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
11/03/2025
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: 822 0770 5371
Or join by phone: 669-900-6833
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair von Huene at 7:05 PM.
Commissioner Abinas Roy, Commissioner Charles Pontious, Chair Debra von Huene, Commissioner Kuku Das, Commissioner Louis Samara, and Commissioner Neetu Garg
Present 6 -
Vice Chair Candida DiazAbsent 1 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Samara and seconded by Commissioner Garg to excuse Vice-Chair Diaz from the meeting.
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and Commissioner Garg 6 -
Absent: Vice Chair Diaz1 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. 25-1578 Action on the Cultural Commission Regular Minutes of October 6, 2025 Recommendation: Approve the Cultural Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2025
A motion was made by Commissioner Samara and seconded by Commissioner Garg to approve the minutes of October 3, 2025.
11/03/2025Cultural Commission Meeting Minutes
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and Commissioner Garg 6 -
Excused: Vice Chair Diaz1 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS
2. 25-1579 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 provided updates to the Work Plan.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pontious and seconded by Commissioner Samara to accept the proposal for Commemorative Months and Cultural Celebrations as presented by the
sub-committee.
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and Commissioner Garg 6 -
Excused: Vice Chair Diaz1 -
STAFF REPORT
Recreation Manager Castro invited the Commission to see Roberta Jones Junior Theater's production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, attend the Holiday Tree Lighter and celebrate the Wanda Buck as the Honorary Tree Lighter.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Commissioners Roy, Garg and Chair von Huene went to the Art Commissioner Boot Camp in October sponsored by SV Creates and found it very helpful.
Chair von Huene attended the Code Art event in Palo Alto.
Commissioner Pointious invited the commissioners to attend the Historic Home Tour December 5 and 6 at Santa Clara Harris-Lass Museum.
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ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Samara and seconded by Commissioner Pontious to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 PM.
Aye: Commissioner Roy, Commissioner Pontious, Chair von Huene, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Samara, and Commissioner Garg 6 -
Excused: Vice Chair Diaz1 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
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.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker." In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Agendas and other written materials distributed during a public meeting that are public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format. Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
Individuals who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.