TAMRMS#: B06
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Withdrawal From Public Art Reserve
Presented by: Kelly Jerrott, Director, Community Services Department
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That $240,000 be withdrawn from the Public Art Acquisition, Maintenance and Restoration Fund to fund the 2019 planned public art projects and a partial accession of a 2020 public art project.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To obtain authorization from Council to withdraw funds from the Public Art Acquisition, Maintenance and Restoration Fund to be used in the accession of 2019 planned Public Art projects.
The Financial Reserves Policy indicates that Council approval is required to withdraw funds from the Public Art Acquisition, Maintenance and Restoration Fund.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
The withdrawal from the Public Art Reserve supports the “Public Art” service level as set out in the City of St. Albert Services and Service Levels Inventory:
Maintenance, accession, and deaccession of City's public art collection. This includes Public Art Collection, Art in Public Places and Cultural Wall of Fame.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
The withdrawal from the Public Art Reserve and the public art projects being recommended by the Public Art Advisory Committee, support Policy C-CS-04 Public Art, Attachment 1, which states that:
The City shall fund 1% of the Total Municipal Capital Project Budget for the accession of Public Art up to a maximum of $220,000 with the Capital Reserve Fund as the designated funding source, and that escalation of the cap should be set annually using the City’s Standard Indices Process.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The following projects have been reviewed, and are being recommended, by the Public Art Advisory Committee as per Attachment 1 - Council Policy C-CS-04 - Public Art, for eligible Capital Projects.
Further details about these projects are included in Attachment 2 - Public Art Projects Details.
2019 Public Art Project Recommendations Total Project Budget $240,000
• 2019 Emerging Artist $2,000
• 2019 Children’s Festival temporary public art project $30,000
• 2020 Children’s Festival temporary public art project $30,000
• Red Willow Park $31,000
• Sign Reclamation (Phase 1 of 2) $31,000
• Northridge Gazebo (Trail Roundabout area) $100,000
• Canada 150 Mosaic Donation, Associated Costs $9,000
• Diversity and Inclusion, Public Engagement Component $7,000
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) consists of representatives from the community, industry experts and professionals. PAAC has been consulted and indicated their agreement with the allocation of the one percent for art funds from eligible capital projects in 2018, and the summary of 2019 planned public art projects.
The above projects were reviewed and approved by the Public Art Advisory Committee at its February 27, 2019 meeting.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
There are sufficient funds in the Public Art Acquisition Reserve to support the recommended planned public art projects for 2019.
The current total uncommitted balance, including the 2019 contribution, is $600,011.
• Uncommitted funds for new acquisitions balance is $374,661
• Uncommitted funds for maintenance and restoration balance is $225,350
There are currently 304 pieces of art in the Public Art Collection. This includes all of the artwork in public places, as well as the two-dimensional works located in various City of St. Albert buildings. The maintenance for this work for this artwork varies depending upon the medium, and ranges from waxing and treating the bronze on sculptures like Hide and Seek at the entrance to St. Albert Place, to engineering inspections of the Steinhauer sculptures and plaza structure, to the annual maintenance of the Butterfly Sails fountain in Celebration Garden.
Legal / Risk:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
As per Council Policy C-CS-04 - Public Art, the City supports the display and development of public art which:
a. enhances quality of life and place;
b. distinguishes St Albert as a destination City;
c. fosters community cohesion, creating engaging spaces for community activity and interaction;
d. encourages a sense of ownership, belonging and memory with the community; and
e. develops community leadership, public dialogue and creative learning opportunities.
Public art shall be a consideration in the design objectives of all new municipal capital and building projects.
Organizational:
Administration will facilitate the appointment of juries, as recommend by PAAC, to adjudicate planned public art projects, as required by Council Policy C-CS-04 - Public Art.
Administration will ensure planned Public Art accession shall include a process for the following, as per Council Policy C-CS-04 - Public Art:
a. establishment of selection criteria including: artistic merit, Council Policy C-CS-04 - Public Art, site suitability, context, public safety, insurance and financial requirements;
b. integration of municipal design objectives in civic planning and development; and
c. procurement, display, promotion and maintenance of public art within new and existing publicly-accessible properties.
Administration is comfortable with the current staffing capacity to support planned public art projects associated with these funds.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Should Council not support the recommendations presented they may wish to consider the following options:
1. To refer the matter back to Administration to identify additional alternatives for Council’s consideration.
Report Date: May 21, 2019
Author: Paul Pearson
Department: Community Services Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble