AGENDA #4f(1)

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission

SUBJECT:      Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission Report and Recommendations on 2006-2007 Annual Public Art Plan

DATE:            June 12, 2006

BACKGROUND

On March 4, 2002, the Town Council adopted an ordinance establishing a Percent for Art program for Town-funded Capital Improvements Projects. The Percent for Art Program was established to provide art accessible to the public and to users of Town buildings, parks, and other publicly owned facilities and spaces for the improvement of the quality of life in Chapel Hill.  The Ordinance states that the Council shall decide annually which capital Improvements budgets shall include a minimum of 1% for public art, and on which sites the artworks should be located. The general policies of the program state that the Town Council shall meet at least annually to consider a Public Art Plan recommended by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission (CHPAC).

PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATION

FOR THE 2006-2007 PUBLIC ART PLAN

FY 2006-07 CIP Percent for Art Projects

The CHPAC has reviewed the Town Manager's Recommended Report of the 2006-2021 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) of April 24, 2006.  Based on our review of the proposed CIP projects for FY 2006-07, the CHPAC recommends that the following projects be applicable for percent for art:

▪ Sidewalk Construction and Pedestrian Amenities

▪ Downtown Streetscape Improvements

▪ Small Park Improvements

Greenways Projects

Last year, the CHPAC proposed that all Greenways projects pool their Percent for Art contributions to enable one public art project to be designed, constructed and installed.  This proposal had been reviewed with the Parks and Recreation Department, and all concurred that there were significant advantages to unifying the Percent for Art funding for all Greenways projects.  This approach would provide greater options for public art and would offer increased consideration of public art especially during conceptual and preliminary design.  We request that one of the following projects be considered for the inclusion of an artist on the design team to create an appropriate work.  We suggest that the CHPAC and the Parks and Recreation Department discuss which project would most benefit from the inclusion of an artist by recognizing its current design status to maximize artist engagement and budget.

▪ Bolin Creek Trail Phase III

▪ Booker Creek Linear Park

▪ Dry Creek Paved Greenway Trail

▪ Morgan Creek Trail

Public Art Contextual Plan

The Town's current planning and design projects, which are identified in the Public Art Contextual Plan presented to you this evening, contribute to our recommendations for the FY 2006-07 Annual Public Art Plan.  The Public Art Contextual Plan identifies specific public art opportunities throughout Chapel Hill with attention to ongoing projects and commitments of the Town as approved by the Town Council in master planning documents and capital improvements.  The Public Art Contextual Plan recognizes areas of overlap between public art and the priorities of the Town.  We respectfully request the opportunity to present to the Council at a future date possible public art projects to be created by a professional public artist and referenced in the Public Art Contextual Plan.

Continuation of Eligibility

Three of the 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 Capital Improvements Program projects approved by the Town Council as Percent for Art projects during these previous fiscal years have not commenced.  The CHPAC respectfully requests that these projects continue to be eligible for Percent for Art funding during FY 2006-07. These projects include:

▪ Community Center on Estes Drive

▪ Streetscape

▪ Post Office

It is also the recommendation of the CHPAC that the Town Council again approve the allocation of one-percent (1%) of eligible capital Improvements projects to the Percent for Art Fund once the CIP is officially adopted.  The Public Art Fund is used to supplement Percent for Art projects with insufficient funds to commission a professional public artist to create a site specific work of art; acquire an existing work of art; and/or maintain and conserve the Town's collection of public artworks.  It is understood that the Public Fund excludes projects already contributing one-percent (1%) of their principal amount for a public art project identified in the Annual Public Art Plan, as well as projects exempt from Percent for Art funds because the source from which the percent is calculated prevents such use.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The CHPAC met on May 25, 2006 and unanimously approved and voted to recommend that the Town Council adopt the above Annual Public Art Plan for FY 2006-07.