HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03-2015 PH1 Pinard 2ia, Ant
From: Peg Pinard <pinardmat @aol.com> 2
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 1:32 AM data oz o3 i 5 �t81T1 �R
To: Marx, Jan; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John; Christianson, Carlyn
Cc: Lichtig, Katie
Subject: Re: comments for the Feb. 3 city council meeting C
FEB 0 2 2015
Attention City Council Members
Comments to the Agenda Item: "Proposed Changes to City's Public Art Program"
from Peg Plnard
Part 2
*note: I have three main concerns with this document: who makes the decision, who gets notified
and who is involved. While there are some general words referencing that residents may be
included, the document leaves too much to staff s discretion as to whether or not something is
`significant' and is even subject to a "process" - much less if a neighborhood ever hears anything
about it. I will attempt to add language that tries to place residents in a more inclusive
position. But, as we have already seen with the lack of adherence to the General Plan, a lack of
commitment to change the status quo on the city council's part would render all these `words' as
meaningless.
Document comments:
Page PH 1 -2
"Staff continues to identify program efficiencies and maintenance needs that enable its operations to be
more responsive, where appropriate."
Bear with me if I repeat myself... but where is it ever not appropriate to be responsive?
Suggestion: drop the qualifier.
"The same public art evaluation criteria would apply to any temporary public art program proposal with a
required review by an evaluation group, Advisory Bodies and City Council."
Suggestion: add this as the next sentence. "The names of the participating members of any such panel or
advisory group will be listed in the evaluation.
Background: When we asked who the members of the art panel were (regarding the utility box decision) -
especially after staff publicly touted that "Well, we had OUR meetings! ", we were denied that
information. City decisions and expenditures of city taxpayer monies is the public's business and the public
should be able to have full knowledge of who is involved.
Page PHI -2
"The program allowed for these street level artworks to add vibrancy to our cityscape, while creating a sense of
place and identity for our community through a resident committee art selection process."
Separate what is included in "cityscape ". The city has got to stop identifying that neighborhoods need to
be `vibrant'! Go ahead and call downtown that but geesh, some of our biggest problems are noise and
parties. Families and other working people can't live where they can't sleep. "Vibrant" may be
appropriate for downtown - though I hardly think street after street of `bars' is exactly a worthy goal for
such a "happy place" - but at least allow residents to come home to a "quiet" neighborhood.
For years our neighborhood has come to the city asking for help with a whole list of issues and not one of them
was that they wanted their neighborhoods to be more "vibrant "! Defined issues were, and still are: Parking,
traffic, noise, garbage, urination, and throwing -up from drunks when the bars close, to name a few,...but I've
never seen making our neighborhoods more "vibrant" as something residents asked for.
Secondly, every empty space doesn't need to be filled. Creating a "sense of place and identify" can
mean NOT competing with the natural beauty of creeks and historic homes by placing visual
intrusions in front of them. Allow them to be the main focus in the environment and in the historic
district.
"...through a resident committee..." The "residents" of Old Town were not included then, were not
even included THIS TIME - and it's doubtful, if under staffs proposed language, that we would be
included in the future. the words have always been there - they are in the General Plan. The council
has been reminded through countless neighborhood correspondences, and pleas for meetings and
responsiveness ... but they have all been for ignored. You wonder why long -time residents are leaving
the city and why people don't come to council meetings anymore? is it really so hard to understand?
Would you come to a council meeting if you were treated like that? The council needs to do
something different to make this document mean anything... otherwise this whole "proposal" will be a
waste of everyone's time and taxpayer money.
Suggestion:
Actually, in this very short time, I can't come up with better language. Since the
paragraph is very convoluted and some points can be clarified later in the
document... maybe it's just a good sentence to drop.
2. A committee comprised of City staff, currently the Capital Improvement Plan
Committee, determines which capital projects will be recommended for public art, based
on available funding and suitability of project. The committee also recommends funding
levels for each project.
Problem is - that `staff decided to change the long - established city policy of deliberately
keeping neighborhood utility boxes low -key and unobtrusive. They did it without any early and
meaningful notice to the neighborhood. Therefore residents were denied any ability for input
even at this early stage. The decision was made to make the boxes "vibrant" - and that policy
decision just made its way through your `process' at this every early, capital improvement
decision - making stage. The council "adopted staff s recommendations ", and again, it was before
any neighborhood residents had the opportunity for input. By the time this issue surfaced, and
we objected to the program being extended into our neighborhood, the very first thing staff cited
was that you, the council, had already approved it as a capital improvementproject.
Suggestion: I have read through some other cities' programs and they carefully distinguish
between what is done in commercial, essentially more `public' areas, and neighborhoods. In fact,
other cities identify this distinction multiple times. Perhaps, if our city made a similar distinction
you could clarify what is being covered when things are cited as "capital projects ". Anything
that pertains to a neighborhood should raise a red flag for you, the council. Neighborhood items
should be clearly identified and begin with what the General Plan calls for... EARLY notification
and the opportunity for neighborhood meetings. Neighborhood projects should be voted -on
separately so that the council knows exactly what is included in categories marked "capital
improvement projects ".
Page PHI -8
Allocation of Public Art Funds to Projects. Following approval of the two -year
Financial Plan, the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Review Committee
meets to determine which capital projects are most appropriate for the inclusion
of public art, as well as an appropriate level of funding for each project. The CIP
committee may also recommend other public art projects that are not tied to a
CIP. The following criterion is used to identify projects suitable for public art:
1. a) Project should have high public visibility and use.
2. b) Project should lend itself to the inclusion of public art.
3. c) Project should be public art ready,meaning the project should be
nearing the design phase or near or under construction and will be
completed within the two year CIP.
4. d) The number of projects should be limited in order to focus staff efforts
and result in meaningful pieces of public art.
Suggestion: There are a lot of guidelines for handling money and for the
quality of an art piece but hardly anything regarding context and
appropriateness of 'art' for the proposed location. I know it can be said
that some things are repetitive but it seems like we can't say it often
enough to get the city to actually follow the General Plan. It just seems
that since you are saying how public art funds are allocated, there should
be two other things named right up front
1.
1.
1.
4. e) Project should be sensitive to the site in which they are located
4. f) Projects should relate to the context in which they are proposed
4. As background, we are a historic district, and, should such a change in
policy regarding utility boxes have been deemed by residents as an
"improvement" to our historic district.... then what would be the guidelines
for that discussion? These site concerns didn't happen with regard to the
paintings in our historic neighborhood. What do surfers have to do with
the historic character of our neighborhood? How does that utility box relate
to the house it directly impacts-and to the rest whose families and
children have to look at it.
PAGE PH! -10
d After jury acceptance of a proposal, assuring that the Architectural
Review Commission (ARC) and other appropriate advisory body review
has occurred regarding whether the proposed art piece is consistent with
the City's Guidelines for Public Art (Appendix C).
This vague language leaves it up to a staff person to determine
who is an "appropriate advisory body." This document before you
and the way the process was conducted already shows that we
were apparently not deemed an appropriate body for input into the
guiding principles! There has to be some better description of
WHO are the appropriate bodies.
Suggested language to include: BEFORE jury acceptance of a proposal,
the city staff shall furnish proof that residents of the affected neighborhood
were notified by mail of the specifics of the proposal and given enough
time for a meeting or a response.
PAGE PHI -10
"The Public Art Manager is not expected to be an artist or to single -
handedly create public art. S /he is expected, however, to be the catalyst,
and to take the necessary steps to make it happen. Again, consulting with
local artists or representatives from the local arts organizations may be
helpful.
1. Getting Started The Public Art Manager's key role is to define the
possibilities for art. To do this, s /he should:
Know the site. Contact the County Historical Museum, Cultural
Heritage Committee, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council,
local historians or other City staff to understand the site's
background.
For example, what is the site's cultural or historic significance? How
is it (or how could it be) related to other public spaces or facilities?
How has it changed over time? Does it have environmental
features that might be repeated in the artwork? Could the art
become a part of the architectural fabric of the building ?"
None of these entities could be input from the neighborhood
affected! It's just too easy to leave us out. If you are going
to "Know the site" then consciously include the people who live
there! Say that!
2. Be aware of site context. A historic neighborhood or building,
natural feature, or cultural pattern (e.g. Chinatown, Government
Center, Mission Plaza, etc.) can strongly influence the type of art
selected
There is nothing here at the Getting Started stage about including
the residents who will be affected from the beginning!
Suggestion: Add a "c" that specifically states:
c. Consider who will be affected.
For a project to be considered for any neighborhood, there needs to
be an outreach and notification of that neighborhood of the project's
scope.
(Getting neighborhood help at an initial stage for projects proposed
for that neighborhood would certainly be as valuable, if not more
so, than other `groups'.)
Pate PHI -11
c. Streets, alleys, median planters, sidewalks, trails, bikeways, public
transportation and parking facilities:
• These locations offer some of the best opportunities for public art. They
are highly visible and accessible. And due to the large expanses of
paving, they can often benefit from the visual interest and variety that
public art can provide. Linear or repeating artworks can be used, for
example, to unify a bikeway plan and provide orientation stations along
routes.
Perhaps a footnote needs to be mentioned here. While large expanses of
paving can benefit from art, I am concerned about including the
category "public transportation ". We have bus stops for which there has
been a conscious policy to keep the siding clear precisely so that people
waiting can see, and be seen. The principles of 'neighborhood watch' are
the most effective safety measure we can have and they involve visibility.
If there is an obstruction, it can compromise safety or even just the
perception of safety. That's why it has long been a policy NOT to put ads
or even artwork on the bus stops or on the bus windows. If people
don't feel safe using public transit then they won't use it.
Secondly, where the benches have been utilized, either for art or advertising, they
look visually cluttered if not actually junky. Every space is not an appropriate site
and simplicity is actually good design.
In order for future readers to keep that vigilance for safety perhaps some clarifying language would be very
helpful. Safety and designing safe places is no accident, but it can be overlooked when people are focusing on
other goals. What is lacking in this document is any sense of coordination with other city goals.
1.
1.
1.
1.
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d. MiscellaneousProjects.
• Bridges, creek improvements, above ground utility stations, and other
special facilities also present public art opportunities where they have
good public visibility. Creek projects, in particular, should include art that
enhances the creek's natural beauty and ecological diversity.
"Creek projects, in particular, should include art..." I think most people would
not agree with that statement. I believe that most people would agree that Mother
Nature did a pretty good job. Remove this language that "creek projects... should
include art." The art in the creek at Mission Plaza has a special context but I
doubt that residents want to put it as a general policy that creeks "should include"
anything but being in their natural states.
PAGE PHI -12
4. Geesh here we are again... residents, those affected by the placement of art
projects, just aren't even on the list.
4. 3. Getting Help. Public art is one more item that the project manager for the
CIP needs to consider in getting projects built. There are resources both
inside and outside of the City to help with this task. For example:
0
1. The Public Art Manager can explain the public art program
requirements, will help facilitate the review of art projects through
the various public approvals, including jury selection, public
relations and Council approval, and will provide a list of potential
artists to receive the request for proposals;
2. Financestaffcanadviseyouonfundingstrategiesandrequirements;
3. The San Luis Obispo County Arts Council assists the City by
providing expert technical advice and commentary on public art,
and serves as a liaison between the City and the art community;
4. The San Luis Obispo County Arts Council Directory, located on
their web site (www.sloartscouncii.org) is also a good source for
ideas and finding artists.
1.
Suggestion: Add the following:
e. Residents in Neighborhoods can assist the city for projects in
their neighborhoods.
5.
Since public art is often such a prominent visual feature, it is important that each
artwork be thought through carefully. Early public participation is a key part of the
process. Another key aspect is involving the artist in the overall project design
phase early on so that the work of art is well integrated with the site and /or
buildings.
They say the words - "Early public participation is a key part of the process ". - but there is
no identification of who or how to involve the people affected by the art. -Lots of politically
correct language that means nothing. Even after saying and writing all this the city staff left us
out again! These policies are being brought to the council, the final stage of the process and it
was only on an off - chance email that we even heard about it!
If the council is really serious about respecting residents and their neighborhoods then you have
to specify how "early and meaningful" gets implemented. Just saying the words means nothing!
We have heard this 'ad nauseam'. Snecit`y that-there needs to be a mailing to affected
neighborhoods-with a good description of what is being_ proposed, include time to have
neighborhood meetings and responses to you, in order to rive the council the benefit of our
understanding and concerns for our neighborhood. If you don't include something like this, then
this hearing is a complete waste or everyone's time.
2. Selection Strategies. Typically, an artist is selected in one of the following manners:
1. Request for Qualifications. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) followed by a
Request for Proposals (RFP) is the most common method used for selecting an
artist. The Public Art Manager will notify a current list of potential artists and art
organizations regarding the Call for Artists.
This notification process makes it exclusive to those who belong to
an organization or known to the city. Any RFQ should be posted on the city's
website and a public interest piece in the newspapers. We have a community
of over 50,000 people - any one of whom may want to participate.
Suggestion: Add inclusive language.
PAGE PH1 -13
One of the City's goals is to promote the involvement of local artists and citizens
in the public art program. In juried art competitions of under $40,000 a residency
requirement will mandate eligible artists reside within San Luis Obispo, Monterey
and Santa Barbara counties.
This is our city taxpayer's monies you're talking about and the money should
be spent on, for and by, our city residents. We have lots of city artists! 'Don't
you think any of them are good enough? What benefit is it to use San Luis
Obispo LLty tax dollars to give our money away to other jurisdictions? ... even
other counties?
1. Why can't we have a policy like the ones below?
1. from Santa Barbara (city)
ENTERPRISE GRANTS FOR SANTA BARBARA AREA ARTISTS
Through the Arts Enterprise Grant program the Arts Collaborative intends to
continue its ongoing efforts to support and foster collaboration and innovation for
Santa Barbara's creative community.
Arts Collaborative Board President Nathan Vonk had this to say about the Arts
Enterprise Grant opportunity for Santa Barbara based artists, "This grant is an
amazing opportunity for local artists...."
and:
"The art we select comes from a broad range of art representing Santa Barbara's artists,
from professionals to emerging artists. Let's show what Santa Barbara has to offer."
and: from Monterey County...
The Arts Council distributes grant funding to nonprofit arts presenters,
cultural groups and professional artists thanks to funding by the
Monterey County Board of Supervisors... The Arts Council grant funds
are awarded on a competitive review basis each year based on overall
impact and level of service to Monterey County families.
The main goal of the grants is to achieve a sustainable arts sector by
strengthening these arts presenters and increasing, deepening and
diversifying participation andThe new audiences of today will be the
experienced audiences, volunteers, donors, artists -and the aware,
active and productive citizens of tomorrow.
and: from Venture County's art program
o Serving county artists, arts organizations and arts in education outreach
programs through strong partnerships with arts supporters, businesses, foundations,
and community leaders.
from Santa Barbara County
The Arts Commission strives to attract and seek out individuals for committee positions
that are deeply connected to their communities so that our Commission and
Committees reflect the cultural, artistic and geographical diversity of Santa Barbara
County.
and: from South Pasadena
Our MISSION STATEMENT
SPARC advocates for and promotes the arts in order to recognize local artists as a rich
resource within our city and build appreciation and understanding of the value of the
arts within the community.
from Anaheim
The ACC gives annual recognition to local organizations that provide art in public places
(AIPP).
heck, even the state of Texas is concerned and more responsible about where their
state money goes
Texas
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Artists who have previous public art experience and who reside in the state of Texas
will be reviewed to be on the Pre - Qualified List of Experienced Artists for the City of
Dallas Public Art in the summer of 2015.
B. Selecting an Art Jury. The majority of City public art projects will use the Request
for Qualifications (RFQ) selection method. Art juries help staff evaluate the qualifications
received and make a final selection to proceed through the remainder of the approval
process. The preferred approach is to create a five /seven member jury for a project. In
some cases, a slightly larger jury may be necessary to accommodate all the parties
impacted by the artwork. Jury composition will vary depending on the type of art project
but should include a selection of the following, as appropriate:
• • An Arts Council Member
• • At least two professional artists
• • A neighbor or representative of a neighborhood association when a
neighborhood will be impacted by the project.
"A" neighbor? any neighbor? We have at least 70% rentals in Old Town. There has to
be broader information dissemination and representation than "a neighbor" If the
neighborhood isn't part of the process, with good mail notification and time to respond,
then any one person isn't going to be able to speak for a neighborhood or judge what
may be "appropriate ". This city's tendency to hand -pick "representatives ", and leave
residents in the dark about what is going on has got to stop.
Suggestion: Add the qualifying sentence "A neighbor or representative of a neighborhood
association - but only after proof of early and meaningful mailings of notification to the
affected neighborhood.
PAGE PHI -14
a. Stage 1. Applications submitted in response to this RFQ will be reviewed by the Public
Art Manager who will then forward all complete and eligible applications received by the
deadline to the selection committee (jury) consisting of: San Luis Obispo County Arts
Council member(s), local artist(s), interested community members, City staff and a
neighbor(s).
The difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 selection process is very nebulous. How would any
new artist be able to compete? Aren't we supposed to be supporting our local artists and
encouraging new ones? Why not gear the process to defining the goal and let local artists
present their ideas? Otherwise it becomes a good -old -boy network and discouraging for those
who may want to participate and who have some new and creative ideas. This is supposed to be a
creative art project —not building the Hoover Dam.
We should be taking a lesson from think tanks and others looking to come up with creative ideas
or solutions. The most productive way to come to that end is to state the goal, state the amount of
the `reward' and then let people submit their ideas from there. This very rewarding process has
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been all over the news lately with tons of examples of how it spawned creativity - why can't we
use that as a model rather than one of beginning a project by eliminating people? How they can
accomplish the goal and the resources they can provide for the project should be part of their
submittal.
Figuring how to measure longitude constantly perplexed sailors. People thought that it would be
a sailor who came up with an accurate way of measuring longitude - but to and behold, through a
contest, it turned out to be a watchmaker! The man who designed and built the Duomo in
Florence had never built one before! It had never even been thought possible before! When it
comes to creativity and especially when it comes to providing opportunities for new and local
artists, it would make sense not to exclude potential designers as a "Stage 1 "
PAGE PH1 -15
Planning Review
a. Review Steps. It is the Public Art Manager's responsibility to initiate planning
applications, submit plans, and ensure that capital projects go through the required
public hearings. The standard City policies apply to legal notice requirements, appeals,
and environmental review....
(2) Art projects deemed "minor or incidental" can be approved by the
Community Development Director, subject to the usual public notice requirements.
Last time your Public Art Manager deemed our neighborhood involvement as not necessary.
How will that change with this kind of language? What's to prevent her from deeming a project
"minor and incidental" and we know nothing about it 4gain? There's no definition of what is
considered minor and incidental? I'm pretty sure that, in her mind, that utility box was "no big
deal "!
Why were we left out of the process again? You're reviewing a document that we have never seen before or
even heard was being considered. Neighborhoods residents are simply not on your radar. You spent time
writing this document but fail to do what you are proposing... and, what is in the existing General Plan.
And, the "usual public notice requirements" aren't spelled out. If s /he deems something minor and incidental,
what notice does the neighborhood get? What is OUR recourse after - the -fact? If you, the city council don't spell
this out, I have absolutely no doubt that this category will become a convenient `catch -all' category for ignoring
residents again under the guise of "streamlining" the process.
While you may have "minor and incidental" projects in a a busy commercial core, there's probably not much
that happens in a neighborhood that doesn't affect someone directly and personally.
In conclusion... if you, the city council don't do something to change the way neighborhoods have been treated -
being deliberately excluded from being able to know what is being proposed for our neighborhoods then you
will have destroyed the remaining lifeline of your long- established neighborhoods. Not long ago, this city had
what other cities would die for and yet, year after year, residents have been ignored, shut out of the decision-
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making process, and taken for granted. How do they respond? How would YOU respond if you were treated
like that? They moved away; they left the city. The exodus wasn't about housing affordability, for they already
owned their homes ... it was about housing livability.
How long do you think you can promote "tourism" when there is nothing left but rentals and a high- turnover
population? Successful, "vibrant" downtowns don't have that kind demographic.
In the big scheme of things, this is a relatively minor document - but it sure highlights what's wrong with "the
process" - the way this city does its business. The very people who brought this issue to your attention were not
even made aware of its formation. What's wrong with this picture ?! You have a chance to change the picture
but it has to be more than mere words. We are tired of meaningless words and empty promises. Enact a process
that requires early and meaningful notification and involvement... one that spells out exactly how it is to be
done. Include good descriptions of projects and have them mailed to affected residents with time for a
response. Make it a requirement, a box that has to be `checked' before an issue gets to any committee or the
council. Basically, follow this city's constitution, the General Plan!
You can start here. But, without your whole- hearted commitment to changing the way the city's current
"process" is handled, then this will have been a complete waste of all of our time.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg Pinard
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