Title
Recommendation to Accept a Biennial Report for the Public Art Fund. (Community Development 256)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
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 2018 and 2019 and to provide an update on other public art related efforts underway or coming in 2020. In 2018 and 2019, the City of Alameda (City) awarded and administered 11 public art grants, totaling $323,645. In addition, in April 2019, staff facilitated a working session of the Public Art Commission (PAC) to identify upcoming public art priorities. At that session, the PAC identified their top priorities as the creation of a Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program (the Program) and the revision of the Ordinance. The Program is expected to launch in early 2020, with work on Ordinance revisions beginning shortly thereafter.
BACKGROUND
The Public Art 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 on-site artwork. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Fund, which can only be used by the City to provide or support public art. As of June 30, 2019, the Fund had a balance of $370,130. Currently, of that balance, approximately $177,000 is uncommitted.
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 2018 and 2019.
The funding for the Program described below was allocated through the biannual budget process, and the PAC has approved the Program.
DISCUSSION
Grants Awarded and In Progress
In 2018, the City awarded 11 public art grants, totaling $323,645. The grants 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.
• Island City Waterways, Rhythmix Cultural Works
• Animate Dance Festival, West End Arts and Entertainment District
• The American Landscape, Sacred and Profane
• Second Friday Art Walk, Island Alliance for the Arts
• Opera in the Park, Island City Opera
• Lunar New Year Celebration, West Alameda Business Association
• Plein Air Paintout, Frank Bette Center
• Rockspinners, Zach Coffin
• Gateway Columns, Norman Moore
• Love Our Island Art Walk, Rhythmix Cultural Works
• Astro Mural, Dan Fontes
All grants were recommended by the PAC and approved by the City Council.
Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program
In April of 2019, the PAC held a working session to identify and prioritize future public art programming in the community, within the context of available funding and staff time. The PAC identified the creation of the Program as its highest priority.
In September 2019, the PAC approved guidelines (Exhibit 2) and an application for the Program. The Program will provide grants, ranging from $500 to $2,000, for cultural events or physical art installations in the City. All events and installations must be located in the City, in an accessible location, and free to the public. The total budget is $20,000, and up to 20 grants will be awarded. Grant applications are expected to be available in early 2020.
Other Upcoming Public Art Items
In addition to the Program described above, the PAC also asked staff to prioritize revising the Ordinance. Specific considerations include possible changes to the Ordinance to encourage deposits into the Fund, the dedication of a portion of the Fund to long-term maintenance costs, and/or the clarification of existing language. Staff anticipates work to begin on the Ordinance revisions in 2020.
ALTERNATIVES
• Accept the biennial report for the Fund.
• Modify the biennial report for the Fund.
• Request that staff provide additional information.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact on the General Fund by accepting the biennial report for the Public Art Fund. By Ordinance, all grant funds are held in the Public Art Fund (285), 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 FISC Fund (#256). The Program will be administered by a part-time staff using the Fund with funding allocation from the General Fund capped at $10,000.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This report is consistent with the requirements of Section 30-98 of the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Acceptance of a biennial report for the Fund is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Acceptance of a biennial report for the Fund does not have a climate impact.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the biennial report for the Public Art Fund as required by the Public Art Ordinance.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends acceptance of the biennial report.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By,
Amanda Gehrke, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Summary of Awarded Grants
2. Program Description
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager