Title
Recommendation to Retrofit or Decommission Rockspinner Artworks
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
BACKGROUND
In June of 2018, the Public Art Commission (PAC) recommended a grant of $150,000 to artist Zach Coffin for two (2) Rockspinners, and in September of 2018 the City Council approved the grant. The artwork consists of two (2) multi-ton boulders, engineered to easily spin with a single push.
Staff worked with the artist and the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) to engage a contractor to install foundations for both artworks, to be paid for by the grant monies. As part of this process, ARPD agreed to cover the costs associated with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility for the artworks - primarily, the installation of decomposed granite around the Rockspinners to facilitate access ($8,851). During the foundation installation process, the contractors discovered that a small concrete curb would be required to ensure a level surface for installation of the artwork. The additional cost of this curb was $14,538.
In June of 2021, the PAC approved an additional $11,559.50 in funds to cover half of the combined total for the decomposed granite and the concrete curb ($23,119). The initial $150,000 physical art grant plus the unforeseen expenses bring the total cost of the artworks to $173,119. The Rockspinners were installed in Jean Sweeney Open Space Park in 2022.
DISCUSSION
In April of 2026, artist Zach Coffin notified ARPD that a Rockspinner in Warsaw, Poland failed. The same contractor installed the Rockspinners in Alameda. While an engineer did not evaluate the Rockspinner in Poland, the artist believes the failure was due to fasteners used in the design. The failure in question presented an immediate safety issue and, upon receiving the notification, ARPD closed off the artworks in Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. The artworks will remain closed until they can be retrofit or decommissioned.
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