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Record of Proceedings

Alameda Public Arts Commission Meeting - January 22, 2026

City Council — Thursday, January 22, 2026
BodyAlameda, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, January 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 43:58

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

The meeting is now called to order.

0:02

The time is 6 o'clock PM.

0:10

Okay, this meeting is being recorded.

0:12

We currently have one remote participant.

0:15

For remote participants, please make sure you're using the most current version of Zoom or an updated web browser.

0:20

Certain functionality may be disabled if the app or browser are not updated.

0:24

You must register using the link at the top of the agenda.

0:27

Please click raise hand when you wish to speak on an item and click unmute once you have been called to speak.

0:33

You may also submit written comments to myself by emailing me, Jackie Philip at JKELI AA at Alameda C A.g.

0:46

Comments submitted during the meeting before the conclusion of the public comment section will be read into record.

0:51

My email address is also on the meeting's agenda.

0:55

If a remote participant is having difficulty, please call using the number area code 669 444 9171 meeting ID 896 4208 1044.

1:10

This information is also on top of the meeting agenda.

1:13

People participating via phone can press star nine to raise their hand and star six to unmute for in-person participation.

1:20

Speaker slips are um submitted, they are located um at the chair over there with pens.

1:26

If a commissioner would like to speak, please physically raise your hand, and the chair will acknowledge your request.

1:32

The chat function has been turned off.

1:37

It's called order.

1:41

And then you can your meetings out of that.

1:44

Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.

1:45

Okay.

1:47

Ah, the meeting is called to order.

1:49

Come on.

1:55

Oh, sorry, did you do this on the meeting is not called to order?

1:57

Oh, you did.

1:58

I'm so sorry.

1:58

Yeah.

1:59

Okay, great.

1:59

So roll call.

2:01

We have uh commissioners Liz Rush.

2:04

Present.

2:04

Commissioner Peter Ploxboomer.

2:08

Commissioner Lisa Martin, absent.

2:12

Excuse.

2:14

Commissioner James Martin.

2:15

Present.

2:16

And Commissioner Adrian Sancho.

2:18

Present.

2:19

Staff members, Jackie Kali Ia, present.

2:22

Dwayne Dolman.

2:23

Present.

2:25

Okay.

2:27

Um comment.

2:28

Public comments is up next.

2:30

Uh comments from the audience may concern matters either on or not on the agenda, but must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the public arts commission.

2:40

Comments will be limited to three minutes.

2:43

Comments concerning matters on this evening's agenda will be heard when that item is called.

2:50

Do you have any items to read into the record?

2:53

We do have public comment.

2:55

Okay.

2:56

Katie Connell, please come on up.

3:02

Hi.

3:04

Thank you.

3:05

Um, hi, I'm Katie Connell.

3:08

Um an artist in Alameda.

3:12

I've been living here since 2016, and I um currently in the process of starting an arts coalition in on the island.

3:22

Um I've been talking to lots of different arts organizations.

3:26

Um, and I'm trying to get some founding members right now, but I've been talking a lot to Radium Runway, um, West End Arts District, uh, Frank Bet Center, Rhythmics, um, as well as many other just independent artists, people who may not even work on the island, but artists who live on the island as well.

3:43

So the goal of this Arts Alliance coalition is really um communication and cooperation and um just to kind of hurt all the cats, right?

3:53

All the artists get everyone together, working together, getting all the same information, um, sharing resources, partnering, um, networking, all that good stuff to kind of amplify and boost all the great art efforts that are already happening in the city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████76%
Procedural███████████19%
Historic Preservation██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Public Arts Commission Meeting - January 22, 2026

The Alameda Public Arts Commission met on January 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, adoption of the 2026 meeting calendar, a presentation of the maquette for the "Making Waves" sculpture, staff updates, and introduction of a new commissioner. Commissioners present: Liz Rush, Peter Ploxboomer, James Martin, Adrian Sancho. Absent: Lisa Martin. Staff present: Jackie Kali Ia (Secretary) and Dwayne Dolman.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the October 20, 2025 meeting (motion carried, seconded).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Katie Connell: An Alameda artist since 2016, she introduced herself and announced she is forming an arts coalition/alliance on the island. She has been in contact with Radium Runway, West End Arts District, Frank Bet Center, Rhythmics, and independent artists. The coalition aims to improve communication, cooperation, resource sharing, and networking among arts organizations to amplify existing efforts. She expressed happiness to observe the commission's work.

Discussion Items

  • Recognition of Outgoing Commissioner (Item 5A, moved to top): Commissioner Robert Ferguson, completing four years of service, was presented with a certificate. He thanked colleagues and encouraged continued work to bring art to Alameda.
  • Adoption of 2026 Meeting Calendar (Item 4A): The commission adopted a calendar with four regular meetings. Staff clarified that special meetings can be added with 12-day notice to accommodate grant deliberations (grants open Jan 29, close Mar 19, deliberation meeting Apr 27). Motion passed.
  • Presentation of "Making Waves" Sculpture Maquette (Item 4B): Artists Jonah and Deborah Samia presented a clay maquette and digital images of the proposed sculpture for the Storehouse Lofts Public Art Requirement. Key points:
    • The sculpture honors the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and specifically local figure Maryland York, though the pose is inspired by a historic Navy photograph of Violet Falker. The face will be modeled after Maryland York.
    • The full-scale bronze piece will be roughly twice the maquette's size (approx. 8 feet tall including a 24-30 inch base). Production involves enlarging a digital file, foam milling, clay work, mold-making, and foundry casting. Timeline: likely late summer/fall 2026, possibly during Fleet Week.
    • Discussion included: structural support for the propeller (artist confirmed foundry will use internal stainless steel supports and a structural engineer); lighting (no specific lighting planned but noted as desirable); placement of a plaque with a Maryland York quote and city seal; copyright (photo is public domain, Navy from 1940s). Commissioners asked clarifying questions but provided no formal feedback requiring action.
  • Staff Communications (Item 5):
    • New Commissioner Adrian Sancho introduced himself: resident of West End, background in theater and music (marching band), works in policy on free speech and tech.
    • Cultural Arts Grants open Jan 29, deadline Mar 19. A grant-writing webinar is scheduled Feb 4 (5 PM) with Kimberly Asibo Arteche of Bravo Women for the Arts; a program-specific orientation is Feb 11 (5 PM). Both will be recorded.
    • Special Event Permit Grant Program (administered by colleague Amanda Gurke) offers up to $20,000 for large events requiring street closures; applications due Feb 27.
    • Commissioner reported that some painted transformer boxes (part of a public art requirement) have been repainted gray. Staff will follow up with the developer, who is responsible for maintenance per the ordinance.
    • Commissioner Rush shared closing reflections on the commission's achievements since 2018 (creation of Public Arts Master Plan in 2023, improved grant processes) and encouraged focus, preparation, and respect for staff capacity given only four meetings in 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the 2026 meeting calendar.
  • Adjourned at 6:44 PM.
  • Next steps: Artists will proceed with enlargement of the "Making Waves" sculpture; staff to follow up on transformer box restoration; grant programs to launch as scheduled; special meetings may be called as needed.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting is now called to order. The time is 6 o'clock PM. Okay, this meeting is being recorded. We currently have one remote participant. For remote participants, please make sure you're using the most current version of Zoom or an updated web browser. Certain functionality may be disabled if the app or browser are not updated. You must register using the link at the top of the agenda. Please click raise hand when you wish to speak on an item and click unmute once you have been called to speak. You may also submit written comments to myself by emailing me, Jackie Philip at JKELI AA at Alameda C A.g. Comments submitted during the meeting before the conclusion of the public comment section will be read into record. My email address is also on the meeting's agenda. If a remote participant is having difficulty, please call using the number area code 669 444 9171 meeting ID 896 4208 1044. This information is also on top of the meeting agenda. People participating via phone can press star nine to raise their hand and star six to unmute for in-person participation. Speaker slips are um submitted, they are located um at the chair over there with pens. If a commissioner would like to speak, please physically raise your hand, and the chair will acknowledge your request. The chat function has been turned off. It's called order. And then you can your meetings out of that. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. Okay. Ah, the meeting is called to order. Come on. Oh, sorry, did you do this on the meeting is not called to order? Oh, you did. I'm so sorry. Yeah. Okay, great. So roll call. We have uh commissioners Liz Rush. Present. Commissioner Peter Ploxboomer. Commissioner Lisa Martin, absent. Excuse. Commissioner James Martin. Present. And Commissioner Adrian Sancho. Present. Staff members, Jackie Kali Ia, present. Dwayne Dolman. Present. Okay. Um comment. Public comments is up next. Uh comments from the audience may concern matters either on or not on the agenda, but must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the public arts commission. Comments will be limited to three minutes. Comments concerning matters on this evening's agenda will be heard when that item is called. Do you have any items to read into the record? We do have public comment. Okay.

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