HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/21/2001 - RESOLUTION 2001-98 APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM THE AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 31
ip FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: August 21, 2001
STAFF: Ellen Martin
SUBJECT:
Resolution 2001-98 Approving Expenditures from the Art in Public Places Reserve Account in the
Storm Drainage Utility Fund to Commission an Artist to Design, Fabricate and Install a
Collaborative Art Piece on a Concrete Wall at the Site of the Interpretive Center on the Spring Creek
Trail.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The funds for this item have been appropriated for Art in Public Places in the Stormwater Utility
Fund. The Art in Public Places program has a maintenance fund for the long-term care of these
sculptures.
This is the site of a future Interpretive Center near Spring Creek. The Stormwater Utility is using
$20,700 of its APP funds that are generated from sites which are inappropriate for public art for art
to be placed on the Water Cycle Wall. The $20,700 will be used for design, fabrication, installation
and contingency on the art project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In 1995, the City Code was amended adding Section 23-303 establishing the Art in Public Places
(APP) Reserve Account, and designated it for the 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 the
Council in Ordinance No. 20, 1995. The Council permanently adopted the Art in Public Places
Program, and reenacted City Code Chapter 23, Article XI, with certain modifications in 1998.
In connection with the Water Cycle Wall project, staff and the APP Board have proposed to
commission the artist Janet Austin to collaborate on a community project that is intended to
artistically and scientifically show the interaction between water and the many other cycles of
nature. This Resolution would approve the expenditure of$20,700 for fabrication, installation,
contingency and artist fees.
The Selection Committee chose the artist using the City's competitive bid process. The Committee
was comprised of seven APP Board members, two representatives from the City's Utility
Departments and a Purchasing Department representative. The Committee reviewed the proposals
for this project at the Board meeting on March 15, 2000. The APP Board voted unanimously to
select Janet Austin for the Water Cycle Wall Project.
DATE: August 21, 2001 2 ITEM NUMBER: 31
The artist is working as a mentor on this community project that is intended to link art with the
education of youth and to raise the public's awareness of the many life cycles of plants and animals
that live in Spring Creek. The artist will use mosaic, handmade porcelain tiles and bronze relief
sculptures in creating this work of art. These images will be attached to a 32-foot embossed
concrete formed wall located on Spring Creek, immediately upstream (south) of the Drake Road
Bridge. This site is accessible from the Spring Creek Bike Trail and will be the site for a future
Interpretive Center.
A written description and graphic rendering of the proposed work of art is attached. The final
artwork may vary from this description.
RESOLUTION 2001-98
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING EXPENDITURES FROM THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES RESERVE
ACCOUNT IN THE STORM DRAINAGE UTILITY FUND TO COMMISSION AN ARTIST
TO DESIGN, FABRICATE AND INSTALL A COLLABORATIVE ART PIECE ON A
CONCRETE WALL AT THE SITE OF THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER ON THE SPRING
CREEK TRAIL
WHEREAS,the City's Stormwater Utility has completed construction projects at sites which
are not appropriate locations for public art; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23-304 of the City Code, one percent (1%) of the funds
appropriated for those construction projects was required to be set aside in the Art in Public Places
reserve account of the Storm Drainage 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,City Utilities staff and the Art in Public Places Board propose using these funds
to create an art piece illustrating the interaction of water with plant and animal life cycles at a future
Interpretive Center near Spring Creek; and
WHEREAS,the Art in Public Places Board(the`Board") evaluated the design proposal of
artist Janet Austin, at its March 15, 2000, regular meeting, pursuant to the Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, based on that evaluation, the Board voted unanimously to recommend artist
Janet Austin's proposal to collaborate with the community on an art project utilizing mosaic,
porcelain tiles and bronze relief sculptures attached to an embossed concrete wall at the Interpretive
Center (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 $20,700; and
WHEREAS, those funds are available in the Art in Public Places reserve account in the
Storm Drainage Fund, and will be appropriated as part of the 2001 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
SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS ($20,700) from the Art in Public Places reserve account in the
Storm Drainage Utility Fund for the Art Project consisting of a collaborative art piece on a concrete
wall at the site of the Interpretive Center on the Spring Creek Trail,proposed by artist Janet Austin,
who was selected and approved by the Art in Public Places Board on March 15, 2000.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 21 st day of August,
A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places
This project involves the water cycled, the connections between water and other
living things. The wall is located on Spring Creek, immediately upstream (south) of the
Drake Road Bridge, accessible by the Spring Creek Bike Trail.
The wall is currently a cast concrete relief in four panels, each four by eight feet.
The panels depict the flow of water in Colorado from the mountains to the plains. The
design for the addition of water related elements are described here. The artist, Janet
Austin, will execute it.
To design the additions a collaboration with the artist, the staff of the Ft. Collins
WaterSHED Education Program and the students of Poudre School District was
established. The Education Program staff solicited the drawings of the students during
fieldtrips involving the various life and water cycles of Spring Creek. These drawings
were given to the artist and used in the creation of the final design.
The additions to the WaterCycle wall illustrate several water/life cycles. Included
is the cycle of water itself, snow flakes and raindrops, clouds, creeks, streams, ponds,
transpiration and condensation; the cycle of several insects, dragonflies, caddisflies,
stoneflies, and mayflies; and the cycle of willow trees. Also depicted are portions of
other cycles, cottonwood trees, conifers, and waterbirds.
A variety of outdoor materials will be used to create the final project. The water
is a colorful mosaic. The stages of insects will be in bas-relief cast bronze. The other
elements including arrows, snowflakes, clouds, willows, conifers, cottonwood leaves will
be sculpted porcelain tiles. These different materials allow for a richness of media when
contrasted with the earth tone concrete of the wall itself.
The project will begin with the installation of the water mosaic portion in the fall
of 2001. The other elements will be created and cast and available for installation in
the spring of 2002.
The City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places
Proposed design for the WaterCycle Wall by Artist Janet Austin
This community project is intended to link an Art in Public Places project with the education of our youth and to raise the
public's awareness of the many life cycles of plants and animals that live in Spring Creek. The Utilities Department WaterSHED
Program is working with students to create drawings that will be interpreted by artist Janet Austin and used in the design of porcelain
tiles and bronze relief sculptures.
These pieces will be attached to a 32-foot embossed concrete formed wall. This site is accessible from the Spring Creek Bike
Trail, immediately upstream (south) of the Drake Road Bridge. It will be the site of a future Interpretive Center, constructed to serve
as an observational focus point for the study of local water based ecosystems.
1 z_
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Formed concrete wall at site Drawings Created by Poudre School District Studente
Cultural, Library and Recreational Services
� Lincoln Center
City of Fort Collins
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MINUTES
Regular Meeting-Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Lincoln Center
Council Liaison: Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Ellen Martin
CRB Liaison: Joan Day
Chairperson: Roger Sherman 223-7577 (w)
Vice Chair: Deanna Gram
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Dale, Michael Histand,Alan Howe, Jane Liska-Smith, Roger Sherman
MEMBERS ABSENT: Deanna Gram, Susan Sternlieb
STAFF PRESENT: Ellen Martin, Mark Breimhorst, Libby Colbert, Jim O'Neill, Marcee Camenson,
Kevin McBride
I. Call to order 4:05 p.m.—Mr. Sherman
II. Consideration of the agenda
III. Approval of minutes from the meeting of February 16, 2000
Ms. Liska-Smith moved to approve the minutes
Mr. Howe seconded
Approved unanimously
IV. Water Cycle Wall
Ms. Martin described the artist selection process. Ms. Colbert presented slides and committee
members completed the evaluation forms. There was discussion about the project purpose and clarification
regarding the students' roles in the project. It was explained that the students will play a participatory role and
the City's Utility Staff will educate them on the watershed processes and various life cycles that will be
portrayed on the wall. The selected artist will translate the students' ideas into artistic representations to be
attached to the wall. It was said that the artist would not educate the students on the processes, but bring the
students ideas together through art.
The evaluation forms were tallied and the results were given to the Selection Committee. Committee
members discussed the applicants' proposals.
Ms. Liska Smith moved to accept the selection committee's vote to recommend Janet Austin as the artist for
the Water Cycle Wall, and begin contract negotiations.
Ms. Dale Seconded
Approved Unanimously
V. Citizen Participation
None
MARCH00
417 West Magnolia • Fort Collins, CO 80521-2646 • (970) 221-6735 • FAX (970) 484-0424
VI. City Office Building
Ms. Martin introduced Bob West, Architect with Oz Architecture, and presented a review of the
project to date. Ms. Martin asked that, because of the timely issue of this project and the APP program's
need to clarify their Design Consultant Process, that the board separate the issues of the Design Consultant
Process and the Civic Center Office Building Project. Ms. Martin recommended that APP staff schedule a
retreat at which the Design Consultant process will be addressed and clarified.
Mr.West reported on the project to date and on Laura Audrey's participation in the design process.
He explained the Civic Center Office Building's Design Build process that charged teams of architects and
builders to present complete building designs with associated costs to the City of Fort Collins. The City
judged and accepted one of the completed designs and in this case, the City selected OZ Architecture.
Mr.West requested that there be continuity between the building and the artwork. He reported that
the City's intent was to build a facility that expressed a"civic appearance." The building design has historical
significance with locally manufactured materials and treatments that speak to the older buildings in
Downtown. He also explained the"green"design of the building, which incorporates environmentally friendly
materials and elements. Mr.West stressed the architectural importance of the'center point'of the building. It
signifies the public center and is the location of the elevators, building directory, and rotunda. Mr. West
reported that the rotunda, the outside colonnade area and the outdoor retention pond area (although it is not
permanent)as opportunities for art.
Ms. Martin distributed a handout that outlined options to incorporate art into the building. She
reminded the Board that there are other Art in Public Places projects in the vicinity of the Civic Center Office
Building. Ms. Martin also gave a summary of the Project meeting she attended at Neenan &Associates.
Mr. West reported that he enjoyed the interactive discussions with Laura Audrey and feels that they
have developed a good working relationship. He also said that the building lends itself to a commissioned
artwork. He expressed that the center element or rotunda was his focus because it had the highest amount
of public contact. The Board discussed their options.
Ms. Liska Smith moved to open the Civic Center Office Building Project to an open competition and to create
an RFP naming sites for art and using appropriate art budget.
Yes-Mr. Howe, Ms. Dale, Mr. Histand, Ms. Liska-Smith
No—None
Mr. Sherman Abstained
Ms. Martin asked that the board clarify the sites for art. The board specified the entire lobby
arealrotunda,which includes two floors, and the front entryway as sites for art.
VII. Other Business
Ms. Martin said there was some interest from the Board to meet one half hour earlier on the third
Wednesday of each month. The present board members agreed that 3:30 PM would be an appropriate time
to meet. Staff will ask absent members and report back at the next meeting.
Vill. Staff Reports
Staff distributed a summary of staff activities since February's meeting.
Adjournment: 6:31 PM
Respectfully submitted,
MARCH00
Libby Colbert
Program Assistant