1999-02-01
CITY OF ENCINITAS
COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS
MINUTES
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 1999 6:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairperson Yco called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
Present: Chairperson Yco, Commissioners Charnow, Cope, Khalifa, Quick, Witz
Also
Present: Community Services Management Assistant Hippert
Absent: Duff
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Niels Lund of Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts reported to
commissioners that the Performing Arts in the Classroom had received a cash
donation from Roberta Cohen, and sent a letter stating her appreciation for helping
bring art into the classroom. Lund also invited commissioners to attend a plaque
presentation at Cardiff Elementary School to Tony Macaroni Pizza. The
presentation will take place on February 2, 1999.
Mr. Allan Largent provided commissioners with an update on the activities
occurring at the La Paloma Theater during the month of February.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approval of Minutes January 4, 1999 Meeting
QUICK MOVED, CHARNOW SECONDED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE
JANUARY 4, 1999 MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. DUFF ABSENT
QUICK MOVED TO TAKE ITEMS 6A AND 6E OUT OF ORDER. CHARNOW
SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED.
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6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Presentation on the Encinitas Community/Senior Center at Oakcrest Park
Recreation Superintendent Pam Alexander provided commissioners with an
oral report on the Encinitas Senior/Community Center at Oakcrest Park. There
was no action required by the commission on this issue
Note that Commissioner Duff arrived at the meeting at 6:50 P.M.
E. Presentation on the Poinsettia Theatre for the Arts Capital Campaign
Ms. Lou Aspell, 240 Cereus, Leucadia, CA 92024, provided commissioners
with information regarding the Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Aspell introduced herself as the Development Director for the Poinsettia
Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Aspell informed the Commissioners that her reason for presenting to the
Commission was to request their approval and or support for the capital
campaign for the Poinsettia Theatre. She stated that the campaign will be
“kicked-off” in the next couple of weeks.
Aspell referred to the Theatre Board of Directors Mission Statement, which
says in part that the theater is to be self-sustaining. This is crucial because of
the experience with the California Theater for the Performing Arts, Escondido.
Aspell stated that the Poinsettia complex will differ from the Escondido venue in
that it will not operate with capital debt. All the fundraising to build the theater
will occur before it is built. Aspell stated that the theater is not just for
Encinitas, but is a regional facility located in Encinitas. The Board of Directors
feels that the region can support this facility financially
COPE MOVED, SECONDED BY DUFF, THAT THE COMMISSION
FORMULATE A LETTER THAT SUPPORTS ANY EFFORT TO PROMOTE
ANY ARTS IN ENCINITAS, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF THE COMMISSION
.
Yco called for discussion. Witz stated that the letter must mention the
Poinsettia Theatre specifically. Yco stated that as other centers come through,
they should be judged on their merits and reviewed accordingly.
Quick asked several questions regarding operational budgets, use of the
facility, and fees related to renting the theater. Aspell stated that one of the
goals of the board is to make the theater affordable for the widest range of
performing groups, while still making a profit.
Charnow also asked questions regarding traveling companies at the theater.
Aspell stated that this is a main focus for the board. It became obvious that
local groups could not financially support a theater of this type over the long
haul.
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Cope then read a letter from then-City Council member Ann Olmstead dated
June 12, 1992, which was an update on the Community Center for the Art
Committee.
. MOTION FAILED 1-5 WITH
Yco called for vote on the motion on the floor
ONE ABSTENTION (CHARNOW)
CHARNOW MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE A LETTER FROM
THE COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL PASS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A “STATE OF THE ART”
POINSETTIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. THIS
RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION AT THE
MARCH, 1999 COMMISSION MEETING, PRIOR TO BEING SENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. SECONDED BY KHALIFA. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH 1
ABSTENTION (COPE).
YCO MOVED, WITZ SECONDED, THAT THE COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS
PREPARE A LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT FOR THE POINSETTIA
THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SIGNED BY COMMISSIONERS.
Quick raised the issue of what financial liability the City would have if the fund
raising fell short of their goal to open the theater. Aspell stated that she
believed the City would have no commitment at all to pick up the needed
shortfall.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0
Yco called for the vote on the motion.
Chairperson Yco called a recess at 7:40 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 7:51 p.m.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Report from Technology Subcommittee
No report from the subcommittee
B. Discussion of the Commission for the Arts budget requests for FY 1999/00
Each budget subcommittee chair gave a progress report on their work.
Duff stated that the Commissioning Public Art subcommittee would like to
increase the recommendation to City Council from $5,000 to $10,000.
Khalifa confirmed the recommendation for $105,000 for Art Education.
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Cope confirmed the recommendation for $33,500 for Community Art Events.
Quick confirmed the recommendation for $50,000 for Art Communication.
Charnow confirmed the recommendation for $85,000 for Community Art.
Witz reported that her subcommittee recommend that no money be
recommended for Arts Centers. Yco stated that he could not support this
recommendation, in that there needs to be a commitment from the Commission,
and a demonstration to the City Council, that arts centers are an integral part of
the Commission’s work and mission. Other commissioners agreed, and
recommended to re-instate the original recommendation of $40,000 for arts
centers.
YCO MOVED, SECONDED BY QUICK, THAT THE COMMMISSION
APPROVE ALL SUBCOMMITTEE WORK, INCLUDING THE $40,000
ALLOCATION FOR ARTS CENTERS. YCO ALSO ASKED THAT
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS ALLOW THE COMMISSION CHAIR AND VICE-
CHAIR, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM STAFF, MAKE ANY NEEDED
MODIFICATIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE
ENTIRE RECOMMENDATION PRESENTABLE TO THE COUNCIL. MOTION
PASSED 6-0 WITH 1 ABSTENTION (WITZ).
After discussion of the logistics of preparing the documentation for the
presentation to the City Council, the Commission discussed who would be
responsible for actually providing the presentation. This is due to
Commissioner Yco’s term ending prior to the Council presentation on March
23, 1999.
YCO MOVED, SECONDED BY DUFF, THAT COMMISSIONER COPE BE
APPOINTED AS REPRESENTATIVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH
BUDGET AND PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL. MOTION PASSED 7-0.
C. Discussion of the Commission for the Arts Mission Statement
Yco requested that Hippert re-read the proposed mission statement developed
by the Commission at the October 5, 1998 meeting. That statement reads as
follows:
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“The mission of the City of Encinitas Commission for the Arts is to
promote the arts for the community of Encinitas with the highest
quality and widest variety of the arts possible, through exposure,
education and advocacy, and to support the establishment of a
center for all arts.”
Charnow requested that the mission statement be modified to add the sentence
“for all ages, kids through seniors” after “. . . community of Encinitas”. He also
requested the following be added, after “. . . advocacy,” “and to work with
schools and other organizations in the community.” He requested that the last
portion of the statement “. . . and to support the establishment of a center for all
arts.” be removed from the mission statement.
Witz objected to this change. Quick stated that the last statement might
include “and maintenance” of an art center. Charnow recommended changing
the last statement to read “art facilities” rather than “art center”, to reflect
support for more than one facility.
CHARNOW MOVED, SECONDED BY COPE, THAT THE MISSION
STATEMENT READ:
THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF ENCINITAS COMMISSION
FOR THE ARTS IS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS FOR THE
COMMUNITY OF ENCINITAS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY
AND WIDEST VARIETY OF THE ARTS POSSIBLE, THROUGH
EXPOSURE, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, AND TO
SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ART FACILITIES.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
6. NEW BUSINESS
B. Discussion of potential meeting date changes due to conflict with holidays
Hippert provided commissioners with a list of scheduled dates which may be in
conflict with commission meeting dates. These dates include July 5, 1999 and
September 6, 1999.
CHARNOW MOVED, SECONDED BY YCO, THAT THE COMMISSION FOR
THE ARTS MODIFY THE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTHS OF
JULY 1999 AND SEPTEMBER 1999. MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ON JULY
12, 1999 AND SEPTEMBER 13, 1999 TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH CITY
HOLIDAYS. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
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C. Discussion of funding requests outside of annual budget cycle
Hippert gave an oral report on the status of the Commission’s earlier
recommendations to the City Council regarding off-cycle funding of programs.
The City Council has established a policy that it will not consider any off cycle
funding requests unless the request is based on an emergency within the City.
Therefore the Commission’s recommendations to provide funding for the
Poinsettia Theatre Performing Arts in the Classroom Project, as well as the
recommendation to provide funding for the Encinitas Film Commission, will not
be considered at this time. If the Commission wishes, it may submit these
recommendations to the Council during regular budget deliberations.
The Commission recommended putting an additional $25,000 in the Arts
Communication section to support the establishment of a film commission in
Encinitas. A portion of this change will be made up in the reduction of the cost
of mailing the Arts Newsletter as part of the City’s newsletter.
D. Discussion of City or Commission support for a performing arts festival at the
site of the Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts
Commissioner Witz reported that the Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts
will be holding its annual performing arts festival at the theater site in July or
August, 1999. The Board of Directors would like to have the City or the
Commission for the Arts provide cooperation and support for the festival. In
particular, the Board would like the Commission to recommend to the City
Council that advertising, promotion and marketing for the festival be allowed in
City publications, that festival flyers be placed in various locations throughout
City Hall, and that the Community Services Department program brochure
include information about the festival.
DUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY KHALIFA, THAT THE COMMISSION
RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY ALLOW
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OF THE POINSETTIA THEATRE FOR
THE PERFORMING ARTS ANNUAL ARTS FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD IN JULY
OR AUGUST, 1999, IN VARIOUS CITY PUBLICATIONS AND WITH FLYERS
DISTRIBUTED AT CITY HALL. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH 1
ABSTENTION (CHARNOW).
7. COMMISSIONER’S CORNER
Duff requested statements from Commissioners not seeking re-appointment to
the commission. Khalifa read a prepared letter explaining reasons why she
was unable to continue serving. Yco stated that he is unable to dedicate the
time needed to perform the duties of commissioner to his best ability. His
responsibilities as a physician require that he spend additional time with his
practice and his family. Quick stated that if the term were only one year, he
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would probably able to stay on, but with the responsibility of serving a full two
year term, he felt that he would not be able to devote the time necessary to
serve adequately.
Khalifa shared an article from the Times Advocate regarding a Friday Art
Festival to be held at the Lumberyard. She felt that the Commission for the
Arts was left out of the picture. Hippert clarified that the money that was used
to sponsor this event was secured by a Community Enhancement Grant from
the City, to the Downtown Encinitas Merchant’s Association. They then worked
with the 101 Artist’s Colony to put on the event.
Charnow reported on his participation as the Commission’s liaison on the Local
Arts Education Partnership Program Steering Committee. The committee met
for the first time on January 13, 1999 to discuss the potential programs which
could be studied if the grant is received by the Encinitas Union School District.
Quick recommended that the next Commission for the Arts consider renting a
bus or other type of transportation to tour other sites within the County that
have public art. It could be done as a workshop. Yco stated that this should be
brought up as an agenda item for the next commission meeting on March 1,
1999.
Yco stated that it has been a real honor serving as commissioner and chair
during his term. He is optimistic that the City Council will approve most of the
budget as recommended by the Commission. He would like to see a continued
consensus of the Commission regarding arts facilities, including the ultimate
restoration of the La Paloma as a movie theater, as well as development of the
Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts.
8. ADJOURNMENT
YCO MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:23 P.M. SECONDED BY
QUICK. MOTION CARRIED. 7-0
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