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CC - 1) Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Dyson & Womack for Services In Conjunction With the Development and Implementation of Art for the Washington/National TOD Gateway in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $50,000; and, 2) Direction on Art Concept Development with Regard to Ficus Tree Located in Landscaped City-Owned Property.
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Meeting Date: February 25, 2019
Contact Person/Dept: Christine Byers/Cultural Affairs
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No [X]
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (02/19/19); Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (02/19/19); and, Cultural Affairs Commission (02/08/19).
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (02/18/19)
Serena Wright-Black, Assistant City Manager (02/19/19)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider the information provided herein, including a recommendation from the Cultural Affairs Commission’s Public Art Subcommittee, and 1) approve a professional services agreement with Dyson & Womack for services in conjunction with the development and implementation of art for the Washington/National TOD Gateway in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000; and, 2) provide direction with regard to the landscaped City-owned property adjacent to the Metro Expo Line Station.
BACKGROUND
On February 22, 2016, the City Council approved a streetscape plan for the Washington/National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District. The staff report included information on a potential collaborative art feature that could serve both as a gateway and a means of visually unifying the four corners of the Washington/National intersection. The Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) has received several updates on this proposed project since February 2016 and expressed support. During the entitlement process, both the Developer at Ivy Station (Lowe) and the Developer at 8777 Washington (Lincoln Property Company) (collectively referred to hereto forward as “Project Partners”) agreed to contribute toward costs of such a project by paying all or a portion of their required Art in Public Places Program (APPP) allocation to the Cultural Trust Fund in conjunction with issuance of Building Permits for their respective projects at the Washington/National intersection. Lowe contributed $300,000 in the spring of 2018 (but is investing the majority of their 1% APPP allocation in art on their property); CLPF is contributing their entire 1% APPP allocation (a total of $441,343 in conjunction with three permits). The City has appropriated $300,000 from the Cultural Trust Fund toward the, bringing the total to $1,041,343 (Project Budget).
DISCUSSION
Selection of Art Consultant to Facilitate Artist Section and Implementation of Project.
Working with the CAC’s Public Art Subcommittee (Vice Chair Pali and Commissioner Williams), a process was outlined that includes hiring an art consultant to facilitate artist selection through an RFQ/RFP process, artist selection and art concept development, and overseeing and coordinating fabrication and installation of an artwork (or artworks) according to the established budget and timeline. With input from Lowe and CLPF, an RFP for an art consultant was developed (attached) and released in September 2018. Applications were received from Dyson & Womack (www.dysonwomack.com), EQ Consulting (www.eqvale.com), LeBasse Projects (www.lebasseprojects.com), and Nancy L. Meyer. The applications were reviewed by the CAC Public Art Subcommittee (Subcommittee), staff and the Project Partners. Dyson & Womack, EQ Consulting and LeBasse Projects were invited for an interview on February 6, 2019.
The Subcommittee and staff are recommending hiring Dyson & Womack for this project given their overall level of experience, current work for the California Air Quality Resources Board (CARB) (www.carb.dysonwomack.com), ability to provide the range of services/tasks associated with the proposed project, their responses to the TOD District project site, commitment to community input as part of the process, ability to include artists from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds, and experience in supporting artists new to public art through all phases of a project. In addition, the Subcommittee wished to involve a qualified consultant who had not done prior work in Culver City as they felt this would contribute toward keeping the Art in Public Places Program diverse and fresh in terms of artists represented and type of art commissioned. The total fee for the art consultant is $50,000 which comes out of the Project Budget.
Project Site, Including Triangular Landscaped City-Owned Parcel and Metro Overpasses.
The project site includes potential locations for art in the public right of way (sidewalk) on all four corners, the triangular City property (labelled “National Mini Park” on map in the attached RFP) and possibly the Expo rail overpasses. The City-owned property offers the largest site and has vantage points from the Metro station platform above and from Washington and National Blvds. (both vehicular and pedestrian traffic), currently is dominated by a mature ficus tree and four palm trees. The attached arborist report states that the ficus tree is in healthy condition. There is a plaque at the base reading, “SITE OF THE HAL ROACH STUDIOS, LAUGH FACTORY TO THE WORLD, 1919 - 1963”. The assumption is that the ficus tree was planted when the plaque was placed at the site. To date, however, staff does not have confirmation of this and informal inquiries have not confirmed who was responsible for placement of the marker or planting of the ficus tree. Because the City property is a primary potential site for a gateway art feature, staff is seeking Council direction on whether removal of the ficus tree is an option for purposes of design development. The tree screens much of the site from view. (The four palm trees would also be removed in conjunction with the new streetscape plan because of their proximity to the sidewalk.) In addition, it is recommended that the existing plaque be retained or possibly replaced with a new plaque that provides more history of the site.
Timing.
Construction of Ivy Station and the 8777 Washington Blvd. site is well under way and scheduled to be completed in early 2020. Off-site improvements and the streetscape plan will be implemented as part of the last phase of both projects and any infrastructure (e.g., structural, electric, etc.) that would be required to support a gateway art feature would need to be coordinated and integrated with those off-site improvements.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
$300,000 is currently appropriated as part of the FY 2018-19 budget in account 41322400.730100 PO005 (Cultural Trust Fund). The balance of the funds required to complete the project will be appropriated at the time an art concept is approved by the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 19-02-25_ATT_RFP for Art Consultant for Washington/National TOD Gateway;
2. 19-02-25_ATT_Proposal from Dyson & Womack; and,
3. 19-02-25_ATT_October 2018 Arborist Report and Images.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Approve a professional services agreement with Dyson & Womack for services in conjunction with development and implementation of art for the Washington/National TOD Gateway in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000;and
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City; and
4. Approve art concept development to allow for possible removal/replacement of the existing ficus tree in the triangular landscaped City-owned property; or
5. Require that art concept development include retaining the ficus tree currently located in the triangular landscaped City-owned property.