Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - September 11, 2023
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Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - September 11, 2023
The Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission met on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 2:01 PM in City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Chair Priscilla Enriquez, with 10 commissioners present (Commissioner Anderson absent). The main agenda item was the approval of the Hanami Line Public Art contract, followed by a Director's Report, Commissioner Comments, and Public Comments on non-agenda matters. The meeting adjourned at 3:19 PM.
Discussion Items
- Hanami Line Public Art – Purchase of Artwork Agreement (File ID: 2023-01151)
- Donald Gensler, Arts in Public Places Specialist, presented a public art project for Matsui Waterfront Park (District 4). The project has been in development for over a decade and will include over 2.6 acres of cherry trees, a pedestrian bridge, and a sculpture by Reed Madden Designs (Berkeley, CA) inspired by cherry blossoms and Hanami (flower-watching) tradition. The artwork features dichroic glass lenses and LED lighting to create a flickering effect reminiscent of falling petals. The total contract cost is $300,000, funded by the city’s Art in Public Places ordinance, a donation from the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and a state grant. The artist was selected from over 90 applicants via a panel process. Commissioners expressed support for the project, noting its cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion aspects, as well as its role in revitalizing Old Sacramento and the waterfront. Specific questions addressed lighting integration with the park, the blue tile base (details still in development), and the Hanami meaning.
- Vote: Motion by Commissioner Winlock, seconded by Commissioner Lavulo. Passed unanimously (10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). The motion recommends City Council approval of the contract.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On the Director’s Report:
- Lambert Davis expressed support for the arts economy division, noted that the Grant Drumline went to Europe, and urged staff to connect with Al Wilson (provided phone number). He highlighted diversity, equity, and inclusion as early wins.
- Matters Not on the Agenda:
- Lambert Davis described his granddaughter’s TikTok-driven viral cheesecake success and again promoted the Grant Drumline and Al Wilson.
- Alpha (from Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum) thanked the commission for supporting the museum’s work in South Sacramento, including upcoming murals, a block party on Florin Road, and the Capital Regional Creative Core project with Lisa Burbank.
Director’s Report
- Megan Van Voorhis and Jason Jong provided updates:
- Music Census: Mayor’s State of the City highlighted findings; regulatory review report forthcoming.
- Creative Economy Report: Prepared by Creative Startups based on 100+ interviews; findings to be presented at October meeting.
- ARPA Funding: Final round of nonprofit funding ($250,000) opening soon; amendment to creative business framework planned to support findings from census and creative economy report.
- Arts Journalism: Exploring a collaborative strategy with potential funding partners.
- Other Programs: Capital Creative Core (five artists, $75,000 each, one-year terms); emerging curators fellowship; film grants; Design Week Sacramento in October.
- Staff noting upcoming planning to streamline program rollouts in January 2024. ARPA funds must be encumbered by Dec 31, 2024, and spent by 2026.
Commissioner Comments – Ideas and Questions
- Akshaj Mehta (outgoing commissioner, heading to UCLA for political science) expressed gratitude for the youth commissioner experience and praised the commission’s passion.
- L. Steven Winlock highlighted Second Saturday galleries, Prop 28 (arts education funding), and efforts to place teaching artists in schools via credential programs.
- Cruz Naranjo attended Mayor’s State of the City, noted cultural tourism and streamlined permits; expressed disappointment that the commission wasn’t acknowledged. He discussed community engagement in Chavez Park, lowrider exhibits at museums, and upcoming events (Florin Road Block Party, Indigenous People’s Day).
- Wellington Smith praised Second Saturday and youth involvement; mentioned a cultivation session in District 1 for pole flags.
- Luisa Lavulo noted the new trail pavement at the park and performed at the Holo Holofest (Asian Pacific Islander festival), urging efforts to bring the event to Sacramento.
- Akshaj Mehta (additional) praised Jive (biking/walking nonprofit) as a partner.
- Chair Priscilla Enriquez acknowledged the staff’s heavy workload and the commission’s role in building a creative economy ecosystem; suggested future planning to enhance the commission’s visibility.
Key Outcomes
- Motion passed unanimously to recommend City Council approval of Hanami Line Public Art contract with Reed Madden Designs for $300,000.
- Staff to present creative economy report at October 2023 meeting.
- ARPA final round nonprofit funding to be announced soon; amendment to creative business framework to go to City Council in early October.
- Commissioners encouraged to engage in district-level outreach and share upcoming events.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are. Thank you, Heather. Good morning. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the September 11th, 2023 Sacramento Arts Culture and Creative Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Blair. Here. Commissioner Bautista? Here. Commissioner Narranjo? Here. Commissioner Anderson. Vice Chair Ortiz here. Commissioner Lavulo. Commissioner Winlock. Here. Commissioner Wilson Raimi. Absent. Commissioner Meta. Here. And Chair Enriquez. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Thank you. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. From 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. If you are online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. If you're 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. 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. 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 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 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 for God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Okay. Our first business today is approval of the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Chair, tonight there's actually, I'm sorry, today there's not a uh consent calendar on the agenda.
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