Mountain View Performing Arts Committee Meeting Summary – April 30, 2026
Mountain View Performing Arts Committee Meeting Summary – April 30, 2026
The Performing Arts Committee of Mountain View met on April 30, 2026, at 6:15 PM in the Atrium Conference Room and via video conference. Chair Carol Donahue called the meeting to order at 6:17 PM. Four members were present (Antara Bhardwaj, Irina Crone, David Garcia, Chair Donahue); Vice Chair Valerie Fenwick was absent but later participated virtually as a member of the public. The committee reviewed the third‑quarter attendance report, approved revisions to the SecondStage fee waiver program (renamed the SecondStage Vitality Program), discussed a potential Make Music Day event, and received updates on the 35th anniversary celebration and the annual workplan.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval (February 25, 2026): Approved unanimously (4‑0) via motion by Garcia and second by Crone.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Valerie Fenwick (speaking as a member of the public, not as Vice Chair): Expressed strong support for the revised SecondStage Vitality Program, praising its openness and alignment with the reservation timeline. She noted the program’s name better reflects its goal of creating vitality rather than merely waiving fees.
Discussion Items
- Q3 Quarterly Attendance Report (January–March 2026): Performing Arts Manager Theresa Yvonne reported 9,025 tickets sold (74% attendance) for the Center for the Performing Arts, with 12,023 total attendees including comps. Including Theatre Works Silicon Valley’s production of Percy Felder, the Piano and Me (13,739 tickets, 82% attended), the grand total attendance was 24,535, generating approximately $900,543.84 in ancillary spending. New groups this quarter included iMuses Foundation, Silicon Valley Dance Community Center, Joe Wong stand‑up comedy, and Peninsula Lively Arts. Joe Wong and comedians consistently sell out. The report was received without formal action.
- Revisions to SecondStage Fee Waiver Program (SecondStage Vitality Program): The ad hoc committee (members Garcia and Crone) presented a streamlined application process. Key changes: (1) Program renamed from “SecondStage Fee Waiver Program” to “SecondStage Vitality Program”; (2) Eligibility expanded from groups that had never used the venue to any organization or individual; (3) Application timeline aligned with the primary reservation process to avoid leftover dates; (4) Staff will offer an application workshop to improve proposal quality. The committee discussed and refined the application criteria: removed an erroneous “ineligible” line under “Eligibility” (shifting text about fundraisers), clarified that one‑time events and ongoing programs are eligible, and adjusted scoring weights (Organization Background 20 points, Project Narrative 25 points, Project Timeline & Innovation 30 points, Budget 25 points) after debate. A proof‑of‑insurance sample will be added. Recipients must present a final narrative summary in person at a PAC meeting within 90 days of project completion, but initial evaluations will be based only on written applications to avoid intimidating applicants. The ad hoc committee recommended annual reviews and a comprehensive review every three to five years.
- Make Music Day Presentation: Theresa Yvonne introduced Make Music Day (June 21, 2026 – summer solstice and Father’s Day), a national community‑run program. San Jose’s model was reviewed, but the committee agreed to postpone an in‑depth conversation until after the 35th anniversary in fall 2026. They will consider adding “investigate Make Music Day” to the workplan for FY 2026‑27, with the goal of potential implementation in 2027. No action was taken.
- 35th Anniversary Update: Save the date: Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Center. The event will be an open house with rotating music performances on the main stage, second stage, and park stage, cake/cupcakes at 8:00 PM, giveaways, and possibly food trucks. Staff will explore a portable event bar for cocktail service.
- Annual Workplan Update: The current workplan will be reviewed at the May 20, 2026 meeting for the upcoming fiscal year. The committee discussed adding a bullet point under “increasing community connections” for Make Music Day investigation.
Key Outcomes
- SecondStage Vitality Program Approved (4‑0): Motion by Bhardwaj, second by Garcia, to approve staff’s recommendation with the discussed edits (including removing the erroneous eligibility line, adjusting scoring, and adding insurance sample). Staff will present the final version for formal approval at the May 2026 meeting.
- Volunteer Usher Dinner: The committee was invited to attend the annual usher appreciation dinner on June 17, 2026, which conflicts with the regular June meeting. The committee will decide at the May meeting whether to cancel or reschedule the June meeting.
- Next Meeting: May 20, 2026, at 6:15 PM. Adjourned at 7:41 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I call the Mountain View Performing Arts Committee meeting of Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 to order at 617 p.m. Spanish or Chinese interpretation via Zoom and translation of meeting materials are available at no cost upon request. Please contact the city by 5 p.m. at least two business days prior to the day of the scheduled meeting by phone at 650903 6608 or by email at MEP at Mountainview.gov. I do I have to read the Spanish. Oh, I can't read the Chinese. Okay. This meeting is being conducted with a virtual component. Anyone wishing to address the committee virtually may join the meeting online at httpinslash backslash backslash mountain view.us slash J slash 8 to 88 457 8889 or by dialing 66900 9128 and enter webinar ID H28 8457 8889 when the chair announces the item on which you wish to speak, put the raise hand feature in Zoom or dial star 9 on your phone. When the chair calls your name to provide public comment, if you are participating via phone, please press pound six to unmute yourself. Can you do someone do a roll call, please? Uh chair uh Donegum here. Uh Vice Chair Valerie Finn. Uh Committee member Antara Bardua absent. Committee member David Garcia and Committee member Irina Call. Yeah. Okay, moving along to item three minutes approval. Are there any comments on the minutes as submitted? I have to meet. I would like to move on. Okay, do I have a second to approve the mo the uh minutes? Okay, uh member arena uh I thought it was Crone, okay. Uh seconds. Uh I'm also in favor, so the minutes are um all copper. All in fair. All in favor, okay. Aye. Okay, item number four, oral communications from the public. This portion of the meeting is referred to for persons wishing to address the committee on any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes. State law prohibits the committee from meeting on non-agenda items. Are there any comments from the public? I see no vote. Okay, there being more comments. We'll move along to item five, unfinished business. Uh item 5.1, new gallery reception ad hoc committee. Recommendation the committee will appoint new members for the new gallery reception ad hoc committee. So just a reminder that's the trio committee with the downtown committee and the visual arts committee. Are there any volunteers? Okay, so there was a gallery reception uh recently, and it took it was a collaboration between the performing arts committee, the downtown committee, and the visual arts committee. Now the visual arts committee selects the artwork that's hanging in the lobby of the performing arts center. So that collaboration was to plan the first artist talk, or you know, open house basically. And there did you attend? At least the well, it's not too late for the next one. But anyway, it was a fun event. Uh one of the volunteers from the downtown committee was able to get wine bottle donations from different vineyards, and there was you know, snacks, and there was an artist talk in second stage that was moderated by David. And um so I mean it was, you know, it was it was a nice event, and so the plan is to keep doing it occasionally, not a um set schedule, right? But um, it seemed like a good idea to have an ad hoc committee in place, and um the ad hoc committee works with the staff liaison for each um advisory body. So Theresa is ours, the downtown committee has uh Amanda Rotella, who's in the economic development department, and the visual arts committee has to Krista. See, I always Kirsten is it Kirsten?
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