HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2016 PRC Agenda PacketRegular Meeting on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 @ 5:30p.m., Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Whitener
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Ryan Baker, Susan Olson, Michael Parolini, Ron Regier, Douglas Single,
Susan Updegrove and Jeff Whitener
Public Comment Period. At this time, you may address the Commission on items that are not on the agenda but are of interest to the
public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Commission may not discuss or take
action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff to follow
up on such issues.
PRC Meeting Agenda
1.Consideration of Minutes of Regular Meeting of December 2, 2015
2.Community Focus Input – Aquatics (15 minutes - Hyfield/Tucker)
3.Review and Recommendation of Approval of the Public Art Master Plan (25 minutes –
Mudgett)
4.Director’s Report (5 minutes - Stanwyck)
5.Subcommittee Liaison Reports
Committee Liaison
Adult and Senior Programming Baker
Bicycle Advisory Regier
City Facilities (Damon, golf, pool, joint use) Parolini
Jack House Committee Updegrove
Tree Committee Olson
YSA Single
6.Communications
Adjourn to Regular Meeting of February 3, 2016
APPEALS: Administrative decisions by the Parks and Recreation Commission may be appealed to the City Council in
accordance with the appeal procedure set forth in Chapter 1.20 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code.
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and activities.
Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance.
City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
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Council Chambers
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Whitener called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Chair Jeff Whitener, Vice Chair Ron Regier and Commissioners Ryan Baker,
Susan Olson, Michael Parolini, Douglas Single and Susan Updegrove
ABSENT: None
COUNCIL: None
STAFF: Shelly Stanwyck, Melissa Mudgett, Doug Carscaden, Freddy Otte
Public Comment
Don Green, SLO City Laguna Shores area resident. Spoke about Priolo Martin Park as a well-used and
loved park by the neighborhood. He asked the Commission to urge for landscape maintenance to
address lighting issue. He supported the collaborative meeting of Parks and Recreation, Administration
Natural Resources, Public Works parks maintenance and arborist staff onsite to discuss neighbor
concerns. Director Stanwyck confirmed that City staff and neighbors will be having a collaborative
meeting in the field.
Ken Kienaw, SLO resident across from Priolo Park. He would like to see the willow trees in the open
space trimmed as it presents a neighborhood safety issue.
Commissioner Parolini asked how the park will be visually delineated between park and open space
area. Staff Freddy Otte responded that the natural vegetation breaks will be used to visually discern the
boundaries between park and open space areas.
1.CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES (Commission)
Motion: (Updegrove/Olson) Approve Meeting Minutes of November 4, 2015 as amended.
Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent
2.REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE OPEN
SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN (Carscaden, Otte, Stanwyck)
Staff provided an overview of the draft Open Space Maintenance Plan developed as part of the
adopted 2015-17 Major City Goal for Open Space Maintenance and Preservation. The plan
incorporates existing City policies as well as best practices for open space management.
Staff Carscaden highlighted the community engagement process followed using the adopted in
the City’s Public Engagement Manual (PEN). Staff Carscaden provided the Commission with
an operational update regarding Ranger staffing. Since October 8th Ranger Services has been
fully staffed consistent with 2015-17 budget allocations. As a result the division’s staffing levels
include: 1 full time Ranger Supervisor, 2 full time Rangers, 4 full time limited benefit Rangers,
Meeting Minutes
Parks and Recreation Commission
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
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and 1 part time city worker five Ranger. As a result of this staffing Rangers are in the City’s
open space approximately 250 hours a week (excluding breaks and administrative paperwork
time). In the 45 days since the division has been fully staffed and trained 43 citations have been
issued in the open space and approximately 20% of that has been at Bishop Peak. This
additional Ranger staffing has resulted in increased open space protection through patrol and
maintenance
Commission Comments:
Commissioner Olson asked about benches and if there is an opportunity to create memorials.
Director Stanwyck answered that the City has a bench memorial program that would be
implemented. Commission Olson asked about cost sharing opportunities with fencing. Staff
Carscaden responded that city staff will coordinate with adjacent land owners as opportunities
arise.
Vice Chair Regier asked about additional trailhead access at Bishop Peak with new development.
Director Stanwyck replied that Bob Hill, Natural Resources Manager, has engaged in
preliminary discussions with private land owners to identify future public trail access needs.
Commissioner Parolini asked for clarification on total acres included in the maintenance plan.
He recommended grammatical corrections, adding links to policy documents referenced and
correction of page numbers. Director Stanwyck said that the final maintenance plan will be
offered electronically on the City’s website to provide users with direct links to all policy
documents. Commissioner Parolini suggested that required “Ranger hours” necessary to address
the entire plan be added.
Commissioner Single asked about park patrol. Director Stanwyck confirmed that patrol of parks
is now provided by the Police Department and designated Neighborhood Enforcement Officers.
Commissioner Single expressed concern that the reallocation of Ranger staffing resources to
open space could have a direct impact on the patrol and safety of our City’s neighborhood parks.
Commission Updegrove asked about the schedule of implementation. Director Stanwyck
responded that implementation would begin immediately upon Council’s approval.
Commission Baker thanked staff for their efforts in drafting the Open Space Maintenance Plan.
Chair Whitener asked about implementation priorities. Director Stanwyck said that staff and the
public have identified trailhead amenities are the top priority in this budget cycle.
Public Comments:
Carol Hall, Highland Drive resident said there is heavy vehicle traffic at Oakridge causing a
safety concern. She expressed that she has not received a prompt response from the non-
emergency dispatch phone number and asked about the Ranger work schedule. Director
Stanwyck responded that the City will be launching a multi-Department effort with the Highland
Drive Neighborhood at the beginning of the year to discuss the traffic and fire safety concerns.
Staff Carscaden responded that rangers now patrol the open space seven days per week during a
wide variety of times. Staff will look into communications between dispatch, other and
neighbors. Vice Chair Regier supported multi-department efforts towards resolving this traffic
safety issue.
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
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Carla Saunders, Oakridge resident, said she has served on many City committees and task forces
including the City’s open space task force in the 1990s which created the Open Space program.
She has been involved in open space issues for the past twenty years. She would like to see
consistent enforcement and commitment to Ranger patrol and enforcement of open space.
Director Stanwyck acknowledged Ms. Saunders’ concerns and noted that six weeks in, to full
Ranger Staffing, there has been a marked increased enforcement. . Director Stanwyck shared
that staff will return to the Commission after enough time has passed with new staffing in the
Ranger program to present data. Commissioners Parolini, Updegrove, and Olson noted
increased compliance with open space regulations and comments about it.
Motion: (Updegrove/Parolini) Recommendation that the City Council Approve the City of San
Luis Obispo 2015 Open Space Maintenance Plan.
Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent
Motion: (Regier/Baker) Recommend that the City Council Approve a Negative Declaration of
Environmental Impact for the Project.
Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent
3.DIRECTOR’S REPORT (Stanwyck)
Director Stanwyck presented to the Commission a brief overview of Parks and Recreation
Programming for December. She shared that staff has communicated with Richard Schmidt, a
community member, who expressed his concern about the shortage of parks in the north Broad Street
area and she wanted Commissioners to be aware of this neighborhood concern. The Sinshiemer pool
replastering work continues on-time. The Thanksgiving “Gobble Wobble” fun-run at the Laguna
Lake Golf Course was a huge success in part due to Cal Poly recreational student volunteers. She
reminded the Commission about upcoming park closures for annual maintenance. She added that the
Reindeer Run will be held this Saturday, December 5th, at Mitchel Park. The Ranger staff received
chainsaw training in preparation of El Nino. Director Stanwyck said she is excited that seven
members of the Parks and Recreation Department will be graduating soon from the City’s
Leadership training programs. She forecasted that the Public Art Master Plan may be ready to
present to the Commission in January 2016.
4.SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS (all)
Adult and Senior Programming: Commissioner Baker reported that adult softball has season
has concluded. The softball nets at Santa Rosa Park have been installed. Staff Melissa
Mudgett updated the Commission about the Pickleball Pilot program and that staff will
return to the Commission in March 2016 with updates and recommendations.
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC): Vice Chair Regier said that the BAC met to discuss
proposed development for Avila Ranch. He said the City of SLO received an award for
being a bicycle friendly city. He added that the BAC has been reviewing the DeAnza trail.
City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Commissioner Parolini
said the Damon Garcia fields are in very poor condition with numerous bald spots. Parks
Maintenance staff will be closing fields for renovation. Parks Maintenance staff has been
identified non-permitted users practicing at the fields.
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
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Jack House Committee: Commissioner Updegrove said the Jack House is being decorated
for Victorian Christmas. December 20th the house will be closed for annual maintenance.
The Jack House Elevator Removal Project is anticipated to begin construction in
Tree Committee: Commissioner Olson reported that Committee did not meet in November.
The Tree Committee will be hosting a “Lunch n’ Learn” about tree removal processes at the
Corporation Yard, 25 Prado, on December 10th.
Youth Sports: Commissioner Single said that the Youth Sports Association only meets
quarterly and there was no report.
5.COMMUNICATIONS
Commissioner Parolini said that the State of California for Storm water support is providing
reimbursement options for local conservation efforts. Go to stormrewards.org to sign up.
Adjourned at 7:34pm to the Regular Meeting on January 6, 2016 at the Council Chambers,
990 Palm Street, at 5:30pm.
Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on __________________.
________________________________________________
Melissa C. Mudgett, Recreation Manager
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Parks and Recreation Commission
Agenda Report
City of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number
December 18, 2015
FROM: Shelly Stanwyck, Parks and Recreation Director
Melissa C. Mudgett, Parks and Recreation Manager
SUBJECT: CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
1.Recommend that the City Council receive and file of the City of San Luis Obispo Public
Art Master Plan as presented.
DISCUSSION
Background
On November 18, 2014, the City Council Authorize the issuance of request for proposals (RFP)
for consulting services to prepare a Public Art Master Plan for the Parks and Recreation
Department and authorized the City Manager to award an agreement. (Attachment 1) Three bids
were received and opened on January 16, 2015. Following extensive consultant interviews, on
April 15, 2015 the City Manager awarded the contract to Designing Local of Columbus, Ohio.
The interview panel determined that Designing Local’s approach was in strong alignment with
the unique assets, geography and population of San Luis Obispo. Designing Local clearly
defined the research and public engagement needed that would result in short term strategic
successes and a long term vision for the Public Art program.
Public Engagement Opportunities
Designing Local’s citizen involvement process combined ‘old school’ person-to-person
stakeholder conversations with new media and technology. Bringing this unique public art
engagement process helped to define the “essence” of San Luis Obispo and our citizens’ most
important issues surrounding public art and the community.
The Public Engagement process included feedback from nearly one hundred individual
stakeholder interviews with City Council, City staff, developers, artists, educators and
community members. This feedback was supplemented by an interactive survey provided on a
website (www.discoverslopublicart) and the City’s Public Art Facebook. In addition, a week-
long series of community engagement activities were provided to bring the public art
conversation directly to the community through a series of events at the Mission Plaza, SLO
Skate Park, Farmers' Market and into the various schools. The diversity of the public
engagement offered opportunities for participation from all ages and demographics.
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SLO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN Page 2
Figure 1: Public Art Master Planning – Public Engagement Model
The Community shared what
public art means to them, what
types of art they would like to see
and recommended future locations
for art.
Community members were also
able to participate in the makings
of a public art project. By
graphically measuring the height
of all those who participated, we
were able to visually capture their
participation in the public art
master planning process through
an interactive and creative
fashion.
Figure 2: Master Planning - Interactive Public Art Project
What’s Next for Public Art in SLO?
The San Luis Obispo Public Art Master Plan lays the foundation for the future of our City’s
public art and prepares us for the next chapter in our story. Art is our tool to speak to visitors,
residents and students and share with them why San Luis Obispo is unique and how public art
can and should be ingrained in the civic imagination of our community.
The City’s Public Art program began nearly 25 years ago and has grown to incorporate nearly
seventy pieces of public art; both permanent and temporary. SLO’s public art program has been
Public
Engagement
Document
Review
Stakeholder
Interviews
Community
Engagement
Events
Social
Media
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SLO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN Page 3
recognized as promoting artistic excellence, creativity and is cohesiveness with the cultural
fabric of SLO.
The Public Art Master Plan focuses on building upon our strong legacy of public art and is
looking forward to the next twenty five years. Throughout the master planning process several
themes began to emerge. Civic leaders and locals expressed the same shared vision for the arts;
that an arts program should be rooted in strategic planning and policy and that there should be a
preferred focus towards maintenance and conservation given the City’s maturing public art
collection. As a result, the Public Art Master Plan presents recommendations and the
identification of resource needs intended to support the strengthening of partnerships and the
continued care and growth of the public art program.
Summary of Recommendations
In order to both maintain and grow the public art program in SLO, the Public Art Master Plan
presents several recommendations designed to maximize the effectiveness of the program. A
summary of these recommendations are provided below in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Public Art Master Plan Recommendation Summary
Staffing
•Full-time Public Art Manager position within the Parks and RecreationDepartment (There is no designated full-time staff allocated towards public art
programming. Currently the Recreation Manager coordinates public art
programming in addition to other position responsibilities).
Maintenance
•Maintenance database to address maturing art collection
Funding
Opportunities
•Develop new and diverse funding partners, integrate creative policies andprograms
•Re-evaluate percentage for the arts
•Increase developer contribution
Community
Engagement
•Employ creative outreach strategies to engage a wide variety of the community
(School System)
•Develop a more streamlined and transparent process for artists, designers and thepublic
Developer Engagement
•Streamline process of incorporating more public art into new development
Celebration
•Celebrate the Public Art Program through increase visibility, communication andmarketing
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SLO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN Page 4
In the short term (1-2 years), the plan recommends a priority focus on public art maintenance,
strengthening of partnerships and sourcing new funding opportunities. The medium term
objectives (3-5 years) adds an examination of policy, increase in staffing resources and an
increase community engagement and developer opportunities. Longer term objectives (5+ years)
includes exploration of funding through an update of the Parks and Recreation Element of the
City’s General Plan and developer process improvements. Consistent with all public art projects,
any public art initiatives resulting from the Public Art Master Plan will be consistent with the
City’s adopted policies and incorporated in the financial planning processes.
ATTACHMENTS
1.November 18, 2014 Council Agenda Report
2.Draft_ SLO Public Art Master Plan
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City of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number
FROM: Katie Lichtig, City Manager
Prepared By: Shelly Stanwyck, Director of Parks and Recreation
Melissa C. Mudgett, Recreation Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN,
SPECIFICATION NO. 91286
RECOMMENDATION
1.Authorize the issuance of request for proposals (RFP) for consulting services to prepare a
Public Art Master Plan, Specification No. 91286, for the Parks and Recreation
Department; and
2.Authorize the City Manager to award a consultant services agreement in an amount not-
to-exceed $40,000 to develop a Public Art Master Plan, if the selected proposal is within
the approved budget.
DISCUSSION
Background
Twenty six years ago, the City Council established and funded a public art program for the City
of San Luis Obispo. To date, the City enjoys a robust public art program with 68 public art
pieces. This collection includes 36 permanent public art pieces located throughout the
community and the 32 Utility Box Art program boxes as temporary public art installations. Four
more public art installations are anticipated in 2015: four Skate Park concrete jungle trees, the
World Trade Center Memorial, Portola Fountain public art, and a local mural for the Kyle
Roofing Company.
In response to the City’s well-established public art program, staff is requesting approval to seek
professional consultant services to develop the first Public Art Master Plan for the City. Master
planning documents for commissioning agencies are quickly becoming industry standard and is
consistent with the Americans for Arts best practices for public art programs. For the City of San
Luis Obispo, the Public Art Master Plan would result in a clear vision for the future placement and
nature of public art (permanent, temporary, festivals, etc.) in a city that prides itself on being
visionary and innovative. A Public Art Master Plan would also serve as a guide for the development
of projects, programs and amenities which could advance public art well into the future. The Master
Plan is intended to provide direction to the public art program staff, Advisory Bodies, and the
City Council on the planning and processes necessary to further develop, administ er, and
maintain a dynamic public art program in the City.
More specifically, the Master Plan will clarify key themes and provide a comprehensive vision for
the next 25 years of the program by providing recommendations for the selection and placement of
public art throughout the community, outlining future funding sources and defining any associated
staffing needs necessary to continue to achieve the community’s vision for public art.
Nov. 18, 2014
C11
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Attachment 1
Request for Proposals Public Art Master Plan, Specification No. 91286 Page 2
Overall, a Public Arts Master Plan for the City of San Luis Obispo will seek to create a
community that:
Project Work Scope
The Public Art Master Plan RFP (Attachment 1) will seek to find consultants and public art experts
qualified to develop a Master Plan for the City and assist in implementation of best practices in
public art planning. The Plan will also include a vision of public art that celebrates San Luis
Obispo’s unusually rich array of local arts resources, art organizations, artists and art-minded
citizens. The RFP for consultant services stresses the requirement to use creativity, innovation,
and technology when developing a Public Art Master Plan for our community.
The Final Public Art Master Plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following key elements:
1.Refinement of the mission, vision, goals, and principles for the Public Art Program;
2.Clear goals and implementation strategies that include short- and long-term priorities and
3.estimated costs;
4.Recommended changes to existing public art guidelines, policies and processes;
5.Application requirements and criteria for evaluation of public art applications, including
policies on accepting art donations;
6.Summary of research, findings and community outreach results;
7.Mapping of the current permanently sited collection and evaluation of the placement of
art in public places;
8.Strategies for ongoing community engagement and outreach to a diverse group of
stakeholders;
9.Identification of sites for future temporary and permanent public art projects, including
“iconic” and “gateway” art placement and spaces for participatory art;
10.Opportunities for additional funding models for public art, and analysis of the existing
funding sources; and
Embraces the local arts community as a
unique and vital resource which shapes and
reflects the City’s distinctive cultural identity
Provides Leadership in fostering the arts as a
community resource
Leverages the arts as a key component to the
overall Economic Development strategies
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Request for Proposals Public Art Master Plan, Specification No. 91286 Page 3
11.Analysis of the existing collection and recommendations for the evaluation of the existing
collection and a collection strategy, as well as recommendations for a collection
maintenance and conservation plan.
The final Public Art Master Plan will be the basis for any programmatic changes and
enhancements to operations, customer service, staffing levels, organizational structure, capital
improvement projects and public art strategies moving forward. Staff anticipates that the Public
Art Master Plan will be delivered in time to make project requests in alignment with the 2015-16
Supplemental Budget process.
Evaluation and Selection Process
The deadline for submitting the proposals is set for January 9, 2015. Based on the evaluation
criteria set forth in the RFP, proposals will be reviewed and, if necessary, finalists will be invited
for a follow-up presentation/interview before a review committee. Reference checks will be
conducted and based on the results of the selection process, a recommendation will be made to
the City Manager to award the contract. Consultant selection and contract award is anticipated by
March 2015.
Staff anticipates the master planning process will take several months with an anticipated
completion date of July 2015. Information provided in the Public Art Master Plan will be used
to help guide the selection and placement of future capital projects and to better inform the City
Council when approving funding allocations. The City’s public art program is funded off-cycle
by a combination of Development In-Lieu fees and eligible capital projects as identified in the
approved Capital Improvement Program. As the true level of funding is unknown until Financial
Plan approval, public art recommendations follow an atypical fiscal planning cycle and are
presented to the City Council in the Fall. Following Council’s adoption of the Financial Plan
and completion of the Public Art Master Plan, the CIP Review Committee will meet to review
the public art criteria and make recommendations to the Council regarding the allocation of
public art funds to specific projects as part of the 2015-16 Supplemental Budget.
Prospective Proposers
In addition to publishing a formal notice requesting proposals, the RFP will be mailed to a
limited number of firms specializing in this type of service. A list of prospective firms is part of
the RFP.
CONCURRENCES
The City continues to work closely with the San Luis Obispo Arts Council’s Art in Public Places
Committee as a local support network to community artists. The Art in Public Places Committee
has reviewed the Public Art Master Plan RFP and concurs with the recommendations made in
this report.
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Request for Proposals Public Art Master Plan, Specification No. 91286 Page 4
FISCAL IMPACT
As part of the FY 2011-13 Financial Plan, the City Council approved funding in the amount of
$40,000 for development of a master plan as part of the annual approval of public art projects
(Attachment 2). Due to staff changes and other high priority Public Art projects issuance of this
RFP was delayed. There is sufficient funding to support this request to advertise a RFP for
consultant services.
ALTERNATIVES
1.Do not approve the RFP and delay the Master Plan. The City Council could choose to
defer the Public Art Master Plan for the Parks and Recreation Department. Staff does not
recommend this alternative as the project was approved in the 2011-13 budget. In
addition, the master plan is timely because it will identify the resources needed for the
program’s success and prepare for future public art growth.
2.Amend RFP. The City Council could choose to modify the RFP as drafted and give
direction to staff to amend the request for proposals and approve the RFP based on those
changes.
ATTACHMENTS
1.Draft Request for Proposal Public Art Master Plan
2.Council Agenda Report Approving Master Plan Funding, September 18, 2012
t:\council agenda reports\2014\2014-11-18\public art master plan (stanwyck-mudgett)\car_public art master plan rfq.docx
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SAN LUIS OBISPOPUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN
WHAT’S NEXT FOR PUBLIC ART IN SLO?
Attachment 2
DRAFT
SAN LUIS OBISPO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN
4
Acknowledgments
Mayor Jan Howell Marx
San Luis Obispo City CouncilVice Mayor John AshbaughDan CarpenterCarlyn ChristiansonDan Rivoire
City Manager Katie Lichtig
Public Works Department Partners
Arts Obispo
The People of San Luis Obispo
The Planning and Design TeamAmanda Golden, Managing Principal, Designing Local
Kyle Ezell, AICP, Founding Principal, Designing Local
Joshua Lapp, Principal, Designing Local
www.designinglocal.com
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SAN LUIS OBISPO PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN
WHAT’S NEXT FOR PUBLIC ART IN SLO?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1:
WHY A PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN?
CHAPTER 2:
REFINING WHO WE ARE
REFINING OUR MISSIONREFINING OUR VISIONREFINING OUR GOALSREFINING OUR PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER 3:
ESSENCE OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
CHAPTER 4:
PROJECT TYPES AND LOCATIONS
COMMUNITY-SELECTED TYPESCOMMUNITY-SELECTED LOCATIONS
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12
20
42
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CHAPTER 5:
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
CHAPTER 6:
PRIORITY ACTION PLAN
SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN MEDIUM TERM ACTION PLANLONG TERM ACTION PLAN
APPENDIX
COMMUNITY-GENERATED PROJECTSCOMMUNITY WORKSHOP RESULTS
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PAULA ZIMA “Tequski Wa Suwa” (Child & Bear) 1988“Qiqsmu” (Bear Cubs) 2004“Yach Ka” (Trout) 2005
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CHAPTER 1
WHY A PUBLIC ART
MASTER PLAN?
“I HAVE LIVED AND VISITED ALL OVER THE
WORLD, NOTHING COMPARES TO SAN LUIS.
OUR ART AND OUR PEOPLE MAKE THIS
PLACE HOME. IT’S WHAT MAKES SO MANY
PEOPLE WANT TO CALL SAN LUIS HOME.”
If schools teach, bridges traverse, and streetlights brighten, than public art tells our story to the world. The San Luis Obispo Public Art Master Plan lays the foundation for the future of our public art and by extension prepares us to tell the next chapter of our story. Our art is a tool to speak to visitors, residents, and students seeking out our community from across the state or across the ocean- to tell them this is a place where we care about who we are, what we do, and where we came from. By having the vision to commission this Public Art Master Plan, the City of San Luis Obispo and its citizens, have collectively said, “now is the time to re-energize.” Now is the time to learn where we are, and more importantly, where we want to be. Within this living document you will find plans to solidify the breath of public art that currently exists. You
- CUESTA COLLEGE PROFESSOR
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will find a framework to ensure that future art is based on the character that makes SLO an amazing place to live, work, and visit.
Public art is more than just statues at City Hall, but can and should be ingrained in the civic imagination of the community. It can be on every street in every neighborhood; next to the bike path and along the hiking trail. The people of San Luis Obispo are creative, interested, and interesting. Public art should reflect our culture and our people, and should ultimately be accessible to all.
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San Luis Obispo2012
Public art is by us and for us. Art comes from anything that inspires us, meaning in San Luis Obispo , it can come from world renowned artists or from the kid next door. Art should excite and include all those who cross its path. It should be participatory and interactive. We should all have a part in the Art of SLO no matter its creator. Our art should reflect us.
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CHAPTER 2
REFINING WHO
WE ARE
“THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE SAN LUIS IS
MELLIFLUOUS: THAT WHICH FLOWS LIKE
HONEY.”
San Luis Obispo’s vision for public art stems from a long legacy of public art champions and from over twenty-five years of investment in the arts at a citywide level. In 1990, the city of San Luis Obispo established and funded a public art program. This funding included a percent (1%) of the estimated construction cost of eligible projects in the Capital Improvement Plan to be set aside for public art.
Just ten years later, the city passed an ordinance securing funding for public art in private development. This ordinance guaranteed a parallel investment in the arts as developers and property owners improved their private property or constructed new developments. Developers and property owners now elect to purchase a piece of art and donate it to the city or pay a public art in-lieu fee totaling 0.5% of the total construction costs. As a result of increased developments, this ordinance ensured investment
- LOCAL ARTIST
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Bubblegum Alley 2014
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in the expansion of the city’s public art collection.
As the program continued to grow, the collection expanded to include sixty-nine pieces of public art- including mosaics, oil and watercolor paintings, utility box art, stained glass, sculptures, benches, bridge railings and much more.
With an exceptional first twenty five years in action, the San Luis Obispo Public Art Program has secured San Luis’ reputation as a community who uses its public art to promote community excellence, creativity, and cohesiveness. In an effort to build upon our strong legacy of public art and to look forward to the next twenty five years, the city decided to seek the input of the community to find out what is next for the public art program in San Luis Obispo.
WHAT WE ASKED To kick off the planning process, stakeholders were asked a series of questions about how public art relates to their sense of place, to the overall identity of San Luis, economic growth, business development, education, downtown development and community engagement. Because the stakeholders were artists, teachers, council members, architects, city staff, Cal Poly administration, Architecture Review Commissioners, and local business owners, the input received was well-rounded and informative, laying the foundation of the San Luis Obispo Public Art Master Planning Process.
Each stakeholder was asked about their perception of the public art program and how the work of the program impacted their city and
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their neighborhoods. They were asked how they envisioned the growth of the program and what specifically the program needed in order to reach the next level.
We invited San Luis Obispo residents to participate in a week-long series of events, which included a Fountainside Chat at Mission Plaza, a workshop at the SLO Skate park, and a stall at the Farmer’s Market. We asked participants to consider where new pieces of public art should go and what types of art they would like to see in their community. They also discussed attributes that make San Luis Obispo stand out among other Central Coast communities, California communities, and the rest of the United States. Participants were also invited to sketch their ideas for public art pieces, and to share their ideas on themes for new art.
In addition to the three public meetings, engagement opportunities also took place at an Elementary after-school program, during a Middle School lunch break, and during regularly scheduled San Luis Obispo High School art classes. An online survey was also conducted to capture the ideas of those who were unable to attend any of the scheduled workshops.
WHAT WE HEARD Throughout the process, several themes emerged. The themes are as follows:
I. The public art collection of San Luis Obispo is a major source of pride for the locals. When asked what drew them to live in San Luis Obispo, overwhelmingly,
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residents responded with three reasons: nature, the people, and the artsy and creative spirit of the locals.
II. Civic leaders and the locals share the same vision for the arts- one rooted in strategic planning and policy. As a result of a maturing collection, few new pieces have been added and focus has shifted more toward conservation and maintenance. This Public Art Master Plan is positioned as a key first step to achieving broader aspirations.
III. Developers would prefer to contribute public art rather than the in-lieu fee. However, most cite the process being too cumbersome in addition to the building and permitting process to create site-specific art.
IV. As the program continues to grow, residents would like to see more modern art added to the collection as well as murals. However, there was a resounding preference for making sure the art never upstages the natural beauty of San Luis Obispo.
V. The community would like for public art to be part of the broader discussion about the future of the community, not just a discussion within the arts community.
VI. San Luis Obispo’s creative community boasts a range of organizations with whom partnerships would be advantageous.
Farmer’s Market 2015
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VII. Staffing the public art program must be a priority. Although the program has a public art manager, other assigned responsibilities make devoting the necessary amount of time to the program difficult. With increased staff capacity, the manager could focus on initiating public art discussions early on in the development process, managing multiple projects at a time, and cultivating partnerships within the community.
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REFINEMENT
VISION
OBJECTIVES
OUR VISION
San Luis Obispo will express its civic aspirations, accentuate its creative spirit, and communicate its rich history and community curiosity through public art.
OUR OBJECTIVES
The San Luis Obispo Public Art Program will focus on the following objectives:
I. Developing catalytic projects that impact the city of San Luis Obispo in positive and thought-provoking ways.
II. Generating and implementing high-quality project ideas for public art in capital projects.
III. Maintaining the existing collection by performing regularly scheduled maintenance and updating components as technological improvements emerge.
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REFINEMENT
IV. Inspiring developers to create art that is site-specific within private development.
V. Utilizing residents to select public art that reflects the community’s desires.
VI. Evaluating public art pieces and artists for artistic excellence.
VII. Ensuring proper placement and quality of public art given to the City.
VIII. Energizing awareness and affection of public art in San Luis Obispo.
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JED JOYCE, JOHN T. JONESConcrete Jungle 2015
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CHAPTER 3
ESSENCE OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
“GROWING UP, I COULDN’T WAIT TO
GET OUT OF SAN LUIS. ONCE I MOVED
AWAY, I COULDN’T WAIT TO GET BACK.”
As a result of our extensive public engagement process, clear elements of what makes San Luis Obispo unique emerged. A major goal of the Public Art Master plan is to focus the program and inspire a new era using the spirit of San Luis Obispo. We’ve come to understand that spirit by asking the people of San Luis who we are and what is important to our community. This will facilitate a future of public art that is meaningful, locally-based and will resonate with residents.
Whether a city-funded project, a new public art installation commissioned by the city, a private donation of art, a developer who wants to invest in San Luis Obispo, or a resident who wants to do something creative with their sidewalk, the following framework becomes a family of components that speak to the core of who San Luis Obispo is and who we want to be. If you are considering making art for our
- LOCAL RESIDENT
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community, you can use this document to become inspired by the Community Character Framework of San Luis Obispo, and add “us” into all of your ideas.
Any ideas for art- from traditional pieces placed in our historic neighborhoods to the avant-garde- can be created using our defining characteristics. We want the public art in our city to express the affection and pride we have for our community and to stand out among other cities as a community full of art that is exclusively San Luis Obispo. Art that speaks to us and art that tells our story to all those we draw near.
These nine themes become a family of components that speak to the identity of San Luis Obispo as defined by the locals. Mix and match these elements into your designs. Choose to emphasize one element over another to accentuate what is most important to you and how you see your community. However creatively you interpret the components of the Community Character Framework, allow it to serve as a reflection of San Luis and as an inspiration to your creative process.
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Biking in San Luis 2015
A LITTLE COASTAL,
A LITTLE COUNTRY
OUR SEVEN SISTERS
OUR BOUNTY
WILD AND FREE
WELCOMING
OUR MISSION
WARM
INTENTIONAL
AWE-INSPIRING
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COMMUNITY CHARACTER
FRAMEWORK
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WE ARE
A LITTLE COASTAL,
A LITTLE COUNTRY
PROGRESSIVE HIDDEN GEM
LAID BACK VITAL
FAMILY GOOD VIBES
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A COMMUNITY WITH THE HEART OF A
SMALL TOWN AND BRAIN OF A BIG CITY.
A cosmopolitan mindset gracefully collides with the tight-knit feel of the central coast. Our vibrant but relaxed nature attracts newcomers from around the world. The wide variety of SLOcals adds to a diverse setting that’s good for everyone – from students to growing families and everywhere in between. We live the good life.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?WHAT DOES A LITTLE COASTAL, A LITTLE COUNTRY LOOK LIKE TO YOU? WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH!
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WE ARE OUR SEVEN SISTERS
GENTLE JARRING
REBIRTH
LUSH VAST
PANORAMIC
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A PLACE WHERE THE GEOGRAPHY STIRS THE
IMAGINATION.
Rolling hills, verdant pastures, and stunning views enliven the soul. In a place encircled by majestic features, everyday lives are shaped by their connection to nature. Each blade of grass or jagged stone is a reminder of the beauty that surrounds our community.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?HOW DO OUR SEVEN SISTERS INSPIRE YOU? LET YOUR CONNECTION TO NATURE INFLUENCE YOUR NEXT PROJECT.
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WE ARE OUR BOUNTY
VINEYARDS TRI-TIP
SUNNY GENEROUS
ABUNDANCE RIPE
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A REGION THAT CULTIVATES OUR HARVEST
TO SHARE AROUND THE GLOBE.
An idyllic climate allows a rich variety of agriculture to provide a taste of the central coast to the nation and world. Whether taking a sip of our exquisite wine across town or across the country, the yield of our soil rings through. The fruitfulness of our agriculture means farm to table is less novel and more norm.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?WHAT DOES OUR BOUNTY LOOK AND FEEL LIKE TO YOU? WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INTERPRETATION!
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WE ARE WILD AND FREE
HEALTH- CONSCIOUS TWO-WHEELED
INTREPID INFLUENTIAL
BOLD GUTSY
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A CITY THAT LIVES AND BREATHES IN THE
FRESH AIR.
Another day, another audacious hike up a peaceful peak in our hometown. Here, we know life is best lived outside. When we lace up our shoes or put a foot to the pedal, we’re improving our world. We have what it takes.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?THE PEOPLE OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND. YOUR ART SHOULD MAKE US SAY, “THAT IS SO SLO!”
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WE ARE WELCOMING
HARMONIOUS YOUTHFUL
FAMILIAR LIKE A BLANKET
MAGNETIC RESTORATIVE
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE COMFORTABLE, YET OPEN TO NEW IDEAS.
In our city, the energy of youth meets the passion of family and friends. You come as you are and you can be who you want to be. Here, you relax knowing all is well and tomorrow will all the magic of a new day.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?HOW DOES OUR HOSPITALITY MAKE YOU FEEL? HOW CAN YOUR ART CONTINUE TO MAKE VISITORS FEEL WELCOME?
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WE ARE OUR MISSION
CENTERED DEEP, DEEP
ROOTS
CHUMASH NOSTALGIC
COMMUNAL BALANCED
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE GUIDED BY OUR DIVERSE PAST INTO OUR
COLLECTIVE FUTURE.
Our history is as solid as the Spanish mission and as tightly woven as a Chumash basket. Through many cultures and backgrounds we’ve come together as one city. We know our place in the world. We celebrate who we are and where we come from.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?HOW DO YOUR IDEAS ENCAPSULATE THE PAST BUT ALSO LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE?
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WE ARE WARM
LEAFY ADOBE
MATTE EARTHY
COMFORTING SUBSTANTIAL
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A PLACE THAT REEKS OF SOIL AND SKY.
Our colors are rich, deep, and full of life. They speak of crisp nights and breezy afternoons, and fade from green to gold. They are of the solid earth, the ocean wave, and the vastness that surrounds. They enliven our existence.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT INSPIRES YOU OUT OF OUR COLOR PALETTE. THE POINT IS NOT TO BLEND IN, BUT TO ENHANCE.
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WE ARE INTENTIONAL
PROTECTIVE PASSIONATE
ENGAGED
SOPHISTICATED RESPONSIBLE
ALIVE
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A CITY WHERE ACTION HAS MEANING AND
MEANING HAS ACTION.
Here, intention is more than the goal of the day. We live focused lives that result in balance. Health, well-being, and natural living go well past slogans. Our culture and environment make a difference.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?HOW DOES BEING CENTERED IMPACT YOUR WORK? WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH!
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WE ARE
AWE-INSPIRING
MAGNIFICENT
VIVID DYNAMIC
LOVE BREATHTAKING
CENTRAL
COAST
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SAN LUIS OBISPO DEFINED:
WE ARE A PLACE WHERE THE INTERSECTION OF
LANDSCAPE AND CULTURE IS JAW-DROPPING.
In this place, you re-evaluate your own existence. You think of what could be, who you could be, the kind of life you want to live. The hills shake you back to life and fill you with energy and a desire to do good in the world.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?WE HOPE YOU’RE HEART RACES WHEN YOU ARE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO. USE THAT EMOTION TO CREATE SOMETHING FOR US.
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CHAPTER 4
PROJECT LOCATIONS
AND TYPES
“OUR PUBLIC ART SHOULD BE WHERE
THE PEOPLE ARE. NOT JUST WHERE
OUR VISITORS GO, BUT WHERE THE
SLOCALS LIVE.”
Our public art should be integrated into the essence of our community. Public art in San Luis Obispo should go to the people, and should touch and move us in our daily lives. There is a long history of public art. We must build on our solid foundation and extend its reach, both big and small. Public art can be a formal statue but public art can also be fun, simple, interactive, and low cost. Our art can last a day or a lifetime. Our story can be told by Michelangelo, by our seniors, or by a visitor for a day.
Taking public art to the people means we must go to their neighborhoods, and integrate our art into their routine. From placing a mural near the grocery to a creative bike rack by a restaurant to an interactive art piece in the park- our art is coming to you. On the following pages, you will see what locations and types of art citizens and stakeholders identified that belong in SLO, in their neighborhoods, and close to home.
- LOCAL ARCHITECT
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Top: JIM FICKES Metal Amphitheater 1980 Middle: KATE BRITTON Garnet 2002
Bottom: ELIZABETH MACQUEEN Puck 2003
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ON OUR PASEOS AND PLAZAS
The “paseos and plazas” of our community are places where the day-to-day tasks of life take place- the office or school, the parking lot of the pharmacy, the place where you bump into your familiar neighbor. This is the art that reaches you everyday, that becomes a familiar part of your experience of San Luis Obispo. By placing art here we can brighten even a foggy morning and show visitors we care, even about the small stuff.
Here the art varies and thrives- From a signature piece to something simple and accessible to an adventurous installment. The only real requirement of art here is that it connects with the people of SLO. These are the places to tell our story and to continue our tradition of building a vibrant, happy, active community.
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IN OUR PARKS
Few words truly describe your first hike up one of the seven sisters of our community. Our parks, our open space, our hikes, and our cycling enrich our lives in SLO. Little could better reach the diverse and energetic population than utilizing art in our parks.
Art here can rebuke tradition while inspiring health and activity. Sustainability, ecology, our treasure trove of flora, fauna and geology are inspiring natural adornments. The cultures of those who came before us can come alive through art here. Art in our parks can pose a challenge to the artist, but the reward of such a momentous effort brings with it the opportunity to pause, meditate, and encourage us to reflect on the splendor of the landscape.
IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
Those who live in SLO expect the unexpected. In these places art can thrive. For example, utility boxes have been a site for art for years in SLO. Art can grow from that very spirit. In a crosswalk, at the base of a tree, in a back alley; art belongs here. You catch this art out of the corner of your eye. This art may last a day or even a few minutes. It is playful, fun, and brings a smile to your face.
Unexpected art should keep you on your toes. It may be a snap performance or the strum of a lone guitar, but this art is sure to engage. While statue does not necessarily surprise an audience, the chalk below their feet on the sidewalk can put a sparkle in their eyes. Here, you spring to your feet.
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ERIC MEYER Love note to SLO 2015
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STRENGTHENING OUR DOWNTOWN
THROUGH PUBLIC ART
If our neighborhoods are the front porch for public art, Downtown is the gallery. The artwork in Downtown should strengthen the pedestrian experience, should add interest on every corner and should strive to be world-class. When visitors come to SLO, Downtown is their home base. For residents it’s a meeting place, and the hub of activity. Here public art can tell people that they are home. It can be intimate, a small mural at eye level, a little paint on the sidewalk.
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STRENGTHENING OUR IDENTITY THROUGH
OUR GATEWAYS
The landscape and geography of San Luis Obispo are unparalleled. The natural environment drives residents, businesses, and tourists to the rolling hills of our community. Though this is a powerful image, it does not alone communicate the story of San Luis. To make our culture and values known to all those who enter our community, we can fortify the entry points to our city with pieces of art that reflect our civic identity.
Here, art here should effectively tell our story. It should strengthen our identity to first time visitors and lifetime residents alike. When a person enters our community they should know that they have arrived. They should know who we are, what we care about; and it should be evident that this place is loved.
Through on the ground surveying and public outreach, we identified that several gateways are priority for public art. San Luis Obispo has a strong culture and is full of people who care strongly about the community. So, its time to wear it on our sleeve.
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TYPE: MURALS
When asked about preferences for new types of public art, the public overwhelmingly supported the installation of murals. Murals can take a dead space and transform it into a place that is colorful and exciting. These dead spaces can be found throughout the City begging for attention and imagination. These blank walls are between our buildings, in our alleys, under our overpasses, on the ends of our blocks and on the backs of our neighborhood stores.
While adding permanent works of art to our collection is important, murals can provide an opportunity for semi-frequent rotation, providing the exposure of a diversity of artists over a short period of time rather than a few artists over the long term. Semi-permanence also allows for integration of other mediums
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ARTIST Eskimo Pie 20??
not typically included in mural installation, such as photography.
TYPE: TEMPORARY ART
Temporary art lives up to its name – it can last a little or it can last a lot. Though it isn’t long lived, it can have a lasting impact. A construction site may provoke grumbles, but wrap it in art and the feelings change.
Temporary art can be cheap and easy, modest or enthralling. Either way, its short lifespan gives it energy and drives excitement. Just like our utility boxes, temporary art can captivate our community, however briefly, in a way that permanent art cannot. Perhaps most eloquently, temporary art lives and cycles in tandem with our community.
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TYPE: CONTEMPORARY SUBJECTS
Though nostalgia is powerful and necessary to our identity, art must also represent our current time. Our history and the roots of our culture deserve representation in art throughout our community. So, by integrating today thoughts, values, and important events into public art, we can legendize our place in history as those that have come before. Public art focusing on contemporary subjects does not need to subscribe to a prescriptive design. Historic designs through modern eyes bring the past into perspective. Contemporary ideals in physical form can open the mind, such that by incorporating today we can include a diversity of people and views.
In order to reach people where they are, especially our young people, our public art should seek to use the technology of today. Beyond just a contemporary or modern form, our art must engage meaningfully in order to acknowledge and embrace today’s realities rather than to reject them. A device that distracts also provides access to share with the world. Art that harnesses the positive power of social media can spread its reach well beyond San Luis Obispo.
By turning to the contemporary, our art can shape the conversation. It can touch new people, tell new stories, and become accessible to all. By using technology we can channel the creativity of a new generation to add to the future of art in our city and beyond.
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Crown Fountain at Night, Chicago, Illinois 2014
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Athens, Ohio Functional Art 2014
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TYPE: FUNCTIONAL ART
Because the city of San Luis Obispo is always improving the public realm with updated infrastructure that citizens use daily, the city has a unique opportunity – to implement “SLO specific” designs in place of otherwise ordinary pieces of infrastructure. Integrating our cultural values and creative spirit into our infrastructure can be an affordable and efficient method of creating a major visual impact.
Functional art may be as simple as the creation and implementation of a “SLO crosswalk” or as complex as the re-design and replacement of all existing street lights to “SLO-centric street lights.”
A vast array of other options for functional art installations exists, from bike racks, trashcans and street furniture, to transit stops, storm drains, manholes, and way-finding signs. Bigger projects could include installations within the public garage, sidewalk and alley treatments, while smaller projects could include artfully designed tree grates, and mile markers on leisure trails – all designed to exude our local values.
By leading the effort to integrate San Luis Obispo designs into all public projects, the City incites developers and private property owners to also integrate “SLO Functional Art” into their properties and developments.
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CHAPTER 5
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
SAN LUIS OBISPO’S PUBLIC
ART PROGRAM
“OUR PUBLIC ART SHOULD BE WHERE
THE PEOPLE ARE. NOT JUST WHERE
OUR VISITORS GO, BUT WHERE THE
SLOCALS LIVE.”
The San Luis Obispo Public Art Master Plan presents recommendations that look toward the next twenty-five years of the public art program. The success of this plan will be determined by the ongoing efforts of those in the arts community, city staff, residents, and all those who care deeply about the quality of life in San Luis Obispo.
OUR ROLES
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTAs the driver of the San Luis Obispo public art planning process, the Parks and Recreation Department will continue to be committed to the curation of public art in San Luis Obispo. The department, through the creation of a Public Art Manager position, must continue to be the liaison between the city government and the citizens who care about public art. As the voice for public art, the manager must advocate for public art policy
- LOCAL ARCHITECT
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BRIAN CHESSMAR Bequest 2010
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improvements within city government, and apply for and facilitate grants for public art in San Luis. The program manager must also lobby for the inclusion of art or artistic infrastructure in public works projects and real estate developments at the conceptual stage of the process. Most importantly, the public art manager must encourage San Luis Obispo-centric art and design throughout our community.
CITY COUNCIL
In order to carry on the legacy of supporting public art in San Luis Obispo, the City Council must continue to identify funding and policy improvements for the public art program. City Council’s foresight and leadership will continue to encourage the development of public art in the city.
CITY STAFF
As San Luis continues to be one of the most desired communities to live in on the Central Coast, city staff must include artistic and “SLO-centric” elements into their typical work. This may be as varied as economic development projects or infrastructure designed to reflect the culture of San Luis. This will be a cost-effective way to include art in the public realm.
ARTS OBISPO
As a non-profit, citizen-driven arts organization, Arts Obispo holds a special place in the public realm. Arts Obispo has the opportunity to do what government affiliated groups may be unable to accomplish. Grant opportunities may be available that necessitate Arts Obispo as the driver of seeking specific funding only awarded to non-profits. Programming and partnership options may also be a
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CAROL PAULSEN, STEPHEN PLOWMAN Bee Bee Works his Magic, In honor of Bill Beeson 2008
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ALLEN ROOT Ferromobius “Perpetual Hope” 2007
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key aspect of future Arts Obispo activities.
SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY SCHOOLS
The various public schools in San Luis Obispo have an opportunity to inject youthful energy into San Luis’s public art program. Art curriculum must also be encouraged and included in the education system in San Luis Obispo Public Schools. Art that is created by San Luis Obispo’s young people must be displayed throughout the community in order to embody the community in full. Young artists must also be encouraged to participate in public art projects.
CORPORATE COMMUNITY
Corporations have helped advance San Luis through the state’s economy and employment. Partnerships with these local businesses may be varied and likened to their means. We encourage an array of deeds, from small donations to help fund the next public art piece to construction and integration of public art into their own campus and throughout the community.
LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
As the backbone of the economy in San Luis, small businesses are a part of our daily lives and fuel our economy. By partnering with San Luis Obispo’s small businesses, we can fund important programming or public art pieces and engage our citizens who frequently interact with our small businesses. Many of these opportunities can be small-scale projects that encourage interaction with the business and reorienting participants’ thought processes around the arts.
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RECOMMENDATION 1
PUBLIC ART MANAGER
OPPORTUNITYIn order to maintain and grow the public art program in SLO, a full-time staff position is needed.
SOLUTIONIn order to maximize the effectiveness of the public art program, it is necessary to dedicate a full-time staff position to the program .
I. Create a full-time staff position with the title Public Art Manager within the Parks and Recreation Department.
II. Assign all responsibilities related to the public art program to the Public Art Manager. These responsibilities include but are not limited to: management the existing collection, management of the maintenance plan for the existing collection and all future additions to the collection, integration of public art into all CIP projects at the conceptual stage, development and maintenance of strategic partnerships, integration of public art into the development process at conceptual stage of the project, management of all new public art installation processes, and procurement of outside funding sources.
COST ASSOCIATIONFull time staffing costs is necessary with the creation of a Public Art Manager position. Funding for this position should come from the general fund allocation.
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JEFF THIES Evidence of Evolution 20??
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RECOMMENDATION 2
MAINTENANCE PLAN
OPPORTUNITYSLO’s impressive art collection means that long-term maintenance is a necessary focus. The breadth of the collection results in many concerns that require attention at varying degrees of regularity.
SOLUTIONAddressing long-term maintenance for the entire collection is two-fold: (1) a maintenance plan should be developed for each art piece and (2) a database should be utilized that integrates into current software. The database and plans additionally should:
I. Address specific roles and responsibilities plus treatment of each piece as its own facility.
II. Assign tasks, deadlines, necessary tools/parts, inventory, frequency, and costs.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IDEAS INCLUDE:
I. Create maintenance requests platform (app, website, etc.) that accepts crowd-sourced maintenance needs.
II. Conduct consultations between original artists and maintenance staff responsible for maintenance plans of new art developments.
III. Mandate that long term maintenance be contracted to original Artists.
MARK JEPSON, RANDY AUGSBURGER Sycamore Theme 2001
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COST ASSOCIATIONStaff time is necessary to develop the maintenance plan and database. Annual funding will also need to be secured for the Parks and Recreation Department to implement the maintenance plan.
Note: the success of Recommendation 2 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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Spotlight
CONSERVATION PRACTICES VARIOUS COMMUNITIES
Care of public art collections is a continuing responsibility in which communities preserve individual works of art as well as entire collections. A regular maintenance schedule for each piece in the collection should provide instructions to the community for the necessary work. It is
recommended that the community evaluate the condition of the art every three years to determine if any extraordinary maintenance is required.
The City of St. Paul, Minnesota’s highly regarded Public Art Maintenance Program uses one-half of
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one percent of total Capital Improvement Budget capital maintenance funds that are annually appropriated through the public art Ordinance. Appropriations generally range between $6,800 - 7,800 annually.
Each year, the Public Art Maintenance Program Coordinator conducts a Survey and ConditionAssessment with a qualified conservationist and develops a prioritized list of works in need of conservation or maintenance the “Annual Public Art Maintenance Plan.” (City of St. Paul Public Art Ordinance Program Technical Manual)
The Cambridge Arts Council in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been dealing with these challenges since the early 1980’s. In 1996
the Conservation and Maintenance Programwas started and currently provides care to a collection of over one hundred pieces.
The Conservation and Maintenance Program focuses on four goals; assessment, maintenance, treatment, and prefabrication conservation reviews. A prefabrication review provides information on the artist’s intent, material choices, technology updates and replacement, fabrication techniques, and installation methods. The prefabrication conservation review establishes a clearly written long-term maintenance plan. These indicators are integrated into a maintenance database and addressed as needed.
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JIM JACOBSON Chumash Pictographs 1999
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RECOMMENDATION 3
FUNDING MODELS
OPPORTUNITYIn order to maintain and grow public art in SLO, it will be necessary to pursue new funding models and opportunities.
SOLUTIONIn order to maximize funding opportunities, it is necessary to develop new and diverse funding partners and to integrate creative policies, programs and staff positions.
I. Study Public Private Partnership opportunities for public art.
II. Re-evaluate percentage for the arts including a possible increase.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IDEAS INCLUDE:
I. Propose funding for public art in regional parks when the parks and recreation element of the General Plan is updated.
II. Take advantage of the opportunity to use Federal and State funding as well as additional city funding for special projects.
III. Hire full time Public Art Manager who focuses on further public art development.
COST ASSOCIATIONFull time staffing cost is necessary with the creation of a Public Art Manager position. Other costs include special project funding.
Note: the success of Recommendation 3 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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RECOMMENDATION 4
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITYA wide array of people from varying backgrounds and experiences are part of the community in SLO. Engaging a diverse group of people and viewpoints can enrich and enhance the public art of SLO.
SOLUTIONEmploy creative outreach strategies in order to engage as wide of a variety of people as possible, to ensure ownership of SLO’s public art. Incorporating the young and old as well as those who have not previously participated in the community will advance the arts in SLO.
I. Use the library as a platform to engage a diversity of users in the art experience.
II. Engage students, both from Cal Poly and the local school system, in order to capture diverse viewpoints and to enhance long term buy in.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IDEAS INCLUDE:
I. In order to create a lasting impression and increase visitor spending, tourists and visitors of SLO should have the opportunity to immerse themselves in public art. This can be achieved through partnerships with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, and the Downtown Association though strategic messaging and tools for visitors that are distributed though all partner organizations.
II. Utilize the 6th Grade “Leave Your Legacy”
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SANDRA KAY JOHNSON Web of Life 2000
program to increase student engagement with the arts.
COST ASSOCIATIONNo funds are necessary for outreach and engagement. Staff time including Parks and Recreation Staff, future Public Arts Manager, and PR and Marketing is necessary.
Note: the success of Recommendation 4 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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RECOMMENDATION 5
DEVELOPER ENGAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITYResidential and Commercial Developers often devote large amounts of time and money in order to develop property in SLO. The current process may be cumbersome to those unaccustomed to and inexperienced with public art.
SOLUTIONBy streamlining the process of incorporating public art into new development, it may be possible to increase both the willingness to include art and the funds devoted to it by developers.
I. Provide developers with a community character framework as well as the history of the area they are building in order to develop plans that are relevant to the community.
II. Assign public art manager as liaison for developers to the city in order to streamline the public art process.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IDEAS INCLUDE:
I. Create a catalog of pre-approved suitable pieces, from which developers may select for typical developments, including predetermined cost.
II. Create a catalog of artists categorized by art type for developer use.
COST ASSOCIATIONStaff time is necessary to develop streamlined processes for new development as well as catalogs of artists and art pieces.
Note: the success of Recommendation 5 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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ALICE LOH Cheng Park 2006
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ELIZABETH MACQUEEN Ironroad Pioneers 2002
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RECOMMENDATION 6
CELEBRATE THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
OPPORTUNITYElevate the Public Art Program through increased visibility, communication and marketing.
SOLUTIONDevelop strategic messaging and partnerships.
I. Publicize a comprehensive public art inventory both online and offline.
II. Establish strong arts-related communications with Cal Poly student body.
III. Explore regional collaboration opportunities with other cities in San Luis Obispo County as well as more far-flung California cities.
IV. Create strong arts-related partnerships with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association, and San Luis Obispo Art Museum. This will increase visibility of the Public Art Program in all partner messaging.
V. Submit articles for publication to high profile news outlets in order to share the success of the program over the last 25 years. This will encourage readers to visit San Luis Obispo for our public art and culture.
COST ASSOCIATIONStaff time is necessary to develop content for article submission and to create an itinerary for travel journalists.
Note: the success of Recommendation 6 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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Spotlight
PERCENT FOR THE ARTS VARIOUS COMMUNITIES
Throughout the country, public art programs are charged with administering the development and management of public art in their communities. Development and maintenance of the program include, commissioning art to be installed in the community, purchasing existing artwork,maintaining existing public art collections, creating
community resources including print and online materials, seeking out partnerships and programming opportunities with public and private organizations, and acting as a source for information.
Since the late 1950’s, local Percent-for-Art ordinances have been applied to publicly-funded capital improvement projects.
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Today, many cities have also expanded Percent-for-Art programs to include private development.
Our comparable cities are no different. Napa requires a developer’s contribution to be equal to at least to one percent of the construction cost of any development within the city. If the developer does not contribute a piece of art to the development, three alternatives are provided. Developers are able to request the design review authority to select a location nearby to the development, Pay a public art contribution to the city equal to one percent of the construction cost. Projects generating a fee of over $500,000.00 may request that their fee be capped at $500,000.00, or install art within the
development that has a value lower than the public art contribution amount and make an in-lieu contribution for the balance of the public art contribution. (Municipal
Code: 15.108.040).
The City of Santa Monica’s cultural requirement for development is both innovative and flexible, calling for developers to allot 2% of their building permit valuation to on-site arts and/or cultural uses or to make a contribution of 1% of the project costs to a Cultural Arts Trust Fund. The Council’s goal is not only to preserve but also to improve the quality of life within the City (Santa Monica Municipal Code: 9.04.10.20.010).
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RECOMMENDATION 7
INCREASE DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTION
OPPORTUNITYIn 2000, City Council passed an Ordinance, requiring private property owners and developers to incorporate public art in new developments or substantially improved properties. They may purchase a piece of art and donate it to the City or pay a public art in-lieu fee.
If the payment of an art-in-lieu fee is voluntarily elected, the minimum cost of the public art, including installation, is determined by the amount equal to one-half of one percent (.5%) of that portion of the total construction costs in excess of $100,000, with a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000.
As the desirability to develop in San Luis Obispo continues to grow, the development rate climbs. Increasing the percent for the arts amount would allow for further growth of the public art program.
SOLUTIONIncrease the percentage of developer match.
I. Increase the developer match from 0.5% to a 1% match.
II. Remove the not-to-exceed fee of $50,000.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IDEAS INCLUDE:
I. Increase the developer match from 0.5% to a higher than 1% fee.
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KATHLEEN CARICOF Standing Tall World Trade Center Memorial 2015
COST ASSOCIATIONStaff time is necessary to research and develop the ordinance. Once adopted, this recommendation will have no cost associated with it, only an increase to public art funds.
Note: the success of Recommendation 7 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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RECOMMENDATION 8
GENERAL PROCESS RECOMMENDATIONS
OPPORTUNITYMany artists and designers find the process for developing a public art concept in San Luis Obispo cumbersome and time-consuming. Residents find the process opaque.
SOLUTIONDevelop a streamlined and more transparent process strategy for artists, designers and the public.
I. Allow the public art manager to determine if all steps in the process are necessary for each project.
II. Develop an online system that allows the viewing of proposed art pieces and offers opportunity for public comment.
III. Seek artists who will engage the public in creating their pieces of public art. The community overwhelmingly desires to participate in creating public art for their city.
COST ASSOCIATION
Staff time is needed for the following: (1) Determine which steps are necessary for each project. (2) Create the online system for reviewing proposed pieces. (3) Update database and mediate comments for each proposed piece.
Note: the success of Recommendation 8 depends on the implementation of Recommendation 1.
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JOSHUA WIENER Roots of the Community 2012
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Spotlight
PUBLIC ART PROCESSEXISTING TIMELINE WITHOUT PUBLIC ART MANAGER
CIP Review Committee Recommendations (project and funding for fiscal year)
Artwork Installed
Arts Obispo, AIPP Recommendations
Council Approves Recommendations
RFQ/ Call for Artists Released (reviewed by PW/CDD members)
PR Staff decides order of project(s) to be completed
Council Approves Artwork
Jury Review (PW or CDD member on jury)
Finalist(s) Selected
ARC Review
PRC Review
CHC Review
CDD Staff Routes to other Departments
PR Staff works with Artist(s) on plan check and permits
MONTHS 0-3
MONTHS 3-8
MONTHS 9-15
MONTHS 16-21
MONTHS 22-24
PR Staff Secure Contract with Artist(s)
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PUBLIC ART PROCESSPROPOSED TIMELINE WITH PUBLIC ART MANAGER
CIP Review Committee Recommendations (project and funding for fiscal year)
Artwork Installed
Arts Obispo, AIPP Recommendations
Council Approves Recommendations
RFQ/ Call for Artists Released (reviewed by PW/CDD members)
PA Manager decides order of project(s) to be completed
Council Approves Artwork
Jury Review (PW or CDD member on jury)
Finalist(s) Selected
PA Manager Secure Contract with Artist(s)
ARC Review
PRC Review
CHC Review
CDD Staff Routes to other Departments
PA Manager works with Artist(s) on plan check and permits
MONTHS 0-3
MONTHS 3-4
MONTHS 5-7
MONTHS 8-11
MONTHS 12-15
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Above: Yarn Bombed Tree 2015 Below: Participants in the public art master planning process2015
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CHAPTER 6
PRIORITY ACTION PLAN
“WE ARE ALREADY KNOWN FOR OUR
ARTSY FEEL, A PLAN WILL HELP US
KNOW WHERE WE’RE GOING AND
WHERE WE DON’T WANT TO GO.”
As a direct result of this San Luis Obispo Public Art Master planning process, many successes have been realized. We must build upon those in order to turn our vision into implementation.
As the San Luis Obispo Public Art Program grows into its next phase, we must take the necessary steps in order to ensure the program fulfills the needs of our community. The program will grow and improve based on the short-term, medium-term, and long-term visions identified in this chapter.
- SLOHS STUDENT
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DEVELOP MAINTENANCE PLANS FOR ALL NEW PUBLIC ART
STUDY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
APPLY FOR STATE, FEDERAL, AND PRIVATE GRANTS
PARTNER WITH LIBRARY FOR ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAMING
UTILIZE 6TH GRADE “LEAVE YOUR LEGACY PROGRAM FOR ENGAGEMENT
EXPLORE INCREASE IN “PRIVATE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES” PERCENT
EXAMINE EXISTING PUBLIC ART PROCESS
SHORT TERM (1-2 YEARS)IN THE SHORT TERM, FOCUS PRIORITIES ON A MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR NEW PUBLIC ART PIECES, PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND SOURCING NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
SHORT TERM TASKS POTENTIAL PARTNERS POTENTIAL LEAD
CITY STAFF
CITY STAFF, BUSINESSES, DEVELOPERS
CITY COUNCIL
CITY STAFF, ARTS OBISPO
CITY STAFF, ARTS OBISPO
CITY COUNCIL
CITY STAFF
ARTIST, ARTS OBISPO
CITY COUNCIL
CITY STAFF, ARTS OBISPO
LIBRARY STAFF
SAN LUIS OBISPO SCHOOL SYSTEM
CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF
CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL
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DEVELOPER COMMUNICATIONBecause major changes may take time, staff should take quick action to develop digital and print communication materials that explain and clarify the public art creation process for residents and developers alike.
STAFF TRAININGIn order to improve integration of art into every department,
the City should organize a training event from outside experts. These experts may
make recommendations on how to integrate public art into every aspect of city programming including but not limited to: marketing, parks and recreation, community development and tourism.
TRAVEL WRITINGBy creating updated public art focused media packets, the City can encourage travel writers to make public art a focus of their time in San Luis Obispo. City staff should also create and issue periodic press releases focused on the program.
SHORT TERM: INDEPTHA FOCUSED LOOK AT SHORT TERM OPPORTUNITIES
HISTORY CENTER COLLABORATIONHistoric context and interpretation should be an integral part of art in San Luis. To help facilitate the incorporation of history in our art, the city should partner with the history center to open up archives for easy access to artists.
ARTIST TRAINING OF MAINTENANCE STAFFAs part of future public art projects, selected artists should include a training session with maintenance staff in their
proposals and budgets. This will help better facilitate future maintenance of often intricate artwork in sometimes unfamiliar mediums.
LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCEAs with most vantage points in San Luis, the landscape makes all the difference, which is just as true with public art. This means care and attention should be paid not just to the maintenance of art pieces but also to their surrounding landscape.
STAKEHOLDER VIEWPOINTADDITIONAL IDEAS FROM SLOCALS LIKE YOU
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DEVELOP LONG TERM MAINTENANCE PLAN
IMPLEMENT NEW PERCENT FOR THE ARTS ORDINANCE
HIRE FULL TIME PUBLIC ART MANAGER
CREATE PROGRAM TO ENGAGE CAL POLY STUDENTS
CREATE PROGRAM TO ENGAGE WITH SLO CITY STUDENTS
STREAMLINE PUBLIC ART PROCESS FOR DEVELOPER
MEDIUM TERM (3-5 YEARS)PRIORITIES FOR THE MEDIUM TERM INCLUDE A MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR ALL PUBLIC ART PIECES, POLICY EXAMINATION, STAFFING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPER OPPORTUNITIES.
MEDIUM TERM TASKS POTENTIAL PARTNERS POTENTIAL LEAD
CITY COUNCIL, ARTIST
CITY STAFF, DEVELOPERS, ARTS OBISPO
CITY STAFF, ARTS OBISPO
ARTS OBISPO, CAL POLY STAFF
ARTS OBISPO, CITY STAFF
DEVELOPERS
CITY STAFF
CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL
CITY STAFF
SAN LUIS OBISPO SCHOOL SYSTEM
CITY STAFF
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PROCESS FLEXIBILITYPublic art comes in all shapes and sizes in San Luis. By allowing city staff to determine which steps of the public art process apply to each project, residents and artists can more easily follow through with projects and not be deterred by the many steps of implementation.
CAL POLY PARTNERSHIPWhether it is increasing participation in cultural activities or even producing art, Cal Poly students and staff are
ripe for more intensified public art engagement. Routine communication should be increased between Arts Obispo, City Staff and Cal Poly.
ONLINE ART INVENTORYIn order to better publicize San Luis Obispo’s public art to people across the street and across the world, an updated, online inventory should be enhanced and advertised. This inventory can include, the inspiration, importance, and resident interpretations of public art pieces.
MEDIUM TERM: INDEPTHA FOCUSED LOOK AT MEDIUM TERM OPPORTUNITIES
LICENSE STREET PERFORMERSStreet performers can and should be a regular occurrence in San Luis. They can add to the vitality of downtown and help increase tourism. By licensing the performers, the City can both promote the opportunities for performers and identify them for inclusion in cultural activities.
LECTURE SERIESFeatured lectures by artists, designers, and other creatives can help inspire public art and artists in San Luis. Lectures
could also be cultivated from the local community that could then help showcase SLO’s talent throughout the country.
STREAMLINE RFQ PROCESSIn order to achieve better results and to encourage great artists to apply, the City should re-evaluate and improve the RFQ process. Displaying finalists online and incorporating feedback to artists can help improve future submissions and help achieve more transparency.
STAKEHOLDER VIEWPOINTADDITIONAL IDEAS FROM SLOCALS LIKE YOU
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CONTRACT WITH ARTISTS FOR MAINTENANCE
EXPLORE PUBLIC ART FUNDING IN PARKS WHEN PARKS AND RECREATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN IS UPDATED
DEVELOP CATALOGUE OF ART PIECES AND ARTISTS FOR DEVELOPERS
DEVELOP CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT WEST OF MISSION PLAZA
LONG TERM (5+ YEARS)LONG TERM PRIORITIES FOR THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM INCLUDE ARTIST MAINTENANCE, EXPLORATION OF FUNDING THROUGH THE UPDATE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, AND DEVELOPER PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.
LONG TERM TASKS POTENTIAL PARTNERS POTENTIAL LEAD
CITY
CITY STAFF, ARTS OBISPO
DEVELOPERS, ARTISTS, ARTS OBISPO
CITY, ARTS OBISPO
ARTIST, ARTS OBISPO
CITY COUNCIL
CITY STAFF
CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF
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WEB PORTALThe public art process can be confounding for residents who wish to engage in the installation of new art. By creating a web portal that displays renderings, meeting information and allows for public comment, the City can open up the process.
REGIONAL COLLABORATIONCentral California and the surrounding area are rich in geography, heritage, art,
and creativity. The City and a consortium of arts organizations should be collaborating with communities throughout the central coast and California.
CROWDSOURCING APPHalf the battle with regular maintenance is identifying the problems. Residents who see our public art everyday could easily submit maintenance needs to staff. This can also be integrated into a larger city service request app or web portal.
LONG TERM: INDEPTHA FOCUSED LOOK AT LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES
CULTURAL DISTRICTHistory and culture are key drivers in San Luis. An opportunity exists to create a cultural arts district west of Mission Plaza that enhances visitor experiences and creates a hub for the city and region. This can be combined with wayfinding, public art, and even zoning.
SLO & CAL POLY CULTURAL TRAILThough they are adjacent, the City and University sometime
seem worlds apart. Connect the cultural trail concept Downtown with the Cal Poly campus by using public art. Multi-use paths, signage, sculptures, murals and more can ease the connection.
FLOORS OF HISTORYMany visitors to San Luis utilize the parking garage. By creating ‘floors of history’ the city can improve an otherwise mundane experience, and give residents and visitors a taste of SLO along the way.
STAKEHOLDER VIEWPOINTADDITIONAL IDEAS FROM SLOCALS LIKE YOU
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APPENDIX
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• Interactive water, light sculptures that also teach about solar power, and recycling water
• Kinetic art with recycled items, sculptures to reflect uniqueness of SLO
• Animals and kids in sculptures, on murals, and in crosswalks
• Giant chess game in Mission Plaza
• Let’s make all of our new art skateable
• Ocean murals to represent our coastal roots
• Local sights incorporated into all of our art.
• Art that embraces nature
• Abstract vehicles
• Light posts that shine words like love, move, live
• Crosswalks that are encouraging or have funny sayings or even make everything mosaic
• Miniature statue of important / honorable people like 3D prints about 9 inches in height distributed randomly around the town
• Interesting walkways and benches in downtown incorporating the mountains in art
• Art that people have to play on to make music
• More sculptures should be placed everywhere!
• Modern pieces with modern subjects
COMMUNITY-GENERATED
PROJECT IDEAS
WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY WHAT NEW IDEAS FOR PUBLIC ART THEY HAD. HERE’S WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH.
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• Murals of flowers found in other coastal communities in other countries
• Pop-out sculptures or statues
• Walls painted by the whole community so we can all feel like family
• Art that needs many participants at the same time to work fully
• Grown-up play grounds
• Obstacle courses that are made with art
• I think we should put life size statues of people all over town. There can be a couple swinging their child or a man walking with a brief case
• I would want to see more sculptures representing SLO
• Abstract piece about the 7 sisters hills
• Interactive art museums that teens could enjoy
• Art for the homeless, made by them and made for them
• Murals on the sides of buildings downtown
• Mosaics in our wheelchair ramps in the sidewalks
• Climbing wall on the side of our garage
• Art kids can learn to climb on
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• Art that incorporates pull-up rigs in our parks
• Sculpture that integrates music
• An iconic piece of art that we can say is exclusively San Luis.
• Statues of people that impacted San Luis.
• Light art on any columns on buildings
• Decorative walkways that are inviting for people to walk through
• Crosswalks that change color when it rains and are only visible when it rains
• Giant vibrant and colorful shapes to line our wider roads with large medians
• Waterfall structures that invite people to play in them
• Decorative doorways that open to our open spaces.
• Pop-up art galleries in unexpected locations
• Stairs that a message is incorporated into
• Interactive water art that uses recycled water
• Graffiti art as community murals
• Participatory art that invites the community to answer a big question over a certain period of time.
• Wayfinding signage that incorporate our healthy values and our love for art.
• Paint our bike lanes different colors or allow artists to design a certain portion of the lane.
• Bike stations that are artfully designed and say to visitors that we care about bikers and art.
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• 3D murals that have whimsical stories and content
• Use the color green in our art so when we are in droughts, we remember our surroundings
• Incorporate our industrial heritage into of our art
• More temporary art that is out of character for San Luis Obispo.
• Art on overpasses and any of our underpasses
• More art on our bridges. Even art that is incorporated into the concrete pour.
• Giant checkerboards in our parks
• American Indian Icons, sculptures and murals
• More interactive art in our skate park
• Art that is made for our pets. One that teaches them how to get treats or to get water by interacting with the art
• Kinetic sculptures that remind us we are all part of the natural setting that envelopes us
• Signs designed by artists that show us a walking route to and from destinations. These will encourage walking and biking
• A piece made with a bunch of skateboards
• A large sculpture made from a bunch of half pipes
• Gateways that let visitors know you have arrived in San Luis Obispo
• Bike Racks that are placed all over the city and are designed by artists that live in that part of town
• Art in our parks that we have to be active to see
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• A sculpture designed by students from the art department at S.L.O.H.S. and built by students in the welding/wood department.
• It would be really creative to incorporate almost an ever-lasting mural painting that ‘jumps from one building to the next all the way down the main street of downtown. Even if the paintings were swirling lines or quotes on the buildings lining the street it would incorporate a very unique side of SLO
• Pictures of Sports
• Art in our sidewalks
• Art on our basketball rims and on our nets
• Murals or sculptures in parking lots or out side of our stores
• Tile murals around down town or just in the city
• Mosaics or murals that send a message
• Create something completely made out of vintage tin cans
• Create murals on trees
• Sculptures of garden gnomes and fairies
• Living flowers that are all blue and are shaped like a whale
• Art inspired by vintage dresses
• Create a piece at Bishop’s Peak that depicts a person having a hard time climbing.
• Sculptures in all of the grocery parking lots of things you find in groceries
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• Let each neighborhood choose a theme and develop art programming around the community selected theme
• A walk-through photography exhibit that is placed throughout the town
• Art displayed on our buses in a gallery format
• Temporary art installation that allows visitors to have an understanding of the culture and history of San Luis
• Paint the asphalt at Sunset Drive-in to have a movie theme that attendees would enjoy.
• A glass shard sculpture that you could see a reflection of yourself would make a statement.
• Put a slide down the mountains that we have to hike up to slide down.
• A larger than life troll with crazy hair at an intersection that waves its hand.
• Designate an empty wall or stretch of sidewalk for people to draw on with paint or chalk.
• Place a cool antique lamp post that doesn’t work and serves no practical purpose but looks really sick in a random neighborhood. Move it every 3 months to a different neighborhood.
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COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
RESULTS
WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM. HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
WHERE DO YOU TAKE VISITORS WHEN THEY COME TO TOWN?
MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY INVOLVING ARTS AND CULTURE IN SLO IS…
DOWNTOWN (INCLUDES MISSION PLAZA, BUBBLEGUM ALLEY, FARMER’S MARKET, CONCERTS AT THE PLAZA, THE ART MUSEUM AND THE CREEK WALK)
ACTIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES (INCLUDES HIKING, LOCAL BEACHES, PARKS, SLO SKATEPARK)
SHOPPING
WINERIES, MADONNA INN
CAL POLY
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SPORTS GAMES, AT-HOME ACTIVITIES, AND CULTURAL EVENTS
55%:
39%:
2%:
2%:
1%:
1%:
PUBLIC ART (INCLUDES UTILITY BOXES)
PROGRAMMED ARTS ACTIVITIES
CULINARY ARTS
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
PERFORMANCE ARTS ACTIVITIES
ARTS OBISPO ACTIVITIES
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING PAINTING AND VISITING STUDIOS
24%:
19%:
19%:
16%:
12%:
8%:
2%:
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A GREAT IDEA FOR EXPANDING THE SLO PUBLIC ART PROGRAM IS…
EXPAND THE TYPES OF PUBLIC ART IN THE COLLECTION
ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AT A HIGHER CAPACITY
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PIECES IN THE COLLECTION
INCREASE PROGRAMMING
PLACE MORE PUBLIC ART OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN
PLACE PUBLIC ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
31%:
27%:
16%:
10%:
8%:
6%:
THE SLO PUBLIC ART PROGRAM SHOULD FOCUS ITS GROWTH THROUGH…
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC ART DOWNTOWN
INCORPORATING PUBLIC ART INTO OUR WALKING / BIKING TRAILS
PLACING PUBLIC ART OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN
INCORPORATING PUBLIC ART INTO OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES
PLACING PUBLIC ART IN PARKS
PLACING PUBLIC ART IN OUR SHOPPING CENTERS
PLACING PUBLIC ART AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS
26%:
19%:
19%:
12%:
10%:
7%:
7%:
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THE SLO PUBLIC ART PROGRAM SHOULD FOCUS ON:
WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC ART DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN SLO?
RANK TYPES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE.
INCORPORATING NEW PUBLIC ART TYPES INTO THE COLLECTION
STRATEGIC PLACEMENT OF ART
INCORPORATION OF SLO’S IDENTITY INTO OUR NEW ART
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN THE PUBLIC ART PROCESS
EXPANDING THE PUBLIC ART COLLECTION
SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS
39%:
16%:
15%:
14%:
10%:
6%:
MURALS, INCLUDING MOSAICS AND STREET ART
MODERN ART
INTERACTIVE ART
3D ART
FUNCTIONAL ART, INCLUDING BENCHES, BIKE RACKS, TRASHCANS, LIGHT POLES
LOCAL ART SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS
38%:
22%:
17%:
14%:
11%:
6%:
POP- UP AND TEMPORARY ART
MURALS AND MOSAICS
SITE SPECIFIC ART
MODERN ART
SCULPTURE ART
GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS
23%:
19%:
16%:
15%:
14%:
13%:
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