OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Arts Commission Regular Meeting - July 20, 2026

City Council — Monday, July 20, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

I'm Peter Magnani, Chair of the Arts Commission.

0:08

Welcome to the July 20th, 2026 Arts Commission regular meeting.

0:12

The Arts Commission is conducting this meeting from the City Council Chambers and via teleconference from the lobby of Wild Goose Meadows RV at 18920 Highway 395, North Lakeview, Oregon, to accommodate Commissioner Curland, who is attending remotely due to a previously scheduled trip.

0:33

Please refer to the end of the agenda to review options for participating in the meeting.

0:38

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

0:44

YouTube Live, Comcast Cable Channel 28, Rossmore Channel 1082, Astound Channel 31, and ATT Uverse Channel 99, or live stream online on the city's website.

1:00

Before we get to the roll call, I'd like to officially introduce and welcome our newly appointed Commissioner Sherry Curland, who as I say is with us remotely to this, her first Arts Commission meeting.

1:12

And Commissioner Curland, uh maybe you want to say a few words about yourself and uh why you decided to uh join the arts commission.

1:21

Okay, thank you very much.

1:22

I decided because I was invited by the the folks that head the commissions in Walnut Creek, and I've been a resident of Walnut Creek for over 30 years, and I attended the Citizens Institute, which was a wonderful way to get introduced to the workings of Walnut Creek City.

1:40

And when the Arts Commission opening came up, I applied and was thrilled to have gone through the interview process and um be chosen to be on the board with you all.

1:51

Um I am uh I'm retired, I am a practicing ceramicist.

1:57

Um let's say I practice a lot and I um enjoy I love Walnut Creek and I love public art and I love the options when we're able to walk downtown and see fresh new things that beautify our our environment.

2:15

So happy to be here and thank you very much for having me.

2:18

Welcome.

2:19

Uh Commission Secretary Chris Farrow, please take the roll.

2:25

Good evening.

2:26

Commissioner Perelman's absent.

2:28

Commissioner Ballitzars, absent.

2:31

Commissioner Dresser.

2:32

Present.

2:33

Commissioner Curlin.

2:37

She's here.

2:39

Thank you.

2:40

Vice Chair Teslay.

2:41

Here and Chair Magnani.

2:43

Here.

2:44

Thank you.

2:45

Next on the agenda is public communications.

2:48

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

2:52

Under the ground 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.

3:06

Do we have any public comments?

3:09

All right.

3:10

Seeing no speakers, uh, I'll close the public communications portion of the meeting.

3:15

Next on the agenda is the consent calendar.

3:18

Does any commissioner wish to pull any item for discussion?

3:22

Uh does any member of the public wish to comment on an item on the consent calendar?

3:27

Seeing none.

3:29

Uh I'll ask uh commissioners if anybody would like to make a motion on the consent calendar.

3:36

This would be a motion to approve the calendar.

3:39

I move that we approve the consent calendar as presented.

3:44

And do we have a second?

3:46

I second that.

3:48

I second that motion.

3:50

We have a first and a second.

3:52

Both Commissioners Perelman and Ballats are absent.

3:55

Commissioner Dresser.

3:56

Yes.

3:57

Commissioner Curlin.

4:04

Yes.

4:05

Thank you.

4:06

Vice Chair Tusfey.

4:07

Hi.

4:08

And Chair Magnani.

4:09

Yes.

4:10

Passes.

4:11

Thank you.

4:12

And next on the agenda is item 4A, consideration of artwork to be deassessed from the city's permanent public art collection.

4:20

And I'd invite uh public art manager Mariah Nelson to give us a presentation.

4:32

Hello.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████89%
Procedural███6%
Public Engagement███5%
Summary of Proceedings

Arts Commission Regular Meeting

The Walnut Creek Arts Commission held its regular meeting on July 20, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 6:42 PM. Chair Peter Magnani presided, with Commissioners Sarah Baltazar and Sasha Perelman absent. Newly appointed Commissioner Sherry Curland attended remotely and introduced herself. The meeting focused on deaccessioning 21 artworks from the city's permanent collection and receiving reports on public art projects and activities.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the April 20, 2026, meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Deaccession of Artwork: Public Art Manager Mariah Nelson presented 21 artworks recommended for removal from the city's collection. Reasons included damage beyond repair (e.g., a mural at Assembly Hall and a broken glass piece), lack of suitable display space, and storage burdens. The pieces had been reviewed by the Public Art Committee and City Attorney. Proceeds from any auction would go to the Public Art Fund. Commissioner Dresser moved to approve deaccession, seconded by Vice Chair Tesfay, and the motion passed unanimously (4-0).

Reports on Projects

  • Public Art Report: Mariah Nelson provided updates:
    • A donated painting, "Emerging Towers" by Jack Lake Hawks, has been installed on the second floor of the library.
    • The Dan Dyke sculpture "Wings" on Locust Street underwent deep cleaning and waxing; planting area maintenance is being coordinated with business owners.
    • The Bruce Johnson sculpture "Strata" at Heather Farm Park was restored and fumigated for pests, and a plaque was added.
    • Four murals funded by the mural grant (Trent ABG Art Group) were completed; a celebration is planned for July 30 (time TBD).
    • The Aquatic Center murals: interior mural planning continues; an exterior wall RFP will be reissued to eight top-qualified artists, likely by fall.

Commissioners’ Announcements

  • Commissioner Dresser: Led multiple public art walking tours with strong attendance. Noted a problem with ticket scalping causing no-shows; suggested limiting ticket sales per household and opening sales closer to tour dates. Half of her recent tour attendees were walk-ups. She reported that most participants were first-time visitors from outside Walnut Creek.
  • Commissioner Curland: Attended the Kaleidoscope exhibition opening; highlighted regional artists. Announced a cross-country road trip and offered to photograph public art for the commission.
  • Chair Magnani: Thanked outgoing student commissioner Sasha Perelman for her service. Mentioned a community ceramic mural project at Rossmoor and the new Bloomberg Connects app for self-guided walking tours and gallery exhibits.
  • Commissioner Dresser (also) : Reminded about the rotating art gallery at the main library, currently featuring a show on essential workers.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval to deaccession the 21 artworks, following the city's deaccession policy.
  • Staff to issue the new RFP for the Aquatic Center exterior mural and continue maintenance of existing public art.
  • Staff to modify ticket sales policies for walking tours to reduce no-shows.

Meeting Transcript

I'm Peter Magnani, Chair of the Arts Commission. Welcome to the July 20th, 2026 Arts Commission regular meeting. The Arts Commission is conducting this meeting from the City Council Chambers and via teleconference from the lobby of Wild Goose Meadows RV at 18920 Highway 395, North Lakeview, Oregon, to accommodate Commissioner Curland, who is attending remotely due to a previously scheduled trip. Please refer to the end of the agenda to review options for participating in the meeting. 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, Rossmore Channel 1082, Astound Channel 31, and ATT Uverse Channel 99, or live stream online on the city's website. Before we get to the roll call, I'd like to officially introduce and welcome our newly appointed Commissioner Sherry Curland, who as I say is with us remotely to this, her first Arts Commission meeting. And Commissioner Curland, uh maybe you want to say a few words about yourself and uh why you decided to uh join the arts commission. Okay, thank you very much. I decided because I was invited by the the folks that head the commissions in Walnut Creek, and I've been a resident of Walnut Creek for over 30 years, and I attended the Citizens Institute, which was a wonderful way to get introduced to the workings of Walnut Creek City. And when the Arts Commission opening came up, I applied and was thrilled to have gone through the interview process and um be chosen to be on the board with you all. Um I am uh I'm retired, I am a practicing ceramicist. Um let's say I practice a lot and I um enjoy I love Walnut Creek and I love public art and I love the options when we're able to walk downtown and see fresh new things that beautify our our environment. So happy to be here and thank you very much for having me. Welcome. Uh Commission Secretary Chris Farrow, please take the roll. Good evening. Commissioner Perelman's absent. Commissioner Ballitzars, absent. Commissioner Dresser. Present. Commissioner Curlin. She's here. Thank you. Vice Chair Teslay. Here and Chair Magnani. Here. Thank you. Next on the agenda is public communications. This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda. Under the ground 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 comments? All right. Seeing no speakers, uh, I'll close the public communications portion of the meeting. Next on the agenda is the consent calendar. Does any commissioner wish to pull any item for discussion? Uh does any member of the public wish to comment on an item on the consent calendar? Seeing none. Uh I'll ask uh commissioners if anybody would like to make a motion on the consent calendar. This would be a motion to approve the calendar. I move that we approve the consent calendar as presented. And do we have a second? I second that. I second that motion. We have a first and a second. Both Commissioners Perelman and Ballats are absent. Commissioner Dresser. Yes. Commissioner Curlin. Yes.

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