Title
Recommendation to: 1) Relocate the Dan Fontes Mural to the McKinley Park Recreation Center and 2) Approve Adding $1,500 to the Grant Amount (for a total of $14,000), to Cover the Costs of a New Design
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
BACKGROUND
In June of 2018, the Public Art Commission (PAC) recommended a grant of $12,500 to artist Dan Fontes for creation of the Astro Mural, and in September of 2018, the City Council approved the grant along with other physical art grants. The planned artwork consisted of a mural of the 1971 Gottlieb game entitled "Astro," depicting a vibrant large‐scale pinball back glass. In the grant application, the artist proposed that the mural be located on the back of 1512 Webster Street (a privately owned building housing the Pacific Pinball Museum) facing the Webster Street public parking lot (see Exhibit 1 for the full proposal). The grant application included a letter from one of the owners of 1512 Webster Street stating his support for the project.
Since award of the grant in 2018, staff worked steadily with the artist and the owners of 1512 Webster Street to create and refine the agreements necessary to place the Astro Mural at the approved location. The proposed agreements required the property owners to insure and maintain the artwork during its lifetime and to provide the City an easement onto their property to provide access to the artwork.
During this time, Mr. Fontes worked diligently with City staff to revise and finalize the contracts, including the purchase and holding of appropriate insurance and a City of Alameda business license. Mr. Fontes also met with the Building Official to discuss permitting for the mural.
In November of 2019, the property owners notified City staff that they no longer wished to proceed with the mural project. They declined to state a reason.
In December of 2019, staff, in consultation with Mr. Fontes, recommended to the PAC that the mural be relocated to McKinley Park. By locating the mural in a public park, the City of Alameda would take on the responsibility of insuring and maintaining the artwork.
At that meeting, the PAC requested that staff allow the West Alameda Business Association (WAB) time to explore other locations for the mural on private property within the West Alameda Business District, with the goal of keeping the mural in the district. After two months of good faith research and discussion, WABA was unable to locate a property owner interested in hosting the mural under the current City agreements.
In March of 2020, staff again recommended to the PAC that the mural be relocated to McKinley Park, as a new spot in the West Alameda Business District was not identified. At that meeting, the PAC requested additional time for a PAC member to research other potential locations on private property in the Downtown Alameda Business District.
DISCUSSION
In May of 2020, the PAC member reported that his efforts to reach out to property owners was limited by the public health orders related to COVID-19, and that he was unable to locate a property owner in the Downtown Alameda Business District interested in hosting the mural.
Current options available to the PAC:
• Staff Recommendation; Locate the mural at McKinley Park Recreation Center or other Alameda park site. Mr. Fontes originally rated the McKinley Park Recreation Center highest among the potential Alameda park locations because the material (stucco) would hold the paint of the mural well, and the north-facing wall will be less impacted by fading due to sunlight. Also, the wall is regularly sized, highly visible and centrally located within the park. This site, along with the other park sites considered for the mural, are included in Exhibit 2.
If approved, Mr. Fontes would need to create a new, site-specific design for the mural, as the Astro pinball design was tailored to the previous site on the back of the Pacific Pinball Museum. As a result, staff is recommending that an additional $1,500 be added to the grant amount (for a total of $14,000), to cover the costs of the new design. The new design would come back to the PAC for approval before installation. Staff also recommends a public outreach campaign around the new design, and opportunities for the community to provide input.
The design and location of the mural would also have to be approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission and City Council prior to installation.
• Locate the mural at one of the other potential ARPD locations discussed at the December PAC Meeting:
o Godfrey Park Maintenance Building, Beach Road and Seminary Avenue
Artist notes: Mr. Fontes liked this site due to the serene setting and size and visibility of the wall. However, he noted that the longevity of this mural would be compromised due to the material of the building (older wood siding).
o Woodstock Park Recreation Center, Cypress Street and Brush Street
Artist Notes: Mr. Fontes felt that the Recreation Center wall did not enjoy good visibility within the park. Mr. Fontes also examined the bathroom near the playground, but noted that the material of the bathroom (tile) would not hold the paint of the mural well.
As with McKinley Park, Mr. Fontes would need to create a new, site-specific design for the mural at these locations, which would require additional funding. Any new design would come back to the PAC for approval before installation, and the final design and location of the mural would also have to be approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission and City Council prior to installation.
• Revoke the grant. If the PAC chooses not to continue with the grant, the current grant amount ($12,500) will remain in the Fund for future funding opportunities.
The PAC may also consider other courses of action not described above.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed public art installation is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the PAC:
1. Relocate the Dan Fontes mural to the McKinley Park Recreation Center; and
2. Approve adding $1,500 to the grant amount (for a total of $14,000), to cover the costs of a new design.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager
By,
Amanda Gehrke, Development Manager
Exhibits:
1. Astro Mural Finalist Proposal
2. Potential Mural Locations