HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2000, 2 - PUBLIC ART FOR THE MARSH STREET GARAGE EXPANSION council3-a1 -00
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Mike McCluskey,Director of Public Works)
Prepared by: Keith Opalewski, Parking Manager
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART FOR THE MARSH STREET GARAGE EXPANSION
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Marsh Street Garage expansion public art proposal and authorize the Mayor to
execute an agreement with the artists.
DISCUSSION
In accordance with the City's public art policy, the Marsh Street Garage expansion is required to
incorporate public art as part of the final project. To this end, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was
distributed for public art proposals in the fall of 1999. Ten proposals were received from the
RFP process, covering a wide-range of artistic mediums including sculptures, mosaics and
murals.
A five-member selection committee, consisting of a member of the San Luis Obispo County Arts
Council, a local artist, a representative from the Downtown Association, the design architect and
a representative from a nearby business, reviewed the proposals to ensure they met the City's
standards for public art and to select one proposal for the project The selection process included
a prescreening of all proposals using the City's standard eight-point evaluation (Exhibit A).
This evaluation considered many factors including the artist's credentials, the art piece itself,
ease of maintenance, and budget. The result of this initial evaluation was an overall ranking of
the ten proposals.
After the ranking, four finalists were invited for interviews with the art committee, in order to
select a final art project. After carefully considering all of the elements that define public
artwork, the committee felt that the proposal ranked number one initially met all of the public art
guidelines established by the City (Exhibit B) and represented the best art piece for the project.
The committee appreciated the quality and whimsy of the piece, and were also impressed by
other projects completed by the artists that proved their abilities to competently accomplish the
proposed artwork.
The selected art piece by Carol Paulsen (painting) and Stephen Plowman (metal work) consists
of a mural of Cerro San Luis Mountain and its natural features, with cattle in the foreground and
a"wandering" cow that has stepped out of the boundaries of the painting. The painting is not an
attempt to create a direct representation of the view that will be lost when the parking structure is
built. Instead, it actually shows the opposite, or Foothill Boulevard side of the mountain.
However, the painting does provide a real sense of the beauty and serenity of the countryside
surrounding the City. The mural will be painted on the concaved wall at the corner of Pacific
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Council Agenda Report—Public Art for Marsh Street Garage
Page 2
and Morro and will be framed with two iron plate strips in the form of native oak leaves running
along the vertical edges of the mural. The two mediums combine into a work of art that is both a
painting and a sculpture, creating a unique visual experience for the community. In making its
selection, the committee appreciated the interaction of the two mediums, and felt that each
complimented the other.
CONCURRENCES
The public art selection committee recommended this project for the Marsh Street Garage
expansion. The Architectural Review Commission has found that this project meets the City's
Public Art Guidelines at its February 7, 2000 meeting.
FISCAL Il"ACT
The proposal is within the $37,000 budgeted for this project.
ATTACHMENTS
Agreement
Exhibit A Evaluation Criteria
Exhibit B Public Art Guidelines
Exhibit C Drawings of the proposed artwork
Color photos and sample metal work are available in the Council office for review.
carmarshgarageppblicart
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AGREEMENT TO INSTALL PUBLIC ART
THIS AGREEMENT is made and.entered into in the City of San Luis Obispo on this day of
2000, by and between the CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, a municipal corporation, hereinafter
referred to as City, and CAROL PAULSEN AND STEPHEN PLOWMAN, hereinafter referred to as Artists and
referred to jointly as PARTIES.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, on September 29, 1999,City requested proposals for the design and fabrication of artwork per
Specification No.99684-90565;and
WHEREAS,the proposals were reviewed by a selection committee comprised of a nearby business owner,
a member of the Arts Council of San Luis Obispo County, an artist, one member of the Downtown Association
Parking Committee and the architect;and
WHEREAS, the committee selected a mural of San Luis Mountain for the Marsh Street Garage Expansion
Project Public Artwork as shown in Exhibit A;and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has granted a categorical exemption for this
project.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, obligations, and covenants hereinafter
contained,the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be from the date of this Agreement is made and
entered,as first written above,until acceptance or completion of said Marsh Street Garage Expansion Project Public
Artwork.
2. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE. City Specification No. 99684-90565 and Contractor's
proposal dated October 21, 1999,are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement.
3. CITY'S OBLIGATIONS. For providing Marsh Street Garage Expansion Project Public Artwork
as specified in this Agreement,City will pay and Contractor shall receive compensation in a total sum not to exceed
Thirty-Seven Thousand Dollars($37,000).
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4. CONTRACTOR'S OBLIGATIONS. For and in consideration of the payments and agreements
hereinbefore mentioned to be made and performed by City, Contractor agrees with City to do everything required
by this Agreement and the said specification.
5. AMENDMENTS. Any amendment, modification, or variation from the terms of this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be effective only upon approval by the City Administrative Officer of the City.
6. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This written Agreement, including all writings specifically
incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute the complete agreement between the parties hereto. No oral
agreement, understanding, or representation not reduced to writing and specifically incorporated herein shall be of
any force or effect, nor shall any such oral agreement, understanding, or representation be binding upon the parties
hereto.
7. NOTICE. All written notices to the parties hereto shall be sent by United States mail, postage
prepaid by registered or certified mail addressed as follows:
City Finance Department
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo,CA 93401
Artists Carol Paulsen and Stephen Plowman
1737 Huasna Road
Arroyo Grande,CA 93420
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed the day and year
first above written.
ATTEST CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO,A Municipal Corporation
By: By'
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ARTISTS
By:
C' tto ey Print Name:
By:
Print Name:
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PUBLIC ART SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Evaluation of artistic excellence.
2. Appropriateness of scale, form,material, content and design relative to the immediate and
general neighborhoods.
3. Relationship to the social,cultural and historical identity of the neighborhood.
4. Appropriateness of proposed materials as regards structural and surface integrity, protection
against theft, vandalism,public safety and weathering.
5. Ease of maintenance.
6. Appropriateness of proposed method of installation of artwork, and safety and structural factors
involved in installation of.
7. Evaluation of proposed budget and the artist's ability to successfully complete the project
within the proposed budget.
8. Artist's experience in working on comparable projects.
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IL GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC ART
Art eludes precise definition or regulation. Art in public context, unlike art in private
collections or museums, is linked to the community in complex ways. It both shapes and
reflects the community's perception of itself — its character and its values. And it must
address and respond to a wider audience than art in museums or private collections.
Recognizing this difference, cities and counties have developed various guidelines to
encourage the widest possible range of artistic expression, while ensuring that artworks
express the community character and values, and meet reasonable criteria applicable to
other types of"development projects".
The following guidelines will help artists, citizens, commission and council members and
staff understand the city's expectations for public art. They are not intended to unduly
restrict creative expression, or limit the types-of public art possible. Rather, they are
intended to achieve the best possible mating of site and artwork, and guide what is
essentially a form of communication between the artist and the community. They are
interpreted by the City Council and the Architectural Review Commission, with technical
and procedural assistance from the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council.
1. Public art shall be located within the public right-of-way, or shall otherwise
be easily visible or accessible from a public right-of-way.
2 The design and placement of public art shall not impede pedestrian or vehicle
traffic, or conflict with public or private easements.
3. Public art shall be compatible with the immediate site and neighborhood in
terms of architectural scale, materials, land use and the site's historical and
environmental context
4. Public art shall be integrated with the site, and include landscaping, lighting,
interpretive information, and other amenities where appropriate.
S. Permanent public art shall be constructed of durable, high-quality materials
and require minimal or no maintenance. Temporary public art shall be
constructed of materials appropriate to its duration of public display.
6. A wide variety of artistic expression is encouraged. Expressions of profanity,
vulgarity, or obvious poor taste are inappropriate.
7. Artwork shall reflect a high level of artistic excellence.
8. Public art shall not directly or indirectly cause adverse environmental effects,
or otherwise jeopardize public health, safety or welfare.
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. ITING AGENDA
DATE 3-V-o o riEM #
aim council mcmoizanbum
March 21, 2000 -CCOUNCIL ❑CDD DIR
$CAO ❑FIN DIR
tl CAO ❑FIRE CHIEF
TO: City Council LLEERK10--,:3 ❑POLICE CHF
❑Y Tcu1N ❑REC DIR
FROM: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer 1W
Allr O PERS DIR
Prepared by: Wendy George, Assistant to the CAO
SUBJECT: Additional Public Art for the Marsh Street Structure
Late yesterday, Councilmember Ewan brought to staff's attention the idea that, due to the significant
increase in cost estimated for the construction of the Marsh Street parking structure, there should be a
comparable increase in the allocation to public art. Normally, the I% is allocated to public art based on
the initial project budget. It is unusual for a project's ultimate cost to change dramatically from the
budget, and this approach allows the planning for public art to move forward in conjunction with the
planning for the project. In this case, there is a significant change from the original budget because of
additions to the project of an elevated walkway and street front office space.
Staff agrees with Councilman Ewan that, given the size of the budget increase, it would be appropriate to
increase the public art funding. Based on the adopted 1% formula, the additional amount of funding
would be approximately $15,000. However, staff feels that the best way to use the additional funding
would be for a second art project, rather than increasing the scope of the current proposed project. At
this point in time, we have already gone through a long process to select artwork for the structure,
beginning with a request for proposals and ending with a recommendation from a volunteer jury. To
drop that recommendation and start over at this time would be unfair both to the artists and the jury who
have participated in the process to date. A separate project would not only add to the visual enjoyment of
the community, but it would also provide an additional opportunity for a local artist to have his or her
work become part of the City's public art collection.
Staff has discussed this recommendation with Councilmember Ewan and he indicated that he would be
comfortable with this approach.
c: Mike McCluskey
Keith Opalewski
REC
MAR 2 1 2000
SLO C177'