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Record of Proceedings

Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting - November 20, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, November 20, 2025
BodyMerced, California
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, November 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:57

Original source
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0:00

Let's call this meeting to order.

0:01

Let's do it.

0:03

I think we start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:06

Yes.

0:12

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:16

To the Republic.

0:19

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

0:26

That was great.

0:27

Good job.

0:28

Good job.

0:29

Let's do roll call.

0:31

Okay, agenda item C roll call, Commissioner Tobera.

0:35

Zaragoza.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Comarta.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Tran here.

0:45

Thompson.

0:48

Vice Chair Dennis.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Chair Hypes.

0:52

I am here.

0:52

And ex officio members Rodriguez.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Kusha.

0:57

Here.

0:57

And Wolf.

0:59

Here.

1:00

I would like to take a moment and introduce our new exhibitio member Marie Wolf, if you want to share a few words.

1:10

Thank you for the welcome.

1:12

Thank you for having me here.

1:13

I'm excited.

1:14

I was just mentioning my due date is Christmas.

1:17

So next meeting, I might have a baby strapped on my back, but I'm really looking forward to future meetings.

1:23

Thank you.

1:25

Do I need to say that?

1:29

Okay.

1:31

Okay.

1:33

Okay.

1:34

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

1:43

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

1:47

on the day of the meeting.

1:49

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.

1:56

Material may be emailed to City Clerk at City of Morset.gov and any correspondence received after 1 p.m.

2:03

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

2:06

Agenda item D, public comment.

2:08

Chair Hypes, the clerk's office did not receive any electronic public comment, and there is just one person in the audience that I don't think will speak.

2:20

Agenda item E reports, E1 report on status of approved art projects.

2:40

Thank you very much.

2:41

So thank you, Jennifer Flackman, Public Information Officer, Senior Management Analyst, and staff that supports the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission.

2:50

So we wanted to give a report on all of the approved art projects that are about to go out to RFP, kind of in the queue.

3:01

So we're gonna start off with and those that have been that are ready.

3:05

So we're starting off with the City Merced Brown Bag concert series, which we're super excited about.

3:11

Um tonight was supposed to be our first concert, but we canceled it, postponed it because of the rain, and the artist was thankful.

3:20

But um we're moving it to December 11th.

3:24

Plus, we have a little bit more work to do in Bob Heart Square.

3:27

We're putting the finishing touches on the square.

3:30

So we moved that um that first concert to December 11th.

3:37

And so I've put five to nine.

3:39

That isn't the performance time, but that's the time we have for the stage for setup and all of the particulars.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Procedural███████████16%
Public Engagement███████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting - November 20, 2025

This regular meeting of the Merced Arts and Culture Advisory Commission focused on staff reports on approved art projects, requests for future agenda items, and commissioner updates on community arts events. No public comments were received, and no formal votes were taken except adjournment.

Reports

  • E.1 Report on Status of Approved Art Projects: Senior Management Analyst Jennifer Flackman presented a comprehensive update on multiple projects. The Brown Bag concert series first concert was postponed from November 20 to December 11 due to rain; artist Brian Cade (soulful R&B) will perform 6:30–8 PM at Bob Hart Square (a no-alcohol zone). Subsequent concerts: December 18 (Cheryl Lockett and Two Hoots and a Holler), January 15 (Madison Mitchell and MAC Theater Camp youth choir), February 19 (The Wrecking Balls, top 40 rock), and closing with William Bailey and Zoe Ray. The Upcycle Project (trash art) at Fahrens Park opens December 4 with a January 30 submission deadline; selection in March, council approval in April. Bob Hart Square Medallion Project follows the same timeline. Staff continued working with schools for rotating art displays in the council chamber. The city partnered with Merced County Arts Council and Downtown Partnership Association to pursue a state designation as a downtown arts and cultural hub; a walking tour with California Arts Council representatives occurred recently. RFPs for a large-scale mural on R Street undercrossing (mid-December) and a utility box refresh project (spring) are in development. Remaining budget is approximately $13,500. An estimated $250–$500 is needed for engineering work (pedestals for Fahrens Park sculpture and Bob Hart Square medallion). Commissioner Colton raised a request from artist Christian Aguilar regarding the Kobe Bryant utility box mural—proposing to retain it if kept in good condition; Flackman agreed to bring a future discussion on box retention priorities. Commissioner Nick noted two typographical errors (Cheryl Lockett's name spelling and Fahrens Park possessive) in the report.

Business Items

  • F.1 Request to Add Item to Future Agenda: Commissioner Colton requested adding a discussion on utility box deaccession priorities to a future meeting (likely January 2026). No formal motion was required.
  • F.2 Commission Comments: Vice Chair Dennis reported on the success of the state arts district walking tour, noting 20 semifinalists for 10 designations—none yet in the Central Valley—and expectation of a decision by year-end or early 2026. He highlighted the premiere of Karina Turner's film The Joy of Lao and upcoming events: Hamlet by Merced Shakes, CHA Show at the MAC, Arbor Gallery show, Bob Hart Square clock fundraiser (t-shirts), and a County Times fundraiser. Commissioner Glenn announced the December 6 Christmas parade downtown, a photo walk by Siena Ojo Studios, and Mercado celebration. Commissioner Rodriguez noted a documentary screening November 21 at the Carnegie and CNOHO's annual shopping event November 29. Flackman mentioned a January speakeasy fundraiser (details confidential).

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes or actions were taken on agenda items; the report was for information only.
  • Staff will bring back a discussion on utility box retention/deaccession criteria at a future meeting (staff suggested February 2026, but commissioner Colton requested January).
  • The $13,500 remaining budget will be considered for allocation, with the subcommittee to explore potential art types or funding of pedestal engineering.
  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00 PM by unanimous vote.

Meeting Transcript

Let's call this meeting to order. Let's do it. I think we start with the Pledge of Allegiance. Yes. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. That was great. Good job. Good job. Let's do roll call. Okay, agenda item C roll call, Commissioner Tobera. Zaragoza. Here. Comarta. Here. Tran here. Thompson. Vice Chair Dennis. Here. Chair Hypes. I am here. And ex officio members Rodriguez. Here. Kusha. Here. And Wolf. Here. I would like to take a moment and introduce our new exhibitio member Marie Wolf, if you want to share a few words. Thank you for the welcome. Thank you for having me here. I'm excited. I was just mentioning my due date is Christmas. So next meeting, I might have a baby strapped on my back, but I'm really looking forward to future meetings. Thank you. Do I need to say that? Okay. Okay. Okay. Chair Hypes, I would like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the commission, they must submit a green request 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 Morset.gov and 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 electronic public comment, and there is just one person in the audience that I don't think will speak. Agenda item E reports, E1 report on status of approved art projects. Thank you very much. So thank you, Jennifer Flackman, Public Information Officer, Senior Management Analyst, and staff that supports the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission.

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