Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - August 8, 2022
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Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - August 8, 2022
The Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission met on Monday, August 8, 2022, at 2:10 p.m. via teleconference. The meeting covered the proposed ARPA funding framework for arts nonprofits, a recommended moratorium on community-initiated temporary public art projects, introduction of a Sacramento music census, and the director's report. The commission adopted the consent calendar, voted to recommend the moratorium, and received updates on several initiatives.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Minutes: Passed a motion (Commissioner Lepore/Commissioner Naranjo) approving the May 9, 2022, commission meeting minutes. Vote: 8 yes (Commissioners Gott, Lepore, Mehta, Naranjo, Perez, Wilson Ramey, Vice Chair Enriquez) and 4 absent (Commissioners Blumenstock, Hastings, Lavulo, Winlock).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4 – Sacramento Music Census: Lambert Davis (speaker by phone) requested contact information for Megan Van Voorhis, which was provided. No other public comments were made on any agenda items or matters not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
Item 2 – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Priorities: Arts & Cultural Nonprofit Funding Approach
- Staff Presentation (Megan Van Voorhis): Presented the proposed ARPA creative economy framework. Key points:
- The city allocated $2.25 million for nonprofit support, with $2 million available after reallocating $250,000 to cover a shortfall in the Cultural Arts Awards (CAA) grant program. The county agreed to match with an additional $2 million, totaling $4 million.
- CARES Act grant data showed 63% ($3.6 million of $5.6 million) of nonprofit reimbursement funds went to 10 large cultural asset organizations. Those same organizations received 91% of other state/federal pandemic relief dollars, totaling 43% of their 2019 revenues ($22.9 million of $53.3 million). In contrast, a sample of smaller CAA grantees recovered only 21% of 2019 revenues ($3.1 million of $14.9 million).
- Proposed approach: Create two pools for CAA grantees – one for organizations with budgets under $1.5 million (prioritizing BIPOC-led groups) and one for larger organizations. Another pool (approx. $1–$1.25 million) would be for non-CAA 501(c)(3) organizations meeting the impacted-class definition. Funding would be formula-driven with an expedited application process.
- Commissioner Discussion: Commissioners Naranjo and Gott expressed support and asked clarifying questions. Commissioner Naranjo highlighted a new festival (Golden Harvest Festival) as an example of community engagement and urged visibility of funding opportunities.
- Outcome: Reviewed and discussed; no formal vote required.
Item 3 – Art in Public Places: Community Initiated Projects on Public Property
- Staff Presentation (Megan Van Voorhis and Donald Gensler): Described the current temporary public art application process (two-phase: location review, then design review). Recommended a moratorium on new community-initiated projects on city property without council member support until a formal policy and process are developed. Cited staff capacity constraints (only one public art staff person) and need to address issues like government speech, safety, maintenance, and equity.
- Commissioner Discussion:
- Commissioner Blumenstock raised concerns about political appropriateness and potential offense, citing past controversy over a fire station mural. She advocated for clear guidelines.
- Commissioner Naranjo supported a moratorium and emphasized the need for a diverse, cross-community panel to review projects, referencing historical statue removals (e.g., Earl Warren Theater, John Sutter statue, Junipero Serra). He expressed overall support for public art.
- Commissioner Gott cautioned against overly restrictive policies that might stifle artistic expression and provocation.
- Commissioner Blumenstock also asked about an unveiling for the recently completed Fire Station 14 sculpture; Donald Gensler noted a ceremony is planned for October 2022 led by Councilmember Harris.
- Vote: Motion (Commissioner Blumenstock/second by Commissioner Gott) to recommend a moratorium on new community-initiated art projects on public property without council member support until a new policy is formalized. Passed: 8 yes, 0 no (4 absent).
Item 4 – Sacramento Music Census and Arts & Entertainment Regulatory Review: Introduction of Sound Music Cities
- Staff Presentation (Megan Van Voorhis and Don Pitts, Sound Music Cities):
- Don Pitts, founder of Sound Music Cities, shared his background (former Austin music office director, reduced sound complaints by 73% in Austin). He described the music census as a data-gathering tool for musicians, venues, and promoters to inform policy and support. The census covers lived experience, economic data, regulatory barriers, and equity.
- Sacramento’s census will launch after Labor Day 2022 and run concurrently with Austin’s. Community partner outreach is underway (≈50 partners). The survey takes about 13–15 minutes. Results will be shared publicly via infographics and a summary report.
- Prior work: In 2020, Don Pitts facilitated community conversations in Sacramento that revealed regulatory inefficiencies and frustration; the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing conditions.
- Commissioner Discussion:
- Commissioner Lepore welcomed the initiative and noted Sacramento’s need to retain musicians and venues.
- Commissioner Gott asked about the census’s intent; staff explained it aims to move from anecdotal evidence to data, understand venue gaps, and identify challenges.
- Commission expressed strong support and offered to help identify community partners.
- Outcome: Received and filed. No vote required.
Item 5 – Director’s Report
- Staff Report (Megan Van Voorhis): Highlighted:
- Arts education: The consortium hired a communications firm to support Art Look.
- Public art: Multiple projects underway, including Caltrans District 3 and Clean California program initiatives.
- Film incentive program: Funded projects advancing narrative change; staff expressed pride in the cohort.
- Commissioner Comments:
- Commissioner Naranjo praised progress, noted the Washington Neighborhood Center landscape project and the Latino Podrosas mural at SMUD, and urged the commission to increase visibility at community festivals (e.g., Golden Harvest Festival).
- Commissioner Blumenstock encouraged attendance at Music Circus (production of “The Color Purple”).
- Commissioner Gott and Commissioner Mehta also expressed enthusiasm for Music Circus and the commission’s work.
- Outcome: Received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Calendar (Item 1).
- Recommended Moratorium on Temporary Public Art Projects (Item 3) – Motion passed 8-0; policy development to commence.
- Received and Filed Items 4 (Music Census) and 5 (Director’s Report).
- Next Steps: ARPA funding guidelines to be finalized with county agreement and council approval; music census to launch after Labor Day 2022 with community partner outreach; staff will develop a formal policy for community-initiated temporary public art on city property, with input from the commission and public.
- Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Vice Chair, we are working on a technical difficulty, and I will advise once we're ready to start. Thank you. All right, thank you. It was just before I was getting ready to head out. So I'm on today. I'll loop back when I get back. Chair, I Vice Chair, I do apologize for that delay. We're ready to start when you are. Okay. Um, are you starting the 30 seconds? The 30 seconds has already gone. Feel free to start the meeting. Okay, all right, thank you. Good afternoon, and welcome to the Monday, August 8th, 2022 Sacramento Arts, Culture and Creative Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Commissioners. Please unmute and turn on your video for a roll call. Commissioner Blumenstock is currently absent. Commissioner Gott. Present. Commissioner Lavulo is currently absent. Commissioner Lapore. Here. Commissioner Meta. Commissioner Naranjo. Here. Commissioner Perez is currently absent. Commissioner Wilson Raimi. Here. Vice Chair Enriquez. Here. Thank you. And Commissioner Hastings and Chair Winlock are currently absent. We have a quorum. All right, thank you. The meeting is virtual via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, please refer to the agenda on the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period for your desired item. Online, if you are online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. Mobile app in the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. Telephone, if you are calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine, then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. We will now proceed with today's agenda. Excuse me. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin Winton, Peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
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