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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.F 8/4/2014DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Agenda Item #3.F August 4, 2014 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager Heather Hines, Planning Manager Update on Petalurna Public Art Committee's Upcoming Call for Artists/Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Public Art Installation RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council accept the staff update on the release of a Request for Qualification (RFQ) and subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) for a public art installation in the Water Street Plaza area. I.. . : 1 1011 The mission of the City of Petaluma's public art program is to enhance the appearance and cultural richness of the City by incorporating works of art into public places. Specifically, this includes the acquisition and placement of public art on public property, as outlined in the General Plan, Public Art Master Plan, the enabling legislation of the Petaluma Public Art Committee (PPAC), and Chapter 18 of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO). Several non-residential developments over the past couple of years have contributed to an approximate $300,000 balance in the City's public art fund. These funds were generated through payment of the required I% public art in -lieu fee for non-residential projects with construction costs greater than $500,000. As outlined in 1ZO Section 18.190, use of monies held in the public art fund are limited to: • Cost of installing public art on public property, including the cost of commissioning or otherwise acquiring and providing and preparing sites for public art • The cost of public art lighting • The cost of public art identifying plaques • The cost of maintaining public art • The cost of supporting publicly accessible art exhibits • The cost of documenting the City's public art program and promotion of the program through education, publicity and outreach • The cost of conserving the City's public art collection • The cost of planning and administering the City's public art program Agenda Review: City Attorney Finance Director City Manager In keeping with these criteria, the Petaluma Public Art Committee has developed a Request for Qualifications and subsequent Request for Proposals to commission and install public art in the Waterfront Plaza area near the western terminus of the Balshaw Bridge. The general terns of the project are outlined below and City staff is reviewing the requisite documents and associated legal contracts to guide the Committee in their request, evaluation, selection, and oversight of the commission and installation. Location Over several public meetings, the PPAC evaluated public art locations using site categories identified in the Public Art Master Plan which was adopted by the City Council in 2013. The site proposed and outlined in the RFQ and RFP is Water Street between Petaluma Boulevard North and the Petaluma River. The primary area of focus is from Washington Street to the Balshaw Bridge, extending from the railroad tracks to the far top of bank and including Western Avenue. This is a pedestrian area along the riverfront in Petalunia's Downtown Historic Commercial District. RFO_ The RFQ is the pre -qualification stage of the larger call -for -artists process. The general parameters of the project, including budget, location, and timeline, will be outlined and submittal requirements will include demonstration of previous public art commissions and installations completed by the artist or team of artists. The PPAC will send the RFQ to a list of artists previously compiled for the fire station RFQ process. Additional means of publication will also be used to reach a broader audience of qualified artists. Based on predefined evaluation criteria, a subcommittee of the Public Art Committee will rank applications received and select three to five finalists to receive the subsequent RFP. Each of the finalists will be offered a $1,000 stipend to be used for development of a design concept for their proposed artwork. Further refinement of the finalists will be made by the subcommittee based on evaluation of the proposals and the top finalists will be presented to the City Council for final selection. Budget The proposed budget for the project is $120,000 to $150,000, which would include costs associated with design, fabrication, and installation of the public artwork. This has been budgeted as a line item in the 2014/15 budget as approved by the City Council. Timeline The PPAC proposes to release the RFQ on September 1, 2014. The tentative timeline is as follows, dates are subject to change: RFQ Release RFQ Submittal Deadline RFP Release RFP Submittal Deadline City Council Hearing Contract Award September 1, 2014 November 1, 2014 Winter 2015 60 days from release of the RFP Spring 2015 Spring 2015 r) Design Development and Approval Summer 2015 Fabrication and Installation Fall — Winter 3015 Completion Winter 2015 Next Steps A draft RFQ has been created by a subcommittee of the PPAC. Staff is currently reviewing the RFQ, developing the RFP, and creating the necessary contract language. The completed package will be reviewed and finalized with a subcommittee of the PPAC prior to release of the initial RFQ. The PPAC will select a review team to evaluate the RFQ submissions. At this time the PPAC has identified the review team to include members of the PPAC as well as a representative from the Petaluma art community and at least one stakeholder with ties to the waterfront area. Staff will continue to work with and support the PPAC throughout the process and will provide regular updates to the Council through the City Manager. EJS.TKI&SIInwN The process of commissioning a new piece of public artwork in the downtown waterfront area is consistent with the Petaluma General Plan as well as the recently adopted Public Art Master Plan, PPAC enabling legislation, and Chapter 18 of the IZO as discussed below. General Plan Chapter 6 of the Petaluma General Plan discusses recreation, music, parks, and the arts. The General Plan acknowledges that art plays an important "economic, educational, and social role in the life of Petaluma' and contributes to Petaluma's sense of identity and livability. The General Plan sets long-term goals to further facilitate public art in the city. The acquisition and placing of public art on public property is consistent with the following General Plan policies. 6-P-27 Utilize the Public Art Committee to implement the City's public art program and increase art throughout Petaluma. 6-P-30 Place public art in areas that are interactive and accessible to the public and at the City's gateway. Public Art Diaster Plait The Petaluma Public Art Master Plan was adopted by the City Council on July l , 2013. The Master Plan provides detailed recommendations for enhancing Petaluma's public art program, including identification of sites and consideration of types of artwork for future public art projects on public property. The proposed RFQ/RFP process reflects the following goals of the Master Plan, specifically in regard to the waterfront area: Goal 2 Develop a Public Art Program that addresses and reflects the values, cultures and aspirations of the community. • Encourage art projects that consider Petaluma's geography, including the Petaluma River at its center and its surrounding hills. Goal 3 Create a Public Art Program that supports and advances the urban design and community goals of the City. Public art enriches Petaluma's neighborhoods and gateways. It adds aesthetic and cultural richness to downtown. The proposed RFQ supports the Implementation criteria outlined in the Master Plan, specifically in regard to the selection process, in the following ways: • Implementing public art projects on other public property. • The PPAC will regularly monitor the Public Art Fund and determine when sufficient monies are available to fund a public art project that is not tied to a specific public construction project. PPAC will refer to the Public Art Master Plan's recommendations for sites, for permanent and temporary placements. The PPAC will manage the process for search and review of all artwork, as outlined in the Public Art Ordinance. The proposed RFQ is also consistent with the use of Public Art Fund monies as described in the Master Plan. Specifically, the Master Plan states: "The Public Art Funds should be used to acquire, promote and maintain public art on public property. The Public Art Fund is intended to nrccrinrize the acquisition and installation ofpublic Aro in Petaluma. Accordingly, Public Art Fund proceeds should be allocated approximately as follows... 65% [for J Arhrork acquisitions and commissions for public property... .. The proposed RFQ is consistent with the public art site categories as defined in the Master Plan. The Master Plan lists several zones in the City which are identified for public art projects, including parks, plazas, municipal facilities, pedestrian and recreational pathways, gateways and roadways. The Water Street location is specifically highlighted under the plaza category within the Master Plan which further indicates that public art associated with plazas should: • Enliven public spaces by adding focal interest, whinnsy, hurnor and/or beauty • Help identify the plaza and its vicinity, creating a sense of place • Strongly consider the range of the City's historical, and physical attributes, and demographic and social characteristics • Encourage the enjoyment and celebration of the human spirit and artistic creativity 4 Specifics in the RFQ/RFP package identify the Water Street site as a highly visible location and discuss the importance for the artist to integrate their proposal with the downtown commercial historic district along the City's riverfront. More specifically, the RFQ/RFP states the arbvork should enhance the surrounding area, integrate existing landscape and structures, allow for flexibility of development in the future, and work within the safety, traffic and logistical constraints of the area. Furthermore, any piece should be inviting to pedestrian traffic from the downtown area, viewable day or night, and consider the area as whole. The artist designing the selected piece will have demonstrated consideration of the history of the area, its cultural importance to the City, as well as the natural elements of the river itself. Implementing Zoning Ordinance The release of the RFQ/RFP package is consistent with Section 18.190 of the IZO — Public Art Fund. This section outlines the permitted uses of monies held in the public art fund. Section 18.190 A.l. allows for the fund to be used for "[t]he cost of installing public art on public property including the cost of commissioning or otherwise acquiring and providing and preparing sites for public art." PPAC Enabling Legislation The release of the RFQ/RFP package is consistent with City Council Resolution No. 2013-101, which updated the enabling legislation of the PPAC on July 1, 2013. Item 5.b. of the Resolution states that "[t]he Committee will select and approve public arrivorks for installation on public property by identifying project sites and target budgets, conducting artist searches, and reviewing submissions of proposed artworks." FINANCIAL IMPACTS The RFQ and associated staff work, as well as the subsequent RFP and funding for the artwork, will be paid for by funds from the Public Art Fund. The three to five artists or artist teams selected as finalists of the RFQ process and who receive the subsequent RFP will each be offered a $1.000 stipend to assist in the preparation of a detailed development of their proposal. The current budget proposed for artwork design, fabrication and installation is $120,000 to $150,000. The Public Art Fund has a current balance of $317,540.