Final  
City of Santa Clara  
Meeting Minutes  
Cultural Commission  
03/02/2026  
7:00 PM  
Hybrid Meeting  
Santa Clara Senior Center  
Room 205  
1303 Fremont Street  
Santa Clara, CA 95050  
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Cultural Commission meeting in a hybrid manner  
(in-person and a method for the public to participate remotely).  
Via Zoom:  
Meeting ID: 822 0770 5371  
Or join by phone: 669-900-6833  
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Diaz at 7:01 p.m.  
5 -  
Present  
Absent  
Commissioner Abinas Roy, Vice Chair Candida Diaz, Commissioner  
Charles Pontious, Commissioner Kuku Das, and Commissioner Louis  
Samara  
2 - Chair Debra von Huene, and Commissioner Neetu Garg  
A motion was made by Commissioner Roy and seconded by  
Commissioner Das to excuse Chair Von Huene and Commissioner  
Garg from the meeting.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Absent:  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Action on the Cultural Commission Regular Minutes of February 2, 2026  
1.  
Recommendation:  
Approve the Cultural Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of February 2,  
2026  
A motion was made by Commissioner Samara and seconded by  
Commissioner Roy to approve the minutes from the February 2,  
2026 meeting.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Excused:  
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS  
Robbin Kawabata addressed the Commission during Public Comment on  
a non-agendized item. She proposed adding Japanese American - Day of  
Remembrance, Feb. 19, to the Commission's Commemorative Months &  
Cultural Celebration's dates.  
GENERAL BUSINESS  
2.  
Discussion and Potential Action to Make a Recommendation to City  
Council to Join Make Music Alliance to Promote “Make Music Day” in  
Santa Clara  
Aaron Friedman, Executive Director of Make Music Alliance presented on  
"Make Music Day" to the Commission.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Pontious to recommend City  
Council support "Make Music Day" in Santa Clara, and was  
seconded by Commissioner Das.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Excused:  
A motion was made by Commissioner Pontious and seconded by  
Commissioner Das for the Cultural Commission to fund the $350  
annual fee required to join the Make Music Alliance.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Excused:  
3.  
Discussion and Potential Action on Cultural Commission Work Plan and  
Activities for FY 2025/26  
Recommendation:  
Discuss and potentially take action on the Cultural Commission Work Plan  
and Activities for FY 2025/26.  
The Commission added Japanese American - Day of Remembrance, Feb.  
19, to the Commemorative Months calendar.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Pontious and seconded by  
Commissioner Das to add Make Music Day as an activity under Goal  
#2 of the Cultural Commission Work Plan and Activities for FY  
2025/26.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Excused:  
STAFF REPORT  
Recreation Supervisor Shaddle shared some upcoming events; Asian  
American Stories, an event partnership with the Santa Clara Library,  
Silicon Valley Community Media and DingDing TV will take place May 9,  
3-9 p.m., Showtime, an annual fundraiser put on by the Santa Clara  
Women's League, which raises money for the Health & Wellness Program  
at the Santa Clara Senior Center, taking place March 6-8 at the Community  
Recreation Center; and Roberta Jones Junior Theatre's production of  
Matilda, opening March 20.  
Manager Castro discussed Commissioners attending the Americans for  
the Arts Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2-5, 2026 and the  
updated guidelines for commissioners attending conferences and training  
events.  
COMMISSIONERS REPORT  
Vice Chair Diaz visited Spokane, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho  
and was impressed by the amount of public art in both cities, including  
many statues, murals and screen printed and wrapped utility boxes.  
Commissioner Das attended the Celebrate Santa Clara: A Day on the  
Field event at Levi's Stadium and enjoyed all the music.  
Commissioner Samara attended the Celebrate Santa Clara: A Day on  
the Field event.  
Commissioner Pontious attended the Superbowl at Levi's Stadium.  
ADJOURNMENT  
A motion was made by Commissioner Pontious to adjourn the  
meeting at 8:20 p.m. and was seconded by Commissioner Samara.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Roy, Vice Chair Diaz, Commissioner Pontious,  
Commissioner Das, and Commissioner Samara  
2 - Chair von Huene, and Commissioner Garg  
Excused:  
The next regular meeting of the Cultural Commission will be held on Monday, April 6,  
2026.  
MEETING DISCLOSURES  
The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City  
is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other  
provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must  
be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge,  
which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in  
court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice,  
or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge  
may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.  
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no  
speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker."  
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara  
will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or  
activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of  
Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for  
qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate  
equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to  
policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs,  
services, and activities.  
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