Arts Commission Regular Meeting – April 20, 2026

The Walnut Creek Arts Commission held its regular meeting on April 20, 2026, at 6:00 pm in the Council Chamber. Commissioners present were Sarah Baltazar, Peter Magnani, Jill Dresser, Netsanet Tesfay, and Sasha Perelman; Commissioner Iasmine Klauber was absent. The meeting covered the election of a new Chair and Vice-Chair, approval of liaison roles, a public art proposal for Joybound (the city’s animal services provider), acceptance of donated artworks, updated Mural Grant Program guidelines, and a public art staff report. All votes were unanimous (4-0).

Consent Calendar

• Approval of January 26, 2026 Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously (4-0) with a motion by Commissioner Dresser, seconded by Vice-Chair Tesfay.

Discussion Items

• Election of Arts Commission Chair – Vice-Chair Peter Magnani was elected Chair by a unanimous vote (4-0) on a motion by Commissioner Dresser, seconded by Vice-Chair Tesfay. Commissioner Perelman cast a preferential vote in favor.
• Election of Arts Commission Vice-Chair – Commissioner Netsanet Tesfay was elected Vice-Chair unanimously (4-0) on a motion by Commissioner Dresser, seconded by Chair Baltazar.
• Appointment of Commissioners to Liaison Roles – The Commission unanimously (4-0) approved the liaison roles recommended by the new Chair, including continued representation on the Heather Farms Aquatic and Community Center advisory group to provide consistency.
• Joybound Public Art Site Location, Artist, and Concept – Joybound CEO Susan Lee Vick presented a proposal for public art at the new Liberty Center (a pet care facility at Heather Farm). The art, by Sebastopol-based artist Patrick Amio, will include nine removable sculptures in building niches (depicting dogs and cats made from found objects) and three freestanding sculptures. The budget is approximately $51,000 (exceeding the required 0.5% of construction cost). Staff noted that while the art is symbolic of the building’s use and could be considered signage per the Public Art Master Plan, it is original artwork and the Commission has purview to approve. Commissioners expressed excitement but also raised concerns about signage implications and suggested including other animals to avoid a purely commercial appearance. Lighting and native plant requests were made. The motion to approve the Joybound proposal passed unanimously (4-0).
• Artwork Acquisition – The Commission accepted two donated artworks into the city’s permanent collection unanimously (4-0):
  • Our Neighborhood (2025) by Brad Krebs – 28 ceramic houses, each 6”x4”x3”, currently displayed in City Hall’s HR office; staff will consider rotating displays.
  • Emerging Towers (circa 1960) by Jack Laycox – an oil painting donated by Connie Regalia in memory of her mother, former Mayor Gwendolyn W. Regalia. Commissioner Magnani noted the family’s wish for it to be displayed at the library, consistent with acquisition policy for commemorative gifts.
• Updated Mural Grant Program Guidelines – Public Art Manager Mariah Nelson reported that the first grant recipient (ABG Art Group) has finalized contracts and will begin four murals soon. The revised guidelines remove the matching requirement and simplify the grant process. The Commission unanimously (4-0) approved the updated Mural Grant Program Guidelines.

Reports on Projects

• Public Art Report – Staff reported the following:
  • Artwork from City Hall’s lobby (including a site-specific piece) will remain in the building, though placement may be adjusted; bases may be updated.
  • The kinetic sculpture Wings by Dan Dykes has been cleaned and waxed.
  • A large wooden sculpture will be tented for fumigation due to pest detection.
  • PG&E confirmed a viable location for a rotating temporary public art program on Locust Avenue; three sculpture pads with uplighting are planned. Artworks will be lent on a two-year basis, compensated with a modest stipend, limited to Bay Area artists.

Key Outcomes

• Chair and Vice-Chair elected: Peter Magnani as Chair, Netsanet Tesfay as Vice-Chair (both 4-0).
• Liaison roles approved (4-0).
• Joybound public art proposal approved (4-0), including site location, artist selection, and concept direction.
• Two artworks accepted into the city’s permanent collection (4-0): Brad Krebs’s Our Neighborhood and Jack Laycox’s Emerging Towers.
• Updated Mural Grant Program Guidelines approved (4-0), effective for the next fiscal year (starting July 2026).
• Public art items noted: City Hall lobby art staying in place; rotating sculpture program on Locust Avenue moving forward; Wings sculpture maintained; fumigation scheduled.

Commissioners’ Announcements

• Curator Emily Enders announced the new Bedford Gallery exhibition “Aztec Stories in Modern Mexico and Innocensio Humanist Chino Retrospective” (opened April 18), featuring 55 years of work by Nahuatl artist Innocensio Jimenez. A walking tour of the library’s 40-piece art collection was introduced and well-attended; future tours will be capped at 12 participants.
• Commissioner Dresser reported on recent Design Review Commission items: the Restoration Hardware complex (replacing Neiman Marcus) and the Oceania seafood restaurant (replacing Walnut Creek Yacht Club). She noted concerns about the architectural style of the RH project and suggested public art as mitigation.
• Commissioner Perelman shared information about the Day of Peace event at San Quentin (July 25) and artist O Smith’s exhibition at SF MOMA, and emphasized the need for inclusive arts accessibility as downtown evolves.
• Commissioner Baltazar noted that public art walking tours were conducted for youth exchanges from sister cities Székesfehérvár (Hungary) and Noceto (Italy).

The meeting adjourned at 7:23 pm.