Minniear said he believed communication and partnership roles and responsibilities would naturally be including in a master plan. He noted that the Dublin Fine Art Foundation (DFAF), which was active when the original master plans were drafted, is now defunct; some of the communication and partnership roles DFAF previously filled may need to be re-assigned. Cm. Iharosi suggested the City offer more weekend and evening classes to serve working parents. Cm. He suggested communicating what we are doing as a City at other City-sponsored events. He would like to see more music events offered and specifically different types of music than is currently offered. H&CAC Minutes—November 10,2016—Page 4 of 6 Ms. McLane explained that City-presented concerts are budgeted as part of various special events; a small amount has been allocated this year for some events at Dublin High School and the new amphitheater. Specific types of music are not specified in those budgets; any direction to focus on specific types of music might be done through a Cultural Arts Master Plan. By partnering with arts groups, City Staff hopes to be able to offer a wider variety. Chair Blackburn stated she would like to see Dublin start and support a group much like the Dublin Fine Arts Foundation to create an arts community and encourage citizen volunteerism. Ms. McLane explained that these types of organizations generally are not established by Cities, but rather by members of the public. Chair Blackburn said the City needs to play a stronger role in involving the community, perhaps creating citizen advisory groups to help update the Cultural Arts and Public Art Master Plans. Cm. Minniear stressed the importance of developing public and private partnerships around the arts, not simply building arts facilities and hoping that the public will attend and participate. Mr. Rodems agreed with Cm. Minniear that growth of arts programs and facilities needs to be planned and sustainable. He said the City could start by looking at our programing. Mr. Rodems said the Staff work plan calls for both the Public Arts Master Plan and the Cultural Arts Master Plan to be updated in the next year. He confirmed that City Council has taken a very strong stance that we maintain our public art and get people connected to in the art in our community. Mr. Rodems said developing a well- rounded Parks and Community Services Department is a priority, and that the Department will adjust how and what it provides for the community in response to community need. Cm. Minniear asked if Las Positas College has been approached as a partner. Ms. McLane said it had not, but that is a great suggestion. Commissioners discussed making a sixth recommendation to City Council regarding public, private partnerships, a focus on community engagement, and communication. Mr. Guarienti asked if Public Comment could be re-opened. Chair Blackburn did so, and Mr. Guarienti suggested that any advisory committees assembled for the Cultural Arts and Public Art Master Plans have an ongoing role. The advisory committees for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans are reconvened twice a year to review progress. Ms. Carr noted that when she was part of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission, the Commission regularly referred to the Cultural Arts Master Plan for direction. Cm. Minniear and Chair Blackburn offered wording suggestions for a sixth recommendation. Mr. Rodems commented on the importance of making any sixth recommendation explicitly clear. He noted that communication goals and methods will be engrained in the Master Plans. Cm. Deets suggested hosting an arts symposium. Ms. McLane offered to work on the wording of the sixth recommendation before it goes to City Council. H&CAC Minutes—November 10, 2016—Page 5 of 6 On a motion by Chair Blackburn, seconded by Cm. He, and by a vote of 6-0-0, with Cm. Szollos absent, the Commission took the following action: ACTION: Recommended City Council adopt the recommendations presented in the Staff Report, with the addition of a sixth recommendation to strengthen and formalize community engagement in the cultural arts community. 8.2 Summer 2016 Quarterly Report Ms. Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts and Heritage Manager, presented the specifics of the item as outlined in the Staff Report. Cm. Minniear asked how the City-hosted campouts relate to the cultural arts. Ms. McLane stated they are offered by the Special Events team which fall under the Cultural Arts and Heritage Division. ACTION: The Commission received the Report. OTHER BUSINESS 9.1 Brief Information Only Reports from Heritage&Cultural Arts Commissioners and/or Staff Cm. Iharosi commented that the fountain at Shannon Park is not working again. She also noted that the City would benefit from a better volunteer management system, as she was required to fingerprint twice for two different City volunteer opportunities. She announced that she is not applying for a second term on the Commission, but considered it an honor to serve and enjoyed it. She encourages the City to continue recruiting new Commissioners from among the graduates of the Inside Dublin program. Cm. Tutino welcomed Mr. Rodems. She shared concerns about parking at the Heritage Center with the occupancy of the homes across the street from the park. She is putting final touches on the Highway 21 mural. Cm. Tutino serves on the Dublin Unified School District Visual and Performing Arts committee, and said they are working on an arts needs assessment for the schools. She also has volunteered her classroom to be a pilot classroom for a new heritage outreach program City Staff is developing. The program will dovetail with the Westward Expansion curriculum for fifth graders. Cm. Tutino thanked Anita Carr for making sure Dublin had representation on the selection committee for public art at the new County Courthouse in Dublin. The City symbol will be in the center of some of the art. Chairperson Blackburn recognized Commissioners whose terms are ending. She presented Cm. Deets, Cm. Iharosi, Cm. Tutino and Cm. Minniear with plaques to thank them for their service. Cm. Minniear attended the Hometown Heroes event and complimented Senior Center Staff and Rotary Club on an exceptional job. He especially enjoyed the Camp Parks historic pictures. Cm. Minniear thanked the City for efforts to resume operation of the Emerald Glen fountain and thanked Heritage Staff for cooperating with DUSD on events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Murray School District. H&CAC Minutes — November 10, 2016 — "age 6 of 6 Cm. Deets indicated he also is not re -applying for a second term on the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission. He said he has enjoyed watching the Commission grow over the years and has enjoyed sharing Dublin's art in the parks with people from other countries, as well as learning from them. Ms. McLane provided program, project, and event updates. Cm. Minniear complimented Heritage Staff on the wonderful job hosting a portion of the Conference of California Historical Societies in October. 9.2 Discussion of Future Agenda Items Ms. McLane provided an overview of upcoming agenda items for the Commission. Chairperson Blackburn said she cannot attend in December. Ms. McLane will confirm whether Cm. Szollos can attend and chair the meeting. Cm. Tutino stated she will Chair the December 2016 meeting if Cm. Szollos is unavailable. Cm. Minniear suggested a future agenda include discussion of update to the Dublin Historic Park Master Plan, and perhaps redefining it as a History Master Plan, to encompass historic resources located throughout the City. Cm. Minniear also recommended the Commission discuss establishing criteria for historical retention of City documents. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:17 PM. Minutes prepared by Kristen Finn, Recording Secretary. ATTEST: 2 Tan Mc Cult r�-I'rf�tsandH� %er Chairperson