City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Cultural Commission
Draft
7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
Santa Clara Senior Center
Room 205
1303 Fremont Street
Santa Clara, CA 95050
05/06/2024
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Cultural Commission meeting in a hybrid manner (in-person and a method for the public to participate remotely).
Via Zoom:
https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/98272283531
Meeting ID:98272283531
Or join by phone: 669-900-6833
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Diaz called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Commissioner Louis Samara, Vice Chair Debra von Huene, Chair Candida Diaz, Commissioner Jonathan Marinaro, and Commissioner Neetu Garg
Present 5 -
Commissioner Paul McNamaraAbsent 1 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. 24-381 Action on Cultural Commission Regular Minutes of April 1, 2024 Recommendation: Approve the Cultural Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2024
A motion was made by Commissioner Samara, seconded by
Commissioner Marinaro, that the consent calendar be approved.
The motion passed with the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Samara, Vice Chair von Huene, Chair Diaz, Commissioner Marinaro, and Commissioner Garg
5 -
Absent: Commissioner McNamara1 -
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PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Two members of the public presented at the meeting:
Kaushal Varshney spoke in favor of an event in Santa Clara celebrating Diwali (Multicultural Festival) at Central Park and the Community Recreation Center. Proposed date is October 19-20, 2024. The event will feature food, entertainment and booths. They are requesting permission to host the event and event space.
Ashish Garg also spoke in favor of an event in Santa Clara celebrating Diwali. He mentioned that the City of Sunnyvale sponsors the event and would like the City of Santa Clara to do something similar.
Commissioners will continue to discuss this event during the Work Plan FY 2024/25.
GENERAL BUSINESS
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2. 24-380 Discussion on Progress Made Towards the Cultural Commission’s Work Plan Goals and Activities for FY 2023/24
Commissioners reported the following on the Cultural Commission Work Plan Goals and Activities for FY 2023/24:
GOAL #1: Host and enhance multicultural events to encourage and acquaint Santa Clara residents with cultural diversity.
Plan for Summer Concerts in FY 2023/24- Commissioner Samara reported there was no update to the following schedule: There will be five (5) Concerts- Four (4) at Central Park and one (1) at Live Oak Park:
June 14 @ Live Oak Park-Houserockers
June 28 @ Central Park-The Peelers
July 12 @ Central Park-The Megatones
July 26 @ Central Park-Orquesta Borinquen
Aug.16 @ Central Park-Pop Fiction
Street Dance- Date: Aug. 2, 2024. Recreation Manager Castro met with Public Works-Traffic Engineering regarding closing Monroe St. They suggested to keep Monroe Street open. The subcommittee will visit the businesses and inform them of the event and secure their contacts.
Plan and Host Friday Night Live Events- There was no update on this topic.
Secure sponsors for Cultural Commission special events in FY 2023/2024- The sponsors for the Street Dance and the Concerts are outlined in the Work Plan. Chair Diaz invited the commissioners to share the sponsorship packet with businesses or organizations.
GOAL #2: Develop and encourage interactive art opportunities to provide temporary, performing, cultural, and public art in the City.
Advise and recommend public art to City Council- The subcommittee will meet on May 16 and report to the Commission in June.
Identify available Utility Boxes in the City for Artist Utility Box Program (alternate years with Sculpture Exhibition)- No updates. This project is on hold.
Host Sculpture Exhibition- Judges met and selected ten (10)
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semifinalists. One (1) artist withdrew their application, making a total of nine (9). Artist applications have been sent out and there are many questions from the artists about insurance. Recreation Manager Castro is checking with the City Attorney's Office to clarify the requirements.
Installation may occur once the contracting process is completed. Vice Chair von Huene will contact the Triton Museum to secure a date for the June reception.
Host Halloween Home & Holiday Home Decorating Contest and Recognition- The sub-committee will determine the dates of the contests and report at the June meeting.
Update and maintain City interactive web-based public art map- No updates.
GOAL #3: Raise the visibility of commemorative months.
Update Coloring Book to honor Commemorative Months according to Federal Calendar- No updates.
Promote monthly commemorative months through Social Media and Special Events to raise awareness and cultural competency- Vice Chair von Huene posted the May Coloring Book Page on social media.
GOAL #4: Enhance communication and media strategy to increase community awareness of the Cultural Commission.
Commissioners to attend the Americans for the Arts Conference- No update.
Present regularly to City Council- The Commission presented to Council on March 19 at the Joint Dinner.
Develop, maintain, and grow partnerships and collaborations with external organizations-The Commissioners discussed the proposed Diwali event. Commissioner Garg will follow up with community members Kaushal Varshney and Ashish Garg for an event proposal/PowerPoint slides and encourage them to apply for a community grant.
GOAL #5: Prepare for Citywide Arts Master Plan Process.
Develop private/public partnerships to invest and promote the Arts
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STAFF REPORT
in Santa Clara- The item is on hold so the subcommittee can focus on the Arts Master Plan.
Develop, promote, and implement Citywide Arts Master Plan alongside the City Council- The subcommittee met twice this month to outline their priorities. The sub-committee will present the Arts Master Plan Proposal to the Commission at the June meeting prior to sending it to Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager/Acting Parks & Recreation Director.
GOAL #6: Identify and expand on Arts Education in the City of Santa Clara.
Identify potential partnerships with schools/local organizations to expand arts and art education- Commissioner Marinaro reported that Commissioner McNamara added goals on this item to the Citywide Arts Master Plan.
Recreation Manager Castro reported that at the June meeting the Commission will vote for a new Chair and Vice Chair and the new chair will lead the July meeting. The Commission will also begin brainstorming goals and activities for FY 2024/25. Four (4) applications have been received for the vacant position on the Cultural Commission. She also mentioned that the staff liaison and Recreation Supervisor, Susan Diatte, will be retiring on May 17. The Commission thanked her for her service.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Commissioner Marinaro saw Florence and the Amazons--the last San Jose Opera of the season. He took a trip to Napa and also went to see a band play.
Vice Chair von Huene reported that the Santa Clara Chorale has their final concert of the season on May 11 at the Santa Clara Mission, and will be joined by Santa Clara University. She encouraged the Commission to attend.
Chair Diaz went to a conference in Seattle, Washington and saw the Space Needle. She enjoyed all the artwork around the City and was inspired by it.
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ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Vice Chair von Huene, seconded by
Commissioner Samara, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
The motion passed with the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Samara, Vice Chair von Huene, Chair Diaz, Commissioner Marinaro, and Commissioner Garg
5 -
Absent: Commissioner McNamara1 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
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The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
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