AGENDA #2b(1)

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	Bill Webster, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:	Public Hearing: Public Art Contextual Plan
DATE:	April 11, 2007

PURPOSE

The attached resolution would forward comments and recommendations received at this evening’s Public Hearing to the Manager and Attorney for comment and analysis. The resolution would also continue the Public Hearing on May 7, 2007.

BACKGROUND

In 2003, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission started work on a process to develop the draft Public Art Contextual Plan.  

On February 7, 2004, a Community Open House was hosted by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission at the Public Library to solicit initial ideas and responses from residents.

During August 2004, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission presented an overview of the Chapel Hill Public Art Contextual Plan to various Town boards and commissions, and invited representatives to collaborate with the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission through a formal Steering Committee 

In June 2005, the Town Council awarded a $25,000 grant to the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission to complete this planning effort; the North Carolina Arts Council also awarded funding to the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission for the Contextual Plan in the amount of $3,500. 

In December 2005, Public Art Consultant Gail Goldman was asked to guide the planning process and develop recommendations for the inclusion of public art in Chapel Hill.  On three different occasions between January and April 2006, Ms. Goldman visited Chapel Hill and met with the Contextual Plan Steering Committee, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, arts professionals, the Town Council, Town Attorney, Town staff, community organizations, and other interested parties.  

The Steering Committee, chaired by Janet Kagan and comprised of members of the Town Council, representatives from the Town boards and commissions, Town staff and professional artists, worked collectively to develop the ideas and strategic recommendations of the Contextual Plan.  Members of the Steering Committee included representation from the following Town boards and commissions:

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Board
• Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission
• Community Design Commission
• Greenways Commission
• North Carolina Arts Council
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Planning Board
• Transportation Board

On May 25, 2006, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission voted unanimously to forward the draft Public Art Contextual Plan to the Council.

On June 12, 2006, the Council received the draft Chapel Hill Public Art Contextual Plan and referred it to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Community Design Commission, Greenways Commission, Historic District Commission, Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, Library Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, Transportation Board, and staff for comments and recommendations. The Council also required a minimum of one public forum to solicit input from citizens and the development community on recommendations presented in draft Public Art Contextual Plan. Courtesy copies were provided to the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.

On November 6, 2007 the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission held a public forum to solicit public input related to the draft Public Art Contextual Plan. The major focus was on the private development aspect of the draft plan.

DISCUSSION

The Contextual Plan is intended to be a planning document that would complement and build upon the work of existing Town of Chapel Hill master plans and action plans.

The Plan has been reviewed by Town boards and commissions. If the Council agrees, the staff will evaluate all comments received at the November 6, 2006 public forum, during board and commission review, and at this evening’s Public Hearing. We would present our evaluation at a continuation of this evening’s Public Hearing on May 7, 2007.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

We have received a number of comments from various Town advisory boards. Copies of each board’s full recommendation is attached. The attached resolution would authorize the staff to provide comments on May 7, 2007.

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD

1. The Plan should address opportunities for guerilla art (for example ad-hoc gardening, informal landscaping of neglected public corners of town).
2. The definition of public art should include work by architects, landscape architects and urban designers to make buildings and spaces more beautiful. The definition of artist should include architects, landscape architects and urban designers.
3. The Commission made a number of specific recommendations related to the types, location, and styles of art including:
   • Focus on functional art where possible for example in Tucson old bicycle parts are used as bicycle racks.
   • Make functional structures artistic, such as hand rails and guard rails.
   • Use art as a memorial, for example the ghost bikes in NYC marking the location of a bicyclist’s death.
   • Locate art at places where people are stopped, for example at transit stops.
   • Provide informational art, about how to get around.
   • Provide art as a series, for example along a greenway.
   • Investigate the Radio Towers at E. Franklin Street off the Booker Creek greenway trail as an opportunity for art.
4. Stay with current ordinance requirement of one percent for public art in capital improvements

CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD

The Board expressed its support for the Public Art Contextual Plan and suggested ways that the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and the Chapel Hill Public Housing Program Advisory Board could work together to include public art into the Housing Program communities.  The suggestions included:

• Sculpture Visions – We would like to see the Public Housing Program’s developments as potential sites for an installation;
• Artists in Residence – We believe an artist in residence in the Public Housing Program could help with many aspects that are neglected because of expense in the design aspect of our renovations and improvements of housing properties.

COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION

1. The Commission recommended that a triggering threshold be established that would provide for board and commission reviews of public art.
2. The Commission recommended liaison relationships with the Public Arts Commission from the other advisory boards.
3. The Commission recommended that sufficient money be available in the Town’s budget in order for Public Art to be an effective community amenity.
4. A Commission member voiced concern about potential disjointed art being installed around Town.
5. Make sure the public is on-board with the percent for public art plan since the plan is designed for citizen investment. Support outreach and have the plan in the public eye.
6. Support the public arts plan by providing a framework.
7. Support resident artists who might also work with the schools to encourage greater art appreciation among the students.
8. Residents must make sure that they do not view the percentage of the budget as excessively expensive.
9. That three sources for funding be provided: Town’s budget, charitable gifts, and private developer’s payment-in-lieu or art piece.
10. Support public art at the transit stops.
11. Build on success and what has been done with the current one percent. Create a portfolio of works installed so far.
12. Not support public art in residential areas.

GREENWAYS COMMISSION

1. That all Town capital projects include funds for the art component at the beginning of the project and that if the amount is increased from one percent to two percent that capital budgets are adjusted to meet the new requirement.
2. That the plan should include a section that specifies what types of projects qualify for percent for art funds. Specifically the Commission believes that maintenance funds such as the Greenways and Small Parks funds in the CIP should be exempt.

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1. The Board recommends that the percent for art amount be retained at one percent.
2. The Board does not recommend regulatory status for the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission.

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION

1. The Commission believes that each Town capital project should have a project specific art component that is based on an identified need and not on a fixed percent of project budget. If this concept were adopted budgets for art would be created separately based on need and then included as a line in the project budget.
2. Small private developments should be exempt from contribution to community art.
3. Several line items in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) such as Small Parks Improvement are consistently used for on-going maintenance, not enhancements. The Commission believes these line items should be exempt from the percent for art process.
4. The Plan should promote the concept of a year round art education component that would include collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department and the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission.

PLANNING BOARD

1. Increase the municipal percent-for-art commitment from one percent to two percent.
2. Introduce a similar percent-for-art program applicable to private development projects.
3. Establish policies and procedures designed to insure that relevant Town boards, commissions, and departments carefully consider opportunities during the early stages of planning processes for the inclusion of public art components in their areas of activity.
4. Consider a phased process regarding introduction of an increased percentage and consideration of a payment-in-kind for private development projects.

TRANSPORTATION BOARD

1. The Board recommended that the amount for municipal projects be increased from one percent to two percent. The Board also recommended that the ordinance allow the funds to be placed in a general fund for use with Townwide art projects.
2. Introduce a similar percent-for-art program applicable to private development projects.

RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution which would forward comments and recommendations received at this evening’s Public Hearing to the Manager and Attorney for comment and analysis. The resolution would also continue the Public Hearing on May 7, 2007.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendations (p. 8).
2. Chapel Hill Public Housing Program Advisory Board Recommendations (p. 9).
3. Community Design Commission Recommendations (p. 10).
4. Greenways Commission Recommendations (p. 12).
5. Historic District Commission (p.13).
6. Library Board of Trustees Recommendations (p. 14).
7. Parks & Recreation Commission Recommendations (p. 15).
8. Planning Board Recommendations (p. 16).
9. Transportation Board Recommendations (p. 17).
10. Public Art Contextual Plan (begin new page 1).