HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/18/2011 - ITEMS RELATING TO THE VETERANS PLAZA CAPITAL PROJE DATE: January 18, 2011 SUMMARYAGENDA ITEM
STAFF: Kathleen Benedict _
T COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
Ellen Martin
Items Relating to the Veterans Plaza Capital Project.
A. First Reading of Ordinance No.004,2011,Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund
for the Veterans Plaza Project at Spring Canyon Community Park.
B. Resolution 2011-002 Accepting the Proposed Donation of the Veterans Plaza Sculpture,"The Soldiers Gift".
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Veterans Plaza at Spring Canyon Community Park will create a public venue, bringing community members
together to recognize and commemorate the sacrifices and dedication of service members who have served our
country. The Plaza will be located on approximately three acres of land near the main entrance of the park on
Horsetooth Road. Ordinance No. 004, 2011, appropriates revenue in the amount of $275,000 for the project.
Resolution 2011-002 accepts the donation of a bronze sculpture by artist Susan Raymond. This sculpture will be
located at the Veterans Plaza and become part of the City's Art in Public Places collection.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The concept of a public plaza to honor veterans from northern Colorado originated in 2008 with a group of citizens.
The design and funding of the project is being handled by the Veterans Plaza Committee,which is made up of private
citizens. Spring Canyon Community Park was identified by the Veterans Plaza Committee,the City Manager's Office
and the Park Planning Division as a suitable location for the Plaza. A minor amendment to the park site plan was
approved by the Planning and Zoning Board on September 2,2008,to designate the proposed area of Spring Canyon
Community Park as the future Veterans Plaza location.
The project was designed by an independent landscape architect hired by the Veterans Plaza Committee, with
oversight by Park Planning. The first phase of the project will incorporate concrete walks,a grass amphitheatre,shade
trees, a soil garden with poppies, and a platform stage for celebrating the liberties and freedoms that have been
protected by service members. There will also be a bronze statue, conveying the story of generations of sacrifice.
The final phase will incorporate two stone memorial walls which will be embedded with touch screen/interactive
monitors, allowing visitors to search for and view the names, photos, and biographies of veterans who have ties to
northern Colorado. This phase will also include flagpoles, a stone wall behind the stage with military insignia, stone
seating in the amphitheatre, as well as stone monument pillars at the entryway to the Plaza.
The Plaza sculpture was approved by the Art in Public Places Board on May 19, 2010. The Art in Public Places
Guidelines state that all works of art with a value over$10,000 donated to the City of Fort Collins that are to be placed
in a public area, must be approved by the APP Board. Once approved, the Board recommends that City Council
accept the work of art on behalf of the City. The City is to accept ownership and responsibility for maintenance only
of works of art that meet the objectives of the APP program. The work of art must also meet the criteria for works of
art and site selection set forth in the APP guidelines.
The donor and the Veterans Plaza Committee selected the artist and developed the concept for the artwork. The
sculpture, "The Soldiers Gift"will be created by artist Susan Raymond and gifted to the project through the generosity
of Jerry and Mary McMorris.
January 18 2011 -2- ITEM 8
FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS
This Ordinance appropriates revenue in the amount of$275,000. To help build the Veterans Plaza, the Veterans
Plaza Committee has solicited donations from the community, and funds for the first phase of the project have been
raised. The first phase of the project is planned for 2011 with a cost estimate of $115,435. The committee will
continue its effort to raise funds for the final build out of the project, which is estimated at$159,565. In addition, the
City has appropriated$25,000 of Resourcing our Future funds in the 2011 City Budget for this project. The estimated
cost for the total project is $300,000.
Honoring veterans from across the northern Colorado,the Veterans Plaza will drawvisitors from throughoutthe region.
Excitement for the project has produced strong partnerships with area veterans'organizations, the City, and various
interested donors.
The first phase annual operation and maintenance cost for landscaping,trees, sidewalks, and the Plaza is estimated
at$5,000. Funding is available in the Parks Maintenance budget in 2011 and in future years.
The Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW)will maintain the flower garden at the foot of the stage,
refreshing the poppies annually and maintaining the garden.
The art donation does not impact the City's General Fund. The design,construction and installation costs will be paid
for by donors. The estimated value of the sculpture is $60,000. Maintenance costs for the sculpture will be funded
through the Art in Public Places program, but are expected to be minimal.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The landscape around the Plaza will be irrigated utilizing the raw water system that is already in place at Spring
Canyon Community Park. The Plaza site has been previously accounted for in the park's stormwater and water quality
management system.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BOARD I COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Parks and Recreation Board was briefed on the project throughout 2009 and 2010, and the Board will be updated
as the project progresses.
At its May 19,2010 meeting,the Art in Public Places Board approved the art donation and recommended that Council
accept this work of art on behalf of the City.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Veterans Plaza board members and other supporters have promoted the project through meetings with groups such
as the Lions Club, Rotary clubs, Northern Colorado Honor Flight groups, and local veterans' groups as well as the
media, recently participating in a local television show about the Plaza.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Written description and drawing of the proposed work of art and location map of the site. The final artwork
may vary from this description.
2. Art in Public Places Board minutes, May 19, 2010
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ATTACHMENT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MINUTES
Wednesday,May 19,2010
Lincoln Center Columbine West Room
Council Liaison:Lisa Po2eaw Staff Liaison:Ellen Martin
Ch • rson:lane Nev Vice Chair.Shelby Sommer
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Nevrivy,Liliane Francuz,Ray Tollison,Shelby Sommer,York
MEMBERS ABSENT:Lee Needham,Craig Russell
STAFF PRESENT:Ellen Mann,Anne Bossert,Kathleen Benedict,Dean Klingner
CRB LIAISON:Jan Gilligan,present.
I. Call to order. 3:42p.m.—Ms Nevrivy
II. Consideration of the current agenda:
III. Consideration of minutes:
Mr.York moved to accept the minutes as presented.
Ms Sommer seconded the motion.
Unanimously approved
IV. Citizen Participation
V.Veterans Plaza Art Donation:
Kathleen Benedict of the City s Parks Planning Department,Diggs Brown,and artist Susan Raymond
were in attendance to speak about this proposed donation.Ms Benedict gave an overview of the project
proposed to go into the future Veterans Plaza at Spring Canyon Park The project concept is to honor
those who have served,not a memorial to those that have fallen. There will be a raised platform adjacent
to a stage on which the sculpture will be placed. A provision for future maintenance is not included in
this donation.The sculpture will be a T tall soldier with a boy on his shoulder.Board members filled out
their donation evaluation forms.
Mr.York moved to accept the Veterans Plaza Art Donation for the Spring Canyon Park with the caveat
that the plaza is built and the sculpture be placed at this site.
Ms.Sommer seconded the motion.
Discussion was had.Ms Francuz would encourage the plaza donors to set aside money in the foundation
or establish an agreement for any damage that may happen to the sculpture to assist the city in
maintenance costs. The donor group could also make a donation to the APP maintenance fund.
Discussion was had regarding the inclusion of a female figure in the artwork Mr.York suggested a
second piece eventually be made that represents a female soldier.
Unanimously approved.
DA Alley Project Art Donation:
7 * f the Downtown Development Authority(DDA) gave an overview of the DDA alley
enhancement pr Martin spoke about our past collaborations with DDA that hayS.Liwwred in
recent years.The DDA pa o into the city right-of-way in all three of galley
enhancement projects. The paver o will have to go to co members filled out their
donation evaluation forms.
VII.2010 Art in Action:
APP staff showed the year's art concepts by artist Jim Lynxwiler. s oke about the
sculptures an e concept came together.These pieces may also to be placed in the t-
of-wa may need to come back to the APP Board in the future.
ORDINANCE NO. 004, 2011
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
FOR THE VETERANS PLAZA PROJECT AT SPRING CANYON COMMUNITY PARK
WHEREAS, in 2008, a group of Fort Collins citizens initiated a project that would honor
veterans in the community through the construction of a memorial to be constructed on City property
(the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, Spring Creek Canyon Park has been identified as a suitable location for the
Project; and
WHEREAS, the Project has been designed by an independent landscape architect retained
by a citizens' group known as the Veterans Plaza Committee(the "Committee"), with oversight by
City staff, and
WHEREAS,the first phase ofthe Project,to be constructed at an estimated cost of$115,435,
will have as its focal point a bronze statue honoring veterans,and it will incorporate concrete walks,
a grass amphitheatre, shade trees, a garden, and platform stage; and
WHEREAS,the second phase of the Project,the cost of which is estimated at$159,565,will
add flagpoles, stone seating in the amphitheatre and other amenities, including two stone memorial
walls embedded with touch screen/ interactive monitors that will allow visitors to search for and
view the names, photos, and biographies of veterans who have ties to northern Colorado; and
WHEREAS,the Committee has raised sufficient funds to cover the first phase of the Project
and will continue its fundraising efforts; and
WHEREAS, all funds received by the Committee are being donated to the City to be
expended on the Project; and
WHEREAS, $25,000 of the total Project cost of$300,000 has already been appropriated by
the City Council in the form of Resourcing our Future tax revenues through adoption of the 2011
Annual Appropriation Ordinance,leaving$275,000 of revenues to be appropriated from existing and
future donations; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council'to make
supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total
amount of such supplemental appropriations,in combination with all previous appropriations for that
fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received
during the fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the appropriation of the revenue as described
herein will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund to exceed the current
estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated revenue in the Capital Projects Fund
the sum of TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($275,000) for the
Veterans Plaza Project at Spring Creek Community Park.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 18th day of
January, A.D. 2011, and to be presented for final passage on the 1 st day of February, A.D. 2011.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 1 st day of February, A.D. 2011.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
RESOLUTION 2011-002
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ACCEPTING THE PROPOSED DONATION
OF THE VETERANS PLAZA SCULPTURE "THE SOLDIER'S GIFT"
WHEREAS,Spring Canyon Community Park has been selected as the site for a public plaza
honoring military veterans from northern Colorado ("Veterans Plaza"); and
WHEREAS, the first phase of the Veteran's Plaza project will include a bronze sculpture
titled "The Soldiers Gift" by artist Susan Raymond, embodying the sacrifice of generations of
soldiers (the "Artwork"); and
WHEREAS, the Artwork is being commissioned by Jerry and Mary McMorris, who are
proposing to donate the Artwork to the City for inclusion in Veterans Plaza; and
WHEREAS, Section 23-309 of the City Code requires that works of art with a value of$300
or more donated to the City to be placed in a public area may be accepted only with approval of the
Art in Public Places Board(the"APP Board"), and all such works with a value of$10,000 or more
may be accepted only with approval of the City Council,upon review of the proposed donation and
the recommendation of the APP Board; and
WHEREAS, the value of the Artwork is estimated at over $10,000; and
WHEREAS,at its regular meeting on May 19,2010,the APP Board evaluated the proposed
donation of the Artwork based on the City's Art in Public Places Guidelines and recommended that
the City Council accept the donation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS, that the City Council hereby accepts the proposed donation of the Artwork created by
artist Susan Raymond for the Veterans Plaza project.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 18th
day of January A.D. 2011.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk