Title
Recommendation to Accept the Biennial Report for the Public Art Fund as Required by the Public Art Ordinance. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 10061810)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Public Art Ordinance (Ordinance) requires a biennial report on the distribution of Public Art Fund (Fund) monies. This report is intended to satisfy the requirement for calendar years 2022 and 2023. In 2022 and 2023, the City of Alameda (City) awarded eight cultural art and arts programming grants and the Public Art Commission (PAC) and City Council approved three on-site physical public art projects (Neptune Beach Roller Coaster, MetalMorphosis and Balance). During this same period, staff worked closely with artists and other City departments to oversee the installation of five previously approved physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Beken, Alameda Afore, Tidal Arch, and Egrets with no Regrets). In addition, beginning in June 2022, staff worked with PAC and a selected consultant to develop a Draft Public Art Master Plan (Plan), which is being recommended for adoption by the City Council this evening. Over the next two years, consistent with the Public Art Master Plan (Plan), staff will work with the PAC and City Council to issue grants for both physical art and cultural art and arts programming.
BACKGROUND
The Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98) requires that major development projects include public art on site, or pay a fee in lieu of providing the onsite artwork. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Fund. The Fund can then only be used by the City to provide or support public art. The Fund had a balance of $1,054,398 as of June 30, 2023.
In 2022 and 2023, the public art program awarded eight cultural art and arts programming grants and staff worked closely with artists and other City departments to oversee the installation of five previously approved physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Beken, Alameda Afore, Tidal Arch, and Egrets with no Regrets). Of the eight cultural art and arts programming grants awarded, two elected not to move forward with their projects and forfeited their grants, five have been completed, and one is scheduled to be completed in spring 2024. In 2022 and 2023, the PAC City Council approved three on-site physical public art projects (Neptune Beach Roller Coaster, MetalMorphosis and Balance), all of which have been installed. In addition, the City contracted with public art consultant, Forecast Public Art, to help develop a Plan for a total of $60,000 funded from the Fund.
The Ordinance requires a biennial report on the distribution of Fund monies for public art. This report is intended to satisfy the requirement for calendar years 2022 and 2023.
DISCUSSION
The awarded grants and on-site public art projects are listed below and Exhibit 1 contains a complete summary of all funded artwork, including artist and artwork name, description, funding amount and current status.
Grants Awarded, In Progress and Completed
Public Art Fund Grants
• Rockspinners, Zach Coffin
• Egrets with no Regrets Mural, Dan Fontes
• Back Story, Anchor Alameda Association for Art & Film
• Fiesta Alameda, West End Arts District
• PAL in the Park, Rhythmix Cultural Works
• Plein Air Paintout, Frank Bette Center for the Arts
• East Bay Open Studios Alameda, Oakland Art Murmur
• Breath, Tara Pilbrow Dance
All grants were recommended by the PAC and approved by City Council.
On-site Developer Installed Public Art
• Alameda Afore, Rodrigo Nava
• Beken, Dewitt Godfrey (partially funded with Public Art Funds)
• Tidal Arch, Adrien Segel
• Neptune Beach Roller Coaster, Jon Artemus
• MetalMoprhosis, 1AM Projects
• Balance, 1AM Projects
Public Art Master Plan
Beginning in June 2022, staff worked with the PAC and selected consultant, Forecast Public Art, to develop a Plan. The development of the Plan in Alameda involved a community engagement strategy that collaborated with local artists, arts organizations, and community members. On October 17, 2023, the PAC voted to recommend to City Council adoption of the Plan. This evening, staff is recommending that City Council adopt a resolution adopting the Public Art Master Plan.
Upcoming Public Art Grants
Over the next two years, consistent with the Plan, staff will work with the PAC and City Council to issue grants for both physical art and cultural arts and art programming.
ALTERNATIVES
• Accept the biennial report for the Public Art Fund.
• Modify the biennial report or request that staff provide additional information.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to accept the biennial report for the Public Art Fund. By ordinance, all grant funds are held in the Public Art Fund (24061814), which can only be used for eligible public art purposes specified in the Ordinance.
Staff time to administer the grants, the PAC, and other public art activities are funded through the General Fund (10061810).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This report is consistent with the requirements of Section 30-98 of the Alameda Municipal Code which relates to public art.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the biennial report for the Public Art Fund as required by the Public Art Ordinance.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Walker Toma, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brian, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Summary of Awarded Public Art Grants, 2022-2023