CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE

CITY OF PALM DESERT

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 9:00 A.m. - 10:00 A.m.

Administrative Conference Room, City Hall

73-510 Fred Waring Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Present:

• Vice Chair Carol Adney, 
• Committee Member Lori Flint, 
• Committee Member Thomas Mitze, 
• Committee Member Pia Rose, 
• Committee Member Ann Simley, 
• and Chair Elizabeth Hauer 

Absent:

• Committee Member Maureen Boren 

Staff Present:

• Management Analyst Erica Powell, 
• Deputy Director of Economic Development Amy Lawrence, 
• and Recording Secretary Monique Lomeli 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

A Regular Meeting of the Cultural Arts Committee was called to order by Chair Hauer on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.

2.

ROLL CALL

3.

NON­AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

4.

CONSENT CALENDAR

• Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
  Seconded by: Committee Member Mitze

  To approve the consent calendar as presented.

  Motion Carried (6 to 0)

4.a

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

• Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
  Seconded by: Committee Member Mitze

  Approve the Minutes of December 11, 2024.

  Motion Carried

5.

CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER

None.

6.

ACTION CALENDAR

6.a

INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON THE CITY’S POET LAUREATE

Management Analyst Erica Powell presented a staff report and narrated a PowerPoint presentation.

Poet Laureate Lori Davis provided information on the Poet Oasis Workshop and the showcase reading event scheduled for April 16, 2025.

• Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
  Seconded by: Committee Member Simley

  Receive and file informational report on the City of Palm Desert’s Poet Laureate.

  Motion Carried (6 to 0)

6.b

PALM DESERT LIBRARY ARTS PROGRAMMING UPDATE

Library Manager Jose Garcia provided an update on Library Arts programming and responded to Committee Member inquiries.

• This was an informational update; no formal action was taken.

6.c

2025 STUDENT ART AND ESSAY CONTEST VINYL ART WRAP ARTWORK SELECTION

Management Analyst Powell narrated a PowePoint presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.

• Motion by: Committee Member Flint
  Seconded by: Committee Member Rose

  To select and approve the McCallum artwork, created by Keira Farmer, a student from Palm Desert High School, for the 2025 Student Art and Essay Contest, to be installed as a vinyl art wrap on a traffic signal cabinet at the entrance of College of the Desert and Fred Waring Drive.

  Motion Carried (6 to 0)

6.d

CONSIDER PURCHASE OF RISING INVERSION SCULPTURE

Management Analyst Powell narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Committee Member inquiries.

During the discussion, Committee Members provided the following comments:

• Concerns were raised about the City's sculpture selection process, particularly regarding the bypassing of Committee review.
• Members emphasized the importance of making intentional art purchases, rather than acquiring pieces out of convenience.

• Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
  Seconded by: Committee Member Flint

  Recommend that the City Council approve expenditure in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of Rising Inversion by artist Cristopher Cichocki (cha-house-key), to be installed in Ironwood Park, upon approval of grant funding from the Arts in California Parks program.

  NOES (3)

  Vice-Chair Elizabeth Hauer, Committee Member Mitze, and Committee Member Rose

  Motion Fails (3 to 3)
• Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
  Seconded by: Committee Member Flint

  Recommend that the City Council approve expenditure in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of Rising Inversion by artist Cristopher Cichocki (cha-house-key), to be installed in Ironwood Park, upon approval of grant funding from the Arts in California Parks program.

  NOES (2)

  Committee Member Mitze, and Committee Member Rose

  Motion Carried (4 to 2)

6.e

REQUEST FOR DIRECTION ON INCREASED CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR DUELING PALMS SCULPTURE

• Motion by: Committee Member Rose
  Seconded by: Vice Chair Adney

  Recommend that the City Council authorize an increase in the amount of $106,267.25 to the contract with artist Kyle Absolom for Dueling Palms sculpture.

  Motion Carried (6 to 0)

7.

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS

7.a

PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON

None.

7.b

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION LIAISON

Liaison Wallace Colvard provided an update on recent actions taken by the Architectural Review Commission and Planning Commission. 

7.c

CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

In response to member inquiries, Management Analyst Powell provided information regarding the Student Art and Essay Contest and selection process.

Member Flint, with support from Member Mitze requested to invite a sculpture artist to provide an educational presentation regarding the production and selection of sculptures. 

Members provided positive feedback regarding the Desert X exhibitions and encouraged residents to participate in the event. 

7.d

CITY COUNCIL LIAISON

City Council Liaison Nestande provided an update on recent City Council goal setting discussions, including the beautification of the North Sphere. 

7.e

CITY STAFF

Management Analyst Powell provided updates on the following:

• Successful El Paseo sculpture dedication event
• Plans to secure UCR Palm Desert Center for the 2026 Student Art & Essay Contest 

7.f

ATTENDANCE REPORT

Report provided; no action taken on this item.

8.

ADJOURNMENT

The Cultural Arts Committee adjourned at 10:22 a.m.

 

9.

PUBLIC NOTICES