Cultural Commission - Regular Meeting

I

think we are ready to go. K. Hello, everyone. Today is Monday, 12/01/2025. This is a regular meeting of the Cultural Commission. This is a hybrid meeting, and this meeting will be recorded. The Zoom application will notify you that this meeting is being recorded. Please press continue on the Zoom application to stay in the meeting. Use the raise your hand feature in Zoom when you would like to speak on an item and to also lower your hand when you're finished speaking. Please unmute when called to speak and mute yourself when you're done speaking.

If you're calling in by phone, identify yourself by name before speaking on an item. Press 9 on your phone to raise or lower your hand, and press 6 if you're participating by phone to unmute. I now call to order the cultural commission regular meeting for 12/01/2025 at 07:02PM. Gonna do a roll call. Commissioner Diaz, I am present. Commissioner Garth? Here. Commissioner Doss? Here. Commissioner Roy?

Here.

Commissioner Pontius? Here. Commissioner Samaran? Here. And commissioner Von Hoon is absent. Commissioner Von Hoon let us know that she is at a coral meeting tonight. So would anyone like to motion to excuse commissioner?

I make

a motion to excuse. So should

we okay. I'll just

okay. Would you all if you're in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. And as you know, this okay. So welcome to the Cultural Commission meeting. Our first item on the agenda is our consent calendar, and there is one item on the consent calendar this evening, and that's the action on the cultural commission regular meeting minutes from 11/03/2025. Does anyone have any changes or comments for these minutes?

As published. Tomorrow. Is there a second?

Seconds. And if you're in favor, please raise your hand. We'll now move to the public presentation section of our meeting. This part of the meeting is reserved for the public to address the cultural commission on any matter not on the agenda that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission. The law does not permit action on or extended discussion of any item not on the agenda except under special circumstances.

The commission or staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed, and the committee may request staff to report back at a subsequent meeting. As a reminder, comments can be emailed to clerk@santaclaraca.gov. If any member of the public would like to put comments, please fill out a speaker's card or raise your hand at Zoom. To accommodate all speakers, we request that you complete your comments within one minute. Staff, do we have any members of the public that would like to speak?

Is there anybody online that would like to address the commission at this time?

No.

Thank you. That takes us to our item under general business, which is to discuss any or take any potential action on the cultural commission's work plan goals and activities for fiscal year twenty twenty five twenty six. We take a look on that after. Yeah. So before.

Yeah. After your discussion on work time.

So let's go through. Our goal number one is to host and enhance multicultural events to encourage and equate Santa Clara residents with cultural diversity. Our first item is to plan and implement summer concerts in fiscal year twenty twenty five, twenty six. Do you

have any information So on

we have a

potential lineup for the month of July, turning us into August. And before we had them a different without how can we say it? We we spaced them out as, you know, but this time, we went to have him through July and ending in August. And it looks like a good lineup because it's kinda follows what other cities are doing, and we wanna stick with with Friday. So it it looks like a good lineup.

So Kim has the the dates. Those are not the dates. I think

No. No. These were the 2020

The '26 dates.

We have on hold are the tenth, the seventeenth,

twenty fourth.

Yep. Seventh. And then August Street down would be the street dance. And then the last concert would be The fourteenth. The fourteenth.

My book. The first four would be at the new venue on Lafayette And Benton. Lafayette and Homestead. And then we'd go to Live Oak for the '20 or for the fourteenth. And then for street dance, we're gonna look at the menu and see if we can spill into Homestead or spill into the other parking lot. So that's what's on the that's on the that's the proposal for right now.

So to term up the dates, it's a with the city manager's office?

The dates are with the city manager's offices. They're trying to coordinate all of the 2026 events together, for the new where the mission meets moment activation around the FIFA games, and this is right after all the FIFA games are over. So we suspect the community is gonna use the venue at Lafayette, you know, leading up in May and in June. And so then that would leave us with the venue for July, which I think would Yeah. That would Yeah.

But they get to keep the tires, and we'll get to bed with the benefits

of the coordination.

That's my plan. Perfect. Good plan.

Good. Perfect. And then you had mentioned about the funding for this.

So this is just our regular cost, and we can allocate the funding. I can do crunching more numbers for next month. I didn't include the stage yet, and then I can ask for proposal for the or an allocation next month, if that's okay. But

the monies for this, you said, are coming from the twenty twenty six Twenty seven budget. Yeah.

We would be into the new fiscal year already. We also have some sponsors

for this.

Yeah. We would ask for sponsors. So we release our sponsor packet again, probably late January, like we did this year. And and we've already actually been getting inquiries for other events in '20. They actually, they wanted tree lighting, but it was too like, was, like, yeah, this week and last week. Too late for tree lighting. But, we're happy to put you on hold, and and we can get you engaged for next year. So yeah.

So when do you think we're gonna have an approved lineup?

I think the dates will get approved this month. Okay. Yeah. And then and then I can send your then we have your genres and then the dates. The producer can start doing magic that way, and then I can work on the numbers.

Because it will be if we get it on early enough, it'll be worth entertaining and putting a flyer with the Silicon Valley utility bills that way. You know, the people who do not have social presence or do not check it as often, get a hard copy of our activities. And it wouldn't just have to be ours. It could be everything that, you know, Super Bowl FIFA, everything that that that we're doing could be in that insert. Right?

So Yeah. It's a good idea. That that

that way we we get behind that wave and be right that wave.

Yeah. So Yeah. That's good.

Mhmm.

K. Anything else you can discuss on us? No. Just

we will we'll talk about straight dance later.

Yeah. In terms of the spacing and that kind of thing, the elements will need to kinda, yeah, flush that out a little

bit more. See what you're trying get.

Major bus line that goes

Yeah. Yeah. Homestead. So we knew that was a challenge.

That. But there's space in the parking lot next door. So at the 990 Lafayette, it's right at the corner of Lafayette And Homestead across the way from the American Legion Building. And then the parking lot that is behind the Togo's and the Hungry Hound and the there's, like, a a frozen yogurt shop or whatever. That parking lot would be available also.

So we could spill that way, but we would need to figure out how to engage the businesses. I wouldn't want it to be a loss for them, so we would need to work with them a little bit.

Do we need to go talk to

them? Mhmm.

You think that would be a loss for them? Well, we'd

have to figure out how to keep it accept keep their businesses accessible as we kinda spill over the outside.

We are already doing stuff during the Super Bowl time.

It's only gonna be on the 90 nine hundred nine hundred spot. That other Right.

The whole Bank of America building.

The old Bank of America building. And so there's a planter that sort of islands the parking lot. Yeah. And so it kind of is a natural barrier between the two spaces. And so what would work well for that is that you'll have parking. Right? If we take that parking lot, then there's only street park. There's no proper parking, right, for the event. So you park down, you know, a block.

You didn't have proper parking anywhere.

Yeah. Yeah. We should. It

didn't matter. Right? So

but for those businesses, that might yeah. There's still a parking garage behind them. There is. Okay. I mean, there's, like, a two story parking garage behind the Where the Jarens? Yep. Taplands and Jarens tea and all that is. So and, you know, so

and then Anyone ever parks there.

Yeah. Yeah. That certainly could be useful, and perhaps we can get access to the parking garage where the courthouse is. Mhmm. Yeah. Okay. So to be continued. Alrighty.

K. The next item is to plan a notes Friday night. I go then?

Do you know if I'm gonna

Nothing. It's not super Those Can are we change that then? On.

Oh, yeah. On 2026, '27. '26, '26. So the twenty sixth, when will it start April?

It started as late as October. October. Okay.

November 2026. That means you're not here. That's just

Correct. That's why I'm

Oh, got it. Okay. That's what I'm saying.

No. She's asking when does

Oh, okay.

Does it start? So you're as early as there. So Okay.

Let's see.

Okay. And then the other one, the group wedding is on hold as well. Secure sponsors for cultural commission special events. So those packages you said released January?

Mhmm. Late January, early February. Just in time for the Super Bowl. Okay.

But we have already have sponsorships for this year. Right?

Is this current ones that were for this fiscal year. Okay. And so, yeah, those are the ones that we collected already. Alright.

Goal number two, develop and encourage interactive art opportunities to provide temporary performing cultural and public art in the city. The first item is to advise and recommend public art to the city council for public benefits. Commissioner Garg, do you have any information on that?

Since the nebula writer date has been extended, February, you know, and that's all.

Do we have anything else on that stuff? Mm-mm. Okay.

The next thing is the Tropicbox program. So we do have some updates on that.

Yeah. So two

of

them have been approved, agreement signed, and are ready to start, I believe. One of them I know got started with sanding the box. And then there's, two more that are in the agreement process, waiting for, approvals, and then two more that were still in the, process of getting their insurance compliant. So all six of them are in the works, but two four of them are started or getting close to start.

So yeah. Nice. Thank you. I know this slide is a

hard job doing that part, getting everything Sure. Coordinated. Yeah.

Yes. Yes. Alright.

Excellent. The next item is the indoor sculpture exhibition. So we have that twenty twenty six twenty seven. The Halloween home and well, let's do the Halloween home decorating contest first.

That one is all concluded. The request for the winner's certificates got sent to the mayor at the hospital office, and the winners will get that in the mail. And then we released today the I'll call a home. Let me show you guys. So this is on your cultural commission page.

So there is Nice. We've worked with our GIS team, so it's exciting because now the online entry form, as you enter, you can upload your photos here. I don't know yet. Click your district or your entering. Name, those names.

That one's like general right there. Tell us what your decorations mean to you. That one is like, with the little stars mean, like, you you have to fill that out. It's required, and then that will create on when you see the map, it'll have a little bio information for that too. Good. I know. It's it's really,

really, really exciting. So then as they upload the photos, they'll go live onto the map. So we will have to go back in and just make sure that they're Santa Clara residents and that they are compliant with the waiver. So there's some disclaimers in the waiver that that they're that they're not inappropriate in their decorations, and they're not, you know, discriminatory or that kind of thing, and that they're in the city. So and then here's your your rules that you guys did, and then we said in person judging.

So what's cool is a subcommittee can actually check this out and see where they are, and you can go and kind of visit them. You don't have to wait for us to go, go. Like, you can go and see them casually as they populate, and we'll let you know when we see some populating. And then Lewis did great letting us know what the the timeline's tight. Right?

And so we had the deadline close at twelve on that Friday. So we have some time to, like, say, okay. Go this weekend, and we'll let us know on Monday what the results are, and then we'll do our magic on Monday. We can do the same thing with getting you the signs ahead of time. Soon as they come in, we'll let you know information about the previous winners and then what you win.

So posting, and then the have them clarify the best group because there was confusion. Like, am I all we all getting a sign? And so I'm sorry, but, no, you're whoever does the entry gets the sign, and then whoever does the entry also gets a certificate. So it's it's too much to Oh, so every

contestant will get a certificate, would you say?

We hadn't planned on that. We had planned on the certificate going to The the submitter. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

How's that look? It's good. It's great.

Now there is no reason for you guys not to define the dates for Halloween. I have a link already

after

Oh, here's the disclaimer. So all these things so if they were nasty in their decorations, then we can take them off the map. So I was looking for it on the form, but it's right here on the yay? Yep. Hey. Nice. Very well done. Hey. Cool.

What was it shared to you?

Was it not shared No. Publicly? Yeah. Not on Zoom. Zoom. Sorry, friend on Zoom. Does our member in public have any comments comments on anything we've shared so far? You can raise your hand if you do.

I think keep going. Okay. Our next item is to update and maintain City Interactive web based public art and map. I have had zero time to

look at this. Have I started, so it's work in process. Okay.

It's sharing now? Yeah.

Yes. That was sharing before. It was just the for some reason, when you went to the

I think I just missed

the sharing. Yeah. Kind of not the

Okay. Goal number three is to raise the visibility of commemorative months, identify space to curate, and facilitate the celebration of commemorative months in which cultural holidays to celebrate and

wish the medium. Okay. Center's. So the cultural commission will get the and the the rights month. And we have partnered with the libraries.

So I will call the pages that we were using before. So all they will circulate the December human rights month's pages for twenty twenty three and 2022 and place them in the children area and the at the checkout. Printed This in there. And we have partnered with the school district as well where for elementary school and middle school, most likely elementary, they will circulate the coloring pages and the teachers will talk about three points once in the journey. And yeah.

And then we are for December 6 December 5 for the tree lighting ceremony. We are making what do you call it? What do you how picture frames for Kwanzaa, Monica, and Christmas. And they will be can we place it on the parks and recs?

Yeah. Are they are they picture frames to give away? Or are they

Big frame, you can

get picture. Oh, you can take

pictures of it. I think you you can get border as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yep.

Yep. That's fine. So are we having a table? The commission hadn't asked for a table. We could definitely look at that into the future, but we're happy to take the take the props at the parking lot booth. And if you guys wanna be in that booth, that's fine too. I just don't have space to make an extra booth. But if you wanna come and be in that booth and play with the frames and talk to people about it, you're welcome to do that. Just let me know. Yeah.

Come Friday, 05:30 to eight. Be cool. Wear two lanes. Lots of socks.

Goal number four is to enhance communication and media strategy to increase community awareness of the cultural commission. The first item is to present accomplishments to the city council. Do we have

a date for that? We do not have a date for that.

And then develop, maintain, and grow partnerships and collaborations with external organizations. Is this the mission, or is this under a separate one?

I think this was we could add Mission College here. Okay. And I think this was, like, the RiverMark idea about collaborating with RiverMark shopping area or other things, but not sure. So much to add.

Mission. College.

So the information for this is that they wanna collaborate. Right? And that we may be looking to contribute some money from our budget. Maybe 1,500, was it? Or was it

1,200? What what we did last year. And so the commission could I would just recommend I don't have our meeting with Mission College until, like, the June 13 and so or January. And so I wouldn't come to

you until

after that, but they are interested in collaborating on a big concert. And it was their first concert of June, like, the June last week here.

It was a nice concert.

So timing wise with FIFA, that would be a good date. And I've asked if they're gonna continue with Wednesdays this year, but I haven't heard back yet. And I think I don't think they wanna think about it until January. Then they will come and talk to us. But then I would come to the commission with a proposal, if you can ask.

Goal number five is to prepare for citywide arts master plan process.

Do you have anything to note? So staff has a meeting with procurement on the December 9 to start the the statement of work process, and then take the statement of order to kind of do a request for proposals for a contractor, to do it. In the meantime, if you guys have been collecting plans that you'd like, go ahead and send them to me. And then, I think purchasing said that their expectation would be is that they would release the request for proposal in February. Usually, it takes a month to six weeks to be on the we call on the street, like, out for bid, and then we review and then contract.

But if we get a lot of bids back, sometimes the review process takes a while because you have to read them all and score them and rate them and blah blah blah. If we get fewer bids, it's quicker because you don't have to read as many proposals back. And so then we'll get them in contract hopefully by the end of q one calendar year, and then

we can start the process before the end of

the fiscal year would be the goal.

Right. So that oh, we have one more. Oh, no. That's developed. Okay. You just got the update on that one.

Yeah. Sorry. This one in wrong. Yeah. Yeah. The wrong box. Gonna put it in the right box now. Any other comments, questions, thoughts on things that we're missing?

Are there any public comments on our general vision work plan goals?

I don't see a hand raised. Okay.

We don't need to vote on anything. Right?

Don't have to vote on anything. Okay.

The next agenda item is the city staff report. Would staff like to present a report?

Just that tree lighting is it's Friday in Central Park from 05:30 to eight. We're honoring Wanda Buck as our honorary tree lighter. Lots of entertainment all night. There'll be artisan fair and market. The feet of clock will be out. Santa will be there, and we have a a new surprise in the park that you might wanna come and see because it's very beautiful. Is it available now? Mhmm.

Oh, it is. Mhmm. So we need

to go down there. You're telling us to see him.

Right. It's to see people? Mhmm.

And they've been in

the park. In the park. You're gonna park.

Alright. Okay. No problem.

Pending right on this one. Cash.

It's first

to go. It must be present.

Announcement for the Friday, I think, like

Yeah. It's been it's it's gonna kick up. It was before on social media before the holiday, and then it will kick up again starting tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah. So watch the city's channels, social media channels. So they're so cute. Neighborhood

we have to resend. Resend. Yeah. And then they Visiting the and the.

So Oh, good. Good. That's wonderful. That's wonderful. And then winter registration starts tomorrow.

07:00 in the morning? 07:00 in the morning.

Seven is much better than that.

Let's get up and

make sure I'm on chart. What you do is you start your wish list.

I did that. You put

it in your cart and then type in more,

and you just hit go. It doesn't let you put it in

the cart. It lets me

put on the wish list, but then you transfer to the cart fairly easily, and you're not fumbling around trying to find the numbers and all that. I asked. Did anybody get their activity guide at their home yet? You did?

Think so.

The vendor one. Right? Yes. I got it.

You with the ballerina on the front cover? Oh, wow.

K. Look in your mailbox. Quiku might be there. Think district one gets everything later. But

There's another side of We're there is that neighborhood that the postmaster is late on. We're trying to figure out what Maybe

you just figured it out.

Those are the two big ones.

The

final agenda item is our commissioner reports. This is your turn to share your activities. Does anyone have any updates?

No. We're not reading it up. No.

I know. I can help.

I just No.

It's just not for this.

I'm processing paperwork. The this the scent actually, the historic home tour, Santa Verus Old Quad, historic home tour is the secret. And so there I don't know if you've seen that. There are four houses that are going to be open to the public on Friday night and Saturday, the sixth. There's 742 Jefferson Street, the 80 Mills House is kinda, like, the main one.

Then the Frank Mansion also, and then two houses on Madison that are gonna be open. And the proceeds go to a variety of of charities, including the Harris Law's Mansion. And the Harris Law's Mansion is open on Sunday from noon to two, and, Santa will also be there. So I guess he's not leaving Friday. He's gonna hang around. Okay. So come back. I don't know he's gonna come back, whatever it is. What's the cost for that? It's free.

Oh, but you said proceeds?

The I'm sorry. The museum, Paris Lost House, is open for free. I think the tickets are something, like, 25 or $29. I'm not sure what they because I'm going to be playing my guitar there so I don't have to pay.

Mhmm.

And so I've never asked

to get a free ticket while

I was sitting up.

Oh, yeah. We've done several. Yes. And, hopefully, your fingers. If you're playing guitar, I don't know how you keep your fingers warm.

You just keep on it.

I know you do.

Yeah. It's a

nice event.

Yeah. Anyone else have anything? Nope.

So this last Sunday, I was here in Central Park, and there was this barrier text of it was happening. I joined there and around a 100 plus students and this college graduates were there. So they were gathering and talking about each other experience and just AI thing. So it was in the central part. I think they will do everything.

What was that in Central Park?

Yeah. Pokemon also there. Yeah.

Yeah. Because I walked there on the on the weekends, and they're all Pokemon go.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, the Hopi Hopi people.

Yes. But I'd never heard of the tech expo.

I saw a bunch of people wandering around aimlessly. I

Oh, my my my dog my puppy gets a little bit retarded because they just stand it there. Right? So just Yeah.

Just. Thank you for your reports. I would like to entertain a motion to adjourn for the meeting.

Anyone?

Adjourned. Do you have a second? I see. Raise your hand if you're in favor. It's unanimous. Alright. Our meeting is adjourned at 07:35.

Is our second Wait.

Wanna thank everyone for coming to tonight's meeting. Our next cultural commission meeting will be on Monday, 01/05/2026 at 7PM here at the senior center in Room 205.

Your daughter is treating us to Manana.

I'm sorry.

Have you been before?

Not here. Southern Cali.