SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA  May 23, 2024 7:00 P.M.  Call to Order & Roll Call  Chair Williams called the special meeting of the Cultural Affairs Commission to order at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers  at City Hall and via Webex. Present: Chair Brenda Williams  Commissioner Ehsaan Mesghali Commissioner Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin  Absent: Vice Chair Leora O'Carroll  Commissioner Tania Fleischer  Staff:  Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst Sam Lee, Cultural Affairs Analyst  o00  Pledge of Allegiance Allegiance.  Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager, led the Pledge of  o00  Public Comment = Items NOT On the Agenda Chair Williams invited public comment.  Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst, reported that no requests to speak had been received for Items NOT On the  Agenda.  o00    Cultural Affairs Commission  May 23, 2024 Page 2 of 6  Receipt of Correspondence  Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst, reported that no  correspondence had been received.  000  Consent Calendar Items  Item C-1  Approval of Minutes for the Regular Cultural Affairs Commission MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WISNOSKY STEHLIN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MESGHALI THAT THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETINGS OF MARCH 19, 2024AND  Meetings of March 19, 2024 and April 16, 2024  APRIL 16, 2024.  THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:  AYES: NOES:  MESGHALI, WILLIAMS, WISNOSKY STEHLIN  NONE  ABSENT: FLEISCHER, O'CARROLL  o0o  Order of the Agenda No changes were made.  o00  Action Items  Item A-1  1) Discuss Review and Timeline Change for Artist Laureate Program 2) Vote to align Artist Laureate Program with City of Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager, provided a summary Commissioner Wisnosky Stehlin read comments from fellow Artist Laureate Ad Hoc Subcommittee Member Commissioner Fleischer in  Culver City's Fiscal Year Calendar of the material of record.    Cultural Affairs Commission  May 23, 2024 Page 3 of 6  support of aligning the Artist Laureate Program with the fiscal year, streamlining budget processes, reviewing the Artist Laureate Program, and gaining input from the new Cultural Affairs Manager; discussed running the Performing Arts Grant Program on the September 1 through August 31 timeline as is common with most performing arts seasonsi and allowing for a Discussion ensued between staff and Commissioners regarding support for comments from Commissioner Fleischer; origin of the Artist Laureate Program; the wish for the program to continue and flourish; aligning the Performing Arts Grant Program; allowing for a six month extension to the process; fiscal efficiencies; providing lead time to gather data; feedback from past Artist Laureates and community members; the honorary Poet Laureate; establishing best practicesi acting as an advocate for the creation of an affordable Culver City public art galleryi creating an artist-in-residence program; quarterly shows; allowing for growth; attracting people to Culver City; and making it easier for applicants to program MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MESGHALI AND SEÇONDED BY CHAIR WILLIAMS THAT THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION: VOTE TO APPROVE A CHANGE LAUREATE PROGRAM TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY's FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING A REVISED START DATE TO THE ARTIST's TERM OF JULY 1, 2025_'AND  better and more complete job of programming.  their year more easily around the grant system.  TO THE PROGRAMMATIC SCHEDULE FOR THE 2024  2027 ARTIST  COMPLETION DATE OF JUNE 30, 2027. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:  AYES: NOES:  MESGHALI, WILLIAMS, WISNOSKY STEHLIN  NONE  ABSENT: FLEISCHER, O'CARROLL  Chair Williams received consensus from Commissioners Mesghali and Wisnosky Stehlin to bring back information about changing the dates for the Performing Arts Grant Program to September Discussion ensued between staff and Commissioners regarding the number of people involved in the Performing Arts Grant processi length of time to get information together; clarification that current grantees would not be affected; and discussion at the subcommittee level to determine next steps.  1t through August 31 each year.    Cultural Affairs Commission  May 23, 2024 Page 4 of 6  o00  Public Comment = Items NOT On the Agenda Chair Williams invited public comment.  Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst, reported that no requests  to speak had been received.  000  Items from Commissioners/Staff  Sally Unsworth,  Cultural Affairs Manager,  discussed  participation in City Council budget meetings; expressed appreciation to Commissioner Mesghali for attending the Olympics Subcommittee meeting; and she reported that the City Council would consider adoption of the final budget at the June Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst, noted that the proposed budget was available online with visible detail about Cultural Discussion ensued between staff and Commissioners regarding clarification that there was very little questioning related to Cultural Affairs at the budget meeting; the first year of the CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) processi the public portal; and the ability to delve deeper into projects. Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager, expressed deep appreciation to Lee Lawlor for her efforts and for her work on Lee Lawlor, Cultural Affairs Analyst, indicated that she would be emailing information about upcoming grant pertormances in Commissioner Mesghali discussed regular Olympics Subcommittee meetings and questioned whether he and Vice Chair O'Carroll Discussion ensued between staff and Commissioners regarding regular City Council Olympics Subcommittee meetings; increased  10, 2024 City Council meeting.  Affairs funding.  the new system.  June and July.  would be able to meet more regularly.    Cultural Affairs Commission  May 23, 2024 Page 5 of 6  frequency of Cultural Affairs Commission Olympics Ad Hoc Subcommittee meetings; alignment with LA28; and licensing. Commissioner Mesghali reported on his attendance of the Commissioner Wisnosky Stehlin was looking forward to the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) Art Celebration at the Wende Museum; reported attending the Non-Profit Convening at the Wende Museum, attending the subcommittee meeting about the Summer Concert Series, attending Leadership Culver City at Sony Studios, attending the Sony tour, watching the City Council budget meeting, and attending meetings about various upcoming projects in the City noting the need for art components as part of all City projects; discussed the state budget deficit; projected cuts to state arts funding that would result in California being ranked 45th in the nation; and she encouraged those interested to write letters in support of retaining arts Chair Williams received clarification regarding the dates of the Summer Sunset Concert Series; reported attending the Non- Profit Convening; and discussed meeting other people committed to helping the City in social, artistic, and physical ways as  Olympics Subcommittee Super meeting.  funding.  much as they can.  o00    Cultural Affairs Commission  May 23, 2024 Page 6 of 6  Adjournment  There being no further business, at 7:35 P.M., the Cultural Affairs Commission adjourned to a regular meeting to be held  at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 18, 2024.  o00  des sae  SECRETARY of the Cultural Affairs Commission  APPROVED  s204  AAAallaa  BRENDA WILLIAMS Culver City, California  CHAIR of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission  I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that, on the date below written, these minutes were filed in the Office of the City Clerk, Culver City, California and constitute the Official Minutes of said meeting.  5808094  adua  Date