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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-4-2015_PublicArtAdvisoryCommittee_Agenda Public Art Advisory Committee Thursday, June 4, 2015 3:30PM ****Lobby Conference Room**** 410 E. Washington AGENDA Call to order Public discussion of any item not on the agenda Consideration of the minutes of the May 7, 2015 meeting Sports Column Mural Project – Review concept Matching Fund program – Review draft guidelines College Green Park – StairArt - Review Call to Artists Updates - ? Other? Adjournment 1 MINUTES PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, May 08, 2015 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM – CITY HALL Members present: John Engelbrecht, Tam Bryk, Brent Westphal, Sayuri Sasaki Hemann, Mike Moran, Ron Knoche Not present: Bill Nusser Staff Present: Marcia Bollinger, Stefanie Bowers, Chris O’Brien Public Present: Ricardo Rangel Jr RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL: (to become effective only after Council action) none CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 3:30pm. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA There was no public comment of items not on the agenda. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2015 MEETING MOTION: Bryk moved to approve the March 5th, 2015 meeting minutes. Westphal seconded. Motion passed 6:0. INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF APPLICANT POOL FOR THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Stefanie Bowers introduced herself. She stated that she is the Equity Director/Human Rights Coordinator of City of Iowa City. She was at the meeting to present to the Public Art Advisory Committee some suggestions to increase the diversity of applicant pool for the committee. Bowers stated that when she talks about increasing the diversity of the applicant pool for City boards and commissions, it actually is an initiative that comes from two different sources; one part is the City of Iowa City’s Equity Action plan and another part from the Strategic Plan for the Iowa City City Council. She stated that when we talk about diversity, diversity is basically all the ways in which we are different, whether it is race, color, nationality, religion, and sex. She stated that numerous studies have shown that we all know that diverse organizations tend to contribute to better outcomes, which for local government results in better services and programs. Bowers stated that her office recently reviewed the demographics of City boards and commissions based on a survey recently completed. 80 of 131surveys were returned which is a 61 % response rate - considered very good. Based on those responses, the majority identified themselves as white, over half identified being married, over the age of 65, and a little less than 2 half put the annual household income over a hundred thousand. She stated that slightly more males replied to the survey than females. And when they compared this information to the 2010 census, it was determined that boards and commissions could do better when looking at race and also age. She stated that gender is addressed because Iowa law requires boards and commissions to have gender balance. But other minority populations are underrepresented. Bowers stated that City officials and City Council believe that there are qualified individuals of color here in the community who for whatever reason, either don’t know about position openings, don’t know the variety of the boards and commissions, or we just don’t know why they don’t apply. She suggested the committee try to gather information to help increase those numbers and also to encourage applications form more diverse groups. She introduced efficient ways to advertise, including fliers, handbills, and speaking with groups. She stated that the Human Rights Commission and the Public Library do well in distributing fliers throughout the community notifying the public of vacancies. She stated City buses will display posters as well as recreation centers. NICK KLEESE – GREEN LETTERS PROJECT & MATCHING FUND PROGRAM Engelbrecht asked Bollinger about the Green Letters Project. Bollinger stated that there were actually two items that would not to be discussed. Nick Kleese of the Green Letters Project ran into some conflicts so that he could complete some critical tasks and the Matching Fund Program was going to need a bit more time before the committee can discuss it. HARRISON STREET PARKING FACILITY PUBLIC ART PROJECT Chris O’Brien introduced himself as the Director of Transportation Services for the City of Iowa City. He stated that the Harrison Street Parking Facility Project is a lease/purchase project that the City will eventually own. The facility also includes some condominium units. As a part of the parking ramp project, there is an art component included in the stair well portion and lower level of the parking ramp along Harrison Street. O’Brien presented some concept images to the committee. He stated that the parking structure will be owned and maintained by the City of Iowa City and provide 600 parking spaces for public parking, townhome tenants, and office building employees. The parking structure will also contain maintenance space for City owned vehicles and equipment. Bollinger asked what Public Art budget was for the project. O’Brien replied that it was $150,000 to $200,000 including design, fabrication, and installation. The committee discussed the interest in encouraging local artists to participate. O’Brien explained that the project is primarily privately funded but the parking ramp will, at some point in the future be owned by the City, the committee should have input into the project. The committee suggested that the focus of the project seemed appropriate and to keep them informed as the project progressed. GREEN COLLEGE PARK-STAIRART Bollinger stated that the committee had decided to fund an art project on the steps of College Park and the funding would be provided by FY 16 money which would be available July 1, 2015. The intent is to have the project completed this summer before the students arrive back for fall classes as the pedestrian traffic count is pretty high when the students are in town. Bolllinger stated that she went to some neighborhood resident living in the area because there are people have invested quite a bit of money into the properties in this area and she wanted to make sure they were aware and had any comments about the theme of the project. The committee 3 discussed the timing of the improvement work on the steps due to erosion issues under the steps. Knoche stated that it would be reasonable to take three weeks from August 1st to around August 20st to finish it before students coming back. Bollinger stated she will adjust the schedule. The “historic” theme was discussed and if there was flexibility in that focus. Bryk suggested expanding the theme to “nature” as well. Bollinger said she would adjust and get the committee in June. Bryk also suggested using this opportunity to collect artist contact information. UPDATES: BENCHMARKS, BLACK HAWK MINI PARK ART PROJECT, ARTSFEST/KIDZTENT, POETRY IN PUBLIC, MISSION CREEK FESTIVAL ART PROJECT Bollinger stated that she and Bryk had participated in Benchmarks review about six weeks ago and her overall observation is that the quality of proposals was really good. Bryk stated that there were many proposals to choose from. Engelbrecht stated that some artists already started to work on benches. Bollinger explained that the visit by Cecil Balmond, the artist selected for the Black Hawk Mini Park Art Project would be rescheduled to sometime in June. The Kidztent would be held on June 6th and 7th in this year. Bollinger stated that she needs help from the committee members to pick up donations on Saturday while on Sunday she needed people help sell those donations to kids. Hemann stated that she can do 10am to 12pm on Sunday. Engelbrecht and Westphal stated that he can do on Saturday. Then Bollinger moved to Poetry in Public. She stated that the project is in the process of displaying posters in recreation centers and in the public library windows. The goal is to have them installed before Artsfest. Bollinger stated that the Mission Creek Festival Art Project mural never happened because they decided to do some constructions and the wall to be painted on would be removed. OTHER No other news. ADJOURNMENT Bryk motioned and Westphal seconded a motion to adjourn at 4:35 PM. Minutes created by Qilu Chen. 4 Public Art Advisory Committee Attendance Record 2014 - 2015 Name Term Expires 5/1 6/5 7/17 11/6 12/4 2/5 3/5 5/8 Bodkin Bryk, Tam 01/01/16 O/E X X X X X X X Engelbrecht, John 01/01/15 X X X X X X X X Westphal, Brent 01/01/17 X O/E X O/E X X X X Nusser, Bill 01/01/17 X O O X O/E O/E O/E O Hemann, Sayuri Sasaki 01/01/16 --- --- --- --- --- X X X Knoche, Ron --- --- --- --- --- X X X Moran, Mike X X X X X X O/E X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member