HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/1997, C-2 - IDENTIFICATION OF 1997-99 CAPITAL PROJECTS APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC ART AND CONSIDERATION OF A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE A PROPOSED PUBLIC ART SCULPTURE council °�to 21 -9'1
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Ken Hampian,Assistant City. Administrative Officer
Prepared By: Wendy George,Assistant to the City Administrative OlEcer W1
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SUBJECT: Identification of 1997-99 Capital Projects Appropriate for Public Art and
Consideration of a Public/Private Partnership to Create a Proposed Public Art
Sculpture
CAO RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the allocation of$26,900 available in the General Fund for public art in the
1997-99 Financial Plan to the Mitchell Park and Rodriguez Adobe capital improvement
projects,with the Sinsheimer Park improvements project as a fall back.
2. Approve allocation of$37,800 available in the Parking Fund for public art in the 1997-99
Financial Plan to the Marsh Street parking structure expansion project.
3. Provide conceptual approval to a public/private partnership for a proposed sculpture called
"Gandy Dancers" to be placed in Railroad Square, and direct staff to return to Council at a
later date with a formal partnership plan for approval.
DISCUSSION
Background
In 1990 the City Council adopted a Visual Arts in Public Places Program. Developed by a
committee composed of San Luis Obispo County Arts Council members, City advisory body
members and local citizens, the program is voluntary for private development and mandatory for
most City projects. It requires that one percent of the construction budget of most City "above
ground" capital projects be earmarked for public art. It also establishes a matching grant program
to encourage private contributions to public art. Based on eligible capital projects in the 1997-99
Financial Plan, a total of $26,900 is currently available for public art in the General Fund and
$37,800 in the Parking Fund. (Attachment 1.)
Capital Improvement Plan Committee Recommendations
The Capital Improvement Plan(CIP) Committee consists of representatives from the Public Works,
Utilities, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Finance and Administration
Departments and serves to advise the City Administrative Officer on capital project priorities and
coordination. The committee met in August to develop a recommendation on the best way to
allocate the available public art funds to capital projects planned for construction in the next two
years. After considering all the projects which are potentially eligible for a public art allocation
from &z General Fund, the committee felt that there were five that would be most appropriate for
public art: Mitchell Park improvements, Mission Plaza renovations and improvements, Sinsheimer
Park improvements, Jack House improvements and the Rodriguez Adobe restoration. However,
considering the level of funding available, the committee felt that it was more appropriate to
designate funding to a limited number of projects,where a more significant impact would be made,
rather than to disburse it out in smaller amounts over all five projects.
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Council Agenda Report-Public Art
Page 2
Therefore, the Committee proposed that the funding should be divided between the Mitchell Park
improvements and the Rodriguez Adobe restoration projects. Mitchell Park was selected because
of its downtown location and high visibility to the community. The Rodriguez Adobe project was
chosen because it represents a unique opportunity to integrate public art into an historical context.
The Committee was excited about the potential enhancement that art could bring to a location
which will likely become a"mini museum"at some time in the future.
Mission plaza was not selected because it already contains several pieces of public art. The Jack
House was also not recommended because the funding required for improvements there is small
and generates a very small percentage of the total public art funds available. In addition, there is
already a Jack House Fund containing over $31,000 to be used for improvements to the Jack
House,which could,in some cases,be in the form of public art.
However, the Committee was concerned that because the restoration work at the Rodriguez adobe
is being done by a volunteer group,progress may be very slow and it may be difficult to determine
the best way to incorporate public art until much firrther into the process. The Committee
recommended that if including public art in the restoration cannot be accomplished during the next
two years,the funding should be reallocated to the Sinsheimer Park improvements project,instead.
The majority of the public art funds generated by the Parking Fund are as a result of the Marsh
Street parking garage expansion. The Committee felt that it was very appropriate to use those
funds for public art in conjunction with the garage expansion. There are already decorative
ceramics embedded in the walls of the existing structure. Whether or not those motifs should be
continued on the expansion or a new form of public art should be included is a decision that will
need to be made as part of the expansion design.
The staff believes that by designating the Mitchell Park improvements, the Rodriguez Adobe
restoration and the Marsh Street garage expansion for public art before any actual design work has
taken place, the managers of these projects will be able to insure that the art is appropriately
incorporated into the design process,rather than the art becoming last minute"add ons".
Concept for Creating the"Gandy Dancers" Sculuture
In 1994 the City was approached by a very well-known local sculptor, Elizabeth MacQueen, about
the possibility of installing a bronze sculpture of her creation at Railroad Square to honor the
Chinese who worked on the railroad in San Luis Obispo County. Ms. MacQueen is a member of
the National Sculpture Society of America, the oldest and most prestigious sculptors' organization
in the country, and her work is collected worldwide.
A clay maquette, which was later cast in bronze, was developed of a work entitled "Gandy
Dancers" (See attachment 2.) The design was then reviewed by the San Luis Obispo Arts Council,
which favorably endorsed it. Finally, both the City's Cultural Heritage Committee and
Architectural Review Committee have approved the work for the proposed site at Railroad Square.
Ms. MacQueen's original intention was to form a financing committee which would seek out
corporate sponsorships, community contributions and possibly grants. However, due to a number
of intervening complications, fiurdraising never really got started. Recently, the committee has
reconvened and is once again eager to begin working on finding contributors for the approximately
$100,000 needed to create, cast,prepare the site and install the sculpture.
At the same time, the City Council gave direction to staff at its July 1, 1997 meeting to revitalize
the Visual Arts in Public Places Program. Staff has met with the "Gandy Dancers" committee to
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Council Agenda Report-Public Art
Page 3
explore ways that the City could assist in the process of the sculpture's creation. While details still
need to be developed, staff is suggesting that a public/private partnership be developed for part of
the cost, along the lines of the matching grant process already outlined in the adopted program. Not
only would such a matching program create an impetus for fundraising, the publicity generated
would provide the City an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of its public arts program.
Development of a Program for Mandatory Private Contributions to Public Art
At the direction of the Council, staff has begun to explore developing a program which establishes
a mandatory private contribution toward public art for new development. Staff members,
accompanied by representatives of the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council and Chamber of
Commerce, have visited the City of Oxnard, which has such a program After the visit, this same
group met to discuss a strategy for enlisting the support of key members of the development
community who would become "ambassadors" for a mandatory private contribution program.
Once these key individuals have been identified and brought on board, staff proposes working with
the Arts Council to hold a forum on public art which would provide both an opportunity for
educating the community and taking input from the community. Ultimately, a policy will be
developed and brought to the Council for approval.
CONCURRENCES
The Architectural Review Committee, Cultural Heritage Committee and San Luis Obispo County
Arts Council have all previously endorsed the"Gandy Dancers"sculpture.
FISCAL EMPACT
In the General Fund there is currently $12,900 allocated for public art in 1997-98 and $14,000 in
1998-99. In the Parking Fund there is $37,800 allocated for public art in 1997-98 and $700 for
1998-99. It staffs recommendation that these funds be used for public art in conjunction with the
CIP projects outlined above.
There is currently no funding available for any public art matching grants. If the concept of a
public/private partnership for creating "Gandy Dancers" is approved, a funding level and strategy
will need to be included as part of the partnership plan.
ALTERNATIVES
Council could choose to designate other City CIF's for public art instead of those proposed by the
CEP Committee.
Attachments
1. 1997-99 Capital Improvement Projects eligible for public art
2. Computer generated image of"Gandy Dancers"
3. Preliminary budget for creating sculpture
C�3
1997-99 Financial Pl,,
CAPITAL IMPROVEidNT PLAN
PROGRAM: Cultural Services I
REQUEST TITLE: Public Art
Project Description ■
Under the City's public art policy, I%of the construction component of capital improvement plan (CIP) projects
is to be allocated for public art. Excluded from this 1% requirement are underground projects, utility infrastructure
projects, funding from outside agencies, and costs other than construction such as study, environmental review,
design site preparation and acquisition.
Generally, it is preferable for the public art component to be integrated duectly into the project. However, in some
cases, this is not practical or desirable. In these circumstances, an "in-lieu" contribution may be made to a generic
public art account that can be used to fimd public art in conjunction with other projects or locations where it can
have a greater public benefit than if it was arbitrarily installed with a project to which public art was not well-
suited.
To ensure that funds are adequately budgeted for public art regardless of whether public art will be directly
incorporated into the project,fiords for this purpose are identified separately in the CIP. . Council
ng l approval, briefings will endations to the Coo held
After the Financial Ian is
adopted, the CIP Review Committee will review the approved projects, and make rec
regarding the allocation of public art fimds to specific projects FollowiCounciomah
with affected project managers on the most effective process for incorporating public art into their project
Project Objectives
Provide funding for public art in accordance with City policy.
Existing Situation/Project.Work Completed
Due to the serious fiscal difficulties facing the City at that time,no fundis for lie
95 Financial Plan; and the fin ' g art was included in the 1993-
ding provided for public art as part of the 1991-93 Financial Plan was eliminated
As part of the 1995-97 Financial Plan,public art was faded at %%versus the 1%policy level ($9,200 for 1995-
96 and $5,800 for 1996-97). Since that time,public art funding has been made to the Palm street
arkiproject ($5,000); and a nding proposal for the new Parks & Recreation offices is anticipated in thear garage
fu
A Council study session is planned for May or June of 1997 to review the status of the City's art-in-public places
policy.
Goal and Policy Links
■ Public art policy
■ Public art policies and procedures manual ►`
■ Financial Plan policies
Project Phasing,Costs and Funding Sources ►' i
The following reflects construction costs for those projects that meet the Citys re o t
allocation,and the resulting public art budget request; quirement fora 1/o public art
188 ATTACHMENT 1
C2- y
' runnc An(Lonttnued)
f General Fund
Construction Costs 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01
Fire station no. 3 bathroom repair 14,000
Neighborhood traffic mitigation 20.000 40,000 40.000 40,000
Street reconstruction and resurfacing 825,000 850,000 875,000 900,000
Orcuttroad widening 100,000
ICreek bank stabilization 100,000 100,000
Minor bicycle transition projects 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000
Pedestrian circulation improvements 700,000
Mitchell Park improvements 135,000
Park renovations and repairs 40,000 77,000 36,000
Throop park restroom replacement 67,000
Mission plaza renovations and improvements 150,000 50,000
Sinsheimerpark improvements 35,000 54,000 120,000 320,000
Swim center renovations
Laguna lake dredging 40,000
Jack House improvements 100,000
17,500 22,500 20,000 20,000
Rodriguez adobe 100,000
Building renovations and repairs 94,000 86,000 40,000
Corporation-vard improvements 90,000 150,000
Total 1,287,500 1,396,500 1,711,
2,133,000 0
Public Art Fundis 1%Contribtion Sl 900 00$14,000 $21,300 $17,100
Parkin Fund
Construction Costs
1997-()RT-1998-99 1999-00 2000-01
Marsh street parking garage expansion -3,7-00-,00-0r'
Parking garage renovations and repairs 75,000 65,000 15,000 15,000
Railroad s e resealin
Total 50,000
3,775,000 65,000 15,000 65,000
Public Art Funding1%Contribtion $37,800 5700 $200
$700
Other Projects
■ Multi-modal transportation terminal The multi-modal transportation terminal project will be solely
funded through outside sources, and accordingly, no formal budget allocations for public art have been
proposed for this project Nonetheless, it will be our goal in finalizing finding and design of this project to
incorporate public art at the 1% level, or about 514,900 based on estimated construction costs of
$1,490,000 for this project
■ Community development block grant (CDBG)projects Generally, public art is an eligible cost un
der
CDBG guidelines. Because this is an outside funding source, no formal budget allocations for public art
have been proposed for CDBG capital projects. Nonetheless, it will be our goal in finalizing funding and
design for CDBG projects to incorporate public art at the 1%policy level whenever possible.
Implementation
As noted above, after the Financial Plan is adopted, the CIP Review Committee will review the approved projects,
and make recommendations to the Council regarding the allocation of public art funds to specific projects. This
189
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date: 9/23/97
re: RRSQ Sculpture GANDY DANCERS
from: Don Baxter
PROTECT STATUS
The artist has already created and cast GANDY DANCERS at 15 inches high in
bronze. Marco and Saro Rizzo have already escorted.the project through the
City process and have the O.K. from the needed bodies to proceed.
TO CREATE & PRODUCE & INSTALL GANDY DANCERS & THE BASE at LIFE
There are two things to design, createand cast: two 6 ft. figures with their
rods. The base of ties, rails and bedding will be of actual railroad materials.
STUDIO ($40,000)
Design
Armature
Welding
Clay and other materials
Shipping
Models
Photography
Assistants
Travel to foundry
FOUNDRY ($40,000)
Mold
Wax
Cast
Welding & Chasing
Rods
Patina
Preparation for installation
INSTALLATION ($20,000)
Shipping
Preparation of the site
Construction at the site of the plinth and the auto safety barrier
Installation
Plaque
CONTINGENCY ($5,000)
Alterations
Necessary changes and modifications. There will be some.
ARTIST CONTRIBUTION
The artist has made available for the project, GANDY DANCERS at 15
inches high in bronze. It is a fine art limited edition and comes with a
beautiful wooden base with plaque. This is not contributed services, but a
$6,000 value plus the generated income from such a work.
ATTACHMENT 3
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