Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - March 13, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - March 13, 2023
The commission met in person for the first time post-pandemic, approving consent calendar items, allocating $1,060,000 in grants for arts nonprofit recovery, and discussing a draft Temporary Public Art Policy. Commissioners also received updates on the music census, annual report, and the Creative Economy Manager position, and discussed advocacy for permanent arts funding.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of February 13, 2023, Meeting Minutes: Passed unanimously.
- Director’s Report (Item 2): Received and filed as part of consent, including updates on programs and initiatives.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 3 (ARPA Grants): Lambert Davis expressed strong support for the department’s equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, praising Melissa Cirone and the team.
- Item 4 (Temporary Public Art Policy):
- Shira (HM916) supported the policy, suggesting letters of support instead of petitions and asking about mobile art installations.
- David Soban (CEO of Wide Open Walls) expressed appreciation for the policy and suggested a list of city-owned locations to encourage proposals.
- Matters Not on the Agenda:
- Shira suggested using Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) dollars as a potential revenue source for arts funding.
- Lambert Davis commended Megan Van Voorhis and Melissa Cirone for their outreach to the Del Paso Heights community, noting the Director’s engagement with the Drumline group.
Discussion Items
Item 3: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Arts & Culture Nonprofit Recovery Program
- Melissa Cirone presented the second round of grants: $1,050,000 in ARPA funds to 38 organizations, plus $10,000 in non-ARPA funds to four organizations with annual budgets under $10,000 (updated from five in the agenda).
- Grants are based on budget size and distributed over two years; maximum award $75,000 per year for largest organizations, smaller organizations receiving $7,800–$22,000 over two years.
- Applications were open Dec 6, 2022 – Jan 30, 2023; 57 applications received, 42 deemed eligible.
- Grantees span Sacramento, Carmichael, Folsom, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, and Rancho Cordova, representing multiple disciplines and cultural traditions, including museums and historical sites.
- Commissioners expressed support for the diversity and inclusion of grantees, and requested a list of organizations by council district.
Item 4: Temporary Public Art Policy (Draft) – Receive and File
- Donald Gensler presented the draft policy for community-initiated temporary public art on city-owned property (not right-of-way).
- Two-phase process: Phase 1 – application review for location and artist qualifications; Phase 2 – detailed design approval and license agreement.
- Temporary art generally limited to two years, with possible extensions for up to 10 years for projects with significant investment.
- Projects lasting less than 24 hours may be approved at staff level.
- Discussion highlights:
- Commissioner Naranjo asked for examples of exemptions for longer durations and requested transparency on criteria.
- Commissioner Blumenstock raised concerns about the two-phase process stifling creativity, especially for youth projects, and suggested a fast-track option for short-term works.
- Commissioner Wilson Ramey clarified timelines (24-hour acknowledgment of receipt) and noted that installation/deinstallation periods are included in the two-year term.
- Commissioner Lavulo asked about locations (any city property, including parks and undeveloped lots) and highlighted equity concerns for districts that have not benefited from public art.
- Chair Enriquez asked about how community-initiated projects are initiated (not through RFPs, but direct application).
- Commissioner Blair inquired about access to projects on undeveloped lots, noting applicant responsibility for access and insurance.
- Commissioner Mehta (youth commissioner) asked about pilot projects transitioning to permanent art.
- Commissioner Blumenstock suggested requiring community input (e.g., petitions) and maintenance responsibility (applicant covers graffiti abatement).
- Director Megan Van Voorhis noted that staff time is limited because the public art program operates on cost recovery; no budget exists for community-initiated projects. She emphasized that the policy aims to bring transparency and manage staff workload, while also addressing inequitable distribution of art across the city.
- Commissioner Lavulo asked about coordination with Parks Department; Gensler confirmed collaboration but noted Parks also operates on cost recovery.
- No formal action was taken; the policy remains in draft form for further internal review with other city departments.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3 (ARPA Grants): Motion passed unanimously to approve the allocation of $1,050,000 in ARPA funds to 38 organizations and $10,000 in non-ARPA funds to four small organizations.
- Item 4 (Temporary Public Art Policy): Received and filed; no vote. Staff will incorporate commissioner comments and continue interdepartmental review before returning with a final policy.
- Commissioner Comments:
- Commissioners were encouraged to meet with their respective city council members to advocate for arts funding and share the upcoming annual report and grantee lists.
- Discussion of potential permanent funding sources: general fund budget, legislative measures (e.g., Measure P model), and community-based endowment as outlined in the Creative Edge plan.
- Music census results: nearly 1,400 responses; 80% of local musicians have three or fewer gigs per month; a lack of venue capacity between 500–2,000 seats was identified. A presentation from consultant Don Pitts is expected in April.
- Annual report is in final design stage; Creative Economy Manager position is open for applications (three weeks remaining).
- Commissioner Naranjo updated on the Crocker Art Gallery meeting (April 6) regarding equity and inclusion, and highlighted preservation needs for 50-year-old murals by Royal Chicano Air Force artists at Washington Neighborhood Center.
- Commissioner Lavulo raised the issue of major concerts bypassing Sacramento; Director Van Voorhis noted it depends on external promoters and offered to follow up with booking staff.
- Next Steps: Staff will provide follow-up emails with links to the Creative Economy Manager job posting, lists of grantees by district, and information on the Capital Region Creative Core program (funded by California Arts Council, $4.75 million, prioritizing Healthy Places Index low-quartile areas).
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are all right. How fun. Uh good afternoon. Welcome to the March 13th, 2023, Sacramento Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Commission. I just want to welcome everyone. This is the first time we've been in person in this room up here on the the day's and actually have met each other. And I just want to welcome everyone in the audience and the staff. And I'm a little giddy, and so forgive me if I like stumble on my agenda here, but welcome. Um the meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Anderson is absent. Commissioner Bautista. Commissioner Blair. Here Commissioner Blumenstock. Here Commissioner Lavulo. Here Commissioner Meta. Is absent. Commissioner Naranjo. Present. Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Wilson Wilson Ramney. Present. Commissioner Winlock. Is absent. Commissioner. Oh, sorry. Vice Chair Ortiz is absent. Chair Enriquez. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Um, I'd like to remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins for members of the public who wish to join virtually. Please refer to the agenda for 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're online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. Mobile app and the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. Telephone if you're calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial nine, 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. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips and the raise hand feature in Zoom will be disabled. We will now proceed with today's agenda. Um please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanan 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. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right, thank you. Our first business today is approval of the consent calendar.
openpublica.com