OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Arts Commission Regular Meeting - January 26, 2026

City Council — Monday, January 26, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:43:00
Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Welcome to the January 2026 Arts Commission regular meeting.

0:09

Effective October 17th, 2023, public comments may be made in person or in writing.

0:16

If you would like to view the meeting remotely, you may do so in one of the following ways.

0:21

YouTube Live, Comcast Cable Channel 28, Ross Moore Channel 26, Astound Channel 2031, and ATT Uverse Channel 99, or live stream online on the city's website.

0:40

Roll call.

0:42

We'll call Commissioner Perlman here.

0:45

Commissioner Dresser.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Commissioner Clauber.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Tespay.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Vice Chair Magnani.

0:53

And Chair Baltazar here.

0:55

And I'd also like to acknowledge who got to meet her, but Chris Farrow, our new department director, is also in the audience tonight.

1:02

Welcome, Chris.

1:06

Move on to public communications.

1:08

This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda under the Brown Act.

1:15

The Commission cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed, request clarification, or refer the item to staff.

1:31

Do we have any public comment tonight?

1:35

No commenters.

1:39

Moving right along to the consent calendar, it's the next item on the agenda.

1:44

Does any commissioner have questions on any item on the consent calendar?

1:54

I think not.

2:03

If there's no commissioner questions or comments, um, do we have a motion?

2:10

Okay.

2:11

Is there any public comment?

2:17

Okay, then next we just need a motion.

2:20

I move that we approve the consent calendar as reported in our um from October 2025.

2:28

And do we have to accept the community arts annual report at the same time?

2:32

And accept the community arts annual report for year end 2025, same time.

2:39

And I second that.

2:42

Okay, roll call.

2:43

Uh Commissioner Dresser.

2:45

Yes.

2:46

Commissioner Clauber.

2:48

Yes.

2:48

Commissioner Perlman.

2:50

Yes.

2:51

Commissioner Tesfay.

2:53

Yes.

2:54

Vice Chair Magnani?

2:55

Yes.

2:56

And Chair Baltazar.

2:57

Yes.

2:59

Motion carries.

3:03

Great.

3:05

Consideration.

3:07

Next on the agenda is an item for the commit for commission consideration.

3:12

It is item 4A.

3:15

Consideration of the Heather Farm Park Aquatic and Community Center.

3:20

Revised public art site locations and selection panel.

3:40

Thank you.

3:43

Good evening, Arts Commissioners.

3:45

Mariah Nelson, public art manager.

3:49

Nice to see you all.

3:50

Happy New Year.

3:52

As you'll recall, at our last meeting, which was October 2025.

4:10

For the required public art project in association with the new construction at Heather Farm Park of the new Aquatic and Community Center.

4:21

Since the initial request for proposals was first published in October 2024, there have been changes that have occurred regarding viable art sites.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████82%
Community Engagement███6%
Parks and Recreation███5%
Procedural██3%
Economic Development█2%
Transportation Safety█1%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Arts Commission Regular Meeting - January 26, 2026

The Walnut Creek Arts Commission held a regular meeting on January 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included approval of consent calendar items, a detailed discussion on revised site locations for public art at the Heather Farm Park Aquatic & Community Center, reports on public art and Lesher Center updates, and a farewell to Commissioner Iasmine Klauber.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the Minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting of October 20, 2025.
  • Received and filed the Center for Community Arts Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2025.
  • Both items were approved unanimously via roll call (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • One community member, a Bedford Gallery docent since 2011, spoke during the consideration item. She inquired about the $716,000 project budget, specifically whether it would be split among multiple artists. Staff clarified that the budget is for a single artist or artist team, covering fabrication, engineering, shipping, and installation.

Discussion Items

  • Consideration of Revised Public Art Sites & Selection Panel (Item 4A):
    • Staff (Mariah Nelson, Public Art Manager) presented revised potential art locations for the Heather Farm Park Aquatic & Community Center project. The approved budget for this public art component is approximately $716,000.
    • Three sites were discussed:
      • Primary Site 1: A lawn at the northwest corner of North San Carlos Drive and Heather Drive – a roughly hexagonal area where trees and irrigation exist but no major removals are needed.
      • Primary Site 2: A knoll near the tennis courts, with underground electrical and irrigation lines that may require relocation (cost unknown). Traffic sight lines limit the usable area.
      • Secondary/Optional Site: A long exterior wall of the new building, intended as a companion piece to a primary site.
    • Staff recommended listing the two outdoor sites as primary locations and the wall as secondary in the RFP, to encourage artists to propose substantive outdoor pieces rather than focusing solely on the wall.
    • Commissioners debated whether to include the wall, given the risk of diluting the budget and impact. Some favored retaining the wall for future mural funding (which has a separate, smaller budget). Others preferred to focus on the two outdoor sites or even a single site.
    • Commissioner Iasmine Klauber (departing) emphasized the need for a fresh RFP with clear community context and urged involving diverse voices.
    • A motion was made and seconded to approve only Primary Site 2 (near the tennis courts) and the exterior wall, and to approve the recommended artist selection panelists (Jennifer, Linda, Judy as primary and alternates). The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
      • Staff clarified that the arts commissioner panelist will be appointed by the Chair at the April 2026 meeting; the current Heather Farm liaison (Commissioner Baltazar) will continue until then.
  • Reports on Projects:
    • Public Art Report: Staff reported that the Bruce Johnson sculpture "Strata" at Heather Farm has been restored by the artist's assistant. Also, public art walking tours generated more revenue in FY2026 (July 2024 – June 2025) than in the previous fiscal year, with earnings exceeding $600. A special "dog tour" was conducted despite rain.
    • Lesher Center Strategic Plan Update: General Manager Carolyn Jackson announced that the technical coordinator position (part of the 2022 Strategic Plan) has been filled by Taylor McQueston (started late October). Upcoming events include Peppa Pig's Adventure (Feb 14), Ana Gasteyer (Feb 20), Madeline Peyroux (Feb 21), Mariachi Herencia de México (Feb 28), and "Lost in Yonkers" (Mar 29).
    • Center for Community Arts Updates: Spring class registration opens Feb 18; summer camp registration is open; preschool registration opens Feb 18. Special events include Teen Art Night (Mar 6), Family Art Day (Mar 14), and a fundraiser "Diamonds and Detectives" (Mar 28).
    • Bedford Gallery Updates: Curator Emily Enders reported that the Viola Frey exhibition opened in January. Upcoming: a cocktails and conversation event (Mar 12), industry night (Feb 20), and the next exhibition "Inocencio Jiménez Chino" opening in late April. Traveling exhibitions are also active.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote on Heather Farm Public Art Sites: Motion passed unanimously (7-0) approving Primary Site 2 (near the tennis courts) and the exterior building wall as potential locations for the public art project. The artist selection panel composition was approved, with names (Jennifer, Linda, Judy) subject to availability.
  • Consent Calendar: Unanimously approved.
  • Commissioner Farewell: Commissioner Iasmine Klauber gave a farewell speech after eight years of service. She thanked staff and colleagues, advocated for elevating the arts program within economic development, and requested a moment of silence for Palestinian artists killed in the ongoing conflict. The commission observed a moment of silence and presented her with a gift.
  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:14 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the January 2026 Arts Commission regular meeting. Effective October 17th, 2023, public comments may be made in person or in writing. If you would like to view the meeting remotely, you may do so in one of the following ways. YouTube Live, Comcast Cable Channel 28, Ross Moore Channel 26, Astound Channel 2031, and ATT Uverse Channel 99, or live stream online on the city's website. Roll call. We'll call Commissioner Perlman here. Commissioner Dresser. Here. Commissioner Clauber. Here. Commissioner Tespay. Here. Vice Chair Magnani. And Chair Baltazar here. And I'd also like to acknowledge who got to meet her, but Chris Farrow, our new department director, is also in the audience tonight. Welcome, Chris. Move on to public communications. This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda under the Brown Act. The Commission cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed, request clarification, or refer the item to staff. Do we have any public comment tonight? No commenters. Moving right along to the consent calendar, it's the next item on the agenda. Does any commissioner have questions on any item on the consent calendar? I think not. If there's no commissioner questions or comments, um, do we have a motion? Okay. Is there any public comment? Okay, then next we just need a motion. I move that we approve the consent calendar as reported in our um from October 2025. And do we have to accept the community arts annual report at the same time? And accept the community arts annual report for year end 2025, same time. And I second that. Okay, roll call. Uh Commissioner Dresser. Yes. Commissioner Clauber. Yes. Commissioner Perlman. Yes. Commissioner Tesfay. Yes. Vice Chair Magnani? Yes. And Chair Baltazar. Yes. Motion carries. Great. Consideration. Next on the agenda is an item for the commit for commission consideration. It is item 4A.

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