09/10/2020 Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 10, 2020
2:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers/Virtual
Public Art and Design Board
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, issued by the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis on March
20, 2020, municipalities may conduct meetings of their governing boards without having a quorum
of its members present physically or at any specific location, and utilizing communications media
technology such as telephonic or video conferencing, as provided by Section 120.54(5)(b)2,
Florida Statutes.
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Jerri Menaul, Vice Chair Eric Seiler, Board Member Neale A.
Stralow, Board Member Jennifer Barbaro, Board Member Jonathan
Barnes, and Board Member Danny Olda
Absent 1 - Board Member Michael Potts
Also Present - Christopher Hubbard - Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Patricia O.
Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. Chair Jerri Menaul, Vice
Chair Eric Seiler, and Board Members Neale Stralow, Jennifer Barbaro,
Jonathan Barnes and Danny Olda attended the meeting using
communications media technology. Also participating in the meeting
were Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard and Board
Reporter Patricia Sullivan. Live participation occurred in Council
Chambers at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the July 30, 2020 Public Art & Design Advisory Board Special Meeting (virtual)
minutes.
Member Seiler moved to approve the minutes of the July 30, 2020
Public Art & Design Board Special 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 Review an update on the Imagine Clearwater project.
Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard provided a PowerPoint
presentation. Tomorrow's site design update will discuss relocating the
Harbormaster's Office to enlarge the green space. When the Main Library
closes this month for Imagine Clearwater renovations, the public art
"Centennial Oak" and safety plates will be stored in safe temporary locations
for the duration of construction.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020
4.2 Review and comment on draft guidelines for a citywide mural program.
On July 30, 2020, the Public Art & Design Advisory Board inquired on the
potential for a citywide mural program similar to the Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Downtown Clearwater Mural Program. Staff
has prepared guidelines for Board review and comment.
Mr. Hubbard said murals had to comply with the City's sign code. The CRA
paid artists $5,000 to $20,000 per mural based on size and complexity and
maintained the murals for 5 years. With community support, the Public
Art Fund would not have to finance a mural's entire cost.
Discussion ensued re mural locations with comments that concentrating
murals within a small area would be impactful and significant art investments
had been made in downtown and Clearwater Beach while other areas of the
City lacked public art. Support was expressed for a Citywide mural program
as part of an updated Public Art and Design Master Plan.
In response to a question, Mr. Hubbard said the City's art collection was not
catalogued, an update of the Citywide Art Program for presentation to the
City Council in September 2021 had been contracted.
4.3 Review an update on the placement of public art at Crest Lake Park.
Review an update on the placement of public art at Crest Lake Park. The
call to artists for Crest Lake Park closes on Monday, September 14, 2020.
Mr. Hubbard said the Call to Artists for Crest Lake Park public art,
released via a new internal app method, had received significant
attention, 26 applications were received and additional submissions were
anticipated. The Crest Lake Park selection panel will review submissions
during the week of September 28.
4.4 Review an update on the placement of public art at the Clearwater Gas Utility System
Complex.
A call to artists requesting applications for murals and mosaics has been
issued and will close on September 29, 2020.
Mr. Hubbard said the City had received 34 submittals and additional
inquiries in response to the Call to Artists for a mural or mosaic facing
Pinellas Trail on the Clearwater Gas Utility System Complex's west fagade.
The selection panel will review submittals during the week of October 12.
Appreciation was expressed for the City providing artists with opportunities.
4.5 Review an update on the placement of public art at the Clearwater Police Substation III.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020
Staff has consulted with the project engineer and the Police Department
representative. The budget for this project is $107,000.
Mr. Hubbard said the 60% site plans for Clearwater Police Substation 111
were under review. As the substation will resemble a boxy municipal
building, the Police Department had recommended beautifying the main
entrance fagade which will be visible from the street. He continued to
consult with Engineering and the Police Department on the development
process to avert unexpected alterations. The Public Art & Design Board
representative to the selection panel will be appointed at the next meeting.
Support was expressed for enhancing municipal building design.
4.6 Review an update on the Public Art General Maintenance & Conservation Fund.
Funding of$25,000 will be moved at the start of Fiscal Year 2020/21. Staff
will consult with a local conservation agency to evaluate the public art
collection and produce a maintenance and conservation recommendation.
Mr. Hubbard said an initial deposit was budgeted for creation of a Public Art
General Maintenance and Conservation Fund which he hoped will grow.
4.7 Review the current Public Art Fund balance.
The current Public Art Fund balance is $92,215.00.
Mr. Hubbard said a $100,000 contribution from the Gas System complex's
public art budget to the Public Art Fund was anticipated. He was working
with the Assistant City Manager to find new sources to subsidize the fund.
Appreciation was expressed for Mr. Hubbard's efforts in securing public
art funds.
4.8 Review an update on the CRA Downtown Clearwater Mural Program Phase II.
Mr. Hubbard said when the Call to Artists closed September 1, the CRA
Downtown Clearwater Mural Program Phase 11 for 5 buildings and 1 painted
Intersection had received 191 national and international applications. He
was assisting the CRA review the submissions and develop a short list of
mural artists for building owners. Work on the murals was anticipated to
begin in December with completion in early March.
4.9 Review and comment on a proposed gift of the "Poseidon: God of the Sea" sculpture.
Mr. Hubbard reviewed a donor's offer to the City of a large bronze sculpture
"Poseidon: God of the Sea"for mounting atop a rectangular fountain,
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board
Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020
constructed at donor expense, at a Beach Walk access point to Clearwater
Beach. The City of Tarpon Springs had declined the offer which would have
obligated the City to install the sculpture on the Dodecanese Sponge Docks.
In response to questions, Mr. Hubbard said a Public Art & Design Board
responsibility was to review gifts and programmatic issues and, based on
member expertise and background, make recommendations to the City
Council, which makes final decisions. The Public Art Fund would be tasked
with maintaining the sculpture and fountain.
Discussion ensued with concerns expressed re high maintenance costs
associated with sand clogging fountain pipes and drains and the installation
becoming an attractive nuisance, encouraging visitor interaction, injury and
misconduct. It was stated the sculpture was not aesthetically consistent with
Clearwater's art collection, resembled a large monument, and was
inappropriate for Beach Walk's unifying system of design.
Member Stralow moved to recommend the City decline the offer of the
"Poseidon: God of the Sea" bronze sculpture mounted atop a
beachfront fountain constructed at the donor's expense. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items: None.
6. Director's Report: None.
7. Board Members to be Heard
Member Barbaro suggested board members may be interested in a
Clearwater Arts Alliance docent led tour of downtown Clearwater art.
Chair Menaul suggested scheduling a board field trip on a Sunday or in the
evening when members were not busy with their jobs.
8. Adjourn
Attest:
The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
Bo- rd Reporter,
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City of Clearwater
Chair, "ublic Art & Design Advisory Board
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