AGENDA #8b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Recommended 2003-2004 Public Art Plan
DATE: September 8, 2003
The following resolution would adopt the 2003-2004 Public Art Plan, pursuant to the Percent for Art Program adopted by the Town Council on March 4, 2002.
BACKGROUND
The Percent for Art program was adopted to:
The Percent for Art Program calls for the Public Arts Commission and the Town Manager to review the Capital Improvements Program and make recommendations to the Town Council regarding public art. The recommendations include which capital projects should dedicate 1% of their budget to public art, which projects would have artwork on-site and which projects should contribute 1% of their budget to a pool of funds to be used to commission, buy, maintain or conserve public artwork elsewhere. The Commission might recommend pooling funds if 1% of the project budget did not provide enough funds to commission or purchase a piece, or if the capital project in question did not provide a suitable location for public art.
The source of funds is relevant when considering whether a percent should go to public art. Some grants are very specific about what types of expenses are eligible for grant funding. The wording of some bond referendum ballots would not clearly allow use of bond proceeds for public art. Some installment purchase contracts may not allow the borrowed funds to be used for art, particularly off-site pieces. However, the Town Council has greater leeway in spending general revenues and when it explores the use of borrowed funds for public art before the terms of the borrowing have been finalized.
The first Percent for Art Work Plan Program was adopted on June 24, 2002.
On March 23, 2002, the Council included 1% for art in the Hargraves/A.D. Clark project: the $1,200,000 includes 1% of the project costs for art and $101,487 for contingency. The Public Arts Commission has completed a comprehensive community-based artist selection process and another agenda item (Agenda #8c) recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to execute a contract with David Wilson for the creation of artwork for the Hargraves Center/A.D. Clark Pool Extraordinary Maintenance Project.
On February 10, 2003, the Council approved the streetscape project for 2003, with a budget of $150,000, including $1,500 for public art. The project is being completed now in the University Methodist Church area. Because streetscape is financed by street bonds, the money must be spent only on art that has some functional purpose related to streetscape. The Commission decided to retain this $1,500 and pool it with other funds for a streetscape-related project at a later time.
DISCUSSION
We believe that the recommendation of the Public Arts Commission is reasonable and workable.
The Old Post Office renovation project will be financed by 10-year installment debt. Current plans would have the engineer selected and work began by the last quarter of this fiscal year. Final specifications will be completed and work will be done in 2004-2005.
The Tennis and Basketball Courts resurfacing project will be financed by 10-year installment debt. The project is currently out on bid, with the first phase including work at Cedar Falls, scheduled in the next few weeks.
The 2004 Streetscape Project is anticipated to use the last $180,000 of bond funds for that purpose. The Council will decide on the location during the year.
The IFC Shelter project is included in this year’s capital budget, and we believe it would be possible to include a percent for art. Because the project will be financed by a bank installment loan, the art would be located on the IFC site.
The Public Arts Commission proposes pooling 1% from several capital projects appropriations, including Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities, Small Park Improvements, and Greenways.
The Town Operations Center will be in the design stage during the coming year. We believe that including an artist in that process would optimize the opportunities for art to be incorporated into the project. Final budget decisions for this project are pending.
The Library Expansion and Greenway Infrastructure projects may be funded if the proposed bond referendum is held and the issue passes this November.
The Aquatics Center will also be in the design process during the coming year. The design and construction process will be dictated by the fact that both Town and County bond funds will be involved. We believe that an artist should be involved in some manner in the design process.
The Community Center capital repairs project is not scheduled to begin this year. We believe that an artist should be involved in some manner in the design process when the repairs project is initiated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Public Arts Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission met on August 14, 2003, and voted to recommend that the Town Council adopt the Public Art Plan for 2003-2004 presented above.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution which authorizes the implementation of the Public Art Plan for 2003-2004 as recommended by the Public Arts Commission.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PUBLIC ART PLAN FOR 2003-2004 (2003-09-08/R-17)
WHEREAS the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill adopted a Percent for Art Program on March 4, 2002; and
WHEREAS, this program includes an annual consideration by the Town Council of a Public Art Plan to be recommended by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Public Arts Commission has recommended such a program, including three 2003-2004 projects which should include 1% of the project budget for public art; three 2003-2004 projects which should include 1% of the project budget to a pool of funds for future public art projects (as the project budget does not provide enough funds to adequately commission a public art project); and five potential projects which are not yet funded by the Town, but are nonetheless important future projects to receive 1% of their project budget for public art;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager in conjunction with the Public Arts Commission is authorized to implement the following Public Art Plan:
Project CIP Budget
Old Post Office $1,500,000
To include a community-based public art project on-site that will be initiated with a dialogue between the community and the Public Arts Commission. The artwork will reflect the community’s values and the historical significance of the location.
Tennis and Basketball Courts $300,000
To include a public art project at one of the six sites receiving capital repairs. The exact site and scope of the public art component will be determined in collaboration with community members and the Parks and Recreation Department.
2004 Streetscape Project $172,000
The exact scope of the public art component will be determined. The art budget will be pooled with 1% from the 2003 Streetscape Project ($150,000), as approved in the 2002-2003 Public Art Plan.
IFC Shelter $450,000
This project was included in the 2002-2003 Annual Public Art Plan but not in last year’s adopted CIP budget. The exact scope of the public art component will be determined. The art piece will be located on-site.
2003-2004 PROJECTS TO POOL
Project CIP Budget
Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities $50,000
The exact site and scope of the public art component is yet to be determined. Funding for 2003-2004 will be pooled with future funds in order to adequately commission a public art project that will enhance sidewalks and bicycle facilities.
Small Park Improvements $20,000
The exact site and scope of the public art component is yet to be determined. Funding for 2003-2004 will be pooled with future funds in order to adequately commission public art that will enhance the small parks.
Greenways $55,000
The exact site and scope of the public art component is yet to be determined. Funding for 2003-2004 will be pooled with future funds in order to adequately commission public art that will enhance the greenways.
The Public Arts Commission seeks to begin conceptual development for each of the following potential projects. Although the exact scope of the public art component(s) has yet to be determined, the importance and scale of these projects warrant early attention and preliminary planning in order to effectively maximize their respective percent for art budgets.
Project
Town Operations Center
Library Expansion
Aquatics Center - Homestead Park
Greenways Infrastructure
Community Center
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Manager is directed to allocate 1% of project budgets with contracts under $300,000 to public art.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the program will be implemented according to the guidelines adopted in Resolution 2002-03-04/R-8, and only to the extent that funding is appropriated for the capital projects, and that the source of funding allows expenditures for public art.
This the 8th day of September, 2003.
A RESOLUTION DEFINING A PERCENT FOR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM AND THE GENERAL POLICIES OF THE PROGRAM (2002-03-04/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Chapel Hill includes public art as part of the section on Community Character; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has included a Percent for Public Art Program in the short-term implementation measures adopted on July 5, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Public Arts Commission and its subgroups have been working with the Town staff to develop policies and procedures for a Percent for Public Art Program;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby establishes a Percent for Public Art Program:
to help define the community’s identity and sense of place,
to promote social interaction and discourse,
to bring the arts into everyday life and
to memorialize the past while expressing shared values for the future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the program shall be guided by the following policies:
1. Program Objective: To provide art accessible to the public and to the users of Town buildings and parks, for the improvement of the quality of life in Chapel Hill, and more specifically to:
help define the community’s identity and sense of place,
promote social interaction and discourse,
bring the arts into everyday life, and
memorialize the past while expressing shared values for the future.
2. Annual Public Art Plan: The Town Council shall meet at least annually to consider a Public Art Plan recommended by the Public Arts Commission. The recommended Public Art Plan shall include:
a Those capital projects which should include 1% of their project budgets for public art
b. The distinction between those capital projects which should include public art on-site and which should contribute 1% of their budget to a pool of funds reserved for public art commission, acquisition, maintenance and conservation
c. General location(s) for the art not recommended for the site of a capital project.
d. The Town Council shall decide on which capital budgets shall include 1% for art and the general site(s) of the art, and shall appropriate funds. This set of decisions shall be known as the Public Art Plan for the given year.
3. Budget: 1% of the annual Capital Improvements Program shall be considered by the Council for reservation for public art. However, the base from which the 1% is calculated shall exclude grant funds for which the Town provides a local match, bond funds which do not allow such a use, and any other funds whose source would prevent their use for public art.
a. The project budget shall include all costs funded by the Town for designing, building and equipping the facility, including site work but excluding the acquisition of land.
b. The public art budget shall include all costs of artist selection; artist fee; fabrication; installation, including special plumbing, wiring or lighting; publicity; celebration; and any other cost related to the public art project.
4. Location:
5. Selection of Artists and Art:
a. The Public Arts Commission shall establish a process with written guidelines, available to the public, for the selection of artists and the review of the art proposed for acquisition. The process shall be open to the public and shall encourage participation by as wide a variety of citizens as possible.
6. Execution of Artist’s Commission:
a. The artist’s contract shall define a process for his/her design development.
b. The artist’s contract shall define the review points during the design development
c. The artist shall be involved with the design development of the capital project if relevant and if the artist is chosen in time.
d. The process shall include a means of involving the public, including a public forum to consider the design concept.
e. It is possible that, after the Public Art Commission or its committee, Town staff and the public review the artist’s design concept, the artist will be asked to modify the design concept before being authorized to begin fabrication.
7. Acceptance of Art: The Town Manager shall accept the artwork before the final payment is made to the artist.
8. Accounting: Funds appropriated for public art shall be placed in a project budget or multi-year account(s) specified for this purpose. Grants, gifts and other revenue the Town may receive for the selection, establishment, maintenance and deaccessioning of public art shall also be placed in this multi-year fund.
This the 4th day of March, 2002.