Day 1999.05.05CS Jt Mtg CS/Sr Ctr

The joint meeting of the Community Services Commission and the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:21 p.m. by Commission Chair Kidder.

COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Alfred Banks, Barbara Cringle, Virginia Lloyd-Butterfield, Gary Silveria, Mary Ann Thurmond, and Chair Don Kidder.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee members Helen Allen, Barbara Cringle, Richard Gideon, Larry Killen, Marcia Pelser, and Chair Meryl Nesbitt.

STAFF PRESENT: Director Linda Celestre, Landscape Architect Bob Farrington, Parks Superintendent Rollie Simons, Senior Recreation Supervisor Donna Fox, Cultural Arts Coordinator Todd Grames

A motion was made by Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield, seconded by Commissioner Silveria, “ to approve the agenda as presented.” Motion carried.

Senior Supervisor Fox introduced Jim Garvey, a high school student, who is an accomplished musician, photographer, and member of 4H. An example of Jim’ s photography has been chosen as the cover photo on the current Events Guide. Senior Supervisor Fox thanked Jim for his contribution, and a Certificate of Appreciation was presented by Chair Kidder.

Director Celestre also commended Senior Supervisor Fox for her work in researching and implementing the idea of producing a glossy cover for the Events Guide at no added cost to the Department. Additional pages of advertisements were sold in order to accomplish this, producing a more professional publication.

Chair Kidder presented certificates of appreciation to the exiting commissioners. Dennis McCord has been a Commissioner since 1993 and because of medical reasons, has retired from the Commission. Alfred Banks has been on the Commission since 1990, and Gary Silveria has been a Commissioner since 1987. Mayor Fleming then presented plaques with the City seal to the outgoing Commissioners.

Director Celestre requested that Item 7 be presented before the Recess because some members of the City Council need to leave the meeting. City Clerk Kathy Andronico then swore in the three new members of the Community Services Commission, Inderjit Kallirai, Brett Johnson, and Susan Garland.

Director Celestre stated that correspondence from Rigoberto Fino, a member of the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, was forwarded to Chair Kidder. Mr. Fino has found it necessary to resign from the Advisory Committee. Also, Marcia Pelser has expressed interest in reappointment to the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee.

Dorothy Locke, Chair of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, stated that the Tribute to Seniors Lunch and Fashion Show was held Friday, April 30, with 280 people in attendance.

A motion was made by Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield, seconded by Commissioner Thurmond, “ to accept the Consent Calendar as presented.” Motion carried.

Director Celestre introduced Todd Grames, the new Cultural Arts Coordinator. Todd came to the Department in 1990 and has worked in Special Events, T.G.I.Fun, Preschool, and Youth Sports. Since April 1, Todd has been working on a community calendar, acting as a liaison between the arts and the City of Vacaville, and will continue to produce special events, develop funding sources and grants for programming, and program the new Creekwalk and Plaza. The calendar will be a resource for people to know what is going on.

Advisory Committee Chair Nesbitt distributed packets of what the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee has been doing. In 1994, the City Council asked the Community Services Department to help draft with the Steering Committee, a proposal for a Cultural Arts Advisory Committee. At that time, the proposal was delayed. In 1997, the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee was established, and each year the Advisory Committee is charged with presenting a written evaluation, assessment, and review of the year. Chair Nesbitt reported that the Advisory Committee has worked closely with the Department in the past, reviewing such items as the proposal to contract with VenueTech for management of the VPAT, and the Business Plan.

Currently, the Committee is developing a Public Art Policy, working on a Mural Project, and producing a Public Art Brochure. A maintenance agreement now exists for sculptures within Vacaville. The Committee has also assisted the Library Commission in obtaining a piece of sculpture to be placed in front of the Library. The Committee has also worked with the City Attorney’ s office to develop a contract to purchase artwork. Chair Nesbitt was thanked for presenting the annual report.

Public Art Policy Sub-committee Chair Gideon stated that the sub-committee has been looking at public art policies from other cities. The Advisory Committee will establish a policy outline and have other groups look at it before it is presented to the Commission in November.

Director Celestre stated that the Public Art Policy is not a new idea. She found evidence of research into the preparation of a Public Art Policy (that had been set aside) when she moved into a new position in late 1990. Vacaville has acquired pieces of art over the years, and although we always knew that maintenance would eventually be required, there was nothing in place to give direction on this. We had no information from the artists as to how to maintain the pieces of art. It was decided it would also be a good idea to have a policy in place for purchase, donations, and decommissioning pieces of art. This package will be presented to the Commission in November.

Director Celestre also stated that the Year 2000 is Vacaville’ s Sesquicentennial. There will be an 18-month recognition of the sesquicentennial. Mayor Fleming will appoint a Committee in June or July to oversee this project. Mayor Fleming stated that it is also the sesquicentennial for the State.

Mural Project Sub-Committee Chair Killen gave an update on this sub-committee. The sub-committee is recommending that the subject for the first mural would depict the Pony Express. The location they would like to recommend would be on the front of an existing downtown business. For future murals, a committee would review the submitted murals with a selection being made from among the applicants. The first mural could be completed by Spring 2000. Sub-committee Chair Killen then showed an example of an artist’ s rendering of a proposed mural depicting the Pony Express.

Director Celestre added that there is a downtown policy which prohibits murals on the front of buildings, and the Planning Department is also involved in this process. The City is looking at this idea through the Special Projects Team.

Supervisor Fox stated that the Sub-committee would like to see additional murals all over the City, not just in the downtown. While the Committee has been focusing on historic themes for downtown, that would not necessarily be the focus of murals in other parts of the City.

Chair Nesbitt reported that the Public Art Brochure Sub-committee will have photos taken of public art in Vacaville for a proposed brochure. This brochure will be used as a promotional piece and a mailer. Inside the brochure will be a map and photo of each piece of art. This will be a way to inform people of the public art in Vacaville. The cost to print this brochure is being researched.

Committee member Gideon stated that the brochure would be one of a series. The second brochure will be on City art, focusing on the City Award art pieces from the Art League’ s annual art show. The third would be on performing arts in Vacaville. The brochures would be distributed at City Hall, the Library, the community centers, and many other places around the community.

Landscape Architect Farrington updated the Commission on various projects: The Ridgecrest Trail in Lagoon Valley will start May 18 with the traildozer being operated by the C.C.C.; the Creekwalk project has begun; and the VYSL soccer project at Centennial Park will start next week. The Lagoon Valley Lake Plan is delayed again by jurisdictional agencies who have not returned information to us. It is hoped that this draft plan will be sent to Commission members prior to the June meeting.

Parks Superintendent Simons stated that his Division has been working with Administrative Services to fill four full-time positions. Also, seasonal Parks employees will be starting soon.

Director Celestre reported that the skateboard park project is moving forward with fundraising, and a skateboard park designer is working on the design. The City's production series has begun at the Theater with two artists having already performed, and the next event is on May 22. On May 18, there will be a Special Budget Session with the City Council.

Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield attended the meeting with the new commissioners on May 3, which also included a tour of facilities. The Senior Center Task Force reconvened for an update on Senior Center progress which will not be accessible after June 1. The next Task Force meeting will be August 11. Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield welcomed the new commissioners, and thanked staff for the reception.

Commissioner Johnson thanked the City Council for the opportunity to serve on the Commission, and Department staff for the tour and background information. He suggested that a survey of current users of the theater would be helpful.

Commissioner Thurmond stated that she has enjoyed working with the out-going commissioners, and is looking forward to working with the new commissioners.

Commissioner Johnson thanked Dorothy Locke, Chair of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, for the successful Tribute to Seniors Spring Fashion Show and Lunch.