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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Public Art Committee - 2010 - 02/16 - RegularPUBLIC ART COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING February 16, 2010 - 6:30 P.M. Present: Committee Members: Jane Bennett, Chair Brad Greene Ann Carroll David Baldwin Emile Camere Denise Gilbert Karis Jones City Staff: Lon Smeby, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation Matt McComb, Landscape Architect, Parks and Recreation Lydia Nance, Senior Administrative Assistant, Parks and Recreation Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum of the committee members present, the regular meeting of the Public Art Committee was called to order by Chair Bennett at 6:35 pm on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 in the Parks and Recreation Conference Room at 305 Century Parkway, Allen, Texas. Action Items 1. Approve minutes from the October 20, 2009 Regular Meeting. MOTION: Upon a motion made by committee member Gilbert and seconded by committee member Cantere, the committee voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed to accept minutes from the October 20, 2009 regular meeting as presented. 2. Approve minutes from the November 17, 2009 Regular meeting. MOTION: Upon a motion made by committee member Gilbert and seconded by committee member Carriere, the committee voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed to accept minutes from the November 17, 2009 regular meeting as presented. Discussion Items 3. Receive update on the City Hall Public Art Project Lori Smeby updated the committee on the results from the initial meetings of the artist selection panel for the City Hall project. The panel met twice to narrow down the over 140 artist submissions to the top finalists. Mrs. Smeby informed the committee of the next steps in the process, which is notifying the finalists and then holding a public meeting where the finalists will PUBLIC ART COMMITTE REGULAR MEETING February 16, 2009 meet as a group with the panel and any other interested parties to ask questions about the site and get a feel for what is being looked for in this project. The artists will then have information with which to create their idea. Mrs. Smeby asked for input from the members on when the meeting should take place. After discussion, the committee came to a consensus that the meeting should be held on a weekday evening at 7 pm in early March, prior to Allen ISD's Spring Break. Mrs. Smeby will look at the calendar to schedule the meeting. 4. Receive Update on the Fire Station #5 Sculpture Matt McComb updated the members that the site is currently in environmental assessment and the contract has been awarded. Construction of the building is expected to begin in May -June of this year with expected completion in February of 2011. Fabrication and installation of the piece will coincide with this process. Mr. McComb also noted that Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was contacted to gauge their interest in donating the unused rails currently lying in areas of Allen where the old railroad tracks ran to the project. DART declined. It was noted by Mrs. Smeby that it is highly likely that DART is required to auction those items, in similarity to the requirements which govem the City of Allen. Mr. McComb noted that Allen's Fire Chief had been collecting de -commissioned ladders for use in the sculpture, and that the artist would be researching other resources for the rails. The cost of the rails was calculated into the budget for the project, the approach to DART was an attempt to make use of what was already in Allen. 5. Discuss Possible Future Projects Lori Smeby presented the current Public Art budget, including the bonds schedule for 2010 and 2011. Mrs. Smeby asked the committee to discuss what future projects they would like to forecast for the future bonds so that the amount of bonds requested for the 2010 Bond Year could be sent to the City of Allen Finance Department for budgeting purposes. The members discussed how projected funds affected future bonds, Mrs. Smeby stated that what is projected will come out of future bonds, what is currently in progress will come out of a combination of current and future bonds. Mrs. Smeby reminded the members of sites which had been previously identified in workshop as possible public art locations. Identified in that session and in other discussions were. Dayspring Nature Preserve, the Roundabout, the Allen Animal Shelter, a Gateway project, The Blue House, which is the current location for the Allen Arts Alliance, and Watters Crossing Park, currently slated for renovations. Member Carroll voiced the concern of hardening staff with multiple projects. Mrs Smeby responded that the preference is to have no more than two projects currently working at one time, although if the project is part of an ongoing project such as park renovations, another project could be added to that number. In resulting discussions the committee tabled discussion on The Blue House until such time as member Karis Jones can prepare gather information on available existing art. The committee discussed the possibility of inviting interested artists to showcase their art temporarily at this location, making it a venue for such rather than placing a permanent piece, but this needed further research and will be returned to at such time as that research is completed Additionally, it was determined that a call to artist and selection panel would still be needed. The committee then discussed of the possibility of a project at the Animal Shelter, specifically for the new wall facing the corner of Bethany Drive and Allen Heights. The conclusion was that this was a project the committee would like to recommend, at the budget of $150,000, which included lighting. Another possible project site brought up in discussion was the roundabout, the committee and staff determined this would be a larger scale project to look at in future, possibly as the last project of the current Bond Cycle. Mrs. Smeby then noted possible projects for future funds: Trail -Head Markers for the expanding trail system, the future Athletic complex to be built to the west of US75, and the frontage road at Chase Oaks Golf Club. Member Carroll mentioned that thought may be given to adding art to PUBLIC ART COMMITTE REGULAR MI --TING February 16, 2009 places that aren't naturally beautiful, such as roadways and those entries and exits along US75 that are City of Allen property. Member Gilbert reminded the group of the Gateway project idea Mrs. Smeby stated that would be a project to look toward in later years, as various groups would have to be involved, and it may be prudent to await the completion of the US75/Hwy 121 interchange. The committee then discussed the project possibility at Watters Crossing Park, currently slated for renovations in the spring. Mrs. Smeby related that this was a good opportunity to get in with a project at the beginning and make the artwork more inclusive and relate the entire site to what is happening with the art. Items such as benches and pavilions were discussed, as well as pieces which invite climbing and interaction. Mr. McComb noted that with the current climate in the manufacture of playground equipment, even the playground could possibly be thematic to the vision. At conclusion of the discussion, the committee determined to set aside an amount for the purpose of reporting to the City of Allen Finance Department what bond funds would be requested for public art in the 2010 bond year. The committee determined a $50,000 maximum for the Watters Crossing Park public art project. Other project ideas would be looked at for the 2011 bond year and beyond, as bond funds roll over from year to year 6. Items of Interest a. Items for Future Agendas 1. Discussion of project for the "Blue House'- current Allen Arts Alliance office 2. Update on Public Art map if available 3 Update on Chac if available b. Next meeting Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Due to the community meeting with the finalist artists being scheduled in March, as well as the week of March 16 being Allen ISD's Spring Break, the committee agreed that meeting would serve as the March committee meeting. Therefore the next regular meeting of this committee will be Tuesday, April 20, 2010. 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. These minutes read and approved this 20' day of April 2010. Jane Bet , "Cir rad Greene, Secretary