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01/13/2022 Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 13, 2022 2:00 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Public Art and Design Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 Roll Call Present 5 - Chair Neale A. Stralow, Board Member Eric Seiler, Board Member Jonathan Barnes, Board Member Brianne Roberts, and Board Member Gregory Byrd Absent 2 - Vice Chair Jerri Menaul and Board Member Danny Olda 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 minutes of the September 9, 2021 Public Art and Design Board meeting. Member Seiler moved to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2021 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 Lisa Lanza encouraged residents to serve on the Public Art and Design Board. She was unimpressed by the Clyde Butcher Exhibit's black and white photos and expressed concerns the exhibit was overpriced, visitor numbers were not counted, and visitors had no place to sign in. In response to questions, Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard said Danny Olda no longer represented Creative Pinellas, staff has contacted the organization. The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) financed and managed the Clyde Butcher Exhibit. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Review a report on arts and culture initiatives for calendar year 2022. The following strategies will be implemented in calendar year 2022: 1) Strengthen neighborhood identities by investment in public art at the neighborhood level; 2) Investigate expanding public art funding by reinstating the Percent for Art in Private Development Ordinance; 3) Invest in iconic public art in strategic locations to bolster the public art experience; 4) Strengthen existing programs and City departments by expanding offerings and injecting creativity; 5) Implement programs that unify the arts and culture Page 2 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 sector visions toward the same goal; 6) Define spaces in Clearwater where art investments can be concentrated for maximum effect; and 7) Support neighborhoods through broadening and diversifying arts experiences. Mr. Hubbard provided a PowerPoint review of the 2022 Arts and Culture Initiatives. The City Council adopted the 2022-28 Arts and Culture Strategic Plan in December. An art grant application process was being developed. Support was expressed for grants to require in-kind or matching funds. It was suggested neighborhood strategies consider theater and musical arts. In response to questions, Mr. Hubbard said grant requirements can encourage partnerships but need to recognize that some neighborhoods lack sufficient resources for a match. Many City facilities are able to accommodate neighborhood focused literature, theater, and musical programming. The signal box program was working with Pinellas County and incorporating FDOT(Florida Department of Transportation) standards. Mr. Hubbard said if adopted, reinstatement of the public art ordinance would impact private development with more than 6 units. It was suggested that ordinance language reference unit size. Recommendations were made to consider weather and other factors when scheduling an ideal date for a biennial fall art beach festival and that the event be convenient for resident participation as it is often difficult for City residents to access the beach when it is crowded. A resident said she was unaware of the focus groups and public meetings that helped formulate the arts and culture initiatives. 4.2 Review an update to the grant funding request by the Clearwater Historical Society for a mural to be located at the Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center on the former South Ward Elementary campus. Clearwater Historical Society President Allison Dolan said the mural on the Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center will face S. Ft. Harrison Avenue. She presented the rendering depicting historic Clearwater. She said Duke Energy had installed lighting to illuminate the mural at night. She said to cover costs to prepare the surface and install a frame, the funding request was increased by$2,900 to $12,900. A resident supported the mural. Member Seiler moved to approve a $12,900.00 Public Art Fund Grant to the Clearwater Historical Society for a mural on the Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center on South Ft. Harrison Avenue. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Page 3 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 4.3 Review a grant funding request by the Clearwater Arts Alliance for an expansion to the Thinking Outside the Box signal box wrap program. Clearwater Arts Alliance Vice President Beth Daniels provided a PowerPoint presentation on the signal box wrap program which has decorated 31 boxes, including 6 neighborhood wraps funded by a Public Art Fund Grant. She requested the Board fund 6 additional signal box wraps for neighborhoods lacking art amenities. She said the increased cost of$1,750 per box boosts artist compensation for their participation in the lengthy design process. She said installation costs were approximately$1,000 per signal box. In response to questions, Ms. Daniels said the City's Neighborhood Coordinator sends information to neighborhoods, prioritizes them, and commits to dialog with neighborhood residents. The only damages to signal boxes were caused by vehicular accidents, insurance covered costs to replace the wraps. She encouraged celebrating the unveiling of each new wrap. A resident complimented the signal box wrap in her Valencia neighborhood. Member Seiler moved to approve a $10,500.00 Public Art Fund grant to Clearwater Arts Alliance to fund 6 "Thinking Outside the Box" wraps. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Election of Officers Member Byrd moved to reappoint Neale Stralow as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Seiler moved to appoint Jonathan Barnes as Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Items 5.1 Review an update on the status of the Cultural Arts Strategic Plan. At its December 16, 2021 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the 2022-2028 Cultural Arts Strategic Plan. Implementation initiatives are covered in Agenda Item #22-0032. Funding totaling $300,000 is available for the implementation of new programs as described in the Strategic Plan. Mr. Hubbard displayed a map of Clearwater highlighting current and planned public art locations, including signal boxes, storm drains and large projects. Recommendations: 1) update City's GIS (Geographic Information System) with inventory of all public art in Clearwater, 2) schools, such as Kings Page 4 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 Highway and Sandy Lane elementary schools, serve as student art hubs,- and ubs,and 3) outreach to neighborhoods lacking representation. Mr. Hubbard said the website was being overhauled, QR code labels will be attached to public art starting at Crest Lake Park. The website also will list cultural arts, galleries, schools, and studios in Clearwater and provide a resource for local artists to connect with projects and each other. Pre-Covid, the City connected with Sandy Lane Elementary as an arts hub providing art for the MSB (Municipal Services Building). The map will be expanded to include CRA funded art. The Neighborhood Coordinator position supports community outreach. It is difficult to use Public Art funds for private property not tied to a 501(c)3 project. A resident suggested large park projects could fund public art. 5.2 Review an update on a grant application to Bloomberg Philanthropies for a mural at Cherry Harris Park. In 2021, city staff applied for grant funding for a community mural through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative. The project was estimated at $12,000 and would cover the west entrance plaza of Cherry Harris Park and the north/south lanes of N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Funding was not awarded to this project. City staff recommends pursuing funding the project through: 1) Public Art Fund; 2) public/private partnership with local franchise of national corporation; 3) partnership with an existing community group ex. Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition; North Greenwood Neighborhood Association; 4) partnership with an existing 501(c)3 agency; or 5) a combination of the previous strategies. Mr. Hubbard said the project has strong arts, cultural and public support. 5.3 Review the current Public Art Fund balance. As of January 6, 2022, the Public Art Fund balance of$156,715 can be used for commissions, special initiatives, and grants. Mr. Hubbard said the Public Art Fund balance was $133,315 following today's Board approvals of Public Art Fund grants: 1) $10,500 to Clearwater Arts Alliance and 2) $12,900 to the Clearwater Historical Society. 5.4 Review an update on the Crest Lake Park public art project. Artist Donald Gialanella is complete with the project sculptures. He has provided concrete pad dimensions to be produced by City tradesworkers. City staff requests access to Public Art Funds to create a water-based pad to Page 5 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 mount the dragonfly. This is a one-time request. Appropriate signage will be installed to dissuade physical interaction with the water-based dragonfly sculpture. Digital information and background on the art, artist, and species featured will be added to an updated City Cultural Affairs website via the PixelStix application. Mr. Hubbard said Mr. Gialanella requested $600 from the Public Art Fund to cover costs to store his sculptures until concrete pads are in position, the sculptures are installed, and the City takes possession of the art. Member Barnes moved to approve a $600.00 Public Art Fund grant to Artist Donald Gialanella to store his Crest Lake Park public art project until the City's concrete pads are in place and the sculptures are installed. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5.5 Review an update on the Police Substation III project. The selection panel for public art at the Police Substation III project will be convened before the end of January. Two public art sites are open on this project: a west wall in the public area that faces the main parking bank and the terrazzo floor of the public main lobby. Member Seiler will serve as the PADB (Public Art & Design Board) representative on the panel. A community representative from Countryside High School also will participate. Selection panel members: 1) Eric Seiler, Chair and PADB representative; 2) Maj. David Dalton, Police Department representative; 3) Ivan Dimitrov, Engineering Department representative; 4) Tim Boatwright, artist representative; and 5) TBD, Countryside High School representative. 5.6 Review an update on the Fire Station 46 public art project. The selection panel for public art at the Fire Station 46 (N. Clearwater Beach) project will be convened before the end of February. Multiple public art sites are available at this project: a small sculpture pad west of the pedestrian sidewalk, the glass panel under the building's overhang, several locations on the building's south and east facades. Member Menaul will serve as the PADB representative on the panel. A community representative from North Clearwater Beach Neighborhood Association also will participate. Selection panel members: 1) Jerri Menaul, Chair and PADB representative; 2) Deputy Chief Marvin Pettingill, Fire Department representative; 3) Jeff Walker, Engineering Department representative; 4) TBD, artist representative; and 5) TBD, North Clearwater Beach Neighborhood representative. Mr. Hubbard said he had reissued the Call to Artists to include the area under the overhang and different iterations of a street side project. The Page 6 City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2022 selection panel will reconvene to review submissions. 6. Director's Report: None 7. Board Members to be Heard Members thanked Mr. Hubbard for his efforts. 8. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. City of Clearwater Page 7 (,V Chai Public Art & Design Advisory Board