Costa Mesa Arts Commission names inaugural poet laureate, approves most utility-box designs and elects new leadership

The Costa Mesa Arts Commission voted 6-0 on Thursday to appoint Danielle Hanson as the city’s inaugural poet laureate, approved 11 of 12 recommended utility-box art designs for vinyl wraps, and elected Alyssa Ochoa as chair and Commissioner Derrarian as vice chair.

The poet laureate appointment followed a review panel that included Commissioners Derrarian and Mann, Kelly Ann Brown of the Parks and Community Services Commission and Jan Osborne of Chapman University. Hanson told the commission she is “a working poet” who writes, edits and teaches and intends to use the post to bring poetry into public settings. The commission discussed a draft scope of work and asked staff to return with more detailed contract language, including a proposed reporting/check-in schedule and a time-limited license clause for city use of the laureate’s work.

Why it matters: The new position creates a city-appointed role to produce public poetry programming and to represent the city’s “City of the Arts” branding. Commissioners flagged legal and practical details — chiefly the license term and attribution — before finalizing a scope of work. Staff said the poet laureate program is expected to begin in April and that the commission will bring a revised scope back at a future meeting. Commissioner Ashendorf suggested a six-month check-in; staff said they would propose a formal reporting cadence.

The commission also reviewed submissions to the city’s utility-box public art program. Staff reported 41 artist applicants and more than 60 design proposals for 12 boxes funded this cycle. Commissioners raised concerns about Submission 1, by artist Craig Barker, including objections from some commissioners that the composition and title could be perceived as objectifying. The commission voted 6-0 to approve submissions numbered 2 through 12 and to work with Barker and return Submission 1 for reconsideration at the March meeting. Staff said final placement of selected artworks on specific boxes will be determined by city staff and the vendor would adjust image sizing and quality for the wraps.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Nov. 7) — motion carried 6-0; minutes approved as corrected (spelling correction for Ronald Chee). - Election of chair — Alyssa Ochoa appointed chair, motion carried 6-0. - Election of vice chair — Commissioner Derrarian appointed vice chair, motion carried 6-0. - Poet laureate appointment — Danielle Hanson approved as inaugural poet laureate, motion carried 6-0. Staff to return with final scope/license language; start anticipated in April. - Utility-box art approvals — Motion carried 6-0 to approve submissions 2–12 and to defer Submission 1 for further discussion with the artist and return at the next meeting.

Public comment and related notes: A 58-year Costa Mesa resident, Martin, commended Commissioner Wundercheck for a recent Symphonic Soul concert and praised local performing groups. Speaker Samuel Helms suggested structured, recurring pre-meeting cultural presentations and noted work converting poems to music using AI; commissioners thanked him and said they would consider the idea.

The commission’s arts staff reported continued program growth: an increased number of utility-box applicants from prior years, plans for an art crawl tentatively in May (music-focused), a youth-specific ArtVenture application period planned for March–May, and $20,000 available for arts grants this year. Staff also said the Segerstrom Center ticket distribution and other free workshops have reached many residents and pledged a final program report later in the year.

Next steps: Staff will return with a revised poet-laureate scope addressing license duration and attribution, follow up with Craig Barker about alternate or edited artwork for Submission 1 and present his response in March, and bring the arts-grant funding recommendations in April. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2025, at 6 p.m.