HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/06/1990, C-17 - REQUEST TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC ART SELECTION FOR THE MARSH STREET PARKING STRUCTURE AT THE CORNER OF MEFTINGDAp
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TEM NUMBER:
FROM: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer
Prepared By: Deb Hossli, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Request to approve the public art selection for the
Marsh Street Parking Structure at the corner of
Marsh and Chorro Streets.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
By motion confirm the selection of ceramic medallions created by
Michelle Griffoul for the Marsh Street Parking- Structure and
authorize the City Administrative Officer to enter into a contract
with Ms. Griffotil not to exceed $9,000 for the artwork.
DISCUSSION:
Background
As part of the approval process for the Marsh Street Parking
Structure, the City Council requested that some form of visual art
be incorporated into the project's design. In order to accommodate
this desire, the project's architect included eighteen inch square
recesses just above each of the exterior levels of the parking
structure's design. (See Attachment Two) The recesses were
designed to accommodate decorative medallions to complement the
architectural style of the building. The Architectural Review
Commission (ARC) has already approved the art designs for the
second and third level recesses. These designs were provided by
the project architect and include a series of half spheres within
rectangular medallions (See Attachment Three) .
It was the City Council's intention, however, to sponsor a. public
art competition to select a design for the first level's
medallions. Approximately $10,000 was set aside within the Parking
Structure's budget to provide funding for the competition.
Selection Process
With the assistance of the Arts Council, a "Request for Artists
Qualifications" was prepared and distributed to over 75 artists in
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Monterey Counties for the
Parking Structure Public Art project. As a result of these
efforts, the City received seventeen responses from local artists.
A committee composed of the project's architect, Bruce Fraser, the
former City Project Coordinator, Candace Havens and three
individuals involved in the local art community, Terry Hargrove,
Walter Tryon, and Arne Nybak was subsequently convened to review
resumes and samples of artwork submitted by each artist. At the
conclusion of this review, four artists were selected to develop
formal art proposals with models illustrating their design for the
Committee's consideration.
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Nii% COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Council Agenda Report
Page Two
The Committee reconvened once the formal proposals were received.
Melinda Bradford, of the ARC, and Donna Gibson of the Arts Council
also participated in this review. Of the four proposals received,
the Committee unanimously selected the artwork submitted by
Michelle_ Griffoul. Ms. Griffoul's proposal consists of colorful,
ceramic medallions, with car designs. She intends to produce
eleven separate car designs that would be placed in a series
throughout the thirty-five recesses. The car designs would include
the following sampling of contemporary and historical designs: a
Railway Car, a Street Car, a Creamery Truck, a horse drawn mail
truck, a desert ranger, a tank (that brought the National Guard
payroll in 1937) , a horse drawn fire water truck, a modern fire
truck, a railroad steam shovel, a yellow cab and the Pacific Coast
Engine Number 6. A model of Ms. Griffoul's artwork will be
available in the City Clerk's office prior to the meeting date.
The Committee felt that the ceramic medallions submitted by Ms.
Griffoul best complimented the design of the Parking Structure.
The Committee was also pleased with the colors and whimsical nature
of the medallions. In summary, the Committee felt that the
medallions worked well with the Parking Structure's architecture
and would be readily accepted by the public.
The Selection Committee also made several suggestions that staff
intends to follow through on. It was suggested that the project
architect should work closely with Ms. Griffoul to finalize color
selections for the medallions. In addition, the Committee felt
that cars designs on the medallions should be enlarged to increase
visibility. A directory should also be developed that states each
medallion's historical reference for the benefit of the community.
ARC Approval
The selected medallion designs were presented to the ARC for formal
approval during their May 15, 1990 meeting. The majority of the
ARC was supportive of the medallion designs and approved
their selection. Staff was directed by the ARC, however, to insure
that the artist and architect worked together to select a common
color that would be reflected in each medallion. The ARC felt that
this would help to provide continuity from one medallion to the
next.
City Council Approval
As a final step in the process, the City Council is requested to
confirm the selection of Ms. Griffoul's medallion designs. Should
the Council approve the selection, staff is requesting
authorization to enter into a contract with Ms. Griffoul, subject
to the approval of the City Administrative Officer, for an amount
city or Sm LUIS OBISpo
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Council Agenda Report
Page Three
not to exceed $9,000. With respect to timing, the medallions are
scheduled to be completed by September and installed as part of the
construction contract for the Parking Structure. The Parking
Structure is scheduled to open October 1, 1990.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approximately $10, 000 was set aside within the Marsh Street Parking
Structure Capital Project to fund the art project. To date,
approximately $1,000 has been spent on creating models to
illustrate the artwork for the Selection Committee's review.
Should the Council approve the selection of medallions, staff would
use the remaining $9, 000 to contract with Ms. Griffoul to create
the medallions for the Parking Structure. It should be noted,
however, that due to unanticipated cost overruns, staff will be
requesting monies to augment a projected shortfall in the Marsh
Street Parking Structure's budget in the near future. A portion
of the monies requested will be set aside to fund this project.
CONCURRENCES:
Both the Public Works Director. and Finance Director have reviewed
and approved this report.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternative One - Reconvene the Selection Committee
Under this alternative, the Council could determine that Ms.
Griffoul's proposal is not appropriate, and request the Parking
Structure Art Selection Committee to reconvene and provide the
Council with an alternative selection. The advantage to this
proposal is that the project could continue on without dramatically
impacting its time-frame or budget.
Staff is not supportive of pursuing this option as it is felt that
an adequate review process has already taken place. The Parking
Structure Public Art Selection Committee reviewed the four artists
proposals in great detail prior to making a decision. It is the
Selection Committee's opinion that the proposal selected worked
well with the Parking Structure's design and would be the most
readily accepted by the public. This assessment was further
confirmed by the ARC's approval of the selection.
Alternative Two - Council Review of all Four Art Proposals
- Under this alternative, the Council could defer the selection of
Ms. Gr.iffoul's artwork until a full review of the three remaining
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city of san Luis osispo
WWrms COUNCIL AGENOA REPORT
Council Agenda Report
Page Four
proposals had taken place. The advantage of this proposal is that
it would provide the Council with an opportunity to review all the
art proposals before making a final selection.
Staff is not supportive of pursuing this option. Again, it is felt
that an adequate review process has already taken place via the
Parking Structure Art Selection Committee and the ARC. In
addition, requiring a full review of the art proposals prior to
making a selection could be perceived as undermining the role of
the Selection Committee.
ATTACHMENTS:
* "1" - Artist Rendering of Marsh Street Parking Structure
Design
*
112" - Medallion Locations
*
113" - Medallion Examples for Second & Third Levels of
Parking Structure
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ATTACHMENT 2.
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Plaque Medallion
ATTACHMENT 3 V
Examples of medallion designs for 2nd and 3rd levels of parking structure. .