[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:12] Okay, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Arts Commission meeting of Thursday, September 3rd. I will not now call this meeting in order at 6 p.m. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. Commissioner De Daryan, would you please lead us?
[0:28] Absolutely, please stand.
[0:31] At your hand of your heart, ready, salute.
[0:34] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
[0:38] and to the Republic for which it stands when nation under God
[0:43] and the visible liberty and justice for all.
[0:50] Thank you.
[0:51] Rokal, Ms. Patua, would you please call roll.
[0:55] Let the record reflect all commissioners
[0:57] or present except for Commissioner Ford.
[1:01] Thank you.
[1:04] There's no one present here for public comment.
[1:07] Ms. Patu, is there anyone on Zoom?
[1:12] Oh, actually, do we need a minute?
[1:14] First is public comment.
[1:16] At this time, there's no one currently on Zoom.
[1:20] Thank you.
[1:22] Okay.
[1:22] We will then start with commissioner comments.
[1:27] Fisher, join me.
[1:29] Thank you, Chair Ochoa. Good to be back with everyone. I feel honored to be opening up with
[1:34] at least commissioner comments for our first meeting in some three or four months.
[1:39] There's a lot that has happened, so I will not attempt to even cover it all. All say is
[1:44] I commenced staff. I know we've been down in arts specialists for the last few months
[1:49] and it seems that everything has gone swimmingly well. It's been a fantastic summer. A lot of great programs
[1:56] And many of our partners, the thank for that of course too, but it's been wonderful to get to attend some of the various concerts and other events around town.
[2:05] And in light of the passing of Wendell Berry, the great poet and writer and farmer earlier this week,
[2:11] I thought I just provided a poem that I think is fitting an apt for the season for this time and for us coming back.
[2:19] At the very least, you know, even if we here in Southern California paradise don't quite
[2:23] experience the seasons, it's still indicative of what's going on perhaps for the rest
[2:28] of the country.
[2:29] So this is the wild geese.
[2:31] Horseback on Sunday morning, harvest over.
[2:34] We taste persimmon and wild grape, sharp sweet of summersend.
[2:38] In times maze over fall fields, we name names that went west from here, names that
[2:43] on graves. We open a persimmon seed to find the tree that stands in promise, pale in the
[2:49] seeds marrow, geese superior high over us past and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep,
[2:59] holds them to their way clear in the ancient faith. What we need is here. And we pray not for new earth or
[3:07] but to be quiet and heart and in eye clear what we need is here. Thank you, Chair.
[3:15] Beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing. Commissioner Lucia.
[3:20] No comments? Commissioner Ashendorf.
[3:29] Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Chair.
[3:31] Just a couple of things. I'd first like to acknowledge our superb
[3:37] with many superlatives, most immediate specialist, Matt, he has done an amazing job over
[3:46] the last several months with covering Shalamar and our Benchur and concerts in the park
[3:52] and symphony on the go. We just want to thank him, big shout out to Matt and I'd also
[3:59] like to acknowledge for anyone interested, the back house partnership is back in the house
[4:07] at the Coastal Mesa Senior Center.
[4:10] They had their first class last Tuesday, and it was so wonderful to get 20 people in the
[4:16] senior center with movement and our, you know, Nancy, Wars or Baradia is really another
[4:23] great partner that we have here.
[4:26] And finally I'd like to thank just a moment our Orange County poet laureate, Gustavo Hernandez,
[4:36] who was generous with his time, who orchestrated our poetry lesson for the youth
[4:43] at Norahurtsak Center this summer.
[4:46] And that was pretty well attended by young people, who you'll hear about those poets later on.
[4:51] Thank you.
[4:53] Thank you. Commissioner Windercheck. Yes, it's been a while since we've been here.
[5:00] But if we even go back to the July 30 event, I was so excited to have close the 70 singers in our voices and unity
[5:12] concert of multi-generations and different cultural backgrounds. So that was super exciting to see and to have and to make that happen. So shout out to all that were involved, including
[5:26] Tamara Fairbanks, our directors at T-Winkle Middle School as well as Cosmese High, so that was a wonderful community event that we all came together and it was nice to see it actually happen for the July 30 event.
[5:43] I also wanted to give a shout out to Parks and Rec, especially with the rocks program or the whole summer.
[5:51] What is it called? Is it called summer rocks?
[5:55] Yeah, yeah, just all the arts programs that we're taking place along with the sports camps,
[6:01] but that's a huge ordeal to undertake.
[6:05] And I wanted to thank you all for doing such a great job.
[6:08] I'm working with the Newport Mesa School District and all of the students to make that happen.
[6:13] So just wanted to say a few words there, and I'm excited about what's happening, what's going to be happening coming up soon.
[6:20] So thank you.
[6:23] Thank you.
[6:24] Thank you Commissioner Windercheck and it's great to see everyone after a summer off.
[6:33] Well almost everyone vice chair man has served on the commission since its inception
[6:39] and I've always valued her perspective and her insight and her sense of humor.
[6:46] She attended every single art venture and she brought enthusiasm to our art crawl.
[6:51] She's probably one of the most authentic people I know and I understand her decision to step down
[6:58] But I know we can always count on her for her continued support in the arts. So thank you Alice and man for
[7:07] Your service
[7:09] Earlier this year the city hosted a small business development council. I think the acronym is called EATS
[7:16] And it's a training series. It's a six-week course
[7:19] First, most of the participants were close to Mesa residents, where they gained knowledge for
[7:24] business formation, licensing, financial planning, marketing, branding, etc., and I got
[7:31] me thinking, what if we could offer something like this for artists or kind of create
[7:36] up entrepreneurs here in our city?
[7:40] I recognize when the biggest barriers are often the right skills and access and a program
[7:44] like this could really help close the gap.
[7:46] So, something to consider are future master plan.
[7:51] I'd also like to thank our congratulate Daniel Hansen.
[7:56] She received the American Academy of American Poet Laureate Fellowship
[8:01] and some of those funds are being applied towards poetry contest winners
[8:06] here in our local parks, so that's a big achievement.
[8:10] I know she worked with Laura on that grant, so thank you, Laura.
[8:16] And congratulations to Cosa Mesa Highs Art Club.
[8:19] Chief LaPoints RV for the Motor Home Manus for the
[8:22] Chuck Fellowship was painted beautifully by the Art Club students,
[8:28] and it also got me thinking too,
[8:30] but if we had more summer opportunities for students,
[8:33] and that could be incorporated into a future master plan.
[8:39] Just some thoughts there.
[8:40] And finally, I just want to recognize the great work
[8:44] behind the America 250 choir, Commissioner Wundercheck, our community partners, the Senior Center
[8:51] volunteers, everyone did a great job, so Kudos to everyone.
[8:57] With that, we'll move on to the consent calendar,
[9:05] all matters listed under the consent calendar
[9:07] or considered to be routine and active upon and when motion. There will be no separate discussion
[9:12] of these items, members of the Arts Commission staff, or the Public Request specific items
[9:17] to be discussed and or removed from the consent calendar for discussion. Tonight we have two
[9:23] items for approval minutes from what was the last meeting. May 7th. May 7th. 2026.
[9:53] Has
[9:53] question? As of right now, there are no Zoom
[9:57] conference. I'm sorry. Out of
[10:00] All right.
[10:02] Everyone may vote on your dice.
[10:08] Motion carries 5, 0, 2, approve the minutes.
[10:12] Thank you, Ms. Petua. Okay. The next order of businesses is a monthly report. I believe Mr. Greener will present.
[10:21] Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I will be. Yeah, I'm just going to put go ahead and pull up the presentation here.
[10:31] While we're waiting, I do want to thank the commission for all their support during the summer.
[10:35] I know it's been a very busy summer with the concerts and you know, the sympathy on the go and especially July 3rd and certainly want to thank Commissioner
[10:43] I wonder check for all that she has done of putting that together. It was absolutely amazing and the community absolutely loved it.
[10:49] So thank you.
[10:52] Okay, so this is going to be the Arts and Culture Report. I know this is normally done by Lauret.
[10:56] Our previous arts specialist, unfortunately you were stuck with me tonight.
[11:00] So here we go, just to highlight a few key performances, or events that we had, the free park performances,
[11:11] where duty arts was the Pacific Symphony on the go. We held three events, one was at Hellepark on August 11th,
[11:20] and then on at Vista Park on August 19th, and then finally, last Saturday at Schiffer Park on August 29th.
[11:27] Here you can see just a few pictures.
[11:30] I attended the Saturday event last Saturday, and it was absolutely fantastic.
[11:35] The people were engaged, they enjoyed themselves, and the performers in the amazing job,
[11:41] and connected with the audience, and it was truly a special and really memorable.
[11:55] Okay, and then we do have an exhibition event coming up over at the Senior Center, and this
[12:01] is going to be next Thursday, September 10th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It's going to be on the
[12:07] second floor and the featured artist is Mayngee Wayne. I just want to give a little background
[12:13] on who she is. She is a cross cultural contemporary artist, specializing in acrylic on canvas.
[12:20] She received her dual bachelor degrees in art and film and media studies from the University
[12:24] of California right here in Irvine and has two masters degrees in global communication, one
[12:30] from University of Southern California and one from the London School of Economics and Political
[12:35] Science.
[12:36] Her paintings often reflect her cross cultural heritage and personal memories through the journey
[12:41] of storytelling, exploring the fusion of modern impressionism and traditional Chinese art.
[12:47] She's the recipient of the Contemporary Art Pioneer Award and her work has gained international
[12:52] exposure and following.
[12:54] So if you get a chance, please join us next Thursday at 4 o'clock over at the Senior Center
[12:58] to welcome her exhibition at the center.
[13:03] I also want to highlight that the youth art wall right here at our City Hall
[13:06] is going to be starting tomorrow at September 4th
[13:11] and the Parks and Community Services,
[13:13] it's an after school program that we work with various different schools
[13:15] to provide art that we can hang the display right here at City Hall
[13:19] and highlight for a certain extended period of time.
[13:21] So that's going to start tomorrow.
[13:29] I apologize, this is clickers, not the fastest clicker.
[13:33] Okay, and we do have a call of artists that's going to be opening up right now.
[13:39] It's actually open, and the deadline is going to be October 5th, and this is for the utility
[13:42] box program that we have, and we're calling on artists to submit their artistic expressions
[13:48] on what we can put on the utility boxes, and we'll be bringing back that to the commission
[13:54] probably in January, and then that way we can review and approve and get these new art pieces up on the utility box system.
[14:10] And finally, I mean, we have a big event coming up. It's the annual art venture.
[14:15] And that's going to be September 12th. And that's going to start at 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
[14:20] I do want to bring up our coordinator who is managing this program.
[14:25] His name is Angel Girl Franco. He works at the Senior Center and he's been doing an excellent job in organizing and putting this event together
[14:32] It is a little bit modified compared to previous years. It's going to be all basically the opening event and the closing is going to be in one day as opposed to having a two separate event
[14:42] Days I'm going to go ahead and hand it over to Angel Bear and he'll give you some highlights
[15:01] Okay. Chair, commission. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Angel Burfranco, and I'm the Recreation Coordinator at the Coast and Mesa Senior Center, and I am the lead for 26 art venture, exhibit, and awards ceremony. This year, our exhibit in awards ceremony is going to be going on at the Norma Herzog community center. Our big night for the awards ceremony is going to be September 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. We're going to be fully programming two stages at the Lions Park event lawn.
[15:31] and instead of the normal Hertz Academy Center,
[15:34] the normal Hertz Academy Center is gonna be
[15:36] having the exhibition of all the artwork
[15:38] being presented this year,
[15:40] and we're gonna have Spanish guitar artist
[15:43] and a cellist and pianist performing on the stage
[15:47] indoors for entertainment.
[15:50] In addition to that, we'll be having our thirds
[15:52] in a cash bar in the outdoor patio
[15:54] of the normal Hertz Academy Center
[15:55] for our programming in the Lions Park event lawn.
[15:59] We're gonna be having a jazz quartet performing
[16:00] from four to five. We're really excited for them. They're great. We've seen them in addition
[16:06] to that. We're also going to be having a youth and adult folk loading group coming
[16:10] out from 530 to 6 o'clock. In the outside, we're actually going to be doing our awards
[16:16] ceremony as well, beginning at 6. And what is the highlight of the exhibition is always
[16:24] the people's choice of words because it's when the community gets to say who they think
[16:29] the best artists. And since we've actually already emailed out the people's choice awards
[16:33] to artists, they've been campaigning heavily for their artworks. We've already received
[16:37] more than 100 responses and we're going to be posting that on social media either to
[16:41] there tomorrow so that the public gets to see them. They get to say, get there, say on the
[16:46] votes, voting for that is going to be closing at 545 on September 12th. It'll give us an
[16:52] opportunity to tally and be able to announce the winner for that day.
[16:58] After that, it's not
[17:00] If you don't get the opportunity to go to the opening awards ceremony, we will be exhibiting
[17:05] from September 13th through the 26th with hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the weekends
[17:10] and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the weekdays.
[17:14] And if you have any questions, I'd love to ask you them.
[17:22] Can you just include who our panelists are?
[17:26] There are jurors for the exhibition.
[17:30] Judging panelists?
[17:32] Yeah, our judging panelists for this year were Frank Gutierrez and Paul Loia.
[17:38] Paul Loia is the director of exhibition at the Long Beach Long Beach Museum of Art.
[17:45] And Frank is local business owner and president of Orange County's Arts Arts programs.
[17:53] And then for DERBS, we are going to have 24 carat serving or DERBS.
[17:57] That's going to be including skewers, pretzels.
[18:02] We have three or four different types of desserts, because I have a sweet tooth.
[18:06] And it's always nice to be able to have a little bit of everything.
[18:15] Hey, Commissioner Durian, did you have a question?
[18:18] I didn't say I don't have a question. It just sounds wonderful.
[18:20] I wanted to thank you for your work on this.
[18:21] And this is probably not your regular responsibilities or duties but it sounds like a fantastic
[18:26] day.
[18:28] I had a question that any staff member could answer, but I appreciate the update.
[18:34] You painted a very vivid picture for me and I'm excited for September 12th.
[18:39] Is it possible to get like flyers, like hard copy flyers of art venture as well as the utility
[18:45] box programs just so I can distribute them to schools and other community spaces.
[18:51] and definitely get the opportunity to make it. Thank you.
[18:55] Madam, shall I do have a couple more updates?
[18:57] Sure.
[18:57] I just want to give a quick update on the art master plan.
[19:02] So the master plan is a final routing for signature,
[19:06] and that should be completed either today or tomorrow.
[19:09] If not early or next week,
[19:11] once we have that complete staff will go and reach out to
[19:14] MIG the vendor for the art master plan.
[19:17] We'll coordinate a meeting and then we will bring
[19:20] a introduction and review and discussion to the Commission at the October session.
[19:26] And then we can get started with a master plan and that I know that's what a lot of people
[19:29] are waiting for and very excited for, so I just want to provide that update.
[19:34] In addition to the Art Specialist position, so the position is currently under review by the
[19:40] Coestimation Employee Union Association.
[19:41] It was something that was submitted back in March and they're just now wrapping up that
[19:47] review.
[19:48] And then once, depending on the outcome of that review, it may have to go to Council.
[19:53] And then once if there is an approval needed, then we'll open up that recruitment.
[19:57] So we're probably looking at a timeframe of later.
[20:00] October, early November to start the recruitment for that position.
[20:04] And that concludes my presentation. Thank you.
[20:11] Mr. Chair. Good to have a question.
[20:13] Thank you, question.
[20:15] For Director Greener, just given the timeline and if we were to receive a normal or typical amount of applicants, whatever that might mean.
[20:24] When do you think we might have a new art specialist, is there any sort of idea?
[20:28] Well, considering the holidays, I would say probably a realistic timeline would be probably early February.
[20:34] By the time we onboard the person go through the background checks, do the physical and all that kind of stuff,
[20:41] and considering that we're running right into the holidays.
[20:44] But I feel like that that is not a bad thing.
[20:48] We can get started with the arts master plan in the meantime.
[20:51] And then once this person comes onboard, they can jump right in.
[20:53] I know we'll be a little ways into it, but I think it's early enough where they can still contribute and provide a lot of input and feedback and manage that part.
[21:02] Excellent, thank you.
[21:04] Okay, Commissioner Wundercheck, you had a question?
[21:06] Yeah, my question would just be, where are we finding the talent?
[21:12] Because Lorette was one of a kind, so.
[21:16] But I was just wondering, where are we looking right now for talent and where's the word getting out?
[21:21] So we get a great pool of applicants.
[21:24] Yeah, no, that's a great question.
[21:25] I mean, obviously, the California Parks and Recreation Society,
[21:29] they have a good job board.
[21:31] And a lot of these types of positions would
[21:33] be advertised through that type of platform.
[21:36] In addition to, I would say we're going to be reaching out
[21:40] to some artist associations.
[21:41] And if they have different job boards or postings
[21:44] that we can utilize.
[21:45] So we really want to try to branch out as much as we can
[21:49] And then try to get that application packet out to as many people as we can who are qualified for that position.
[21:55] It is a very specialized position and we recognize that.
[21:59] You know, but there are a lot of cities that have arts programs.
[22:02] So I'm optimistic that we can find the right person for this position.
[22:12] Okay, no further questions or comments from the commissioners.
[22:15] is there anyone on Zoom?
[22:18] No, that is time to neutral.
[22:20] Okay, thank you, Ms. Patua.
[22:22] Public comment is now closed.
[22:25] And there are no further comments from the Commission.
[22:27] Next word of a business is new business.
[22:29] Thank you.
[22:30] Stuff for the updates.
[22:36] Sidewalk poetry review.
[22:39] That's Shalom or Park.
[22:41] Ms. Bias, in your.
[22:44] Good evening chair and commission.
[22:46] I'm here to give you an update on sidewalk.
[22:49] for the Shalamar Park renovation.
[22:53] So we recently completed the contest that had gone on for the Shalamar Park for youth, specifically.
[23:02] We had, I think, about 19 entries about, I think, 10 or 11 qualified, just in terms of line limits and other
[23:14] We're staying within the parameters that Laura had posted for the original contest.
[23:19] Our panel judges were Daniel Hanson, or Port Laureate, Mayor Pro-Tem, Council of Chavez.
[23:30] And then we also had our PACs commissioner who represents that district in that area, Commissioner
[23:36] Garcia Artgos.
[23:38] So with those three, they were able to score the poet trees and they came up with the
[23:42] for, as Jared Cho had mentioned, Ms. Hanson had won a grant that we're able to advertise
[23:49] the contest with a nominal award amount, so we let all the finalists know. So, above you,
[23:59] I think it's for your screen. We have the four finalists, which I think was a really good
[24:05] capture of a variety of different types of poetry and topics. The first one, we have Driven
[24:11] ambition by Guadalupe Montillo Esquivel, and she represented the 13 to 15 age group.
[24:21] There were specific age regions, but they got, I mean, there were specific ages, but they got an age range.
[24:27] We have a sport to love by Melody Romero, which is in the 10 to 12 age range.
[24:34] the Watch Enders by Helen Romero in the 16-18 age range and UNI those for UNSWENYO by
[24:41] Miranda Akino in the 16-18-year-old age range. So we're really happy with these.
[24:49] We'll be coordinating with our public works departments on when these poetry
[24:54] will be stand in the concrete so that we hopefully can invite all these poets and these kids.
[25:00] To come out and see their poems being stamped into the concrete.
[25:03] So once we have that date, we'll also notify the commission, so that way, if you guys wanted
[25:07] to come out and see it happening to, we'll get you guys out there to, to, you know, maybe
[25:13] some pictures with the kids and it will be a very good opportunity for them to see the
[25:21] fruits of their labor, so to speak. So I'm on with that. That's my report.
[25:26] I'm sure if I can just add with the, you know, poet,
[25:30] laureate, Daniel Hansen who received the poet award,
[25:36] came along with it at Word, came along at Grant,
[25:39] where a, about $15,000 that she can utilize,
[25:44] really pretty much anyway that she wants to,
[25:46] and we're gonna be utilizing some of those funds
[25:49] to help pay for the stamps of these poems.
[25:53] So we're working closely with her
[25:55] getting that organized, so which is a great grant that you received and a great opportunity
[26:01] for us to expand our poems, you know, sidewalk poems.
[26:08] Exciting.
[26:09] Thank you for those updates, and it's a wonderful selection.
[26:12] Do you commissioners have comments for questions?
[26:16] Madam Chair.
[26:17] Mr. Ashendorf.
[26:19] Were there prizes awarded to the students?
[26:23] Through the grant opportunity there will be prizes.
[26:26] They haven't received them yet.
[26:27] but they will be receiving them.
[26:30] So will that be a formal kind of presentation?
[26:33] It won't be a formal, just due to the way
[26:36] that it will be structured through,
[26:38] it will be through Danielle and her grant,
[26:41] so it will be through a city kind of a work.
[26:44] I don't know if that makes sense,
[26:46] but as long as there will be some kind of publicity.
[26:48] And so hopefully that we can get most of them out there
[26:52] when we stamp the concrete that we can recognize their efforts
[26:56] And they're in their contests.
[26:58] Thank you.
[27:04] All right.
[27:05] Well, I look forward to that.
[27:07] And I hope the press will get notified.
[27:09] I think you'll be a wonderful thing for the use to have that kind of as a form of documentation and celebration of their good work.
[27:18] If there are there any comments on the Zoom is for Tua?
[27:22] No, I have this time chair of Tua.
[27:23] Okay.
[27:24] No comment is now close.
[27:26] And the final comments from commissioners.
[27:30] Okay.
[27:31] New business, let's see, a election of Vice Chair, presentation by Mr. Greer, Director
[27:41] Greer.
[27:42] Yes, thank you.
[27:43] Thank you, Madam Chair.
[27:46] As you're aware on August 19, our Vice Chair, Alison Mann, resigned due to personal reasons.
[27:53] And we certainly appreciate all her dedication and commitment to the Arts Commission,
[27:57] and should be certainly missed, and that does leave a vacancy in regards to the vice-chair
[28:02] position, so I wanted to basically put it back on the commission and see if you guys
[28:08] would like to fill that position temporarily until the reelection of the new commission
[28:14] in January, February, or if you'd like to keep the seat vacant as is, and we can move forward
[28:22] either way.
[28:28] Any questions from the commission?
[28:32] I will just say I'm not planning on missing any forthcoming meetings. I mean, you know, there could be some kind of
[28:39] catastrophe, hopefully not, but I'm not traveling during the remainder of the month for the first Thursday.
[28:47] Every month. So that's all I'm going to say.
[28:51] I think, I think everyone, but Mr. Luchia has had an opportunity to sit for sides.
[29:00] And I'm sure that I am traveling for work, so I do have to miss at least the next meeting.
[29:07] Do we feel that we would like to make a recommendation to fill?
[29:15] Or no.
[29:28] I take that silence as my opportunity to make a motion.
[29:32] Okay, I moved to nominate Charlie Nashendorf as vice chair.
[29:42] I would like to second that.
[29:44] I think before we move forward with the vote,
[29:51] I do have to hear an acceptance.
[29:54] I know.
[29:55] I know.
[29:55] No, we don't have to do that.
[30:00] I accept. Thank you.
[30:02] The nomination.
[30:04] Oh, ready? There's no one.
[30:09] Are we going to, we're good with no public comment since no one's present?
[30:14] No one's on Zoom?
[30:18] Commissioners may vote on your dice.
[30:26] Motion carries by zero to prove commissioner, Ashendorf as vice chair.
[30:34] Madam Chair, I would just like to say, I will hold you to not not traveling or
[30:38] But see that as a name. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you.
[30:46] Any final comments from commissioners or staff at this time?
[30:53] It was so long ago. I feel to mention that the art crawl that took place at the end of May
[30:59] was fabulous. Thank you to City staff who stepped in. You did a tremendous job, and I was just blown away at the variety of the spaces that we went to
[31:11] It was such a unique look at the different, you know, arts landscape in Costa Mesa, the
[31:16] maker space was a wonderful opportunity for attendees to take home something that they
[31:22] made and it really got my wheels turning about, you know, different ways that we can highlight
[31:27] the arts in the city.
[31:28] So thank you for stepping in and leading that.
[31:38] Commissioner, I'm just needed to go back on our notes, whatever minutes are being taken.
[31:45] I meant to congratulate and think the smart camp, not the rock camp.
[31:52] It was like a different sound, right?
[31:54] So the smart camp is what I meant, because they were doing arts programs this summer.
[31:58] So that's why I'm sorry about that.
[32:00] Also, I'm excited about the master plan moving forward and we're getting some traction there.
[32:07] I did want to mention some things that are going to be happening in our city,
[32:11] Based on even what our action plan was, one end of plans, goal number one in our action plan,
[32:17] was to increase opportunities for all the experienced arts and culture throughout our city
[32:22] and community with community to equity, commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
[32:27] So, there's a couple of things coming up. Festival of Children is a huge event that happens at
[32:33] South Coast Plaza free to the public, free to all children, anyone that wants to go.
[32:39] It starts this Saturday and it's every Saturday and Sunday the entire month of September from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
[32:47] So that gets off this weekend. There's going to be performances, face painting, all kinds of wonderful things for kids to do, absolutely free.
[32:58] Also on September 20th, the Orange Coast College is putting on a children's book festival free to the public.
[33:05] And that will be attended by thousands of children and family members.
[33:11] Again, booths everywhere, lots of free stuff.
[33:14] Performance says, and they usually have some famous people come out every year.
[33:18] One year, it was, oh gosh, some NASA person.
[33:24] And I think even like when your Kobe Bryant was even there too,
[33:27] with his book that he had had, but they have several wonderful people that come out.
[33:31] So that's something special.
[33:33] And then there are going to be Erin Costa, Mesa, Arts and Learning Conservatory, September 11th, and 12th are doing auditions for Matilda, the musical.
[33:45] And that is a very big show for all kids and even through high school.
[33:50] And that will be taking place like I said next weekend.
[33:54] Another wonderful thing that I noticed on our arts plan, Master Plan, is to elevate the status of the arts and culture in city and government.
[34:03] So I've been in touch with Chapman University, they have a media department, and they have students that are willing to take on the arts commission and creating a logo for us and helping helping more with the media with the website.
[34:19] So I just went ahead and signed us up a few guys don't mind.
[34:23] So we can get that going and work collectively with the with the city as well.
[34:28] So, just wanted to let everyone know there's some great things happening here in the city.
[34:38] Okay, that was fire.
[34:41] Well, I just wanted to invite everyone to a bike ride on the west side on September 20th.
[34:49] Council member Reynolds and myself in collaboration with the Costa Mesa Historic Society.
[34:54] We'll be leading a short easy-paced bike ride highlighting your-
[35:00] Aurel's utility boxes and sidewalk poetry. So, thank you for joining us for that.
[35:08] I think it's three to four, but the coast of Mesa has historic societies of that page to confirm.
[35:16] I look forward to our adventure and seeing everyone there, and as well as celebrating with everyone at the Hispanic Latino heritage,
[35:26] which I've seen some really wonderful reels by our staff.
[35:30] Both events are at Lines Park, so with that,
[35:34] I will adjorn the meeting at 635 p.m.