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Arts and Culture Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
April 16, 2026
CALL TO ORDER Chairperson
Commission members present:
Victorino Bermejo
Joese Hernandez
Susie Lopez-Guerra
Marlene Peña-Marin
Debra Russell
Staff members present:
Michael Garcia, Executive Director
Tram Le, Arts and Culture Specialist
Bianca Zurita, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENTS
• Via Zoom/ Rawan Ita-Diaz from The Art Spread - Thanked the commission for sponsoring the Culture on Canvas event, shared sincere appreciation, and indicated that more information will be provided soon, with an invitation to attend the event.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
1. Excused absences
Recommended Action: Excuse absent commission member(s).
2. Regular meeting minutes of March 19, 2026
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
Moved by Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Lopez-Guerra to Approve Consent Calendar items.
YES: 5 – Debra Russell, Susie A. Lopez-Guerra, Joese Hernandez, Marlene Peña-Marin, Victorino Bermejo
NO: 0 – ABSTAIN: 0 – ABSENT: 0 –
Status: 5 – 0 – 0 – 0 – Pass
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***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. Election of Chairperson for the Arts and Culture Commission for the remainder of FY 2025-2026 Term
Recommended Action: Elect a Chairperson for the Arts and Culture Commission to serve for the remainder of FY 2025-2026 term.
Minutes: Commissioners Lopez-Guerra and Pena Marin nominated Vice-chair Hernandez for the position of Chair and Commissioner Russell for the position of Vice- Chair.
Moved by Commissioner Lopez-Guerra, seconded by Commissioner Peña-Marin to Approve.
YES: 5 – Debra Russell, Susie A. Lopez-Guerra, Joese Hernandez, Marlene Peña- Marin, Victorino Bermejo
NO: 0 – ABSTAIN: 0 – ABSENT: 0 –
Status: 5 – 0 – 0 – 0 – Pass
4. Investing in the Artist Grant Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Commission ratify the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Investing in the Artist Grant Opportunity funding recommendations.
Commissioner Pena Marina and Russell recused themselves for this item.
Due to a loss of quorum, the Commission could not continue consideration of the item, and no official action was taken.
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
WORK STUDY SESSION
5. Arts and Culture Special Events Sponsorship Applications for April 2026
Minutes:
Staff reported that in July 2025, the Community Development Agency received $175,000 to administer the Arts and Culture Special Event Sponsorship Program, noting its continued success in supporting local artists and events. The program guidelines, scoring process, and eligibility requirements were presented, including that sponsored events must occur by June 30, 2027, and that funds may be used for event production costs, program expenses, and related fees.
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In April 2026, $124,000 was made available, of which $65,832 was awarded. A total of 27 applications were received, and 12 were approved for funding. Application ratings and recommended funding amounts were summarized in the staff report. Staff invited questions regarding the applicants or their proposals.
The commission ensued in a Q & A period.
The Commission agreed to reallocate the $3,000 awarded to Applicant No. 3 toward other sponsorship events that support and promote the arts.
6. Update from the Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the Arts and Culture Master Plan
Minutes: The ad hoc committee presented a progress update on ongoing efforts to revisit and build upon goals and strategies from the 2016 Arts and Culture Master Plan.
The discussion focused on identifying comparable programs in other communities, engaging with local arts leaders and residents, and addressing previously identified barriers to participation.
The committee highlighted potential initiatives, including use of data from creative sector surveys to support arts funding advocacy, collaboration with educators and community artists, and exploration of concepts such as a vacant storefront program. Members also emphasized the importance of inclusivity and ensuring programming reflects local demographics.
Initial outreach to arts representatives has begun, with plans to continue gathering input on barriers, audience engagement, and promotion strategies. Feedback indicated that some past concerns, such as parking and transportation, have improved, while new priorities include preserving public art spaces and increasing awareness of arts programming among local residents.
***END OF WORK STUDY SESSION***
COMMENTS
7. Staff member comments
Minutes: None
8. Commission member comments
Minutes:
• Commissioner Pena Marin – Thanked the commissioners involved in the Master Plan for their extra time and effort, expressing appreciation for their work and for the learning opportunity provided.
• Commissioner Lopez-Guerra – Seconded the previous comments, expressed apologies to the community regarding the inability to approve funding for the proposed upcoming events, and noted that some members intend to contact City Council representatives to seek support in filling current vacancies on the Commission.
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• Vice-Chair Russell – Shared upcoming arts and cultura l events and encouraged participation to help support and promote arts activity in both the city and county. The County’s “One County, One Book” program was highlighted, featuring James by Percival Everett, with a related event scheduled at the Tustin Libr ary on April 22.
Additional events mentioned included the Art Walk on May 2, the OCEAA Spring Arts Festival on May 9, and CoolLab on May 14 in downtown Santa Ana. Also recognized Travel Santa Ana’s efforts to support the arts through a public -private partnership, including developing an inventory of public artworks and artists and maintaining a comprehensive events calendar. Commissioners were encouraged to help promote these resources to further expand awareness and engagement with arts programming in the community.
• Commissioner Bermejo – Announced an upcoming event scheduled for Saturday at George Upton All Access Market, located next to Carl Gordon, in partnership with Mosaic, the Santa Ana Unified School District, and the Orange County Labor Federation. The event will serve children, including those with disabilities and special needs, and community members were encouraged to attend. Also offered congratulations to Third Lounge, a newly opened sports bar in downtown Santa Ana, noting its inter est in engaging with local arts and culture, including featuring interior murals. Additionally, congratulations were extended to For Example Pizza on its one- year anniversary, recognizing its achievement in successfully completing its first year in business.
• Chair Hernandez – Reflected on the continued legacy and community impact of Brody Cordova and the Cordova family, noting plans led by his son Kobe to commemorate his memory and contributions through upcoming events. A lso highlighted the significance of the May 1st May Day observance in Santa Ana, recognizing its long- standing tradition honoring workers’ rights, immigration advocacy, and broader social justice efforts. Chair Hernandez clarified prior comments regarding events at Santa Ana Stadium, noting they were based on incomplete information and acknowledging that the events were well attended. Also emphasized efforts to create more community-centered cultural programming and referenced broader industry concerns regarding Live Nation and Ticketmaster practices. He reflected on personal and professional growth through their journey as an activist, nonprofit worker, and public official, expressing a commitment to collaboration, community healing, and inclusive leadership. He encouraged continued dialogue , bridge- building across differing perspectives, and working toward unity and constructive engagement within the community.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission is scheduled for May 21, 2026 at 5:30 PM in the Council Chamber.
Respectfully submitted:
Bianca L. Zurita
Bianca L. Zurita
Executive Secretary/Recording Secretary