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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/16/2002 - RESOLUTION 2002-035 APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM TH AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 20 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: April 16, 2002 STAFF: Ellen Martin SUBJECT: Resolution 2002-035 Approving Expenditures from the Art in Public Places Reserve Account in the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund to Commission an Artist to Create a Site Specific Art Piece Entitled "Hidden Habitats" for the Nix Farm Natural Areas Project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff and the Art in Public Places Board recommend adoption of the Resolution. FINANCIAL, IMPACT: The funds will be transferred from the BCC Natural Areas—Nix Farm Maintenance Facility Fund to the Art in Public Places Reserve Account in the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund. This project is funded by 1% money. The total Art in Public Places budget for the Nix Farm Natural Areas Project is $20,045. The total of$20,045 will be used for administration, commission of the artist to create and install the artwork, contingency, and maintenance of the piece. EXECUTIVE- SUMMARY: This Resolution would approve expenditures of$20,045 for administration,commission of the artist to create and install the artwork,contingency and maintenance of the piece. The artist,Joe McGrane will create a sculptural sandstone wall and paving design that engages the visitor in activities associated with wildlife discovery while also creating a habitat. The wall supports four sculptural animal "burrows" and connects the Nix Farm Habitat Garden to its broader landscape setting. BACKGROUND: Section 23-303 of the Code, which was added in 1995,established the Art in Public Places Reserve Account, and designated it 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. 20, 1995. The Council permanently adopted the Art in Public Places Program,and reenacted City Code Chapter 23, Article IX, with certain modifications in 1998. The Selection Committee chose the artist using the City's competitive bid process. This committee was comprised of seven APP Board members, one Natural Areas staff member, and a Purchasing Department representative. The APP committee reviewed the resumes and portfolios of 5 artists DATE: pn ITEM NUMBER: 20 who wished to be considered for this project. After the committee ranking, the APP Board voted unanimously to select Joe McGrane at the Board's regular meeting on October 29,2001. The artist worked with a team of City staff from the Natural Areas Department to create a design concept appropriate to the site. This design concept was reviewed and recommended by the Natural Areas Project Team and the Landmark Preservation Commission. The APP Board reviewed and approved the final design at their regular Board meeting on March 20, 2002. The art piece is a sculptural environment that engages the visitor in activities associated with wildlife discovery while creating a habitat using architectural forms•and materials. The sculpture consists of a curved sandstone wall, three reflective steel tubes that contain images of prairie animals, a carved fox burrow, paving design and water basin. This design concept was reviewed and recommended by the Natural Areas Project Team and the Landmark Preservation Commission. A written description and drawings of the proposed work of art are attached. The final piece may vary from this description. RESOLUTION 2002-035 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES RESERVE ACCOUNT IN THE CULTURAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES FUND TO COMMISSION AN ARTIST TO CREATE A SITE SPECIFIC ART PIECE ENTITLED "HIDDEN HABITATS"FOR THE NIX FARM NATURAL AREAS PROJECT WHEREAS,the City is currently working on improvements to the Nix Farm property as part of the Nix Farm Natural Areas Project (the "Project"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23-304 of the City Code, one percent of the funds appropriated for the Project was required to be set aside in the Art in Public Places reserve account in the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund, 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. 47, 1998 (the "Guidelines"); and WHEREAS,the Art in Public Places Board(the`Board"),at its regular meeting on October 29, 2001 unanimously voted to select artist Joe McGrane (the "Artist") to create a design concept appropriate to the Project site; and . WHEREAS,the Board evaluated the Artist's final design at its regular meeting on March 20, 2002, pursuant to the Guidelines; and WHEREAS, based on that evaluation, the Board voted to recommend the Artist's proposal for an art piece consisting of a curved sandstone wall,three reflective steel tubes that contain images of prairie animals, a carved fox burrow, paving design and water basin (the "Art Project"); and WHEREAS,the estimated cost to create the Art Project,including commission of the artist, fabrication, installation and contingency for the Art Project, is $20,045; and WHEREAS, those funds will be transferred from the BCC Natural Areas - Nix Farm Maintenance Facility Fund to the Art in Public Places reserve account in the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund, and will be appropriated as part of the 2002 budget, 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. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the Council hereby authorizes the expenditure of up to TWENTY THOUSAND FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($20,045) from the Art in Public Places reserve account in the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund for the Art Project consisting of a curved sandstone wall,three reflective steel tubes that contain images of prairie animals, a carved fox burrow, paving design and water basin, to enhance the Nix Farm Natural Areas Project, proposed by artist Joe McGrane, the conceptual design of which was reviewed and approved by the Art in Public Places Board on March 20, 2002. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 16'day of April,A.D. 2002. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk • City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places Program Nix rarm Natural Areas Froject "Hidden Habitats" Joe MCGrane The homes of burrowing animals are rarely seen and often displaced by development. "Hidden Habitats" reveals some common creatures found in the area against the backdrop of their natural habitat. It is a sculptural environment that engages the visitor in activities associated With wildlife discovery while creating habitat using architectural forms and materials. The sculpture consists of a curved sandstone wall that erodes into the landscape creating cover for small creatures and pockets for plantings and wind-bom seed collection. The wall supports four animal "burrows". Transparent, cut glass images of a common field mouse, rabbit, and skunk are contained in 3' long reflective steel tubes with protective acrylic lens covers. The tubes vary from 6" to 3" in diameter. They are oriented to views of the meadow and river corridor. The colored glass images combine with natural back lighting and the curved, reflective interior of the tubes to create playful distortions or "ghosts" of these secretive creatures. The fox burrow is envisioned as a polished stone outline placed in a shadowed recess in the wall face. Its glowing eyes will be back-lit with daylight and meadow views. The "burrows" pass through the wall at a height of only two feet above grade so viewers are required to stoop and peer into them, as if looking into a secret hiding place. The accompanying water basin plays off that illusive imagery. Its sandstone basin is cut in receding contours to the water source. Like a drying puddle, it reflects the temporal nature of water in the and plains environment. "Hidden Habitats" is a very complex, site specific art space. It combines the appreciation and discovery of often unseen prairie animals with the creation of useful habitat. It links the Nix Farm Habitat Garden to its broader landscape setting and puts it into context with open space issues of the day. It is playful yet serious art. It's themes, materials, craftsmanship and interactive nature respond to visitors at many levels. The sculpture creates a needed separation between the proposed amphitheater/seating area and the parking lot and access drive. It encloses a 10' diameter cut sandstone patio that serves as a viewing platform and stage for interpretive activities, crafts and amphitheater presentations. The water feature provides a needed element for any habitat garden. The piece requires no maintenance other than that associated with winterization of the fountain element. The acrylic lenses are unbreakable yet easily removed and inexpensive should they ever need to be replaced. They are secured with tamper proof screws through a steel collar and protect the colored glass images recessed in heavy, steel tubes. The tubes are anchored • in concrete. The small water basin contains a submersible, low voltage pump in a 20 gallon plastic vault. N/ater is made up daily from an automatic valve on the irrigation system. It is drained in a gravel sump bellow the vault. Access will be secured with a locking valve box cover. The pump is operated on a timer attached to a separate circuit at the building electrical box. Nix Farm Natural Areas Project "Hidden Habitats" r a Ir-w4a c� �IL1kJUFT'("�.LE�.E C�R,o.NR�, ,. 'T1i�+t�F4F��IT/ILLG�O ZCCiTv� T uPgO In t r 7P1 NE — Ar� _ metro P�JFi:��' -TuiTt /���'iLiP2lTivt ��ZA ._fcf.�N� ' —� •-� N�_GW-i FDa/J(� r�eE P.v2K.•.b -` -�--' � ��_ .�. � � � O�GI'.o. I F'•L¢E r. ,.l Qu/ M ✓ ��f e r r4� 9 N r V. Nix Farm Proposal Review The selection committee; APP board members, Edith Felchle from Natural Resources and John Stephen from Purchasing, reviewed the Nix Farts submission materials. These included resumes, letters of reference and slides of previous work. The results were tallied and Joseph McGrane was selected to be added to the Nix Farts Natural Areas Facility project design team. Mr. Howe motioned to accept Joseph McGrane and to add him to the Nix Farm design team. Ms. Hixon-Cunningham seconded. Unanimously approved. VIII. Other business - None IX. Adjoumment-4:46PM Respectfully submitted, Ilsbeth Kaufman Art in Public Places Program Assistant 10-29-01 • ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MINUTES Regular Meeting—Wednesday,March 20, 2002 Lincoln Center Council Liaison: Marty Tharp Staff Liaison: Ellen Martin CRB Liaison: Fran Johnson Chairperson: Alan Howe Vice Chair: Cori Hixon-Cunningham MEMBERS PRESENT: Deanna Gram, Alan Howe,Jane Uska-Smith, Ann Carr, Cori Hixon-Cunningham, Libby Dale, Roger Sherman MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Ellen Martin, Ilsbeth Kaufman, Mark Breimhorst, Steve White, Sue Kenney, Jerry Brown,Jeff Lakey, Kathleen Reavis I. Call to order 3:26 p.m.—Mr. Howe II. Consideration of the agenda - III. Approval of minutes from the meeting of February 20, 2002 Ms. Gram moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Hixon-Cunningham seconded. Approved unanimously. IV. Citizen Participation V. Nix Farm Natural Areas Design Presentation The Nix Farm Natural Area is a 28 acre site designated an historic district by the Landmark Preservation Committee. Sue Kenney from Natural Resources updated the board on the progress of this project. One home on the site will be refurbished and used for offices. The Natural Resources Department is seeking a grant to refurbish the smaller house. There is also a large bam and shed on the property. The area around the offices will be landscaped, including backyard wildlife habitat and demonstration gardens. Artist Joe McGrane was selected to work with the design team with the goal to create this habitat and to integrate the artwork into the area. Mr. McGrane worked with the design team to develop a site plan for the area around the building. The artist presented his design, which creates"Hidden Habitats" by building a wall, similar to a turret or ruin. This space allows seeds to blow in and can provide a place for prairie animals to live. McGrane has also designed tubes that will be placed low in the wall with stain glass images of prairie animals that are back lit by the prairie. Other features of the design include; a small stone basin with a minimal water element, a cut stone plaza, and a recessed black granite stone with a sandblasted image of a fox. The gardens and amphitheater will also be used as a meeting area for staff as well as a place to provide educational programs for the community. . Mr. Sherman moved to carry the project forward based on what the board saw today and recommend to council for approval. Ms. Gram seconded. Unanimously approved. G:.DPP BOARD MINUTES300'03-20-0'.DOC