Staff ReportA�A
COUNCIL 1. REPORT
DATE: JANUARY 14, 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 01/19/16
ITEM NO: 11
SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION STRATEGIC PLANNING PROGRESS
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the proposed modifications to the duties and functions of the Arts and Culture
Commission, the long term vision, and the mission statement;
2. Approve the five proposed public art plan goal areas; and
3. Approve a budget allocating $7,000 with $2,000 to fund Phase IV of the Forbes Mill Footbridge
Revitalization Project and $5,000 to fund the development of a comprehensive, multi-year public
art plan.
BACKGROUND:
This report and recommendations is the product of the Arts and Culture Commission's strategic
planning process for the development of a comprehensive, multi-year public art plan.
In 2010, the Town Council approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-2013 Art Plan which identified four
public art focus areas that included: Long Term Vision and Mission Statement, Public Art, Funding and
Communication. The focus areas were developed to meet the Town Strategic Goal of restructuring
community arts and culture programs and services to meet community priorities and needs. Four public
art projects were identified within the Art Plan and included the following:
• Forbes Mill Footbridge Revitalization Project
• Banner Program
• Public Art Displays
• Art in the Council Chambers, Sister City Exchange
Of the four public art projects identified in the FY 2011-2013 Art Plan, the Arts and Cultural
Commission (ACC) has successfully implemented two of the projects. The first, the Forbes Mill
Footbridge Revitalization Project, is currently in the third phase of the multi-year project, partnering
PREPARED BY: CHRISTINA GILMORE _ U
Assistant to the Town Manager
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager wn Attorney Finance
5
NAMGR\Adm WorkPiles\2016 Coad] Reports\01-19\ACC Arts Plan 01.19.16.dMx
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION DRAFT ARTS PLAN
JANUARY 14, 2016
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
with Los Gatos -Saratoga Community Education and Recreation to program an annual week-long youth
summer art camp to create the murals. To date, twenty-one murals have been created by area youth and
installed on the Footbridge, with the remaining 135 panels to be completed over the next several years.
A second project, the Catwalk Public Art Display, was approved by the Town Council in March 2014,
and ten sculptured cats were created and installed along N. Santa Cruz Avenue in May 2014.
The remaining two projects approved in the FY 2011-2013 Art Plan were removed from the ACC's
project priority list in 2013 due to the Town Manager's Office assuming responsibility for approving
and administering the Town's public light pole banner policy, and collaborating with the New Museum
Los Gatos (NUMU) to assist in the quarterly coordination and installation of the Art in the Council
Chambers program.
DISCUSSION:
In August 2015, the ACC began a strategic planning process to create a new public art plan that includes
proposed changes to the duties and functions of the Commission, the mission and vision statements, and
developing five public art goal areas to be incorporated into a new, comprehensive, multi-year public art
plan.
Town Council review and approval of the proposed changes and the five goal areas will assist the
Commission in moving forward with identifying and developing specific projects for each of the five
goals areas.
The following recommended changes were discussed at length by the Commission over the past several
months, and summarize what the ACC requests that the Town Council review and approve. Upon
approval, the Commission will continue with the development of the public art plan with the assurance
that the Commission's perspective of its role aligns with the Town Council's expectations.
Duties and Functions
Attachment 1 includes the adopted enabling resolution for the Arts and Culture Commission that
includes the duties and functions of the Commission. At the conclusion of the ACC's strategic planning
process, a recommendation for a revised resolution will be presented for Town Council consideration.
The ACC proposes the following edits to the duties and functions of the ACC as underlined below:
2. Duties and Functions
a. The function of the Commission shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Town Council
regarding Town policies within its scope of expertise; specifically, on the art,
drama, music, and other creative and cultural activities of the community. With the prior
approval of, and/or at the direction of, the Town Council or its delegate, the Commission shall
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION DRAFT ARTS PLAN
JANUARY 14, 2016
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
receive and solicit public input, evaluate options, and make recommendations on policy, projects and
programming issues including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Matters affecting the artistic and/or cultural life of the community; and
2. Local visual and performing arts efforts; and
3. Matters in the field of art, aesthetics, and beautification.
b. The Commission shall make recommendations to the Town Council concerning public art, under the
terms of the current Town Public Art Selection Policy and Procedure.
c. The Commission shall perform other duties as assigned by the Town Council
Long Term Vision & Mission Statement
The ACC proposes the following edits to the long term vision as underlined below:
A vibrant, collaborative and creative Los Gatos where arts and culture are a defining and
accessible feature of our identity and unique character.
The ACC proposes the following edits to the long term mission as underlined below:
Develop, promote and support the arts in the Town of Los Gatos.
Public Arts Plan Goal Areas
The following five goal areas comprise the framework for a proposed comprehensive, multi-year, Public
Arts Plan. These goal areas were approved and identified by the ACC at its November 4, 2015
Commission meeting, and are included below.
1. Public Art
• Encourage and help develop through artists and local arts organizations a variety of
public art installations.
2. Funding
• Explore a variety of public, non-profit and private funding sources to support art
programs and projects throughout the Town. This may entail identifying grant funds,
reviewing and recommending changes to the Town donation policy, and identifying long-
term, permanent funding for the arts through the Ad Hoc Citizen Committee analysis.
3. Commission Engagement
• Explore ways to improve Commission engagement and outreach to the Town Council,
general public, and various private, cultural and arts organizations.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION DRAFT ARTS PLAN
JANUARY 14, 2016
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
4. Involvement/Outreach
• Approve a budget allocation of $5,000 to fund the development of a comprehensive,
multi-year public art plan. Specifically, the ACC is requesting the funds to hire a college
intern to help inventory arts organizations, identify other funding sources, and complete
benchmark analyses with other municipal arts programs as identified within the public art
plan.
5. Community Partnerships
• Identify, explore and define benefits of various partnerships with other organizations
identified through goal area 4.
The ACC is also requesting a budget allocation of $2,000 to Phase IV of the Forbes Mill Footbridge
Revitalization Project to ensure that the next phase of the project is funded, and is estimated to result in
approximately six to eight panels based on student participation in prior years.
CONCLUSION:
The Arts and Cultural Commission believes it has fine-tuned its vision and mission statement and
developed five goal areas that will increase the scope and involvement of the community in defining and
participating in various public art projects in future years. In that regard, the Commission will be
working to identify realistic, multi-year projects for each the recommended five goals once the Town
Council reviews, comments, and approves this memorandum.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Council may choose to receive the report and not provide specific direction at this time.
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated by the Town Manager's Office and prepared with considerable input from
the Arts and Culture Commission. ACC Chair Dawn Rose has reviewed the content of this report and
supports the recommendations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Included as one of the recommendations is total budget allocation of $7,000 as described in this report.
The Town can fund this request within existing budget authority if approved by the Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This agenda item is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Arts and Culture Commission Resolution 2009-10
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
RESOLUTION 2009-100
RESOLUTION OF TBE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
AMENDING THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMNIISSION ENABLING RESOLUTION
AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION 1996-37
RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, that the Town Council
does hereby establish the terms and conditions for appointmeat to and conduct of the Arts and
CultureCommission. The Commission is advisory to the Town Council and opeistes in the
manner hereinafter prescribed.
1. Membership -Organization
a. The Commission shall consist of nine (9) voting members, whose terms of office shall be
three (3) years and until their successors are appointed by the Town Council. One (1)
member of the Commission shall be an arts professional, such as an artist, art historian,
art administrator, museum professional, or architect.
The terms of office of the respective members shall be staggered and overlapped in such
a man= that the terms of no more than three (3) of the members expire each year.
The Town Council shall fill any vacancies occurring during the term of the Commission.
The Commission shall amorally designate a Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson.
b. rive (5) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, of the Commission for
the purpose of transacting business. Any member shall have the right to present a
minority view to Council in reference to any report or recommendation the Commission
may take.
c. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, provided that with
advance budgetary approval of the Town Council, the actual and necessary expenses (if
my) incurred by the members in the conduct of Town business shall be reimbursable
pnusuant to the provisions of the current Administrative Policy.
d. The Commission shall establish a regular time and location for its meetings and shalt
otherwise call and conduct its meetings in compliance with the provisions of the Ralph
M. Brown Act (Government Code Sections 54950 and following).
e. A record of all minutes and resolutions of the Commission shall be kept and shall be a
public record.
£ Residency and meeting attendance requirements will conform with.current Town
Resolutions.
ATTACHMENT 1
Z Duties and Functions
a. The function of the Commission shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Town
Council regarding Town policies within its scope of expertise; specifically, on the art,
drama, music, and other creative activities of the community. With the prior approval of,
and/or at the direction of, the Town Council or its delegate, the Commission shall receive
public input, evaluate options, and make recommendations on policy issues including, but
not limited to, the following:
1. Matters affecting the artistic and/or cultural life of -the community; and
2. Local visual and performing arts efforts; and
3. Matters in the field of art, aesthetics, and beautification.
b. The Commission shall make recommendations to the Town Council concerning public
art, under the tuns of the current Town Public Art Selection Policy and Procedure.
c, The Commission shall perform other duties as assigned by tate Town Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution 1996-37 is hereby rescinded,
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the''own of Los
Gatos, California, held on the 21st day of September, 2009, by the following vote;
rkr#TUZT9 1 i
AYES: Diane McNatt, Joe PirzynsK Steve Rice, Barbara Spector, Mayor Mike Wasserman
NAYS:
"911 V:14 121
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
N:a"5!Q'
ADNIINIS IRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA