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
08/04/2025
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/82207705371
Meeting ID: 98272283531
Or join by phone: 669-900-6833
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair von Huene at 7:04 PM.
Vice Chair Candida Diaz, Commissioner Charles Pontious, Chair Debra von Huene, Commissioner Kuku Das, and Commissioner Neetu Garg
Present 5 -
Commissioner Abinas Roy, and Commissioner Louis SamaraAbsent 2 - Commissioner Roy and Samara arrived to the meeting at 7:12 PM.
1. 25-853 Action on Cultural Commission Regular Minutes of July 7, 2025 Recommendation: Approve the Cultural Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of July 7, 2025 A motion was made by Vice-Chair Diaz to approve the minutes from July 7, 2025 with an amendment (recording Pontious as excused) and seconded by Commissioner Garg.
Aye: Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Garg
5 -
Absent: Commissioner Roy, and Commissioner Samara2 -
08/04/2025Cultural Commission Meeting Minutes
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
2. 25-854 Discussion and Potential Action on Cultural Commission Work Plan and Activities for FY 2025/26
Recommendation: Discuss and potentially take action on the Cultural Commission work plan and activities for FY 2025/26.
The Commission discussed the work plan and assigned Commissioners to sub-committees to work on the activities for FY 2025/26. Vice-Chair Diaz presented the submissions for the Traffic Box Beautification Project (Post Meeting Material 1), and Chair von Huene presented Commemorative Month Festival Ideas (Post Meeting Material 2).
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Diaz and seconded by
Commissioner Garg to reallocate up to $500 from the Public Art Reception allocation to produce and procure up to three street banners for Nebula Rider.
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and
Commissioner Garg
7 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Daz and seconded by
Commissioner Pontious to change goal no. 3 activity to read:
"Identify a space to curate and facilitate the celebration of Commemorative Months and determine what cultural holidays to celebrate and via which medium."
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and
Commissioner Garg
7 -
STAFF REPORT
Recreation Manager announced the beginning of fall recreation classes, the Art & Wine Festival is September 13 & 14, and the State of the City is September 24, and due to the City Holiday on September 1, the next meeting of the Commission will be October 6.
08/04/2025Cultural Commission Meeting Minutes
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Commissioner Samara: Visited Mexico and saw areas with public art and murals.
Commissioner Garg: Attended the Station Area Task Force Meeting and reported on the meeting. She also attended a Festival in Pittsburgh, PA.
Chair von Huene: attended the Marketing and Economic Development Committee meetings, this group is focused on planning celebrations and events for 2026.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled meeting for Cultural Commission is on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM.
MEETING DISCLOSURES