Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - March 8, 2021

The Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission met virtually on Monday, March 8, 2021, at 2:00 PM. The meeting included updates on the Safe Credit Union Convention Center and Performing Arts Complex renovation, the draft Housing Element, and the Sacramento Film + Media program. Commissioners discussed the intersection of arts, housing, and economic development, and emphasized advocacy for dedicated arts funding.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The commission approved the meeting minutes from November 9, 2020, and the special meeting minutes from February 1, 2021, via a unanimous roll call vote. No changes or additions were made.

Discussion Items

Safe Credit Union Convention Center and Performing Arts Complex Renovation Update

• Matt Voreyer, General Manager, presented an update on the $23 million naming rights partnership with Safe Credit Union (25-year term) and the renovation of the three-venue district: the Safe Credit Union Convention Center, Performing Arts Center, and Memorial Auditorium.
• The project includes expanded lobbies, ADA accessibility, a 15,000-square-foot plaza, a new donor lounge, and enhanced ticketing with Ticketmaster and Center Plate (formerly Classique Catering) as exclusive partners.
• Timeline: Convention center completion expected by end of May 2021, with the performing arts center following in July 2021, pending state guidance on COVID-19 safety.
• Commissioners asked about public transit plans (a potential light rail stop at 13th and K), last-minute ticket kiosks, and support for surrounding small businesses. Voreyer noted that discussions with Visit Sacramento and local partnerships are ongoing to ensure a coordinated reopening.

Draft Housing Element

• Greta Seuss, Assistant Planner, presented the city's eight-year housing strategy, which must accommodate a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 45,580 units—an 89% increase over the previous cycle.
• The plan outlines eight goals: facilitating housing production (Goal 1), supporting lower-income units (Goal 2, targeting 16,769 units), promoting accessory dwelling units (Goal 3, 700 units), advancing equity and inclusion (Goal 4), anti-displacement (Goal 5), preserving existing stock (Goal 6), addressing homelessness (Goal 7), and promoting universal design (Goal 8).
• Commissioners discussed live-work overlays for artists and anti-displacement strategies. Chair Donnie Blumenstock highlighted the need to leverage collective ownership models to create affordable housing for creatives. Matt Hurdle, Acting Long-Range Planning Director, noted ongoing neighborhood-level planning along Stockton Boulevard as a potential pilot for such models.
• Next steps: The draft will go to the Planning and Design Commission on March 11, then to City Council on April 6 for approval to submit to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, with final adoption expected in July 2021.

Sacramento Film + Media Update

• Jennifer West, Program Specialist (Film Commissioner), reported that despite a 91-day COVID-19 shutdown, film days in 2020 (161) were nearly on par with 2019 (169), driven by a reality TV series and Sacramento's early reopening compared to the Bay Area.
• Key metrics: 60 permits issued in 2020 (estimated 60-70 in 2019), 342 local hires with 1,254 days of employment, and an estimated $1.5 million in economic impact (likely underreported). Hotel nights attributed to film production dropped from 500 in 2019 to 351 in 2020.
• West highlighted the launch of the new website (filmsac.com), a focus on data collection, and plans for a streamlined permitting process across jurisdictions. Long-term goals include creating a credentialed internship program with local colleges, developing a film incentive program, and expanding animation workforce training through the Creator X program.
• Commissioners praised the progress and suggested further pipeline development for local filmmakers, including partnerships with area schools.

Director’s Report

• Megan Van Voorhis, Cultural and Creative Economy Manager, described efforts to strengthen interdepartmental collaborations (e.g., with workforce development and youth programs) and to aggregate data on CARES Act grant impacts. She noted that the team is preparing a one-page summary for commissioners to use in conversations with stakeholders.

Chairperson’s Report

• Chair Donnie Blumenstock urged commissioners to build relationships with their respective council members or the mayor ahead of budget advocacy. He emphasized the need to move from ad hoc funding requests to a dedicated percentage of the city budget for the arts, and to use CARES Act data to justify continued support for the creative sector.

Key Outcomes

• The minutes were approved unanimously.
• The commission received and filed reports on the convention center renovation, housing element, and film program, with noted opportunities for future collaboration (e.g., anti-displacement models for artists, film workforce development).
• Commissioners were directed to schedule meetings with elected officials in March-April 2021 to advocate for arts funding and to report back at the next commission meeting.

Member Announcements

• Commissioner Cruz Naranjo announced a March 19 walkthrough for the proposed Latino Center for Art and Culture at a renovated facility in Wind Park (28th and P streets).
• Commissioner Andrea Lapore reported the expansion of SAC Dance Lab, adding a third studio and a "Community Clubhouse" offering media lab, photo equipment, and project space for creatives, with plans for affordable community events in summer 2021.