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Karen Gonzales From: Karen Gonzales Sent: Monday, May 06, 2013 9:45 AM To: Mayor and City Council List Cc: Nelson Fialho; Scott Erickson; Kathleen Yurchak; Steven Bocian; Susan Andrade-Wax Subject: FW: City Council meeting communication Importance: High From: Sara Nealy [ Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2013 10:13 AM To: Karen Gonzales Subject: City Council meeting communication Importance: High Karen, I attended the last City Council meeting, and waited until the conclusion to deliver a communication and request to the council. Unfortunately, other issues took up the entire session, and the issue I came to address was tabled until the next meeting,Tuesday, May 7, 2013. I will be out of town on business that evening, and respectfully request that my comments below be included in the proceedings at the appropriate point--agenda item 17: decisions on Community Grants. I serve on the Pleasanton Civic Arts Commission and am the executive director of a performing arts organization, Festival Opera. At the March session that the Civic Arts Commission met to review grants to send our recommendations to the City Council, one key organization was missing: the Pacific Chamber Symphony. Of the many groups that request funds for programs, it is my opinion that this group is in the highest echelon of organizations that deliver value for civic dollars spent. Not only do they fill significant gaps with the programs funded in part by our grants, but they do so in a manner that is consistent with high artistic values. Lawrence Kohl, the director, has expressed his regret at missing the meeting which he says occurred due to a confusion of dates. I know only too well how this can happen in a small nonprofit organization where resources are not plentiful and the director's time is stretched too much at times; scheduling snafu's occasionally occur.A simple reminder call and email on the day of or day before the meeting might prove supportive for Pacific chamber Symphony and for all of the grant applicants in the future. It's easy to say, "well,those are the rules," and pass over them on the technicality of missing this follow up meeting after submitting grant applications completely; however the quality of their offerings is high, and it would be a shame to punish the citizens of this city by refusing the gift that Pacific Chamber Symphory is extending with the proposed programs.As most of the grant applicants will tell you, the grant covers only a portion of their efforts. I urge the City Council to make an exception and give Pacific Chamber Symphony's worthy projects the approval they deserve. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Sara Nealy 1