01/14/2021 Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 14, 2021
2:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Public Art and Design Board
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Roll Call
Present 4 - Vice Chair Jerri Menaul, Board Member Eric Seiler, Chair Neale A.
Stralow, and Board Member Danny Olda
Absent 3 - Board Member Michael Potts, Board Member Jennifer Barbaro, and
Board Member Jonathan Barnes
Also Present - Christopher Hubbard - Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Patricia O.
Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. 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 September 10, 2020 Public Art & Design Advisory Board meeting (virtual)
minutes.
Member Stralow moved to approve the minutes of the September 10,
2020 Public Art & Design Board virtual 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 Approve a request to extend the deadline for grant funding for the FYI Community
Partnership mural funding.
FYI Community Partnership has requested additional time to complete their
mural on private property in the Lake Belleview neighborhood. A six-month
extension is recommended.
Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard said due to COVID-19
challenges affecting FYI's ability to gather public feedback and participation,
FYI requested a time extension to use the Public Art & Design Board's grant
for the community mural. FYI has identified an emerging artist to design the
mural with community input.
Discussion ensued with support expressed for the extension and comments
that City help was available for the project.
Member Seiler moved to approve the request to extend the
deadline for funding the FYI Community Partnership mural grant by 6
months. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
4.2 Review a report on the Fire Station 46 project.
Mr. Hubbard presented a rendering of the new north Clearwater Beach
Fire Station 46 which is at 30% design plan review, 6 to 8 months of
construction will follow the October 2021 groundbreaking. Freestanding
Public Art on Mandalay Avenue must meet FDOT(Florida Department of
Transportation) standards. As the project progresses, Mr. Hubbard has been
meeting with the Fire Chief and engineers to avoid unexpected changes that
could negatively impact a Public Art installation.
Mr. Hubbard said Public Art assistance had been requested for the project to
comply with the City's 60% glazing requirement, a significant portion of
the Mandalay Avenue fagade had to feature a form of glass. The site had a
Public Art potential for back-lit glass or an acrylic panel installation which
would be shaded and visible during the day and provide a stunning
night-time display for pedestrians and vehicles.
Mr. Hubbard said the project's Public Art budget was $62,000. The patio's
design will comply with glazing specifications. The project will eliminate
landscaping and benches that would block the artwork and connect the main
sidewalk with the patio via a small walkway to facilitate close-up viewing.
The beach station has more visitors than any other City fire station. He
suggested the station's hundreds of patches representing fire stations
around the world could be incorporated into the design.
It was suggested Mr. Hubbard view the etched glass installation at Tampa's
Harvey Park.
4.3 Review a report on the Cultural Arts Strategic Plan.
Mr. Hubbard said the Cultural Arts Strategic Plan was progressing well.
The contractor, Designing Local, held 25 meetings with stakeholders
representing various backgrounds and interests and scheduled 13
additional meetings plus focus groups with organizations such as the
Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition, Clearwater Housing Authority, and
NAACP. The contractor also wanted to meet with the board.
A Special Public Art & Design Advisory Board Meeting with Designing
Local was scheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
It was requested that prior to the meeting staff provide board members with
the proposed scope of work and expectations for board input.
4.4 Approve Donald Gialanella as the project artist for the Crest Lake Park project and make
a recommendation of commission to the City Council.
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Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
The selection committee unanimously recommended Donald Gialanella of
St. Petersburg, FL to be the Crest Lake Park project artist. Gialanella was
one of three artists presenting site-specific designs to the selection panel.
Other finalists were Meg White (KY) and Bill Secunda (PA).
Mr. Hubbard said since 2007, Mr. Gialanella, an accomplished sculptor,
has created unique assemblages of utilitarian objects crafted with layered
metals. Locally, Mr. Gialanella created and exhibited works in Lakeland and
for Sculpture360. He is best known for his large steel mustache sculpture at
the Dali Museum.
Mr. Hubbard presented Mr. Gialanella's frog, fish, bird, dragonfly, and spider
sculpture designs, representing Crest Lake wildlife, to be constructed of
layered marine-grade stainless steel. The sculptures, 4 to 7 feet in diameter
and 3 to 4 feet tall, will be located on the park's walking path. The project's
Public Art budget was $62,000. With the Board's recommendation, staff will
present Mr. Gialanella's contract to the City Council for approval on
February 18, 2021. The sculptures will take approximately 3 months to
construct with installation possible in mid-May.
In response to questions, Mr. Hubbard said all edges will be rounded
without burrs or barbs. Sculptures will be bracketed to bear weight and
meet Parks & Recreation Department safety regulations. Sculptures will be
engineered to safety standards to prevent children from wedging themselves
into the artwork. Maintenance only will require a leaf blower.
Concerns were expressed that sculpture finishes must be smooth and safe
and supports must be strong enough to withstand jumping.
Member Seiler moved to recommend approval of Donald Gialanella as
the project artist for the Crest Lake Park project. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.5 Election of Officers
Member Seiler moved to appoint Neale Stralow as Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Seiler moved to appoint Jerri Menaul as Vice Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Review an update on the Crest Lake Park project.
Mr. Hubbard said Crest Lake Park artwork renderings will be presented to
the public at the Grand Opening on a date to be determined.
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Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
5.2 Review an update on the Clearwater Gas Utility System Complex project.
Mr. Hubbard said to reduce the number of applications for Selection Panel
consideration, staff was reviewing the more than 200 submittals for the
Public Art project at the Clearwater Gas Utility System Complex
Mr. Hubbard will host a virtual meeting with the Clearwater Gas Utility
System Complex Selection Panel during the week of February 1, 2021.
The project's Public Art budget was $100,000; the remainder of programmed
funds will be donated to the Public Art Fund. Due to uneven ground, a
retaining wall, canal, and bicycle trail behind the complex, some overruns
will be generated to create a safe work environment.
5.3 Review an update on the Clearwater Police Substation III project.
Mr. Hubbard showed a rendering of the Clearwater Police Substation 111
project on the access road off McMullen-Booth Road near the SR580
intersection. The project was at 60% design plan review. He has discussed
the Public Art piece with the project architects and project engineer, who
opined the best location for maximum public exposure would be on the west
fagade facing the parking lot, the main entry wall, and/or interior lobby floor.
The project's $107,000 Public Art budget could fund multiple artwork at the
location. An interior installation should not be the singular Public Art element
as the City Council had expressed a preference for exterior artwork visible to
the public. Police Officers desired safety and security.
Mr. Hubbard will report on his research re ownership of the corner property
at McMullen-Booth Road and SR580 and if underbrush blocking public views
of the police facility and Public Art could be removed.
Discussion ensued with comments that it would beneficial if the Public Art
was visible from the heavily traveled intersection, "Pride"should be part of
the artwork's theme, and if the Public Art could be visible and located close
to the intersection, FDOT requirements may not apply.
5.4 Review the current Public Art Fund balance.
Mr. Hubbard reported the Public Art Fund balance of$91,715 reflected a
$500 payment to artist Adi Ben Dov iDEA to extend the loan of his "In a
Musical Atmosphere"sculpture displayed in the 400 block of Cleveland
Street. Due to the street closing for outdoor dining opportunities, the
sculpture is not accessible, it will be replaced once it can be accessed.
Suggestions were made to move the furniture and change out the sculptures
or bring in necessary equipment at night after restaurants close to make the
switch.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Mr. Hubbard will ask Traffic Safety if the process could be permitted and
equipment moved across the median and also contact Fire and Police re
alternate route maintenance.
5.5 Review an update on the CRA Downtown Clearwater Mural Program Phase II.
Mr. Hubbard said on January 19, 2021, the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) Downtown Clearwater Mural Program Phase 11
public property jury will select muralists for 2 City-owned properties at 701
Franklin Street (east and west fagades) and the Cleveland Street/Garden
Avenue intersection. Four artists were creating designs for a mural on the
Station Square Garage, a privately owned building facing Station Square
Park. The garage mural project's budget was $20,000.
Mr. Hubbard said mural artists will be presented to other private property
owners in the CRA later this month. iDatix, at the Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard/
Highland Avenue/Court Street intersection, was identified as a large-format
mural site. CRA staff will negotiate with the property owners for necessary
permissions to create a mural there.
In response to a question if the City had a strategy to expand the mural
program beyond the CRA area, Mr. Hubbard said that expansion strategies
would be included in the Cultural Arts Strategic Plan and discussed with the
strategic plan consultants. In response to increased community-based
artwork, Mr. Hubbard has been developing guidelines for murals proposed
by the public for installation on public property. The guidelines were based
on research of 11 municipalities with similar programs and currently are
under review by the City's strategic partners.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Hubbard said lighting for the East Community Library at St. Petersburg
College Public Art sculpture should be installed by the end of January.
Mr. Hubbard said smaller, community-based Public Art projects funded
through Parks & Recreation Department budget allocations were planned
for Moccasin Lake Nature Park and the Northeast Coachman Park Disc
Golf Course. Newly appointed Parks & Recreation Department Director
James Halios supported art and culture. Mr. Hubbard will work with the
department on these projects.
Mr. Hubbard was meeting with conservation companies to assess the City's
Public Art collection and develop a 5-year maintenance and conservation
plan. The project had a $25,000 budget. Older art pieces, such as the
Clearwater Doughboy and Sailor, required mitigation while newer pieces
needed a general maintenance plan.
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City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
It was suggested that facility maintenance should handle the routine
maintenance of art pieces such as the recycled ladders at Fire Station 48.
Mr. Hubbard said maintenance costs were shared by the Building and
Maintenance Department and Public Art Fund.
Mr. Hubbard said SPACEcraft, a traveling art project in Pinellas County
designed to encourage people to interact and create together, has been in
contact with Clearwater and made plans to install its 2 locally sourced
shipping containers at Pier 60 Park. Originally planned for Spring Break
2021, the event will be delayed as a precaution due to COVID-19.
Mr. Hubbard is working with Clearwater Historical Society President Allison
Dolan on a mural project on the front facade of the South Ward museum
facing S. Ft. Harrison Avenue. He will report on the project at the next
regular meeting.
Mr. Hubbard reported that Suzanne Ruley, a long term public art
motivator and former City employee, had passed away from Covid-19.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
City of Clearwater
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Rublic Art & Design Advisory Board
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