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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/2006, BUS 4 - APPROVAL OF PUBLIC ART FOR MITCHELL PARK council °°° N acjcnba RepoRt ,tniNb. CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Betsy Kiser, Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PUBLIC ART FOR MITCHELL PARK CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. As recommended by the Public Art Jury, the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) and the Architectural Review Commission (ARC), approve the public art piece entitled Perpetual Hope for Mitchell Park; 2. Authorize the CAO to execute an agreement with the artist for completion of the project. DISCUSSION Background In 1997, $12,900 was allocated for artwork associated with the installation of a new playground in Mitchell Park (see Attachment 1 for vicinity map). Two years ago, a request for proposals (RFP) went out, resulting in the eventual selection of a piece of artwork by a public art jury, and the subsequent approval of that piece by the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) and the Architectural Review Commission (ARC). Unfortunately; between the time the piece was selected by the art jury and its eventual review by the PRC and the ARC, the price of steel escalated to the point where the artist could no longer produce the piece for the amount allocated. Staff returned to the City Council during the 2005-07 Financial Plan with a request to: 1) augment the existing budget with an additional $10,000 to reflect the increased cost of materials, and 2) reissue the RFP so that all interested artists had the opportunity to work with the enhanced funding (previously selected artist included). Ultimately $21,750 (amount reflects funds withheld for artist's stipends, a plaque and the dedication ceremony) became available for the Mitchell Park public art piece. On November 30, 2005, the City released a second RFP for the development of a piece of public art for Mitchell Park. Public An Jury Review Six artists responded to the RFP. A public art jury consisting of Joy Becker (Art's Council), Bill Pyper (PRC member), Glen Starkey (artist), Patty Sullivan (neighbor), and Barry Franz (artist) convened on February 1, 2006 to judge the merits of the proposals using the Guidelines for Public Art (see Attachment 2). The jury evaluated the projects for: 1. Artistic excellence. 2. Appropriateness of scale, form, material; content and design relative to the environment. 3. Relationship to the social, cultural and historical identity of the building. 4. Appropriateness of materials relative to structural and surface integrity, protection against theft, vandalism, public safety and weathering. 5. Ease of maintenance. / / I CAR-Mitchell Park Public An Page 2 6. Appropriateness of proposed method of installation of artwork, and safety and structural factors involved in installation. The jury then invited three artists to a final review, held February 17, 2006. After presentations by each of the artists, the jury unanimously selected a piece by local artists Allen Root, David Curry and David Hinman of Ferromobius entitled Perpetual Hope, feeling that the piece was "tall and engaging", `Original, fluid, whimsical and inspirational", and "a'new fresh look for SLO public art." Project Theme To provide a basis for the Council's review of the proposed piece, the following is an excerpt from the RFP relative to the theme of the project: "The selected theme is "Celebrating Children", and especially celebrating the joy and treasured lives of children challenged by life threatening or life limiting illnesses and unfortunate circumstances. While dedicated to all children, the selected public art piece will be especially commemorating the joyous life of Elena Macedo who died at age 8 on Wednesday, September 2, 1998 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Elena's battle with cancer touched the lives of children and adults in the San Luis Obispo community. She lived a joyful and active life, which included her love of school, horses, gardening, art, and dance. She was a beloved student at Bishop Peak School and wanted to be a teacher. Elena was the poster child for Apple Computer and was adept at reading, writing, and computer skills. The nurses and doctors of Stanford Children's Hospital and San Luis Obispo loved and admired her for her cheerfulness and zest for life." Project Description Perpetual Hope is a 28' tall steel sculptural presentation of the interdependency of children and adults. (NOTE: Height was changed from 22' to 28'during jury review.) The sculpture features various groups of children traveling along life's path, exploring, learning and playing. The path (and children) is supported by adults, representing the inspiration and guidance of our parents, as well as teachers, doctors, friends and acquaintances who also help us along our way. Perpetual Hope is meant to show that both children and adults playa role in each other's happy,joyful lives and that at some point we all venture out to become more independent. The spiraling shape symbolizes the circular nature of life's path. With regard to construction materials, the curved mast is made of rectangular steel tube that steps down in size as it ascends. The path is rolled pipe, with mechanical connections for the children. The adult support figures are plate steel that is welded to the mast and the path, and all have natural rust finish. The children are plate steel, powder coated in bright primary colors. The assembled piece will be anchored to an engineered concrete footing, and covered by a decorative steel skirting that will also have a natural finish. Low voltage halogen lights will be employed during hours of darkness (see Attachment 3 for additional detail on construction and design). I el� GVrojects&Programs\Pubbc Art\Current ProjectsNitchell Park\Council Agenda Report 41806.DOC CAR-Mitchell Park Public Art Page 3 PRC Review Per Public Art Policy, all public art proposed for placement in parks is to be reviewed by the PRC. Although no specific criteria have been established for PRC review, the Guidelines for Public Art provide a point of reference for Commission comments. The PRC is primarily responsible for determining if the piece is an appropriate "fit" for the Park and that it poses no safety issues with regard to materials and construction detail. Commissioner's comments are forwarded to the ARC and City Council for final approvals. On March 1, 2006, Perpetual Hope was presented to the PRC for approval. The artist, Allen Root, provided details and sample materials and answered questions regarding the potential for vandalism, how the finishes will look, and the proposed lighting design. The Commission was unanimous in its decision to approve the art, citing its appropriate reflection of the theme of the project (see Attachment 4 for minutes from the meeting). ARC Review On March 20, 2006, Dave Curry, a partnering artist on the project, presented Perpetual Hope to the ARC for discussion and approval. Using the Guidelines for Public Art, the ARC found that the artwork meets the criteria for public art and recommended its approval to the City Council, based on findings and conditions. In particular; the ARC directed the artist to 1) integrate the proposed lighting fixtures with the piece and hide them from view; 2) install an informational plaque in the pavement surrounding the piece or attached to the piece rather than having a separate structure for the plaque, as with some of our other pieces of public art; and 3) verify structural integrity via the City Engineering Division,prior to the issuance of the building permit (see Attachment 5 for minutes). CONCURRENCES The Public Art Jury, the PRC and the ARC all reviewed Perpetual Hope and recommend that the piece be approved for Mitchell Park. FISCAL IMPACT $21,750 is available for this project. The remaining funds have been held in reserve for finalist's stipends, the identification plaque and the dedication ceremony. ALTERNATIVES The Council could reject the piece and direct staff to reissue the RFP. This is not recommended based upon the concurrences identified above. ATTACffigENTS 1. Vicinity Map 2. Guidelines for Public Art 3. Description and drawing of Perpetual Hope 4. Minutes from the March 1, 2006 PRC meeting 5. Draft minutes from the March 20, 2006 ARC meeting GAPiojects&Programs\PubGc Art\Current ProjectsWitchell Park\,Couneil Agenda Report 41806.DOC VICINITY MIAP 1400 Osos St . ,�� ' NMFffJ ExHM NT f 4- 4 7. i < Q O o5, act m /-\ • \\ - \\ / \ \ L OM ri _ m ry did i I I � ry Q ' S • / l _ L � c i it i1 �� m I I 16 �Lp ' I l N _ \ }} y�U i m fill,, GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC ART `— pTRCHMENT Z Architectural Review Commission Criteria 1. Publicly funded 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. When privately funded, art shall be clearly visible in an area open and freely available to the general public on a consistent basis, or public accessibility shall be provided in an equivalent manner based on the characteristics of the artwork or its placement on the site. 2. Interior locations for public art shall be freely open and accessible to the public. 3. Consideration shall be given to the size, massing, location and scale of the proposed piece and to potential conflicts with present or future vegetation or construction. 4. Public art shall be compatible with the immediate site and neighborhood in terms of historic, social and cultural characteristics, architectural scale, materials, land use, and geographical and environmental context. 5. The design and placement of public art shall not impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic, of conflict with public or private easements. 6. Consideration shall be given to any public safety or public health concerns created by the artwork. 7. Public art shall be integrated with the site and/or building, and include landscaping, lighting, interpretive information and other amenities where appropriate. 8. Public art shall be securely installed. Public Art Jury Criteria 1. Public artwork shall be original and of high artistic quality and shall not include any signage or other advertisement or logo, literal or abstract. 2. Public art should be considerate of the immediate site and neighborhood in terms of historic, social and cultural characteristics, architectural scale, materials, land use, and geographical and environmental context. 3. Public art shall be integrated with the site, and include landscaping, lighting, interpretive information and other amenities where appropriate. 4. 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. 5. A wide variety of artistic expression is encouraged. However, expressions of profanity, vulgarity or obvious poor taste are inappropriate. Other Review Criteria Public art proposed for areas of high historical sensitivity, such as Mission Plaza and its creek, should be given the closest scrutiny, including input from the Cultural Heritage Committee, before approval by the jury. ry & GAProjects&Programs\Public Art\Policies&ProceduresTINAL Revised Policy and Procedures\Guideliues for Public Art Revised 11140i.doc q'1 MACHMENT3 January 24,2006 f. Dear Art Enthusiasts: Thank you for doing your part in creating this wonderful public art opportunity in Mitchell Park. The recently transformed playground, its prominent location and the ongoing upgrades make this park an exciting component in our urban fabric. We were inspired by the wording.ofthe RFP during our design process. Our proposal, "Perpetual Hope", is meant to illustrate the interdependency of children and adults. Our sculpture features various groups of children traveling along life's path doing what should be the official uninterrupted work of all children;exploration, learning and play. The path is supported by adults. All our childhoods are inspired, influenced and helped by the guidance of our parents as well as any number of teacher;, doctors, friends and strangers who help us along our way. "Perpetual Hope"is meant to show that both kids and adults play a role in each other's happy joyful life and that at some point we all venture out to become more independent The spiraling shape symbolizes the circular nature of rife's path. Roles may change without removing us from this relationship. "Perpetual Hope"will serve to remind us all of how important children are to us and the importance we represent to our children. A Native American saying refers to this relationship. We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children.' It is our belief that "Perpetual Hope" is well sited being directly adjacent to a popular playground, across from the city's senior center, and in a park that is consistently populated by people of all ages and walks of life. Our proposed sculptures' strong vertical format will scale well with the parks wonderful mature trees and serve as visual icon that can be seen from some distance by both pedestrians and motorists. The children's figures will be fashioned from plate steel and powder coated in bright primary colors. The curved central mast will be made of rectangular steel tube that steps down in size as it ascends. The path will be rolled pipe with mechanical connections for the children. The plate steel adult figures will be welded to the mast and the path. The mast and adults will be left a natural rust finish. The natural finish will diminish little over time in this climate and will be easy to repair from graffiti. This design has no hand or foot holds and the lowest part of the path is over 1 T above grade. The total height of"Perpetual Hope"is 22'. The assembled piece will be anchored to an engineered concrete footing. The bolted connection will be covered by decorative steel skirting that will also have a natural finish. Low voltage halogen lights will be employed during hours of darkness. Finishes, materials and attachment details are all well suited to a public environment requiring very little maintenance and being highly vandal resistant. Our company has many years of experience in both the public and private sectors. We fabricate art, furniture and architectural embellishments. We have successfully completed several public art projects throughout California with budgets ranging from $375,000 to $9,000. We are licensed contractors, bonded and insured. We are well versed in the disciplines of budget and scheduling. We hope you share our confidence in our ability to successfully complete this art project. We are proud of this design and believe in the concepts it represents. Our culture's perpetual hope lies in the brightness of the next unfolding generation. We think this sculpture will be a fine addition to our community and hope you agree. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for participating in San Luis Obispo's vibrant public art program. ql is ATTACHMENT 3 0 9 . J��•r ' 'J' g It' +Yn.♦ f♦O. .lit .._��'• yl�: e , ;FJ�� � �({k' it1 '.a`(.�N. -- V./Y FJ ♦ ♦ 04. t.J � �•. ` � � �P "l` Q �f�4 { 1iY O "Perpetual Hope" A sculptural presentation of the interdependency of children and adults. We all play a roll in guiding and shaping children's lives. our cultures perpetual hope lies in the brightness of the next unfolding generation. The mast is rolled tube steel,the path is rolled pipe, the adult support figures are plate steel,and all have natural finish. The children are powder coated plate steel. The sculpture is 22'tall with the lowest part of the path 11'above grade. 7 (J Parks and Recreation Commission Attachment 4 DRAFT MINUTES City Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street Wednesday, March 1, 2006 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Pete Dunan called the meeting to order at 7:03p.m. ROLL CALL: Chair Pete Dunan, Commissioners: Gary Clay, Bill Pyper, John Knight, Don Dollar and Jill Lemieux ABSENT: STAFF: Acting Director Linda Fitzgerald, Bill Statler, Sheridan Bohlken, Betsy Kiser, Ashley Blake,Todd Beights and Todd Bunte CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: The minutes from the.February 1, 2006 meetings and stu session were approved with corrections. 1. Public Comment YMCA Director, Jenifer Rhynes, updated th Commission on the status of the YMCA. Currently, the YMCA is determining how to best mize their resources, serve the community and what partnerships they can create. 2. Volunteer of the Month Fitzgerald introduced the Fe ary volunteers of the month: Slavo Doko and Joe Stiegler from the golf course and Billy Hendrich m teen programs. I Relocation of blic Art Benches to Emerson Park Principal Admi ' trative Analyst Betsy Kiser presented this report to the Commissioners. Commission scussed the item and agreed with the placement the ARC approved. Dollar noted that he is cone ed that the context of the art is being lost at this location, and by moving the artwork, the public rogram may be jeopardized. 4. Approval of Public Art for Mitchell Park Principal Administrative Analyst Betsy Kiser presented this report to the Commissioners. Allen Root discussed the artwork further. Commission discussed the item. Recommendation: As recommended by the public art jury, approve the public an piece entitled Perpetual Hope for Mitchell Park. (Pyper/Lemieux; 7 yes: 0 no). C I DOCUME-11510userIGOCUS-t I Templ.9J.06 minufnax Draft ARC Minutes March 20, 2006 ATTACHMENT 5 Page 3 There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: The Commission discussed the merits of attached versus detached design, the functionality of the common open space areas, the pedestrian path through the site, and the screening of the trash bins. Although they agreed that the actual architecture was pleasing, the majority felt that the unit size should be reduced and that additional units should be attached. Commr. Root questioned street access and noise standards, and expressed concern with the decks facing the freeway. Commr. Smith had concerns with the visual impact of the project. Commr. Lopes asked about the noise variance to the area that has a line of sight to the highway, and felt the site layout could be changed to add more, and possibly smaller, units. Commr. Stevenson questioned detached versus attached units, and felt there could be a larger common area with smaller units. On motion by Commr. Stevenson to continue the project with direction to reconfigure the site to comply with City policies.. Seconded by Commr. Lopes.. AYES: Commrs. Stevenson, Howard, Lopes NOES: Commrs. Root and Smith ABSENT: Commrs. Wilhelm and Boudreau ABSTAIN: None The motion carried on a 3:2 vote. 4. 1400 Osos Street. ARC 242-05; Review of a new public art piece for Mitchell Park; P-F-H zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Pam Ricci) Principal Administrative Analyst Betsy Kiser presented the staff report, recommending (as recommended by the public art jury and the Parks and Recreation Commission) that the Commission find that the public artwork proposed for Mitchell Park entitled Perpetual Hope meets the City's guidelines for Public Art, and recommends City Council approval of the project. PUBLIC COMMENTS: David Curry, artist, discussed the materials that would be used. There were no further comments from the public. Draft ARC Minutes ��(�p�M���� March 20, 2006 A I fl�f1 Page 4 COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Stevenson asked the artist about the lighting that would be used and the effect it may have on neighbors' houses, and asked if the artist proposed a plaque. Commr. Smith noted the lack of male adults in the sculpture. Commr. Lopes asked about the type of planned lighting fixtures and the main color used.. He recommended that lighting be integral to the piece and that a plaque be mounted at ground level in the pavement or attached at the base of the piece. On motion by Commr. Stevenson to find that the artwork for Mitchell Park meets the criteria for public art and recommends its approval to the City Council. with lighting integrated into the piece and a plaque describing the piece, either mounted into the ground or attached to the base of the piece. Seconded by Commr. Smith. AYES: Commrs. Howard, Stevenson, Lopes and Smith NOES: None ABSENT; Commrs. Boudreau and Wilhelm ABSTAIN: Commr. Root The motion carried on a 4:0 vote. 5. Staff A. Agenda Forecast Pam Ricci gave an agenda forecast of upcoming projects. 6. Commission: A. Minutes of March 6, 2006 The minutes of March 6, 2006 were approved as amended. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. to the regular meeting of the ARC scheduled for April 3, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room of City Hall, 990 Palm Street. Respectfully submitted by Jill Francis Recording Secretary City Of SM J(,S OBI SW Department of Community Development `"�'" Planning Division March 31, 2006 TO: Betsy Kiser, Prriincipal Administrative Analyst FROM: Pamela Ricci,'AICP, Interim Deputy Director, Development Review SUBJECT: ARC 242-05: 1400 Osos Street: Review of a new public art piece for Mitchell Park. The Architectural Review Commission, at its meeting of March 20, 2006, found that the artwork for Mitchell Park meets the criteria for public art and recommended its approval to the City Council, based on the following findings, and subject to the following conditions: Findings 1. The proposed artwork is consistent with the City's Guidelines for Public Art, as stated in the City's Public Art Manual, Appendix C. 2. The Art Jury approved the artwork design on February 17, 2006, and the PRC endorsed the piece on March 1, 2006. 3. The public art application complies with the standards set forth in the Community Design Guidelines. 4. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEOA Guidelines, Section 15311). Conditions 1. The artwork shall be constructed according to the plans approved by the Art Jury and placed in the location indicated on the site plan received by the Community Development Department on March 13, 2006. 2. Final installation details shall be to the review and approval of the Community Development Director. Proposed lighting fixtures shall be integrated with the piece and hidden from views. A plaque providing information on the piece shall be installed in the pavement or attached to the piece. 3. The structural elements of the artwork shall be reviewed by the City Engineering Division to verify structural integrity prior to the issuance of the building permit. The action of the Architectural Review Commission is a.recommendation to the City Council and, therefore, is not final. This matter has been tentatively scheduled for public hearing before the City Council on a date uncertain. cc: County of SLO Assessor's Office Project File ARC PA 242-05