09/14/2017 Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 14, 2017
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 14, 2017
2:00 PM
Council Chambers
Public Art and Design Board
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 14, 2017
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Alex Plisko, Vice Chair Neale A. Stralow, Board Member Karen
Cunningham, Board Member Eric Seiler, Board Member Judith B.
Powers, and Board Member Jerri Menaul
Absent 1 - Board Member Jennifer Barbaro
Also Present- Kris Koch — Parks Planning & Project Manager, Madai Gutierrez —
Recreation Specialist, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes from June 8, 2017 meeting
Member Menaul moved to approve the minutes of the June 8,
2017 Public Art & Design Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None
4. New Business Items
4.1 Introduction of new City of Clearwater staff
Parks Planning & Project Manager Kris Koch and Recreation Specialist
Madai Gutierrez introduced themselves.
Concerns were expressed that a public art background was an important
skill for the board's liaison as the subject was complicated, required
careful planning with limited resources, and could not be learned on the
job.
It was suggested hurricane damage may negatively impact the City's
budget.
Mr. Koch said staff was reviewing existing public art projects, he will report
on the public art fund balance.
4.2 Approve a request to access the Public Art Fund in the amount of$115,000 to
supplement the Clearwater Public Library System East Branch Library public art project
with a new budget of$175,000.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 14, 2017
Mr. Koch said the scope of the budget was increased to enlarge the
sculpture enough to be visible.
Concern was expressed that the sculpture's budget was established
previously. St. Petersburg College's contribution to the art piece was
questioned. It was stated former liaison Chris Hubbard reported the
college would install the pod for the display of the public art. It was felt
$115,000 could be better spent elsewhere.
Concerns were expressed that the board was advised in June that the
selection panel would review sculpture proposals during the week of July
24, 2017 and that decision would be presented today, but the Board's
designated chair for the panel was not contacted and no information on
panel action was provided. It was questioned how the decision was
reached to increase the budget by$115,000.
In response to a suggestion that the Board be represented during the
hiring process for the public art position, Mr. Koch said the City was not
hiring a public art specialist, a staff member would manage the process
and staff was aware of everything they needed to do. Ms. Gutierrez said
she was reviewing Mr. Hubbard's binder on the process to choose public
art.
It was indicated that managing the process was not sufficient and the
Board may as well be abandoned. It was commented that public art
knowledge was necessary to interview artists and collect necessary data.
It was stated City residents would have to live with the results and a new
process may be needed. The board discussed the process to choose the
Morningside Recreation Center public art. It was questioned if the City
Council had approved the public art for Morningside that was chosen by
a panel and approved by the Board. It was stated a Board member
usually accompanied Mr. Hubbard's presentation to City Council for
approval of a public art piece to verify the Board's process.
Mr. Koch said he had received Guy Kemper's contract and Certificate of
Insurance invoice, all approvals to move forward had been received.
Mr. Koch said the Library Director had requested direction re the base of
the public art piece at the Main Library. It was thought that project was
completed.
4.3 Review the Second Century Studios gallery space
Mr. Koch said it was important that the Board was aware of the Second
Century Studios gallery space at Water's Edge which will provide updates
on City projects and improve citizen awareness.
It was recommended that the Imagine Clearwater project feature a public
art piece at Coachman Park.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 14, 2017
5. Old Business Item
5.1 Review the status and timeline of artwork for the ongoing Clearwater Public Library
System East Branch Library
Concern was expressed that the Board was provided no information re
the artwork.
5.2 Review the status and timeline of artwork for the Garden Avenue Garage Mural
Ms. Gutierrez said she spoke to Economic Development Coordinator
Laura Canary re the Garden Avenue Garage mural but had received no
details.
Information on the artist and mural subject was requested. It was noted
the $20,000 mural budget covered the art installation using UV paint and
sealer, requirements familiar to those with public art expertise. It was
stated that mural installation was a complicated process. Concerns were
expressed that the selection panel was scheduled for the week of June
26, 2017, the proposal was to be presented to the Board today, and the
Board's designated chair had not been contacted.
It was recommended that the meeting be reconvened after staff had an
opportunity to provide a status report re selection of the mural's artist and
subject.
Member Stralow moved to schedule a meeting of the Public Art &
Design Board on October 26, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. to provide time
for staff to report on the status of the Public Art budget, ongoing
projects, board mandates, and to discuss Board required input
and if the Board could move forward. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
It was noted the Board needed information re future City projects, such as
new fire stations, the Emergency Operations Center, Countryside Sports
Complex, etc. to anticipate future public art project budgets as well as
continuation of Sculpture360. Summaries were requested re status of
public art and contracts for the East Library sculpture, Garden Avenue
mural, and Morningside Recreation Center public art.
6. Director's Report
It was stated the Mayor had requested the Board make a 5-minute
presentation to the City Council this fall. It was noted that Mr. Hubbard
had helped prepare a member for previous presentations.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board
Meeting Minutes September 14, 2017
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Board a
Bo p orter
City of Clearwater
The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
Chair
Public Art & Design Advisory Board
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