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CACMIN 12 09 2004 CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES December 9, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Study Session Room of the La Quinta Civic Center. Chairperson Loudon led the meeting. Commissioner Gassman led the Pledge of Allegiance. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Else Loudon Commissioner Sheldon Brodsky Commissioner Andrea Gassman Commissioner Elaine Reynolds Commissioner Charlene Lane (excused) STAFF PRESENT: Dodie Horvitz, Community Services Director Therese Vella-Finorio – Community Services Secretary II. PUBLIC COMMENT- None III. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes of November 11, 2004 B. Department Report October 2004 C. Financial Report for November 2004 Commissioner Loudon had grammatical corrections to the minutes of the November 11, 2004 meeting. It was moved by Commissioners Brodsky/Reynolds to approve the Consent Calendar with corrections as stated to the Minutes of November 11, 2004. Unanimous. V. PUBLIC HEARING – None VI. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Future Events and Entertainment: Director Horvitz reported on the City Council’s comments from their meeting. They considered the Cultural Arts Commission request for four concerts as discussed in the last meeting. The City Council approved two concerts – one in Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2. April and one in May 2005. They would like to see the Mariachi’s and the Jazz Band perform. They asked that refreshments be kept to cookies and water, and believe that for an hour and a half concert, the city shouldn’t be providing much more than that. Director Horvitz didn’t contact Mr. Lipson because the City Council had not approved his performance as of December 9th, so that was why the information wasn’t forwarded on to the Commissioners. If the Council had authorized Mr. Lipson, he does perform in many different venues in January and February and it would have provided ample opportunity for the Commissioners to hear him. Commissioner Loudon asked Director Horvitz if the concerts would now be in April and May to which Director Horvitz replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Loudon asked if the suggestion Commissioner Gassman made regarding not serving cookies or punch at the concerts could be approved. Director Horvitz stated the Commission could decide not to serve refreshments if they so wish. Commissioner Gassman stated although the refreshments are nice for the kids, she felt it almost detracts from the quality of performance to have cookies. She thought people should be able to bring a sack/box dinner which makes it a little more upscale. Commissioner Reynolds agreed and stated that in Palm Desert the people bring their own food. She felt she would like to see along with the concert is to work in letting the young people put on some kind of a presentation before the concert starts, it would bring in the crowd and be very enjoyable. She indicated that the Tree Lighting Ceremony had the young people perform and it was wonderful. Commissioner Gassman said we could still have trash receptacles available for people. The dates would be April 16th for the Las Adelitas Mariachi, and May 15 for the Jazz bands. Commissioner Gassman asked Director Horvitz if there was a rationale for why only two concerts rather than four? Director Horvitz stated it was due to the unpredictable weather. Commissioner Gassman asked if we are still within our guidelines of what we said we were going to do if we are just having the two concerts? Commissioner Loudon said the other event the Commissioners will be helping with is the City’s Annual Picnic. Commissioner Loudon reported that if the Commission had gone forward with four concerts, the expenses would have totaled $14,918 so she thought that was one of the considerations the City Council had. Commissioner Reynolds asked what the City Council’s comments were regarding the puppets? Director Horvitz stated there was a comment from the Council that Things on Strings is in Old Town, the community has an outlet for puppet shows. Commissioner Brodsky wanted to state for the record that the Commission was only doing what the Council requested of them from the meeting they had, which was the Council wanted a series of concerts, a consistency of the same date. Councilman Sniff was very specific about that. Commissioner Brodsky felt that was what the Commission offered, and if the Council chose not to do it, that is fine, but the Commission was acting on what he perceived was requested of the Council. Commissioner Loudon said Mayor Adolph was very nice in asking her to explain it, and she did in length, the reason for setting the date on the same Saturday, as Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3. well as everything the Commission had discussed. She did mention the reason the Commissioners wanted the four events, but the Council felt very strongly that it would be a lot of extra work for staff, and the time of the year could possibly be very cold. She also mentioned that they had considered utilizing the talent through the schools instead of paying performers, and mentioned to the Council members how wonderful the Tree Lighting Ceremony was. Commissioner Gassman stated that Commission had decided against chairs, so the budget for the two events would now be $7,409 Commissioner Loudon asked Director Horvitz to confirm the date of the City Picnic, to which she replied April 30th. Commissioner Loudon said that would give the Commissioners two weeks in between the concert and the City Picnic. Commissioner Reynolds asked if there was a date set for the opening of SilverRock. Director Horvitz replied they are working on having it open on January 17th, 2005. Further she stated our marketing firm is planning that entire event, so we are not involved in it at all. Commissioner Gassman asked if we have sufficient time to get the publicity into the brochure for the two upcoming events. Director Horvitz stated we will put the information into the brochure, we will send out another postcard in March which will have specifics on it. We will do our normal public relations programs to advertise the events. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS - none VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A Attendance at Community Functions – Commissioner Reynolds worked the Art Under the Umbrella show for two days in December; she also attended the Holiday Tree Lighting, Veteran’s Day Memorial, and the City open house. Commissioner Brodsky attended the Art Under the Umbrellas show, Veteran’s Day Memorial, and Holiday Tree Lighting. Commissioner Loudon attended the Veteran’s Day Memorial, the Holiday Tree Lighting, and the City’s open house. Commissioner Gassman attended the La Quinta High School football game, the Jacqueline Cochrane Air Show, the Veteran’s Day Memorial, and the Holiday Tree Lighting. Commissioner Reynolds asked that next month’s agenda include the landscaping of John Kennedy’s art piece as well as the art piece at Point Happy. She also would like to recommend the architect or landscape person who did the Embassy Suites, which she felt was beautifully done. She hoped everyone had the opportunity to see the art work with the lighting at night. Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4. XI. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioners Gassman/Reynolds to adjourn the Cultural Arts Commission meeting. Unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Submitted by: ___________________________________________________ Therese Vella-Finorio, Community Services Secretary