PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE UNAPPROVED

REGULAR MEETING

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

Session 09-07 a Regular Meeting of the Public Arts Committee was called to order at 11:25 a.m. on September 17, 2009 by Chair Angie Newby

at the City Hall Mayor’s Conference Room located upstairs at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMITTEEMEMBERS NEWBY, WOLFE, FELLOWS, ALPIN

STAFF: DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

PLANNING TECHNICIAN/CODE ENFORCEMENT HARNESS-FOSTER

AGENDA APPROVAL

Due to time overrun by the worksession Chair Newby recommended postponing all items on the agenda with the exception of approving

the minutes, sub-item c. under Item A. and Item B. under Pending Business, and under New Business, Item B.

WOLFE/APLIN – MOVED TO APPROVE TO AMENDED AGENDA.

There was no discussion.

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Committee.

MINUTES APPROVAL

A. Meeting Minutes for June 18, 2009.

The minutes were approved by consensus of the Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

None.

VISITORS

Dotti Harness-Foster, Planning Technician and Code Enforcement, City of Homer Planning Department.

STAFF REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORT

None.

PUBLIC HEARING

There were no public hearings.

PENDING BUSINESS

A. Gateways

a) Airport

i) Meeting with Airport Manager Sheri Hobbs

ii) Letter to Partners

iii) State Parks

iv) Homer Chamber of Commerce

b) Ferry Terminal

i) Reschedule Worksession- Site Visit

Items a) and b) postponed to the October meeting.

c) Baycrest Hill –

i) Welcome to Homer Signage

Chair Newby briefly summarized the worksession held on location at the rest area on Baycrest Hill. Discussions during the worksession included

Tina Day with the Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Harness-Foster to review signage and a possible information kiosk.

Vice Chair Wolfe reported, that the alder was removed from behind the sign and the Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) stated that the

signage could be a two-sided sign with verbiage being very different on each side.

There was a brief discussion on various signages.

Ms. Harness-Foster presented information and a slide show on the Baycrest Hill Rest Area presenting various existing styles of signage. The presentation

included various areas of town and the signage in the area. Comments were noted regarding the clutter effect of all the signage.

Ms. Harness-Foster using the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center signs as an example of hard to read signage although being very artistic. She

explained how visibility and readability is of higher importance when designing and placing signage.

Comments from the Committee were made regarding the building location, the sign cannot be read from the roadway driving 35 mph; the font size is too

small; the font is unreadable in the “Homer” portion; and it was agreed that just because the money was spent does not determine the results being right.

Ms. Harness-Foster noted that it would serve the public best by replacing the letters of the sign.

Committee Member Aplin asked if there was a discussion on the existing signage naming the mountains. Vice Chair Wolfe stated that the Chamber appears to be focusing on construction and installation of an information kiosk. The Committee agreed by consensus that the signage needed a more comprehensive look, the area needed more interpretive signage.

There was ensuing discussion regarding the possible relocation of the existing Homer sign and the Department of Transportation responses and not creating sign pollution. A recommendation of moving the existing sign, “Halibut Capital of the World” could be relocated at the base of the Spit. The individual signs placed in the gardens should be uniform. The main emphasis is that all the signage must have a cohesive, uniform appearance.

Ms. Harness-Foster commented that the Committee should not limit themselves to one location when thinking of the placement of an informational kiosk. The parking area can be configured around the kiosk. It was noted that the project encompasses more than just a “Welcome to Homer” sign. Chair Newby recommended looking at the whole site as the pallet not just the signage. It would be nice to view a site plan. It was noted that informational kiosks are large structures. Ms. Harness-Foster recommended reviewing the plat to locate the right of way.

WOLFE/APLIN - MOVED TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BAYCREST HILL PARKING LOT IN COOPERATION WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGARDING SIGNAGE AND INFORMATION.

There was a brief discussion of the committee stepping off target. Remaining discussion was indiscernible.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

There was distortion in some sections of the recording and loud background noises preventing the Clerk from transcribing the recording thoroughly.

ii) Teleconference with Dawn Hancock, AKDOT

Dawn Hancock or additional representative from the Department of the Transportation was unavailable to attend the worksession or meeting.

d) Sub-gateways

i) Commercial Districts

This item postponed to the October meeting.

B. Scenic Byways Grant Process

a) Memorandum from Staff dated August 4, 2009 Re: Scenic Byways Program and Grant Process

Committee Member Aplin commented that there is not a large pot of money available but it does cover marketing, and interpretive. Applications can be submitted under the different categories, it does require a 20 percent match.

Chair Newby reported that Ms. Day commented that the Committee could work with the Chamber on fund raising efforts to achieve the required amount for a match. She stated that Sharon Ford has been doing a tone of research on these signs and recommended extending an invitation to her to attend the October meeting to discuss signage.

She further stated that Ms. Day was very receptive to a partnership between the Committee and the Chamber.

C. Fundraising

a) Memorandum from Staff dated August 6, 2009 Re: Establishing a Fund to Accept Donations to Fund Purchases of Art for the Purpose of Public Enjoyment and Beautification

b) Homer Street Faire – potential

This item postponed to the October meeting.

F. Funding Sources for Large Metal Sculptures

Item Postponed to the October meeting.

G. 2009 CIP Recommendations for 2010-2015

Chair Newby elaborated on her reason for canceling the special meeting that had been scheduled for last Friday. She obtained information from personnel in the Planning Department regarding projects submitted for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and realized that the Committee did not have the detailed information such as costs, and signage specifications that is required to include a project for the CIP. However, Ms. Day informed the Committee that the Chamber of Commerce does have a beautification project on the CIP that their project would fall under so Ms. Day will speak with Ann Marie about including it under their project scope.

There was no further discussion.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Website Update -

This item was postponed to the October meeting.

B. Library Public Art Member Assignment – Gaye Wolfe

Chair Newby stated that the Homer Public Library has an Art Selection Committee that requests proposals regarding artwork from local area artists to display on the back wall. The art selection committee is small; comprised of a Library Advisory Board Member Eileen Faulkner, Library Director Helen Hill and a representative of the Public Arts Committee. They have already released the request for proposals and it closes December 1, 2009. There will be a meeting to select four artists to have work displayed for a period of three months. She served on it last year and would like another member of the committee to assist with selection this year. It will mean only one or two meetings in addition to this meeting.

There was a brief discussion regarding each of the committee member’s availability.

Committee member Gaye Wolfe volunteered to serve on the Art Selection Committee.

There was no further discussion.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. Email to Walt Wrede from Chair Newby dated July 8, 2009 Re: 1% for the Arts

B. Email conversation regarding Poopdeck Trailhead Signage

C. Ordinance 09-XX Amending Homer City Code Chapter 18.07, Funds for Works of Art in Public Places, By Adding Section 18.07.090 Authorizing the Formation of A Public Art Fund.

The Committee reviewed the proposed ordinance to establish a fund to accept monetary donations for the purchase of art to be used in and for public spaces.

APLIN/WOLFE – MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.

Discussion included various points including one concern that the ordinance did not specifically state or allow a separate line item to show for donations that were project specific. Vice Chair Wolfe was concerned that donations to purchase a sculpture created by a local artist would be used for another project or purchase. The tracking of the works of art remains the responsibility of the committee.

GAYE/ALPIN – MOVED TO RECOMMEND AMENDING LINE 50 TO INCLUDE “AND ANY OTHER EXPENSE RELATED THERETO, UNLESS DONATION IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PARTICULAR PIECE OF ARTWORK OR PROJECT, A LINE ITEM WILL BE CREATED WITHIN THE FUND.

VOTE. (AMENDMENT) YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

VOTE. (MAIN) YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

None.

COMMENTS OF THE STAFF

Deputy City Clerk Krause commented that Councilperson Howard solicited comments from the Commissions and Committees regarding the proposed changes to their meeting schedules and the decision was postponed to the September 28, 2009 Council meeting.

There was a brief discussion regarding submitting a recommendation to City Council that quarterly meetings under the budgetary circumstances would be acceptable as long as the Committee could meet in monthly worksessions.

It was agreed by consensus of the committee.

Upon completion of the memorandum, Deputy City Clerk Krause will forward to Chair Newby for review.

There was no further discussion.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Newby will not be in Homer on October 15, 2009 and would to reschedule the meeting to the following Thursday, October 22, 2009.

It was agreed that the meeting will be changed to October 22, 2009 at this time and if the Committee members found conflicts in their schedules, they would notify Deputy City Clerk Krause.

There was no further discussion.

ADJOURN

There being no further business to come before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 12:11 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on October 22, 2009. There will be a worksession at 10:00 a.m. at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers, Homer, Alaska.

Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

Approved: