Report Prepared by: Jennifer Levesque, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Annual Appointments to the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission (Districts 1, 2, 5, 6) (1 At-Large) (2 Ex-Officio)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept nominations to fill the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting nominations and appointing individuals to serve as members of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission (Districts 1, 2, 5, 6) (1 At-Large) and (2 Ex-Officio); or,
B. Accepting nominations and appointing as many members as Council sees appropriate and directing staff to continue the recruitment of applicants.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Direct the Clerk’s Office to continue recruitment for the vacancies.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code, Section 3.38.050.
DISCUSSION
The Arts and Culture Advisory Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council on matters having to do with public art, art projects, cultural programs and activities and the promotion of the arts within the City of Merced. In forming the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission, it is the intent of the City Council to foster the arts in the City of Merced and to help implement policy, programs, and standards for public art. The Commission consists of seven registered City of Merced voting members. Six (6) voting members of the commission shall be from the established City Council voting districts and the seventh member shall be appointed at large, who serve four-year terms of office, with four ex-officio members at City Council discretion.
At the Council meeting of March 21, 2022, staff was directed to return to a yearly appointment process for the reappointment of eligible members and the appointment of new applicants to vacant board or commission seats.
The Clerk’s office began a recruitment campaign that consisted of two 1/4 page ads in the Merced County Times in May and June, a social media push over several weeks coordinated with the Public Information Officer to alert citizens of the vacancies and expiring terms, and a series of emails for each board or commission sent to over 3,000 recipients notifying them of the recruitment.
District 1 - This seat became vacant with the resignation of Dob Francise when he moved from the area in October of 2021. The Clerk’s Office has received one eligible application from Gregorio Rocha-Tabera for this seat.
District 2 - The term of Maria Zaragoza expired on July 1, 2022. Ms. Zaragoza has expressed a desire to be reappointed and is eligible for reappointment. No additional applications were received for this seat.
District 5 - The term of Monika Donabed expired on July 1, 2022. Ms. Donabed may not be reappointed to this seat, as after the redistricting process, she is now in District 6, but has no interest in being reappointed. The Clerk’s Office has received two eligible applications from Tommy Tran and William Obruba for this seat.
District 6 - The term of Robert Hypes expired on July 1, 2022. Mr. Hypes may not be reappointed to this seat, as after the redistricting process, he is now in District 4. He has expressed a desire to continue to serve and would be eligible for the vacant At-Large seat. The Clerk’s Office received no applications for this seat.
At-Large - This seat became vacant with the resignation of Michelle Morgante in May of this year. The Clerk’s Office has received eligible applications from Robert Hypes, Robert Goodman, Jasmine Diaz, Aftenthyn Person, Joy Widmark, and Sabrina Abong.
Ex-Officio (2) - One seat became vacant with the resignation of Patricia Pratt in March of 2021. The seat of Kim Garner expired on July 1, 2022. Ms. Garner has expressed a desire and is eligible for reappointment to the commission. Any of the aforementioned applicants not appointed to the vacancies listed above are also eligible for appointment to these Ex-Officio seats.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Applications
2. Current Roster