OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Merced Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting - July 17, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, July 17, 2025
BodyMerced, California
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, July 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:15

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

You're ready, Chair.

0:01

All right, let's go ahead and call the meeting to order with the uh Pledge of Allegiance, I believe, is first.

0:06

Okay.

0:13

Pledge of allegiance to the flag.

0:16

United States of America to the Republic for which it stands.

0:20

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:27

All right.

0:29

So do roll call.

0:33

Okay.

0:33

Agenda item C roll call, Commissioner Sabera.

0:38

Oh, here.

0:40

Zaragoza.

0:43

Comarda?

0:44

Here.

0:45

Dran.

0:48

Thompson.

0:50

Vice Chair Dennis.

0:51

Here.

0:52

And Chair Hypes?

0:54

Here.

0:55

And ex officio members Rodriguez?

0:57

Here.

0:58

And Kucha.

1:01

Here.

1:03

Chair Hypes, I would like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the commission, they must submit a green request of speak form located at the podium in the back of the council chamber.

1:12

Citizens can submit public comment to the commission electronically, no later than 1 p.m.

1:17

on the day of the meeting.

1:18

Comments received before the deadline will be sent to the commission and will be part of the record and will be mentioned as part of the public comment portion of the agenda.

1:27

Material may be emailed to City Clerk at City of Merced.org.

1:31

Any correspondence received after 1 p.m.

1:33

will be distributed to the commission and retained for the official record.

1:38

Agenda item D, public comment.

1:40

Chair Hypes, the clerk's office did not receive any public comment.

1:44

And there is nobody in the audience.

1:55

Agenda item E, action items, E1, approval of community outreach plan for 2025-26 public art funding.

2:05

Good afternoon, commissioners.

2:08

So the arts, the future arts subcommittee, the future arts project subcommittee met last week and um talked about getting community input on what projects they'd like to see come out as RFPs or RFQs from this $75,000 that council has allocated to 2025-2026.

2:38

So we are suggesting that we put together a um community outreach plan so we can ask people what they'd like to see as far as arts project goes from um murals, sculptures, performances, another photography event, those kinds of things.

3:00

So we want feedback from the community.

3:02

So the idea is to put a project page together on a site we call engage.

3:10

And so we'll run some social media content, we'll get the commissioners to talk about the outreach.

3:17

Um we'll do some videos, some reels, and we'll do that for 30 days so that we can come back in September with some really sought so the subcommittee will meet again, and then we'll come back to the commission in September to show the results of our efforts and then select from those projects so we can go to council at the end of September and or beginning of October, excuse me, with our with our um recommendations, and then we'll put together RFPs, RFQs, and then go out for bid.

3:56

That's great.

4:00

Oh, there we go.

4:06

So I'm all go here.

4:10

Oh, there we go.

4:12

Okay, yeah.

4:13

All right, so I saw uh Colton first and then Eddie U.

4:18

So we'll start with Colton.

4:20

Um thanks for that report, Jennifer.

4:22

Uh, I along with uh Gregario and and Glenn uh met.

4:27

And the idea was, you know, we've been doing this with um us kinda coming up with these ideas, and now I we thought that possibly getting input from the community would be a great idea.

4:39

Um, we'd love to hear everyone else's thoughts on that.

4:42

Uh Jennifer, are we good with like um how soon do you think we can get like reels out and stuff if that's next week?

4:49

Next week, great.

4:50

And we'll start soon.

4:52

Social media and we can share it and all that kind of stuff.

5:00

Yeah, I've created the site, and so I just need to put some initial information out, and then I'll be reaching out to you so that we can do some quick reels and you can reach out to your respective networks and and share at some of the events that you all go to.

5:13

Awesome.

5:13

That's great.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Art█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Arts And Culture███████████████████24%
City Council Operations█████6%
Procedural████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure███4%
Business License Regulation██3%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Merced Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting - July 17, 2025

The Arts and Culture Advisory Commission met at 4:00 PM in the City Council Chamber, Merced Civic Center, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The commission unanimously approved an outreach plan for $75,000 in 2025/26 City Council-directed public art funding, received detailed status updates on several public art projects, and accepted requests for future agenda items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • The clerk reported that no public comment was received by the 1:00 PM deadline, and no members of the public were present.

Action Item: Community Outreach Plan for 2025/26 Public Art Funding (E.1)

  • Staff presented a proposed 30-day community outreach plan developed by the Future Arts Project Subcommittee to collect resident input on how to allocate $75,000 in 2025/26 public art funding.
  • The plan includes an Engage page (engage.cityofmerced.com), social media posts and short videos/reels, commissioner outreach, and sharing through local networks. Results would be reported back to the commission in September, with project recommendations to City Council in late September or early October, followed by RFPs/RFQs.
  • A commissioner asked whether the commission could generate revenue from performances or partnerships. Staff explained that the commission is not a fundraising entity but offered to research collaboration options for a future agenda.
  • The commission voted unanimously to approve the outreach plan.

Report: Status of Approved Art Projects (F.1)

  • Brown Bag Concert Series RFQ: Issued July 17, 2025, with submissions due August 7, 2025. A subcommittee will review submissions, and the ACAC will hold a special meeting to select three performers. Final selections go to City Council on October 6, 2025. Evening performances are scheduled November 13 and December 11, 2025, and January 8, 2026, at the newly renovated Bob Hart Square. Alcohol will not be served. Staff corrected incorrect performance dates on the original RFQ.
  • Downtown Arts District Logo RFQ: To be issued on or around July 24, 2025, and close August 29, 2025. The subcommittee will recommend a designer to ACAC on October 16, 2025, and ACAC will take its recommendation to City Council on November 3, 2025. The artist will create a simple, single-color logo for incorporation into standard City street signage. Public Works will fabricate and install signs along Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street.
  • R Street/Fahrens Park Mural RFP: On hold. Staff explained that California requires muralists to hold a contractor's license for projects over $1,000 or involving scaffolding/structural work, a rule that has delayed or cancelled murals since enforcement increased in 2023. Senate Bill 456, which would exempt original fine art murals from that requirement, has passed committee votes and is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Staff will resume the mural project once the bill's status is clear.
  • Recycled Item Sculpture at Fahrens Park RFP: To be issued August 14, 2025, and close September 30, 2025. The subcommittee will review submissions on October 16, 2025, and ACAC will make recommendations to City Council on November 3, 2025. The sculpture will repurpose discarded objects found in the park.
  • Utility Box Refresh Project: On hold pending a work-in-lieu partnership. Utility boxes painted in 2021 need paint and decal removal before new murals, and the work is labor intensive. Staff is coordinating with Public Works and outside partners and will provide an update at the September 2025 ACAC meeting.
  • In discussion, a commissioner asked about stage lighting at Bob Hart Square; staff said they would check with engineering and contractors. Another commissioner asked about electrical and amplification requirements in the Brown Bag RFQ; staff said requirements are included, electrical hookups are available, and performers bring their own equipment. Staff also directed artists to the City's website under Doing Business for bid postings and said they would publicize each RFP/RFQ.
  • A commissioner asked whether the arts district logo could be used on merchandise to generate revenue; staff agreed to check and follow up.

Business: Requests for Future Agenda Items (G.1)

  • Staff agreed to research ways the commission could partner with organizations or otherwise supplement its budget and revenue.
  • Commissioner Glenn requested exploring a city program that incentivizes businesses to hire local artists, such as business license discounts, to help artists earn a living and obtain business licenses. Staff said they would work on the idea.
  • Commissioner Dennis requested a discussion about meeting frequency, including monthly or quarterly meetings, and staff agreed to research it. Another commissioner supported monthly meetings for consistency and stronger community engagement.

Commission Comments & Community Announcements (G.2)

  • Commissioners disclosed that the Future Projects Subcommittee developed a logo for the City's General Plan under an urgent City Council deadline without an RFQ. Commissioner Glenn volunteered and produced sample designs in under 12 hours. The designs are to be presented to City Council.
  • A commissioner reported work on a California Arts Council cultural district designation and grant application due August 7, 2025, with limited funding of $5,000 per year for two years. It requires a business association, a government entity, and a nonprofit partner.
  • Commissioners promoted local arts events, including the Merced County Arts Council annual meeting and showcase on July 24, 2025, an Art Buffet at Cien Ojo Studios, Phoenix Creative Collective's Dearly Departed from August 9-17, and a United Way Over the Edge fundraiser.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the 2025/26 Community Outreach Plan for public art funding unanimously.
  • Staff will return in September 2025 with outreach results, project recommendations, and updates on utility box preparation, the mural licensing issue, and other project timelines.
  • Staff will research future agenda items on revenue partnerships, business incentives for hiring local artists, meeting frequency, Bob Hart Square lighting, and possible logo merchandise/licensing.
  • The commission voted unanimously to adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

You're ready, Chair. All right, let's go ahead and call the meeting to order with the uh Pledge of Allegiance, I believe, is first. Okay. Pledge of allegiance to the flag. United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. So do roll call. Okay. Agenda item C roll call, Commissioner Sabera. Oh, here. Zaragoza. Comarda? Here. Dran. Thompson. Vice Chair Dennis. Here. And Chair Hypes? Here. And ex officio members Rodriguez? Here. And Kucha. Here. Chair Hypes, I would like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the commission, they must submit a green request of speak form located at the podium in the back of the council chamber. Citizens can submit public comment to the commission electronically, no later than 1 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline will be sent to the commission and will be part of the record and will be mentioned as part of the public comment portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to City Clerk at City of Merced.org. Any correspondence received after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the commission and retained for the official record. Agenda item D, public comment. Chair Hypes, the clerk's office did not receive any public comment. And there is nobody in the audience. Agenda item E, action items, E1, approval of community outreach plan for 2025-26 public art funding. Good afternoon, commissioners. So the arts, the future arts subcommittee, the future arts project subcommittee met last week and um talked about getting community input on what projects they'd like to see come out as RFPs or RFQs from this $75,000 that council has allocated to 2025-2026. So we are suggesting that we put together a um community outreach plan so we can ask people what they'd like to see as far as arts project goes from um murals, sculptures, performances, another photography event, those kinds of things. So we want feedback from the community. So the idea is to put a project page together on a site we call engage. And so we'll run some social media content, we'll get the commissioners to talk about the outreach. Um we'll do some videos, some reels, and we'll do that for 30 days so that we can come back in September with some really sought so the subcommittee will meet again, and then we'll come back to the commission in September to show the results of our efforts and then select from those projects so we can go to council at the end of September and or beginning of October, excuse me, with our with our um recommendations, and then we'll put together RFPs, RFQs, and then go out for bid. That's great. Oh, there we go. So I'm all go here. Oh, there we go. Okay, yeah. All right, so I saw uh Colton first and then Eddie U. So we'll start with Colton. Um thanks for that report, Jennifer.

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