Title
Recommendation to Accept the Biennial Report for the Public Art Fund as Required by the Public Art Ordinance. (Community Development 24061814)
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 2020 and 2021 (no additional spending is planned for the remainder of 2021). In 2020 and 2021, the public art program awarded 16 public art small grants and the Public Art Commission (PAC) and City Council approved four on-site physical public art projects (Diatom Sculpture Series, Alameda Afore, Beken, and Tidal Arch). During this period, staff also worked closely with the artists, the PAC, and other City of Alameda (City) departments to facilitate the fabrication and installation of four previously approved physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Gateway Columns, Egret Mural, and Calimar). In addition, in December 2020, staff facilitated a working session of the PAC to identify upcoming public art activities. At this session, the PAC identified the development of a Public Art Master Plan, a second round of the Public Art Small Grants Program, and improved marketing for the Public Art Program as top action items. Work on the Public Art Master Plan is expected to begin in early 2022 while the second round of the Public Art Small Grants Program will be launched in the second half of 2022.
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. As of November 23, 2021, the year-to-date actuals of the Fund totals $$295,137.
In 2018 and 2019 the City awarded four grants for physical public art from the Fund, totaling $225,500 (Rockspinners, Gateway Columns, Egret Mural ). In addition, the City awarded a $150,000 physical public art grant funded from the Tidelands Fund (Calimar).
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 2020 and 2021.
DISCUSSION
Grants Awarded and In Progress
In 2020 and 2021, staff worked closely with the artists, the PAC, and other City departments to facilitate the completion of four previously awarded physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Gateway Columns, Egret Mural, and Calimar). One of the four have now been installed: Gateway Columns. The remaining three: Rockspinners, Calimar, and Egret Mural (previously the Astro Mural) are expected to be installed in the coming months. Lastly, in 2020 and 2021, the PAC also approved four on-site physical public art projects, one of which (Diatom Sculpture Series) has been completed. These 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.
Public Art Fund Grants
• Rockspinners, Zach Coffin
• Gateway Columns, Norman Moore
• Egret Mural (previously the Astro Mural), Dan Fontes
Tidelands Fund Grant
• Calimar, Rossella Scapini
On-site Public Art
• Diatom Sculpture Series, Adrien Segel
• Alameda Afore, Rodrigo Nava
• Beken, Dewitt Godfrey
• Tidal Arch, Adrien Segel
All grants were recommended by the PAC, and approved by City Council.
Public Art Master Plan
The completion of a Public Art Master Plan was recommended by the PAC to guide the implementation of the City’s public art program, in alignment with the vision and goals of the Alameda community, the PAC and City Council. A request for proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants was issued in June 2021 and firm selection will be finalized by the end of 2021. Work on the Public Art Master Plan is expected to begin in early 2022 (see Exhibit 2: Public Art Master Plan RFP).
Public Art Small Grants Program
In the spring of 2020, the PAC awarded 16 public art small grants. Many of these grants were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and an extension was provided to complete these grants. Another extension will be granted to June 30, 2022. In addition, the second round of public art small grants is anticipated to be launch in the second half of 2022.
ALTERNATIVES
• Staff recommends that the City Council accept the biennial report for the Public Art Fund.
• The City Council can 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 (240), 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 (241).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This report is consistent with the requirements of Section 30-98 of the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) section 15378(b)(5) (not a project); and section 15601(b)(3) (no significant environmental impact).
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.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends acceptance of the biennial report for the Public Art Fund.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Maxwell, Community Development Director
By,
Walker Toma, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Summary of Awarded Public Art Grants, 2020-2021
2. Public Art Master Plan RFP
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager