.

.

Chair, staff is ready when you are.

All right, good afternoon, everyone.

Welcome to the last meeting of 2024, December 9th.

Let's see. Can we have the roll call, please, Heather?

Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute for roll call.

Commissioner Anderson is absent.

Commissioner Blair.

Here. Commissioner LeVulo.

Here.

Commissioner Lemmele.

Here.

Commissioner Martino.

Absent.

Commissioner Nronho.

Here.

Commissioner O'Haybou.

Here.

Commissioner Smith.

Absent.

Commissioner Tokalina.

Here.

Commissioner Wilson-Ramey.

Here.

Commissioner Winlock.

Here.

And Chair and Rekiz.

Here.

Thank you. We have Chorum.

All right. Thank you.

I'd like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn any speaker slip.

When the item begins, you have two minutes to speak.

After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips.

I'll move to the agenda.

And if folks could please rise for the land acknowledgement and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Would someone like to recite the land acknowledgement?

Steve.

Oh, thank you.

Do the original people of this land, the Nissan people and the southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwak?

The Pintan-Wantan people and the people of the Wilton Ranch era, Sacriminals only funded a 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 an active practice of

acknowledgement and appreciation of Sacriminals and Indigenous peoples, history, contributions and lives.

Thank you.

For the allegiance to the flag of the United States and America, and to the Republic, which stands one nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Thank you.

First item is the consent calendar.

Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent?

Thank you, Chair. There are no speakers for this item.

Sorry. I jumped right over. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on the consent item?

No. Okay. Why don't we roll back to?

Oh, I'm sorry. We need a vote.

Do we have a motion?

Oh, a motion.

And a second. Yeah. Can I get a motion for the minutes, please?

I'm motion.

Second, please.

I'll second.

Hey, boo.

I'll second.

Thank you. Commissioners, please unmute for vote.

Commissioner Anderson is absent.

Commissioner Blair.

Aye.

Commissioner Lebuello.

Aye.

Commissioner Lemmele.

Yes.

Commissioner Martino.

Absent. Commissioner Nronho.

Yes.

Commissioner Ohaboo.

Aye.

Commissioner Smith.

Aye.

Commissioner Tokolino.

Aye.

Commissioner Wilson-Rami.

Yes.

Commissioner Winlock.

Yes.

And Chair Enriquez.

Yes.

Thank you. Motion passes.

All right. Thank you.

Yeah. I'm sorry. I skipped over an important item.

Thank you.

There are a number of us, uh, turning off the commission

and looks like there is a recognition.

I'll look to you.

Jason.

Sure. Why?

Thank you.

Chair Enriquez.

I think that I'll tag team with our city clerk staff on this.

But this is a significant meeting where we will likely see the transition of folks

who have been around for quite a while who have invested significant personal time, energy,

passion, and love for the city of Sacramento's arts, culture, and creative economy community.

A legacy that goes even much further beyond the time that you've all spent here.

So, Heather Randley is sharing some official recognition of your time here.

And I just want to call out the commissioners who have completed their terms and sometimes multiple terms.

Commissioner Ten Blair.

Commissioner Cruz Naranjo.

Commissioner Justina Martino, who is unfortunately unable to join us today.

Commissioner Luisa Lavuolo, who is also serving as our current vice chair.

Commissioner Steven Winlock, I believe 12 years across the moon in service.

That's a service standing up here.

Thank you.

Commissioner Dr. Melinda Wilson-Rami.

And your current chair, Priscilla and Wikis.

You would like, we can spend a few moments and I invite you to share your reflections on your time and your contributions,

which are great and many to this body and to the communities and neighborhoods in Sacramento.

Go, go, go, Steve.

You know, I listed here that my service and I truly believe that we all need to give service to the city of Sacramento.

And it's been for 10 years, actually 12 years of being an arts commissioner with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

When we first started, I was six on there many years on that with a smack.

Remember then we kept trying to change the name each time saying that didn't really, this is a smack to the arts or what is it.

And then four years on the recently on the mayor's, mayor's Steinberg's arts and culture and this group.

And you know, I said that this commission has allowed me to be an influencer, an advisor, and a participant in the arts in culture of the city of Sacramento.

What a better gift than that's been.

And I've been grateful really for this opportunity to have and thankful to the mayor for his appointment to this commission.

I also want to say that the power of the commission is to be the ongoing influencer, an advisor, and participant in the development of the arts and culture in the city.

You know, each of you, each commissioner here, as I, over the years have heard your voices and talk about what kinds of things you're hearing from your community.

And then you bring that back to the commission to kind of share so it becomes public is so powerful.

It's so powerful what we do.

And I just wanted to say that one, I want to acknowledge all of my fellow commissioners because you all have been doing that and being involved.

And you are a lot of why the city is in the level of where it is because of the arts and culture in this series.

So I just hope and continue that, you know, your voices will still be continued to be heard and that those voices will whether it be on the commission or out there in the public realm because that's what I plan to do is to continue.

And I don't stop this issue about making sure our arts and culture.

So I continue to look forward to the development of arts and culture in the city of Sacramento.

And I want to make sure I participate.

So thanks for this opportunity.

Anyone else?

Cruz, yes, I'm looking at you.

I know, I know that you're not surprised.

Anyway, when I was first appointed and I was embevalent because you know, new waters and I'm the freshman on campus.

And I was afraid, believe it or not, I was afraid to speak because when I did, I wasn't always in concurrence with the rest of the group.

And I felt some animosity in opposition and I had to talk to council member Katie Valenzuela.

And I said, you know, I represent you, but I'm afraid to speak more freely because I represent you.

And I don't want to alienate you from anybody else and make a bad showing.

And then she gave me license.

When she said, Cruz, I didn't appoint you to make friends.

I appointed you to make changes.

And with that, I'd like to think mission accomplished.

But knowing I was going to be choking on words, I wrote them down so I wouldn't embarrass myself more than I feel like I already am.

So with that, I say, while I am proud of the changes, I help make possible to benefit the art community.

My proudest moments are when I delivered the tribute to my late friend, artist, mirrorless, and real chicken, air force co-founder, Wanishi Orozco, at a commission meeting.

And when I spoke as the District 4 Art Commissioner at the dedication of the Isabel Estnaran Hope Public Landy Doc and Old Sacramento,

while this upcoming meeting will be attended with a heavy heart, I will find comfort in knowing that my tenure was appreciated by the community I served.

And I think the greatest validation of that came from our former colleague, Bonnie Blumstock.

Because I posted this, she responded, you have been the very model of an excellent commissioner, my friend.

The commission will be less without you.

And that's the comforting words I take away with me.

Great.

I am muted.

Good afternoon.

I did not prepare words, but I do want to share.

I joined this, this is my second term, and I joined this commission virtually online.

It was very interesting to sit in a little box and wonder what you were doing and who all these other people were in boxes.

But there's three things that I really take away from this experience and thank you for some highlights, some major accomplishments that I am very fortunate to have been a part of.

And number one was during those COVID years really, really working to make sure our arts organizations and our individual artists were able to continue.

We were able to get the supplies that they needed, the resources they needed to not only pivot, I mean some of our organizations did some amazing stuff during that time, and to see them come back.

We were a little concerned about what would the arts look like in Sacramento post COVID, and I know that we assisted in making it.

I won't say seamless, but enabling it to thrive once again and thrive even more.

I've seen a lot of arts organizations doing things they haven't thought of before, and really incorporating things like media that they had not done previously.

So in some ways the pandemic helped us be even more creative.

And so I know that we are very much a part of that.

The other thing I'm very proud of is that we now have a youth commissioner.

That was something that was not in place when I started, and to have that young voice here, and the enthusiasm and everything is very critical.

Because that means that we are thinking about and making ways for the next generation.

And that's not always something that we put at the forefront of our minds.

When we're looking at city development, so that's very, very nice.

And the last thing we talked about often, but I've seen it more so in the past two years, and that is hearing from our grants recipients, hearing from the community.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Hearing from people who have benefited from us, not just making a pitch, but the recipients to share what they've gained.

I found those moments most rewarding to see how we've influenced lives.

And I don't think we realize that this is life influential, not just support of the arts.

And so those are the three things that I really take away from this opportunity and how that Sacramento was able to contribute to.

And I thank you for this opportunity.

I just want to say this has been a wonderful experience.

I have helped shape the creative economy for the last 20 years, and I finally had an opportunity to actually sit on the commission and get to voice my community and my own thoughts.

I felt very well received by all of you, and I'm very grateful for that.

I feel that my neighborhood has a new light right now.

There was a lot of purpose in helping my community through this commission and being able to voice what was happening here, and be able to show them the resources that were available, but they had not yet been able to have been tapping into.

I don't want to reiterate some of the things that others have said, but I was very happy to be a part of some of the revival that's been happening in North Sacramento.

Phantom Galleries was one of the first times I got to speak as a commission.

It was a revival of the neighborhood to try to activate the arts.

And it worked, and now there's a lot more happening.

I have a lot more support for some of the operations that were already going on there that needed love.

I really found a lot of purpose in understanding how the AOC works and how arts culture and creative economy really is impactful for not just the arts industry, but other entities and bodies.

I also just really enjoyed getting to know every single one of you, enjoyed being involved in my community.

The last project I did was the Dixie Ann project, and I helped promote that one as well, which was the Clean and Green Alleyways project.

Aside from that, I've promoted a lot of other things that have been going on in the neighborhood, and I look forward to working with the next commissioner, and still proceeding, and being an advocate for my area, still doing stuff on my own, and making sure people have the resources that we have.

I think that gives me the most purpose and light into my next phase of my career, and I'm really happy that I got to do this.

It was definitely something different than what I've previously done.

I just, you guys have all inspired me, and in different ways, and I just wanted to comment on that too.

It's not easy thing to come up here and voice our opinions, and I too started on Zoom, and was very quiet at first, which is unusual for me.

I'm quite opinionated, but I also did it want, I wanted to make sure my community had the best foot forward, as well as myself.

So, this has really been eye-opening experience, and I had a lot of growth, so thank you guys. I really appreciate all.

Okay. I'll go next.

I guess the first thing I want to say is I just want to thank my departing commissioners, Ten Cruz, Steve, and Melinda, and to the remaining commissioners, you all are going to have to speak up, because this is the chatty bunch that's leaving.

But hopefully we've had great influence in terms of how we hope you guys can engage in dialogue and decision making and recommendations.

I've been involved in the arts for a long time, all going all the way back to the very first for arts sake under Mayor Kevin Johnson, and was really excited when, in another role, I had to be approached by the city to support the creative planning process, which led to the Creative Edge Plan along with Steve and some other folks who were part of the steering committee.

I was always on the other side, and I had always wanted to be on the commission, but because of my role, I had to wait till that ended before I could join.

And being on here, it's sort of been this really fulfilling thing to be on the civic engagement side with local government, because it's a totally different ballgame than if you're in the nonprofit space or in philanthropy.

And the first thing I want to say is I just want to thank the city staff. You have all been amazing hard workers, educating us on policies and procedures.

You know it all by heart, we're all still trying to figure it out. But I think there's a lot that you do behind the scenes that the public doesn't get to see.

So I just want to express my gratitude to all of you. Heather, Jason, your entire team have been phenomenal in the tenure that I've been here going all the way back to, as Melinda said, when we were all on Zoom during COVID, which was a kind of a scary time.

And then another thing obviously is to the mayor. He appointed me along with Melinda and Steve to be his representatives. And I think, unlike my peers on the commission where you actually represent a district and a geographic area, we try to stay abreast of what was happening throughout the whole city.

And I think that's what we brought to the table, if you will, trying to elevate citywide the creative economy. And so much has happened in the last two, three years, four years going back.

And it's just really rewarding to see not just support for arts organizations, but for individual artists, especially contributing to the creative economy as an economic engine for the city.

Because that's exactly what we want in need for a thriving creative economy and a world class city list, like we all all get to say.

Jason asked me to say a few things about what I'm proud of. And I really think my other than, you know, we sit here, you all do the hard work and we say, OK, we recommend to the city to approve.

I want to go back to back in February when we had the White Open Walls issue. And most times our audience looks like this, right?

And it was packed for several meetings. And in as much as we really didn't have a transactional stake in that situation, as a commission, I think we provided a safe space.

And place for our artists to just express how they were feeling. And if that's not what we're here for, then what are we here for?

You know, and I thought I want to say was my proudest moment.

I don't know if those issues are resolved, but I think the commission and the city should be a safe space for city residents to come to with their issues and problems.

And we need to be open minded and receive that feedback. And in some cases, very heartfelt thoughts. So that was my one thing I wanted to say Jason and to the remaining commissioners.

It's your template now. And you're going to have to lead in a dialogue with new commissioners. It's going to be a brand new commission. Hopefully today we can leave you with a work plan that you all can work off of.

But I know Cruz mentioned something that when he's first started was just sort of being afraid. And there's no need to worry.

I think if we do something wrong, Heather will just say we need to go back to that. But you know, this is your opportunity to be the advocate you were meant to be for the arts and really take that mantle next year and for the remainder of your term.

So thank you.

Okay, moving on.

Oh, the we said, well, yeah, but you're coming back.

Did you want to say anything about what you're going to be like when you come back?

Okay, so I will be coming back.

But I was also here during the pandemic too. And I we were on the screen and I had no idea what was expected of me to do.

And so when we came in to actually meet for these meetings, it was the first time that I've ever been in the city hall.

I was like, oh, wow, this is cool. And speaking up was not. I didn't know if I was supposed to speak up. And I was thankful for people like Donnie Bloomingstock and Cruz who just said, you're just supposed to talk.

That's what you're here for. Steve would be like, just speak. That's what you're here for. You're the representative of the community.

I am so grateful for everybody's example on how to advocate for our people and how to sit here and belong and feel like we belong.

And going forward into the next year, it's going to be a great year. And those of you who are continuing on, let's continue on with their example and just fight the good fight.

Louisa.

Well, let me just reiterate that I think I can speak for staff. Staff really does appreciate your input and your voice.

And I believe that the community really appreciates how you brought to light issues of equity and diversity, inclusion, all of those things that we care about.

And I encourage those of you who will carry on this, the work of this commission to think about those ideals and to continue to bring that momentum forward into 2025.

So my appreciation extends to all of you as well. Thank you.

Jason. And by the way, that little box of chocolates for me just to thank you all. And City Clerk and Art Staff, you have a box of caramel.

All right. Now to business. Let's see. Let's move on to the proposed discussion calendar. Proposed 2025 Arts Culture and Creative Economy Commission Work Plan.

So what we're leaving behind you guys.

Thank you.

So the main item today is our discussion of the proposed 2025 Arts Culture and Creative Economy Commission Work Plan. This is a draft.

We do hope to finalize it and bring it into an annual report that does need to be approved by the personal and public employees commission and and then to the full City Council.

And so this is the work of your committee commission and this is your opportunity to weigh in. I want to acknowledge before we start that Justina Martino Commissioner Martino who is not here today had done a lot of the legwork and getting us to this point.

So what you have here on the screen in front of you pretty much mirrors what you've already seen in the agenda report. It's just kind of an visually accessible format.

So it's pretty much the same that you've already had a chance some of you have had a chance to discuss more deeply than others. So what we're going to do is walk through the five goals of the plan.

And really this is an invitation for you all to discuss. And we, you know, I would say look at the big picture. Yes, if there are some, you know, words or phrases that need to be massaged, we can consider that but caution to, you know, to be mindful of the time if we start to get bogged down in the words smithing because there is still time to do that.

That is the work of the ongoing work of the individuals on the commission who had indicated an interest in helping us through the annual report and the work plan. So with that, we have up here the work plan. And I'm going to try and move through the slides.

We go on to the next. Something I can do.

So the first goal that was identified by this group was to achieve greater clarity around the commission's purpose and role within the city of Sacramento government.

There are a number of objectives. The first two are to understand the purpose of this advisory body and to learn about city structure and processes, including governance, budgeting and decision making.

There are three more objectives to build collaborative relationships with the mayor's office, commissioner district council members, other city of Sacramento departments and commissions, improve internal ways of working amongst yourselves and the office of arts and culture and to encourage inter departmental support and alignment of arts and creative economy initiatives.

Feel free to let me know if I need to go back. If you'd like to see the previous two objectives or if you have comments or questions, just feel free to interrupt.

So the question is how do you feel about this first goal and the five objectives related to this goal? At the end of each set of goals and objectives, there is an outcome statement.

So this is how the group had thought what impact they would like to see through the objectives.

I can add Jason just to let folks know just Tina led the charge and then Luis America and I we met a couple times as an ad hoc committee to sort of flesh this out.

And if you recall the earlier version that was in last month's packet, we really wanted to simplify it and clarify that these are goals slash priorities, I guess in the previous document they were called priorities.

But sort of standardized it to have some objectives related to the goal and then an outcome related to that particular goal.

And this first one is maybe the most internally looking of the goals.

You got a question on here?

Yeah, Chris.

Sorry, Sam, I'm already just not being enough.

Anyway, it's good to say we need to include something that informs that this is a form of redress as well.

You may mention of when the issues regarding what happened walls came forth and we addressed it for the aggrieved artists.

That's something that we need to make a plane to them as well because the way it is now, what do you do? Who do we complain to?

And anyway, fortunately we did enlighten them about the kind of authority we do exercise granted. However limited it is, we do have some input and I think we need to make that more apparent.

It may be in the later goals, but we hear you.

Melinda, I'll see you.

You know, the word impact comes up for me. I think that it's very important that the commission understand what their impact is in being involved in the work that needs to happen around the area.

And I think if we could define a little bit about what that impact means.

In other words, like settings that the commission has impact on setting the direction of the way that things are moved in the direction and those kinds of things.

I just would make sure that I expand that understanding part.

And again, I think that may be in the second. I think just to clarify, the first goal is meant to be internal and the second goal will be external.

But we might see this in the later goals.

Shall we just be going to go the second one?

Before we do that, should we pause and take a look at the outcome statement for goal one?

This is an internally focused outcome where commissioners better understand their roles and responsibilities, thereby increasing commission's efficiency and effectiveness, ability to foster greater levels of collaboration and capacities to support arts culture and the economy.

Feel good? We can always go back and this is also, of course, in your packet.

If you feel like flipping through.

I just want to link what Steve just said in that the internal versus the outturnal, I think it is important to recognize the impact between the two because those are very much in a related.

What is the impact we are having on community and vice versa?

And it would be nice if there's ways to go about collecting that information, particularly from the public's perspective.

Because I think it's one thing for us to understand what we do and it's another thing for them to understand what we do.

So I think that that impact needs to go both ways and support that remark.

So the second goal is to enhance community awareness and understanding of the commission as a supportive, accessible resource dedicated to arts and culture.

The first two objectives were to increase community engagement by pursuing opportunities for learning and listening that support the public and connecting with the commission's purpose and initiatives.

Amplifying the roles and responsibilities of the commissioners establishing them as visible support of advocates within the arts and culture community.

To build relationships with community partners such as arts and culture organizations, small businesses and artists to promote the mission and enhance its presence in Sacramento's creative landscape.

And encourage the department, convention and cultural services department to ensure that its race, equity and culture statement and values are upheld in all its programming.

Then the outcome for this and this is an externally focused outcome where community members experience and increased awareness and understanding of the commission's role and relationship to supporting arts, culture and the creative economy thereby supporting increased interaction and engagement with the commission.

The first two objectives and the second two.

I just want to make a suggestion for the encouraging in regards to the equity and diversity is this are upheld in all its programming.

I would encourage some more larger view of that is upheld across all of roles purposes, everything is not just in the program but in everything that the commission is responsible for.

If I could I would just add on to that if we go back to our equity statement that we then their pieces in there that really really emphasized the direction of what was done by the arts commission.

Maybe somehow link the two documents to refer to that statement.

I also think that the new commission should in your orientation, Jason, they should receive that statement and I don't know maybe invite Steve back to walk them through.

Yes, yes, the history of that.

Oh, Robert.

I think this is a place where I've been thinking a lot about that white open walls conversation and group of people coming to us and not understanding exactly what we did us not being able to respond to them in ways that we necessarily wanted to, although crews I think you very eloquently gave them a lot of pride for coming forth and speaking their voice that day.

But I think this is a place where we can build these relationships and start to educate what it is that we do, what it is that we want to do.

So when I think that will actually bring people into the room more often if they understand what it is that we're trying to do here.

That whole moment felt disjointed in a positive way because I think there was learning that happened but it felt like two different groups that were trying to meet somewhere in the middle and we didn't really know how to serve each other in that moment.

So the more that we do this and more that we build these relationships, I think we'll see greater engagement and not that we're trying to pack the house.

Although I mean, I saw concert tickets so I see these empty seats today.

It makes me a little anxious but I think that'll be a great step going forward to actually dig into the community a little bit deeper.

I know many of us do that on an ad hoc basis but making some formal sort of structures around how we do that would be great.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

You want to move on to three?

Okay.

All right. So goal three.

Advocate for policies and initiatives that value, support and build the arts and cultural community and ecosystem.

The first two objectives advocate for increased visibility and growth of the arts and cultural sector by encouraging targeted communications highlighting the creative economies value.

Recommend policies that ensure fair treatment, adequate compensation and the sustainability of create work across Sacramento's arts community.

Speaking to some of the themes that we wanted to explore, right?

Foster collaboration and generate new opportunities for creative professionals, create and strengthen partnerships between arts organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders, collaborate with the Office of Arts and Culture to provide regular status updates on the progress of the creative edge plan.

It's implementation of the race equity and culture statement and ensure its alignment with the commission's advocacy efforts.

Those are the four objectives.

I really want to highlight how glad I am to see the way collaborate is defined.

I think when we had the White Open Walls issues, you know, that the one argument was, well, they're not funded by the public, so we really have no say.

And of course, well, yeah, we do because we're responsible for ensuring the racial and cultural equity standards.

And whenever we are presented with a undertaking for approval and that is related to public art, we should always make sure that there are safeguards in place to ensure those standards are here too.

So I was glad to see that.

Thank you. Wellington or 10.

I also want to echo what you're saying as well as the term generate new opportunities.

I think that means a lot to me to see in this presentation.

And reason being, I've come across a lot of artists who are looking to generate new opportunities in Sacramento, but they go to the Bay Area to do so.

So I'm really happy that we will be a part of that change.

Keep them here in this space.

And it's not just, and not just artists, it's also cultural organizations who go to other parts of the state to look for opportunities and then use those opportunities out there.

And it's really kind of, it's hard to be like, oh, from Sacramento, I'm like, man, why aren't you doing this in sex?

So I'm really happy to see that on here.

Anyone else?

Goldery outcomes, the commission has seen as a valued resource playing an increased role in enhancing cultural competence, fostering community engagement, and recognizing the economic and cultural contributions of the creative sector.

You'll back to the goal.

I have one.

I just want to, wherever possible, to really, like you were just saying, it's nobody's, to really emphasize Sacramento.

So the advocate for city policies, perhaps, I just want to make sure that this is really elevating the city in a way that it's like crystal clear.

This is about Sacramento's creative sector, etc.

Great.

Shall I move on?

Okay.

Goal four. Collaborate with the Office of Arts and Culture to address a variety of infrastructure needs required to sustain a thriving and sustainable arts ecosystem.

I think there are three objectives here.

Develop a broader understanding of arts and cultural community needs around safe, affordable, and sustainable spaces.

And then engage with regional experts in inclusive economic development, small business development, collective ownership, and community wealth building to share valuable insights and strategies with community recurring theme.

The third objective is to identify city departments and community based organizations in Sacramento working toward similar goals to find alignment and potential partnerships.

And then the outcome is also here on this slide.

Commission serves as a convener of thought leadership and a facilitator in identifying trends and opportunities to strengthen and advance Sacramento's arts ecosystem.

Robert.

I don't know if this lives somewhere between goal three and goal four, but one thing we're not talking about here is how to ensure that community residents that are artists have access to the arts at multiple different levels.

And I'm thinking specifically of a lot of cities and countries that have made a broad pledge to make arts accessible, particularly students under 25.

If you're under 25 and you live in Europe, most museums are going to be free to you if not with the low cost.

So are there things like that that we can do in Sacramento that encourage arts involvement from non creatives or future creatives?

It's make sure they have access to see and experience all the great work that's going on here.

It's a great, great thought. Yes. Steve from Linda.

Along that same line, I don't know how we would weave it in, but I do think that art education is a huge umbrella that's happening.

I'm just talking about from gate 12, but what, but from the idea of a community of educating the community about the arts.

And it's one of our tasks and it's one of the things that we've looked in the air.

So I don't know where that should be we've done and not just leave it up to the by the way, this is fantastic.

It really is. It really is. I just want to say just in kind of setting a direction and helping the commission to find itself.

Great job to ask team. Thank you.

You.

Did you have a comment? No, that was great.

We're hooked together.

Let me know if I'm going too fast. Feel free.

So goal five, continue to uplift the goals of the creative edge plan by examining the state of the nonprofit arts and culture ecosystem.

Collaborate with the office of arts and culture to provide creative edge plan updates on a nas needed basis.

There are three perspectives explore with the office of arts and culture the feasibility for a new cultural planning process and or opportunities to revisit reaffirm and or update creative edge plan goals and priorities.

Support the integration of community and artists voice in cultural planning efforts processes or related assessment of the nonprofit arts and culture ecosystem.

And identify synergistic opportunities for collaboration or funding that may exist in in aligned areas such as education, health care parks and recreation, youth engagement or workforce development.

We'll begin to explore the intersection of arts health and well-being to provide future recommendations.

And the stated outcome, the commission is guided by a clear strategic direction informed by and responsive to a diversity of community voices and needs there by ensuring the sustainability, vitality and protection of the local arts and culture ecosystem ecosystem as a valued community and civic asset.

The one thing I want to add on this, I think in our committee we felt it was important to reaffirm the creative edge plan because we have a new mayor coming on board who will have a ton of issues and certainly want to keep arts elevated but I think to simplify by saying there is already a plan in motion.

The staff are acclimated to implementing it and finding ways to amplify it. It's almost like a nice sort of like security blanket if you will.

And then over time maybe by year two or three sort of revisit and sort of you know what's happening in the city you know and how to whether that's a moment to engage in a new planning process because that that planning process back in 2018 cost money that had to be raised.

And consultant who came in and engaged the commis it's a very comprehensive process. It's not something you just say, yeah, we're going to do it.

You know, so.

Any thoughts on five.

Yes, yes, Cruz.

Thank you. I was going to say I see many examples of how art and bridge communities and strengthen that.

I forgot where we were.

The skateboard park.

Big turn out for that. That was a good community builder.

On fifth and Broadway, the mural for the low writers.

That's a good collaborative effort. You know, a lot of volunteer brushes out there. And now the low writer lane is out there.

Which is another feather not kept because of what we brought diversity, which is our mission.

You know, we had promote diversity, inclusion and equity. You know, we've seen that happen.

I've even seen how once mall step of a mural can generate potential economic development Northgate Boulevard Northgate Indiana Boulevard.

We have a mural out there now and it was slated to become what talk talk applause.

See. Art heels. It rebuilds it.

It solidifies community. So I'm glad that we may mention that in this plan because that's exactly what we do.

And we're fulfilling that mission.

You know, I'm this is this is just brilliant in a lot of ways in the way that it's outline my suggestion if I were still on the commission is that this would be brought back periodically to commission meetings.

And not you know, like a number of times throughout the year that you would actually give examples of just like cruises and you know, you just provided an example of showing how the actual goal was being met and examples of that and give examples of those that are happening out in the community that are reaching these goals on a regular regular basis because that shows that

the commission is involved is involved in the community. It also shows that there's also evidence that we are you know in the sense about by the projects that we're supporting by the events that are going on the things that we stand for.

So I would just you know if I had a one I'd just say this is something that has to be done by the commission on a regular basis to show that the work is like keep this document alive.

Don't you know you've done the goals and stuff and you put it on a shelf and nobody ever looks at it again maybe once a year to kind of come back do we need to change our goals.

But make it make it be alive because this is fantastic in the sense about outlining the work that needs to happen or the work of the commission and being able to put it out publicly about what it is what the evidence is so that's just a party commissioners words.

Thank you so much Steve.

I'm sure you're going to be able to do that.

Is there anything that like is stating and maybe I missed it like how we're supposed to be working with our council members and like our districts because I found that when I shared the creative edge plan with the former now we have a new one which I'll be making sure he knows of the new one to of the creative edge plan too but do we have anything in there about that because that's when things actually changed in the neighborhood for us is when I started pointing out that and it was at the end of the day.

And it was at the hundredth year centennial that we really pushed that idea in the area like to full effect and made sure that there was many different groups all in it together and highlighted lots of different cultural nonprofit stakeholders in the area so I just I don't know if it's in there for maybe I'm just not catching it but it's kind of it is in the first goal which is internal so working with your district and.

Other local government departments and then it's also on goal to to which is external building those relationships with community partners and so okay I think it's just meant to kind of.

It just feels broad I guess to me but thank you for explaining it.

Yeah and how active I mean the council members are in the arts and you know how they feel about it because I know the first one I had wasn't as interested in the second one shantow was very interested in making sure that the arts and creative economy was taking care of so I there is there definitely that's important to me I did not know exactly what I was supposed to be doing I will just say it straight up there with I wanted a book that told me what I was supposed to be doing and where I was going to be doing and where I was going to be doing and I was going to be doing that.

Yeah because that's how I am but there wasn't and so I found myself having to ask a lot of questions and then community members seeing me in out and doing stuff started becoming curious about what I was doing and that's that's good right because then there there's an initiation people are starting to notice but then on the flip side of that that you know without some of that structure and knowing how to work with your council members or with the districts which I think that's the best way to do it.

I was going to do some of the districts which I don't feel like is obvious but maybe it is to some people it was not obvious to me and I felt like I could have done even more in my tenure if I had known those things I felt like I did the most in the last like eight months and I felt really good about that in the last

week I had so many people coming up to me and they were disappointed but I reassured them that I was going to completely still advocate for the area still work with people but I don't think we all know that we can do that.

Like there was a there was that and I actually had to have some community members speak to the create you know Jason and and even Megan to kind of explain things because I was at a loss which I didn't I didn't like that so it is really

empowering to know exactly what we're doing and this is definitely I want a second in the fact that it should be reiterated every few months.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's a really great point.

It's a really great point because I found myself asking other people to cruise was one of the one I'm like so what am I supposed to do I was even asking Donnie when she was here like I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing she's like talk to your talk to your council member and see if they have anything to bring you back.

So it's a great point because even those who are still staying on I'm pretty sure you guys are thinking the same thing like well we hear we come every month and we listen and we pass things but outside of that what should we do they're definitely should be not how to but yes I how to because it's pretty ambiguous when we come here we sit down here and we're just like that also added to why I was like I'm just a mom I don't know we're just sitting here and listening that's a great point we really do need.

What's I mean steps are good sometimes steps are what we need I know I did I had to like sneak to cruise a lot and be like crew so what exactly are we doing and he's like at one of the one of the one of the call it that we're put on at the Capitol he's like well I talked to my commission to my council member and I help them get this over here because that's what you're supposed to do you're supposed to connect the dots.

Yes, but I'm like oh okay so I'm supposed to go he's like you just got a you just got to connect the dots nowhere you're at and know who's your person to talk to to get what they need so that they know that you're needed but good point.

Yeah, I found myself sharing more community than getting it up into upper where it needed to be where they would have shared it more so it would have actually amplified more people knowing what was going on so that's where.

Thank you. Anyone else?

Can I just repeat what I think I've heard just so that I know you've been taking notes here Jason but I would I heard from folks is an objective one that there be some and maybe it's implied elsewhere but some that our rules also to provide some redress for community members and I also heard that our role in impact is both internal external so somehow gold's one and two that be clear and especially in terms of setting up the right

direction and that those are really clear words that in directions so maybe that verbiage should be there somewhere I also heard that there be some way to connect the actual race equity and culture statement to this document rather than reinvent the wheel and reference maybe some key language we can probably lift up but then I think it's really good to tie it directly so it becomes one whole document.

Let's see I also heard related to go through which I thought was really good like being very clear to name place that this is for the city of Sacramento and just really emphasize that and so that's clear in terms of impacting city policies.

I heard another thing and I think Robert you raised this either for goal three or four like community access like where is the accessibility to the arts to reach different audiences whether it's youth or people who are home bound for example or other other communities and so I don't know perhaps somewhere here maybe that is an infrastructure need accessibility the arts to all communities.

I loved hearing from crews the idea of bridging and being the community builder and again maybe that just needs to be teased out a little bit more and then somewhere in here and I don't know maybe it's I don't know the prologue or whatever the concluding state maybe there's a concluding statement in terms of actions that we recommend that the work plan is reviewed maybe every quarter by the commission by asking commissioners to provide examples.

And then some clarity for commissioners especially the new ones and how to engage how to engage your your council member as well as the community what is your role as that sort of lays on and I think the challenge there is to remember we're all volunteers we can't you know unpaid roles we can't do it all but I think giving examples of what that could look like would be really really helpful.

Thank you. I think on the same ending thought like I think for the youth see and this is I think me thinking about like long term like you know like whoever else continues I think that because it's like still like it's not for a specific district as well like it's hard to know like who are what I'm like who I'm supposed to connect with I mean I think that that might be the same for you know just like the seat like in general because I think I'm not going to be able to do that.

I know like the different districts look different in terms of like the schools and you know the types of funding that they get or the different programs or maybe there's different organizations in one district that there isn't in another and I know that they all offer like different services but I think like uplifting like those different things or I do think there's like it like I don't know I feel like a gap like I would like to connect with everyone but I don't know like how that would be it would be best to go about it and then also

if maybe it's also not just about the commissioners but about connecting with like the city council representatives and like just I don't know like seeing where there could be like more collaboration or uplifting like the voices of the youth and like if they have any specific thoughts or ideas.

I'm on my end like I think I've been trying to just be more like like out there like just trying to go to like do different events and that sort of thing but I think just uplifting that thought.

Thank you.

I'm interested.

Just wanted to add I think that it's really important that the commission also make contact with those that they support.

What I mean by that it should be somewhere that it's written as a goal that the commissioners are attending the art organizations, the things that are going on but at the same time I think those art organizations and artists and or should also be coming to the commission to educate the commission about what they do and what they're doing out there.

So that's why I was talking about the issue about the education of the arts should be kind of an umbrella in a sense about doing that would be one but I think the exposure of having our art organizations or artists, our groups come in to actually present to the commission could be very powerful.

Those are good actions.

The other thing that I want to point out here, it's just interesting you're in it you don't see it but I see it now.

It doesn't really address advocating for resource allocation so making sure that it's adequately funded so Jason I don't know where that could be maybe that's somewhere under goal for.

Yeah infrastructure that we definitely need to address the money the money question.

So anyone else this is really good really appreciate everyone's feedback and maybe in January you could have one more iteration before finalizing yes Louisa.

I know it's been talked about before what Steve just said but at what point would we be able to actually implement that to have each district bring somebody or encourage somebody from the community to come and present.

It's been I know it's been brought up a few times but nothing has ever actually came to fruition and it would actually bring more people here if we did if we were able to actually go ahead with it.

It's just we're kind of waiting on go I feel like it needs some kind of operationalization you know like if there were a calendar that was pushed out to members you sign up.

And there's a way to say hey your next for the February meeting or what have you so I don't know how we could coordinate that Jason was someone on your team.

Yeah I hear that it is it is it is it I think it's important for us to to aim for that it is I think more a little more difficult to operationalize it for a number of reasons not not saying that we won't be able to do it at all but just recognizing.

It does it will take some amount of consideration for equity how the opportunity is equitable are funds available for compensation if that's what we're looking to do timing with a lot of the other items that are going to be scheduled.

So I think that not losing sight of that as a goal.

Figuring out how because this is a road map for for how you want to move forward in the next year.

It's kind of a larger you know 50,000 foot view so all of the details and the how all of the instructions are not necessarily going to be.

And not necessarily going to be in this document it's just set the stage for those future discussions so I think that number one is well in January you will have an opportunity to vote on a version of this so in between the next steps would be.

So I think that would work with the ad hoc group that has been meeting convening around the annual work plan synthesize all of these great recommendations some of the discussion.

Get it to a place where that group feels like it's ready to be implemented or integrated rather into the annual report that will go for approval consideration in January.

So I think that's still you know discuss modifications before it is sent to the PNPE committee as well.

So that's I think the work in front of us at the moment the goals and objectives and the outcomes.

Does this direction feel right for you all?

I think that's been right now for someone where to say I'd like to present to the arts commission this art piece that I do.

We have since I've been here we have entertained folks who have requested to come in front of this body for sure.

I think that's been a great pleasure to have had some special presentations.

Andrew DeFi has shared the Sacramento poetry week and some of the work that he was doing as Poet Laureate.

There have been arts organizations and artists and they're always welcome to to come and share at public comment for items not on the agenda.

So I think that's a different than the scheduling in advance maybe it's you know quarterly maybe it's you know just twice a year anything I hear that and anything is more desirable than what we have now.

So there are opportunities but again that kind of operationalizing of it it will take a little bit more planning.

It's a little bit frustrating because we are supposed to make sure that we interact with our community and say hey this is what we do we'd love to know what you do but wait we don't want to see what you do yet.

We just want to plan about it and then see maybe in a year or two you might be able to come in and for for me I'm just like yeah we have so many different cultures and people in each.

And I know it's supposed to be for equality we don't want to see the same thing across the board but we do want to see something right and for most organizations for them just getting to be able to be in the city hall to say that they did it is a win for them because it's eyes for different platform we did it we went here pictures for their you know what I mean for their platforms to say like this was something that we shared even if it's free.

Even if it we're not paying them even if it's just them presenting.

Well I mean I see we hear you and I think that maybe this is a discussion that we can take offline maybe it's so you work and group that wants to kind of figure out how we're going to move forward on this issue maybe it's attaching opportunities to present to commemorative months or days or weeks or what have you right.

So I think that you know if you have interest and energy then maybe you know we start with some.

Sure come on calendar yeah.

And send it to you.

Well sure I'm open but again we have a number of items as well that we have to consider and we have you all have to consider and we have to bring to you so yeah.

Why don't we continue that discussion.

Yeah.

Thank you Louisa it's a really important point and difficult delicate matter to try to address commissioner Ron Hill or hey Booth.

I got.

The key word that was just.

I was just used resources and exposure I know I said this before I still think it's true we need to do ourselves a favor on the commission is to do itself a favor and raise its own exposure.

You promote its own existence and the reason why I say this because over here on 10th and J I see these banners for white open walls and what would think that's a city entity it's not.

It's separate and independent the money's are funneled through this entity so in the spirit of art education and enlightening the public and raising our own disability I strongly encourage that we get banners that are strategically placed throughout the city and key places so people know we exist because it will big inquiry what does that office do.

I think we can get more interaction with the public.

There is.

Anyone else.

Okay.

Any last thoughts.

Okay. All right. Thank you.

Let's see. Are there any members of the public Heather who wish to speak on this.

Thank you chair there are no speakers for this item.

I think we've had plenty of commissioners already speak.

Okay. Director's report.

I can turn the feed off right.

Okay.

All right.

So again I'll preface this by sharing that if you haven't already signed up for our monthly newsletter.

April Bryce and the team does a really great job in rounding up opportunities as well as news items from the Office of Arts and Culture in our weekly and our monthly newsletter you can subscribe by going to our website arts.

City of Sacramento dot GOV.

This week there is a closing reception for bat habitat.

There is a December 12th from 1130 to 1pm.

It's right out here in the Robert T. Matsui gallery in City Hall.

It's an exhibition featuring 10 tattoo artists and one origami artist in northern California.

And I'll note that this exhibition was conceived by the 2024 emerging curators fellow Brigette Rex with the dual objective of raising awareness of the significance of bats in our ecosystem and showcasing the remarkable talent of our own local art.

The local art ecosystem and this event and gallery is wheelchair accessible.

From our grants and programs team and I really want to shout out to Melissa Serone who has been working tirelessly to bring us home with a number of funding programs.

The Cultural Arts Award.

It's a three year general operating support program for non-profit arts and cultural organizations.

The funding is administered by our department in partnership with Sacramento County.

Applications are due by December 15th.

You can email your questions to OACAA grant at cityofsacramento.org.

Applications are due by December 15th and of course you can read all about this on our website.

The second opportunity I wanted to highlight is the Creative Youth Workforce Development Grant.

We have launched the 2025 26th Creative Youth Workforce Development Grant opportunity.

Up to 7 grants of 75,000 and 3 grants of 220,000 will be awarded to Sacramento based non-profit cultural organizations and for profit.

This is to create high impact training and work readiness experience for youth and young adults ages 16 to 24.

There has been a workshop and on this opportunity and this has been posted to our website.

I invite you to visit our website to find out more about this program.

If you are interested, you have questions, you can submit them in writing to art grants at cityofsacramento.org.

And all questions must be submitted no later than this Thursday, December 12th at 4 p.m.

And they will be posted on December 15th.

The application deadline for this opportunity is January 10th, 2025, just before midnight.

The Floor and Road Art Walk. This is a project that has been a long time in the making.

It's a place-making project to improve a stretch of Floor and Road from Tammushantra Way to Franklin Boulevard.

It's wrapping up and on December 21st, we invite you to a dedication ceremony at the Floor and Road Regional Transit Station.

It's from 10 to 12 p.m. again Saturday, December 21st.

And you can RSVP at Eventbride if you just do a search for Floor and Road Art Walk.

It's really a celebration that extends throughout most of the day.

You can visit more than about 20 different artworks.

And the locations will include African Marketplace and the 2024 Winter Fest hosted by Floor and Road Community Bidification Project Partners.

So Aggie Square, Phase 3 mural.

There is an opportunity, really exciting opportunity, to apply for an external mural.

It's a project being developed and funded by Wixford Science and Technology, Anchored by UC Davis,

and interested professional visual artists or artists' teams with experience in studio painting, large scale designs, environmental designs, or murals, are also encouraged to apply.

You can find out more about this opportunity on our website as well.

You can drill down to public art, and the application and the guidelines will be available there.

The application deadline for this opportunity is January 6th.

So the last thing I wanted to share was that for folks who are interested in commission seat vacancies,

there are still a total of five seats out there, District 2, or seat B, District 4,

seat D, District 6, seat F, and then two mayoral appointed seats.

So total of five vacancies, if anyone in the community is interested, you can find out more about this opportunity on our website,

or our commissions page, if there are commissioners who are interested in being reappointed or interested in another seat, then I also encourage you to consider applying.

That wraps up my update for today.

Thanks Jason. Any questions for Jason?

Any commissioner comments?

Chris.

I just want to announce that the Culture Center on 2013K is having posadas this weekend.

Thank you for joining us today.

Just a few minutes from the party at the Mullahs and our works for sale there.

Opportunity to do some last minute holiday shopping for unique items.

That's going on Saturday from 4 to 8, so I encourage you all to please attend.

Thank you.

I just wanted to make a bigger deal about the 100th year centennial in the North Sacramento region that was celebrated and how many businesses down there are really thriving right now and excited about the new year.

Great. Thank you. Anyone else?

I just want to remind people of the picture.

I just want to say one more time.

I read everyone's names down.

The city staff, city art staff, Melissa, Donald, Mani-Lin, Megan and Jason.

I think that's going to be a balancing act to stick to your agenda.

I do really think that it behooves working with staff to figure out a way to operationalize how each of us can bring someone from our district here.

I think that's critical.

Public comments.

Thank you, Chair. There are no speakers for not on the agenda.

Anything else, guys? Okay, I'm going to use a gavel for the first time.

Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.

Okay.