Civic Arts Commission
Office of Economic Development
Minutes
Wednesday, February, 1999
Civic Arts Commission
North Berkeley Senior Center
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Levine at 6:40 p.m.
Roll Call
Susan Levine, Sherry Smith, Jo Ann Schneider, Adam David Miller, Larry Kelp, Maria
Villasenor, Stuart Sidells.
Staff: Mary Ann Merker-Benton, Arts Coordinator;
Public Comment
None.
Approval of January minutes
Approved correcting year of meet to 2000.
Chair’s Report
Action Items
A. Approval of Addison Street commissions.
Steve Huss reported that on February 22 the jury panel had chosen eight finalists
from 24 submissions for the Addison Streetscape Art Project of 12 sidewalk
panels/inlays. Commission viewed his presentation of slides of the artists' work,
along with their proposals. Due to fund limitations, at this point there is no money for
artists to prepare preliminary designs. The eight finalists are: Lynne-Rachel Altman,
Jenny Cole, Carolynn Haydu, Diana Maria Rossi, Rebecca Schwarz, Nancy Selvin,
Sofie Siegmann and April Watkins.
Motion (by Kelp, second by Sidells, approved unanimously): the Civic Arts
Commission approves as finalists the eight artists selected by the jury for the Addison
Streetscape Art Project.
B. Request to staff to send frequent, updated memos to City Council from Arts
Commission.
Commission memos to City Council previously have gone through the City
Manager’s office, and were not reaching Council.
Motion (by Smith, second by Sidells, approved unanimously): For Staff to send
all members of City Council frequent information memos from Arts Commission, as
approved, with cc to City Manager.
Merker-Benton will check on protocol. Training sessions for all city
commissioners are in the works, and she will inform Arts Commissioners of the
dates.
C. Approval of Staff definition on wording of Cultural Use.
Motion (by Miller, second by Smith, approved unanimously): Arts Commission
approves Staff wording for Cultural Facility Use definition, with addition of one
grammatical correction, to read: “The Berkeley Civic Arts Commission supports the
encouragement of Cultural Use as an incentive in the City of Berkeley. Non-profit
Arts organizations are preferred, but for-profit organizations are also eligible to be
considered.”
D. Election of officers.
With chairperson Levine stepping down, nominations for replacement were
accepted.
Motion (by Miller, second by Schneider, approved unanimously): New Arts
Commission chairperson is Sherry Smith.
Discussion Items
A. Public Art Committee Update.
Commissioner Levine reported that there is a site walk around the University
Avenue-Shattuck Avenue sites for public art projects, March 1 at noon. A date is
needed to present first Public Art Commission artist, Miles Karpilow, and the Library
Gates Commission to City Council, and at the same time to present to Council the
Arts Commission’s annual update on the state of arts in Berkeley.
B. Grant Site Visits update.
Commissioner Kelp presented commissioners with lists of grants, contact persons
and telephone numbers. Each commissioner is responsible for maintaining contact
with between seven and nine grants recipients. Merker-Benton added sheet onsite
visit talking points.
C. Berkeley Cultural Trust update.
At February 16 meeting Commissioner Levine gave presentation on the arts
Commission’s projects and asked BCT for support for increased staff. BCT has
decided that its functions as clearing house for non-profit arts groups.
D. Civic Arts Commission openings.
Two seats remain open on Arts Commission, waiting to be filled with appointments
by City Council members Spring and Shirek.
E. Status of Civic Arts staffing and presentation to city Council.
Merker-Benton found funds misallocated from the past that will fund an intern 12
hours a week until June. Intern is Carolynn Haydu. There are two weeks left for twomonth temporary employee Jeri Washington, who has been creating for Arts Commission
and Office of Economic Development a computerized arts community database with
addresses, e-mail and FAX numbers.
Staff Report
A. and C. Status of City Contracts, Grant restructuring update.
Consuelo Underwood has been approved as grants consultant for grant
restructuring process, specifically in updating the grant application form.
B. Cultural Plan update.
Manager of OED Bill Lambert and Merker-Benton found in budget money
that needs to be spent by June 30 that can be used for cultural and economic
surveys for the Cultural Plan update.
C. See A.
D. Retreat.
April 1 reconfirmed Commissioner Villasenor will help Merker-Benton
with planning.
E. Intern Update.
See discussion Item E.
Announcements
Commissioner Miller has been selected to present a poetry reading in the city of
Blythe at the city’s Cultural Day. Commissioner Smith announced that she will attend
the East Contra Costa County Arts Council’s March 8 all day arts program. MerkerBenton reported that City of Richmond Arts and Culture Commission is presenting a
public art forum modeled on Berkeley Civic Arts Commission’s tow public art
workshops.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
G:OED/CivicArts/Minutes/FebMin.doc