memorandum

to:	Roger L. Stancil, Town manager
from:	Jeffrey  J. York, Public Arts Administrator Ray “Butch” Kisiah, Director, Parks and Recreation
subject:	Authorization to Contract with an Artist for the Greenways Trails Extension Art Project
date:	December 8, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request Council authorization for the Town Manager to

enter into a contract to implement the public art component of the Morgan Creek, Bolin Creek and Dry Creek Greenway Trails Extension Project.

$50,000 in Percent for Art project funds have been set aside for this project by Parks and Recreation in accordance with the Percent for Art Ordinance.

BACKGROUND

In accordance with the Chapel Hill Percent for Art Ordinance, established March 4, 2002, that sets aside one percent of the total Capital Improvement Project budget for public art and the procedures established therein, the Office of Public Arts conducted an artist selection process for an artist-in-residency and the creation of a prototype for Greenway trail art.  The initial selection committee meeting was held September 25, 2008 (attachment 1).

An eleven member Artist Recommendation Committee (attachment 2) with representation from the Public Art and Greenways Commission, the contracted landscape architect firms, Parks and Recreation and Storm Water Management Departments, Town Council, an artist, and outside public art administrator considered the applications of eight artists, and selected three of the artists to come to Chapel Hill for interviews.

The same Artist Selection Committee interviewed the three artists on October 24, 2008.  The Committee unanimously selected Al Frega to be the public artist for the project.  At a meeting on November 12, 2008, the Public Arts Commission unanimously endorsed this selection.

DISCUSSION

The key provisions of the agreement include:

• A contract in the amount of $50,000 with Al Frega to include residency and design activities as specified. The artist shall conduct workshops with the community.
•  attend meetings with Town staff, appropriate commissions, the public, and the contracted landscape architect firms, to prepare a preliminary prototype design(s) and implement those prototype design(s) in such a manner that the design can be replicated in the future by Town Staff.

These agreements would include provisions for a Public Art Review Committee overseeing the process and Council review of the proposed art prototype design(s) prior to the approval and commencement of implementation.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that Council adopt the attached resolution which would authorize the Town Manager to negotiate and execute agreements for public art consistent with the terms of the Percent of Art Ordinance.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Minutes of the Artist Selection Committee Meeting October 24, 2008 (p. 4).
2. Greenways Selection Committee Roster (p. 5).