Title
Establish and Appoint Members to an Ad Hoc Public Art Commission Committee (“Selection Panel”). The Public Art Commission will hold a public meeting to establish and appoint members to a Selection Panel for cultural arts and arts programming in Alameda. The formation of an Ad Hoc Committee is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and
Members of the Public Art Commission
From: Lois Butler
Economic Development Manager
Date: October 15, 2018
BACKGROUND
Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98 Public Art in New Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Municipal Construction (the "Ordinance”) requires that major development projects include on-site public art. The Ordinance also permits an applicant to pay a fee in-lieu of providing the art on site. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Public Art Fund (the "Fund"). The Fund can then only be used by the City to provide or support public art.
In August of 2017, the Public Art Commission (“PAC”) approved a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to provide $87,500 of Fund monies for cultural arts and arts programming in Alameda. There was one award available in each of the following award categories: $35,000, $25,000, $15,000, $7,500 and $5,000. The RFP was released in September of 2017.
A Selection Panel met to review proposals in January 2018. After reviewing the Selection Panel’s ranking, the PAC made a recommendation to City Council for award of funding at the $35,000, $25,000 and $7,500 award levels. The PAC did not recommend funding proposals at the $15,000 and $5,000 award levels. City Council awarded the first round of funding in April of 2018.
The PAC recommended that the unused $20,000 be released through a new RFP process for cultural arts and arts programming in Alameda. The new RFP was released in August of 2018. A new Selection Panel will review, evaluate and rank submittals in response to the RFP. Similar to the previous RFP, the PAC will review the finalist applications, and make a recommendation to City Council for the appropriation of funds.
The five-person Selection Panel will consist of two PAC members and three additional Selection Panel members. The establishment of the Selection Panel is intended to ensure that the evaluation process includes both the input of the PAC and the technical expertise of subject matter experts, such as practicing artists, performers, arts administrators, arts professionals and other experts with relevant professional experience.
DISCUSSION
In August of 2018, staff issued an open call for Selection Panelists, and created an application process. The call and application were publicized via the City’s public art mailing list, the City’s website, and through targeted social media campaigns.
In total, fifteen applications were received (Exhibit 1),
On September 24, 2018, staff met with the Chair of the Public Art Commission to review applications and identify recommended panelists. Panelists were selected based on their subject matter expertise and professional experience in the arts.
The Chair of the Public Art Commission is recommending the following Selection Panelists for appointment:
• Deborah Crooks
• Joanna Ruckman-Gallego
• Laurel Scheniman
In addition to the general members recommended above, the PAC must also choose two PAC members to serve on the Selection Panel.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The formation of Selection Panels is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
RECOMMENDATION
Establish and appoint members to a Selection Panel for cultural arts and arts programming.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amanda Gehrke
Management Analyst
Exhibits:
1. Selection Panel Applications