Chapter 2.104
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION

Sections:

2.104.010    Established – Membership.

2.104.020    Purpose.

2.104.030    Members – Qualification.

2.104.040    Meeting time and place.

2.104.050    Officers – Appointment.

2.104.060    Officers – Duties.

2.104.070    Powers.

2.104.080    Duties.

2.104.010 Established – Membership.

The arts and culture commission is established in the city. The commission consists of nine voting members. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.020 Purpose.

The purpose of the commission is to:

A. Advise and inform the city council and staff on culture and arts related issues;

B. Evaluate the needs and resources of local culture and arts organizations;

C. Facilitate, encourage, promote and stimulate arts and culture in our community;

D. Promote and increase public awareness, locally and beyond the city, of arts and cultural resources and activities;

E. Support and promote the arts and culture as a major element in Benicia’s community identity;

F. Ensure that cultural and artistic elements are integral to the city’s quality of life and economic vitality; and

G. Engage youth in culture and arts. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.030 Members – Qualification.

A. Each member of the arts and culture commission shall have a demonstrated interest in promoting and sustaining the arts and cultural community of poetry, literacy, performing arts, music, theater, dance, film, visual arts, and cultural events.

B. At least one member shall be an artist or shall represent the visual arts community.

C. At least one member shall represent the cultural and/or performing arts community.

D. Members shall not be on other city boards or commissions nor board members of other organized art or cultural groups. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.040 Meeting time and place.

The commission shall meet on the second Thursday every other month (bimonthly, six times a year) at the hour of 7:00 p.m in the Commission Room, City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia, California. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.050 Officers – Appointment.

The commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members. The chairperson and vice-chairperson serve for a term of one year and until the successor of each takes office. The commission shall also appoint a secretary. The secretary need not be a member of the commission. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.060 Officers – Duties.

A. Chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the commission, appoint all committees, and perform the duties necessary or incidental to that office, and serve for a term of one year.

B. Vice-Chairperson. The vice-chairperson is chairperson in the absence of the chairperson or in case of the inability of the chairperson to act, and shall serve for a term of one year.

C. Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting and shall record the official action taken. On all official actions on which a vote is taken, the secretary shall take the vote by roll call, in alphabetical order, with the chairperson voting last. The secretary shall certify each official document and resolution of the commission. The secretary shall maintain records of operation and shall perform such other duties as the commission assigns. (Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.070 Powers.

A. The commission may assist and cooperate with any existing agency or group, which has as its object the development or improvement of art and culture activities and programs.

B. The commission may plan for the development of arts and culture activities and make recommendations to the city council.

C. The commission may accept gifts and grants from any source to assist it in the performance of its functions. These gifts and grants operate to augment any appropriation made for the support of the commission.

D. The commission may establish working committees as necessary to carry out the work of the commission. Examples of these include: the publicity committee, the grants committee, the events committee, and the annual report committee.

E. The commission will have the power to coordinate fundraising activities for arts and culture activities. (Ord. 11-10 § 1; Ord. 09-15 § 2).

2.104.080 Duties.

The commission shall:

A. Work cooperatively with city boards and commissions and other public and private organizations in creating and promoting art and cultural programs and activities within the city;

B. Make recommendations to the city council regarding the funding of community art projects, including the search for private and public grants, and regarding the disbursement of funds to arts and cultural organizations consistent with the needs of the community. The commission shall develop and adopt procedures for evaluating grant requests from the community prior to making recommendations on the requests to city council;

C. Provide information, including a community calendar of events, regarding performing arts, music, theater, dance, film, visual arts, nonpermanent exhibits and cultural events, such as celebrations of different cultures and culinary arts;

D. Encourage community involvement in the cultural arts by providing opportunities for local and area events and performances on behalf of the arts community;

E. Have the option to coordinate fundraising projects to augment city funding and to raise funds to be used to stimulate arts and culture activities, events and projects in the community;

F. Send to the city council annually a written report of its activities and recommendations for improvements and additions to existing art and culture programs;

G. Develop recommendations in which the city may encourage and promote related programs;

H. Advise the planning commission or the city council, as the case may be, on any required public art dedications pursuant to BMC 16.32.120; and

I. Work closely with the assigned department director and other departments and agencies of the city so that the resources of the city are used as effectively and efficiently as possible on behalf of art and culture entities within the city. (Ord. 11-10 § 2; Ord. 09-15 § 2).