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Cultural & Heritage 2025/09/18COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Erika Nguyen, Chair Karen Uyematsu, Vice Chair Richard Romeros Saul Contreras COMMISSIONERS ABSENT Samantha Bell Harris David Zuniga MINUTES CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION MUZEO - 241 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805 September 18, 2025 — 6:30 p.m. STAFF PRESENT Anaheim Sporn, Community Services Manager Jane Newell, Heritage Services Manager Nikki Sandusky, Community Services Superintendent Barbara Leggett, Senior Secretary STAFF ABSENT Art Varela, Community Services Supervisor AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1) CALL TO ORDER: Chair Nguyen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Roll was taken; quorum confirmed. Chair Nguyen acknowledged a guest, Camille Hernandez, who introduced herself as the Poet Laureate. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Camille Hernandez, Poet Laureate. 3) UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: None. 4) SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Community Services Manager formally introduced Camille Hernandez, Poet Laureate, who was scheduled to arrive later and will be making a presentation at the end of the meeting. 5) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chair Nguyen presented the minutes from the June 19, 2025, meeting for approval. Commissioner Uyematsu moved to approve the minutes, with Commissioner Contreras seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved with four votes in favor and none opposed. Chair Nguyen formally accepted the June 19, 2025, minutes. 6) NEW BUSINESS: Chair Nguyen initiated the annual election for the Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Nguyen nominated herself for Chair. With no further nominations, Commissioner Nguyen accepted, and a vote resulted in four votes in favor, with none opposed. Commissioner Nguyen then nominated Commissioner Uyematsu for Vice Chair. With no other nominations, Commissioner Uyematsu accepted, and a vote was held, resulting in four votes in favor and none opposed. Heritage Services Manager, Jane Newell, presented the Heritage Marker designs for 202 & 204 E. Center Street, Anaheim, for approval, having passed the required "slip test". Chair Nguyen motioned to approve the markers, and Vice Chair Uyematsu seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved with four votes in favor. Heritage Services Manager, Jane Newell, will be scheduling a sub -committee meeting to review some historical information and make arrangements to move forward. 7) SUB -COMMITTEES: a) Center Gallery: Community Services Superintendent Nikki Sandusky updated the Commission on the Chicano Heritage exhibit, currently on display from August 15 through September 28. Some of the artists from the exhibit will be involved in a panel discussion at the Muzeo on September 26, at 6:30 p.m. The next exhibit at the Center Gallery will showcase Day of the Dead art in October. Cultural & Heritage Commission September 18, 2025 Page 2 Community Services Superintendent Nikki Sandusky also announced that they will soon be scheduling a Center Gallery Sub -Committee meeting to review artist applications for the upcoming year. b) Heritage: Heritage Services Manager, Jane Newell, informed the Commission that the Mother Colony House will have school tours beginning September 19 through May 2026, with most Tuesdays & Thursdays booked. c) Poet Laureate: Community Services Manager, Anaheim Sporn provided an update on the Poet Laureate process. She noted that the current Poet Laureate's two-year term will soon conclude. The application process for the next Poet Laureate will open in October, followed by Sub -committee review. The designation of the new Poet Laureate is expected to be finalized, with an introduction to the City Council planned in April 2026. 8) INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Community Services Manager, Anaheim Sporn, introduced Poet Laureate, Camille Hernandez, who gave a presentation on her activities since becoming Poet Laureate in April of 2024. She focused her first year on building trust and partnerships, especially with schools and education -based organizations. Her larger goal is to help position Anaheim as a global literary city, known for its arts, culture, and storytelling. Heritage Services Manager, Jane Newell passed out information regarding the Native Art Festival, taking place at Founder's Park on November 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Community Services Manager, Anaheim Sporn, shared information about the opportunity for Anaheim businesses or nonprofits to pick up leftover flowers and plants from an upcoming show taking place in October at the Anaheim Convention Center. She also reminded everyone of the Day of the Dead event, taking place on Friday, October 24, followed by the Fall Festival event on October 25, both taking place at Center Greens. Community Services Superintendent, Nikki Sandusky, provided information about the upcoming Indigenous Peoples' Day, on October 13, beginning with an ancestral prayer/run at 8:30 a.m., beginning at Anaheim Coves, ending at City Hall, with a recognition ceremony, followed by a shared meal at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center. Chair Nguyen shared that the Chance Theater will be opening the production "What the Constitution Means to Me" on October 11. Heritage Services Manager, Jane Newell, congratulated the Chance Theater on receiving a grant from the Samueli Foundation. 9) ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nguyen adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m.