HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/15/2005 - RESOLUTION 2005-012 APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM TH ITEM NUMBER: 24
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 15, 2005
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Ellen Martin
SUBJECT
Resolution 2005-012 Approving Expenditures from the Art in Public Places Reserve Account in
the Wastewater Utility Fund to Commission an Artist to Create Sculptural Elements for the
Wetland Mitigation Ponds behind the East Drake Water Treatment Facility.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the Art in Public Places Board recommend adoption of the Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The East Drake Pondworks art budget is $70,000, to be used for design, fabrication, installation,
and contingency for this project.
The funds for this project have been appropriated for Art in Public Places Reserve Account in
the Wastewater Utility Fund. The Art in Public Places program has a maintenance fund for the
long-term care of the APP art collection.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Resolution would approve expenditures of$70,000 for design, fabrication, installation and
contingency for a project to install sculptural works by Lynne Hull at the wetland mitigation
ponds behind the East Drake Water Treatment Facility.
BACKGROUND
Section 23-303 of the City Code, which was added in 1995, established Art in Public Places
(APP) Reserve Accounts within the Light and Power, Water, Wastewater and Storm Drainage
Funds, and designated them for use in acquiring or leasing works of art, maintenance, repair or
display of works of art, and administrative expenses related to the Art in Public Places Program,
in accordance with the Art in Public Places Guidelines adopted by the Council in Ordinance No.
020, 1995. The Council permanently adopted the Art in Public Places Program, and reenacted
City Code Chapter 23, Article D{, with certain modifications in 1998.
February 15, 2005 -2- Item No. 24
Under Section 23-303 of the Code, APP money in a utility account can only be used for works of
art that provide betterment to that utility, or that are otherwise determined by the City Council to
be for a specific utility purpose that is beneficial to the rate payers.
The Art in Public Places Board voted to select an artist for this project using an RFP process
through the City's Purchasing Department. The Selection Committee chose Fort Collins artist
Lynne Hull. Lynne Hull worked with the Utility project team to create a design concept
appropriate to the site. This design concept was reviewed and recommended by the Utility
Project Team and the APP Board. The APP Board reviewed the design for this project at its
regular meeting on January 19, 2005.
The artwork entitled East Drake Pondworks will be located at the East Drake Water Treatment
Facility wetland mitigation ponds, near the Environmental Learning Center and Poudre Trail.
Working with the theme of"We All Need Clean Water," the artist will create approximately 13
site-specific sculptural elements that demonstrate the important ecological relationship between
wetland wildlife and their natural habitats located in and around clean water. Artworks will
assist viewers with the observation of wildlife and various natural water sources, and offer
interpretation of local ecological and wetland wildlife habitat issues. The artwork includes an
Entryway Arch, Observation Screen, Viewing Pipes, Bird Island, Picnic Area, Grandmother
Tree, Kingfisher Tower, Water Sluice, Bat House, Bird and Duck Houses, and Toad Tunnels.
A written description and drawing of the proposed work of art is attached as Attachment 2. The
final piece may vary from this description.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Minutes from the January 19, 2005 Art in Public Places Board Meeting
2. Written description and drawing of the proposed work of art
ATTACHMENT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MINUTES
Regular Meeting-Wednesday,January 19,2005
Lincoln Center
Council Liaison:David Roy Staff Liaison:Ellen Martin
Chairperson:Roger Sherman Vice Chair.Ray Tollison
MEMBERS PRESENT: Roger Sherman,Ray Tollison,Cori Hixon-Cunningham,and Lee Needham
MEMBERS ABSENT: Alan Howe,Ann Carr,Libby Dale
STAFF PRESENT: Jill Stilwell,Ellen Martin,Cory Gundlach,Cliff Hoelscher,Michelle Finchum,Rita Davis,Tom
McLellan,and Ron Kechter
I. Call to order 3:41 p.m.-Mr.Sherman
II. Consideration of the current agenda
III. Approval of minutes from the meeting of November 17,2004.
Ms.Hixon-Cunningham moved to approve the minutes.
Mr.Needham seconded the motion.
Unanimously approved.
N. Citizen Participation
V. Drake Water Reclamation Facility Project Review:
Ms.Martin provided an introduction to the project.It is a collaboration with the city's Utility Department. The
budget is approatimately$70,000.The artist is Lynne Hull.
Project artist Lynne Hull offered a presentation on her art concepts for the site. The focus of the art project is an
area of undeveloped land around the ponds behind the East Drake Water Treatment Facility. At the site,there is
an Environmental Learning Center,Water Treatment Plant,two wetland mitigation ponds,and the Poudre Trail.
Ms.Hull states that her artwork relates to habitat restoration, and the project concepts are the result of discussions
Utility project team. The project team agreed that several smaller sculptures were more appropriate to the site than
on monolithic piece. Cob construction will be used to create a wildlife observation screen for viewers. Cob,an
old English construction tradition,is composed of clay,sand,and straw—a muddy consistency. As part of the
project,the artist his proposing to host a workshop on cob construction.
Regarding maintenance,some of the art elements will be temporary,some permanent. The Observation Screen is
required to collapse in the event of a hundred year flood.
Mr.Needham motions to accept the project proposal.
Seconded by Mr.Tollison.
Unanimously approved.
VI. Police Facility Project Presentation:
Ms.Martin introduced Project Manager Ron Kechter,Police Representative Rita Davis,and Police C aptain Tom
McLellan.
Project Manager Ron Kechter described the location at Timberline between Drake and Prospect. The project is a
design-build project.
1-19-05 short
The team showed the design concepts for the building. The team discussed possibilities for the artist to be
involved in the public areas of the exterior&interior of the site. Once such area is the Police Museum that could
be extended through the lobby.The museum will house a large collection of catalogued police artifacts,which
could be used for interchangeable displays. The public area of the exterior is a memorial garden that could also be
a site considered for artwork
Ms.Martin asked if the request for proposal should be a national or regional campaign. Mr.Kechter stated that
there would be weekly design meetings in the beginning stage of the project,and that funds are available now for
an artist to work on design issues. After discussion,it was decided that the R.F.P.should be regionally based so an
artist could attend weekly meetings.
Mr.Sherman motions: Prepare a RFP for an artist to work with Police Facility,acting as a lead artist who may
coordinate others as necessary with a budget of$10,000 for six months of design.
Ms.Hixon-Cunningham seconds the motion
Unanimously approved.
VII. Gardens on Spring Creek:Children's Garden Project Presentation:
Ms.Martin introduced Project Manager Jim Clark and EDAW representative Mark Kosmos.
The project location is at Center Ave across from the Natural Resource Center. It is an eighteen acre site. The
mission of The Gardens on Spring Creek is to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship
through horticulture. The center opened last May. Mr.Clark showed plans for the future Children's Garden site.
The site has various areas of different activities. Icons include a watering can,the sign itself"Children's Garden,"
pavers in the walkway,calendar motifs,an interactive sun dial,and amphitheater. There is a"Secret Garden"
theme and a"Secret Shelter"theme. Mr.Clark also mentioned the interest in having artwork by local artist Bill
Swets at the site.
Ms.Hixon-Cunningham moves to add Bill Swets to the APP Design Consultant Review List,and to use that list
for the selection of an artist for this project.
Mr.Sherman seconds the motion.
Unanimously approved.
VIII. Annual Report:
Mr.Sherman recommended an addition to the report that states the APP representatives met with regional
APP Art Programs.
Ms.Hixon-Cunningham moves to approve 2004 report as amended
Mr.Needham seconds the motion.
Unanimously approved
IV. Staff Report:
Staff updated the board on current APP projects. This year is the 10th anniversary of the APP Program.
X. Other Business:none
XI. Adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
Co�RespectfullySub ied,
6undlach Art in Public Places Program Assistant
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CITY OF FORT COLLINS
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Small scale example of cob construction. The on-site Small scale model of Bird Island, (concrete, 12'
wildlife Observation Screen,made of cob,has a zig-zag wide)designed to bridge the gap between two
shape made of three walls at 12',6,and 10'long. Cob wetland mitigation ponds. It also offers sunning
benches for viewers will be placed behind the screen. area for amphibians,insects,and birds.
Located on the wetland mitigation ponds behind the East Drake Water Treatment Facility, this
APP site is ideal for environmental art. It is also near the Environmental Learning Center and
the Poudre Trail bike path. Artist Lynne Hull's interest in wildlife habitat restoration combined
with the diversity of wildlife reported at the site generated ideas for several small wildlife
habitat sculptures. With members from the Utilities Department, the project team also agreed
that several smaller sculptures are more appropriate to the site than one monolithic piece. The
site will include an Entrance Archway, wildlife Observation Screen, Viewing Pipes, sculptural
Bird Island, Picnic Area, Grandmother Tree, Kingfisher Tower, Water Sluice, Bat House,
Duck and Bird Houses, and Toad Tunnels. A community workshop on "cob" construction
methods will also be involved. The theme addressed in the artwork is "We All Need Clean
Water," as well as other aquatic ecology issues at the site.
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Kingfisher Tower model: Water Sluice model:hand-pump,river stones, Bird House example,to be
river stones,drain-water concrete,and drain pipes. Visitors can use the hand made in the artist's studio
pipe,and packed sand. pump to supply water to pets,wildlife,and wetland and installed on pipes that
plants. emerge from the ponds.
A man-made Entry Arch I at the site marks the beginning of a trail into the wetland. There, a
large arch-like sculpture made of raw-wood invites visitors off the bike path, and into the site
where further sculptures are placed. Arches of several sizes offer entrances for different sized
visitors. The largest main arch will be inscribed with the thematic slogan "We All Need Clean
Water." Other arches will have water related text and images of other animal species.
Both temporal/organic and permanent/synthetic materials will be used in the installation relative
to the issues of the site as a natural flood channel. Using "cob," a historic and highly durable
construction material composed of clay, sand, and organic fiber, a wildlife Observation Screen 2
will be created. Small benches, also made from cob and stone, will be placed for wild-life
observers. Culverts and water permeable gabions (wire cage-like structures filled with stone) will
be built into the base of the screen to allow the passage of any natural water flow.
Consisting of three walls, the screen is formed in a zig-zag pattern with small openings for
wildlife observation. The structure will be created within a community workshop, directed by
cob construction professionals of the Cob Cottage Company of Oregon. Community members
will have a hands-on opportunity to learn about this alternative construction method, while
participating in the creation of the artwork. Creation and installation of the structure will be
supervised by city Utilities staff to ensure structural longevity and flood manageability.
Near an existing bridge, several Viewing Pipes 3 labeled "H20 Source" point out water sources
relative to the site: the sky, mountains, and river. Beneath a large tree, a rustic Picnic Area 4 will
be created from logs, stormwater pipes, and native sandstone. Interpretive signage regarding
clean water and water preservation will be sandblasted into the sandstone tabletop. More
Viewing Pipes near the wildlife Observation Screen point out water sources and other points of
interpretive interest. These will be studio created and installed by Hull and Utilities.
A sculptural Bird Island 5 in the existing pond will offer an underwater habitat for fish and an
above-water sunning area for various terrestrials. The sculpture will rise above and plunge
below the variable water level. The concrete piece will be created by Hull and installed by city
Utilities staff.
Located near the south end of pond will be placed a Grandmother Tree, 6 a snag (dead tree)
converted to provide a bird habitat. Branches for roosting birds, as well as man made nesting
cavities, will help inform visitors that dead trees are an important wildlife habitat.
A Kingfisher Tower 7 (6' to 7' tall) with tunnels for nesting will be placed on the west side
between the pond and an irrigation ditch, easily visible but difficult to approach due to its
proximity to the water. The base will be a smooth concrete stormwater drain pipe to keep the
nesting area safe from climbing predators, while the upper part will be a spiral of river rock and
an opening of packed sand for nesting tunnels. Hull and a concrete/stonemason will create it.
City Utilities staff will supervise the installation.
A sculptural Bat House, 8 with its own solar light to attract insects for hunting bats, will occupy
the soil berm next to the pond. It will be a"creature" made of copper pipe whose head is the Bat
House. The triangular shaped bat house will be made of stone slabs, or wood finished in stucco
to look like stone. The sculpture will be created by Hull and crew and will be installed by city
Utilities staff.
A Water Sluice 9 feature will be located at the southeast edge of the pond. A water source and a
"play" structure, it is powered by a hand pump. Visitors can pump water to fill a series of
descending basins marked with images and tracks of a variety of species—taller and flying
species at the highest points, shorter species as the basins descend. The pumped water is
designed for dogs, wildlife, and wetland plants. The serpentine sculpture will consist of a sloping
concrete drainage channel on top of a river stone wall. It will start at 3' tall and nearly reach
ground level, a total of 18' in length. The hand pump will resemble the old farm pump at
Martinez Park Farm. Lynne will work with a concrete and stonemason to create the sluice and an
experienced plumber to install the pump. Utilities will bore the hole for the well and provide a
pipe to attach the pump.
Wood Duck Houses and Bird Houses /0 on pipes will emerge from the pond. These will be
created in Hull's studio and installed in the pond with the help of city Utilities staff.
A cob bench 11 will be installed along the edge of the pond near the trail, and toad tunnels 12 113
will be installed within the west side slope of the two ponds.
RESOLUTION 2005-012
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES RESERVE
ACCOUNT IN THE WASTEWATER UTILITY FUND TO COMMISSION AN ARTIST TO
CREATE SCULPTURAL ELEMENTS FOR THE WETLAND MITIGATION PONDS
BEHIND THE EAST DRAKE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
WHEREAS, Section 23-303 of the City Code established the Art in Public Places Reserve
Accounts in the Light and Power, Water, Wastewater and Storm Drainage Funds for use in the
acquisition or leasing of works of art, maintenance, repair or display of works of art, and
administrative expenses related to the Art in Public Places Program, in accordance with the Art in
Public Places Guidelines adopted by Council in Ordinance No. 020, 1995 (the "Guidelines"); and
WHEREAS, one percent (1%) of the funds from a Wastewater Utility Capital Project has
been set aside in the Art in Public Places Reserve Account in the Wastewater Fund to be used for
public art(the"Art Project") at the East Drake Water Treatment Facility(the"Facility"); and
WHEREAS,the Art in Public Places Board(the"Board"),voted to select an artist for the Art
Project through an RFP process with the City Purchasing Department; and
WHEREAS, the Utility Project Team selected Lynne Hull (the"Artist") to create a design
concept appropriate to the Facility; and
WHEREAS, the Board evaluated the Artist's final design at its regular meeting on January
19, 2005, pursuant to the Guidelines; and
WHEREAS,based on that evaluation,the Board voted to recommend the Artist's proposal
for a piece titled "East Drake Pondworks", consisting of thirteen site-specific sculptural elements
that demonstrate the important ecological relationship between wetland wildlife and their natural
habitats in and around clean water,to be located at the Facility's wetland mitigation ponds near the
Environmental Learning Center and Poudre Trail; and
WHEREAS,the estimated cost to create the Art Project,including commission of the Artist,
fabrication, installation and contingency for the Art Project, is $70,000; and
WHEREAS,those funds have been appropriated in the Art in Public Places reserve account
in the Wastewater Utility Fund to provide for the artist design fees, fabrication, installation and
contingency for the Art Project; and
WHEREAS, Section 23-308 of the City Code requires that the Board's selection of the
recommended art be presented for Council review and approval,because the cost of the art exceeds
$10,000; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23-303 of the City Code,monies credited to Utility Art in
Public Places reserve accounts shall be expended only for the acquisition of works of art that provide
a betterment to such utility or that are otherwise determined by the City Council to be for a specific
utility purpose that is beneficial to the rate payers of such utility.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the Council hereby finds that the Art Project proposed provides a
betterment to the Wastewater Utility.
Section 2. That the Council hereby authorizes the expenditure of up to SEVENTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS($70,000)from the Art in Public Places reserve account in the Wastewater
Fund for the Art Project "East Drake Pondworks", which consists of 13 site-specific sculptural
elements,to be placed at the East Drake Water Treatment Facility wetland mitigation ponds,which
project was proposed by the artist Lynne Hull,and the conceptual design of which was reviewed and
approved by the Art in Public Places Board on January 19, 2005.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 15th day of February,
A.D. 2005.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk