PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE UNAPPROVED

REGULAR MEETING

DECEMBER 17, 2009

Session 09-08 a Special Meeting of the Public Arts Committee was called to order at 11:10 a.m. on December 17, 2009 by Chair Angie Newby at Cowles Council Chambers located at City Hall, 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMITTEEMEMBERS MILLER, HARDING, NEWBY, WOLFE, FELLOWS, ALPIN

STAFF: DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

AGENDA APPROVAL

MILLER/HARDING – MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

There was no discussion.

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Committee.

MINUTES APPROVAL

A. Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2009.

Chair Newby requested a motion to approve with correction to Committeemember Aplins last name in a couple of places.

FELLOWS/APLIN – MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS NOTED.

There was no discussion.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

None.

VISITORS

None.

STAFF REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORT

None.

PUBLIC HEARING

None.

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

Ms. Aplin updated the progress on the Airport. There is now a preliminary plan regarding placement only portion of the exhibits that was shared with Airport Manager Sheri Hobbs. She gave her approval on the plan.

Ms. Aplin stated it was the intent to work with Fish & Wildlife to create a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Homer. This will outline how this project will go forward and maintained in the future.

The budget detail still needs to be worked out.

A brief discussion on the possible removal of the flower drums, signage updating, and partners was discussed during the worksession.

b) Ferry Terminal

i) Reschedule Worksession- Site Visit

Chair Newby noted that the site visit for the Ferry terminal has not been rescheduled and questioned whether this should be postponed due to the intensity of the project with the Baycrest Hill.

WOLFE/ FELLOWS - MOVED TO POSTPONE THE FERRY TERMINAL ASPECT OF THE GATEWAYS PROJECT UNTIL AFTER THE BAYCREST HILL PORTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

There was brief discussion on the importance of each entrance. It was clarified that the Ferry had the least number of visitor arrivals and would require little work to improve whereas the Baycrest Hill will require more time and effort.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

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. When discussion regarding the sub-economic areas in Homer, a recommendation of moving the existing sign, “Halibut Capital of the World” should be relocated to the base of the Spit.

Chair Newby then asked for motion to recommend relocation of this sign to the Chamber of Commerce and Public Works.

FELLOWS/MILLER – MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOMER REMOVE EXISTING “HALIBUT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD” SIGN TO THE SPIT WHEN A REPLACEMENT IS OBTAINED.

A brief discussion ensued on the relocation and possible sites. One site suggested was close to the extended parking lot and start of the Spit Trail. This would frame the view of the Spit behind the sign. Another location was next to the building where the Derby is conducted. The Chamber of Commerce is supportive of the removal of the sign from Baycrest Hill.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

Discussion followed regarding a handout prepared by Chair Newby of examples of roadside entrance signage. The approximate cost of a new sign is $10,000.00. Chair Newby commented that she did not feel comfortable after reviewing the Scenic Byways Grant Application process that they could have a complete submittal package ready by the February deadline. She suggested that they just fund raise for donations. Vice Chair Wolfe agreed and added that this could be included in the Strategic Plan and submit for the 2011 deadline. This would allow for design and public meetings, etc. The Committee does have quite a bit on its plate at this time. The period for receiving the grant from application is up to a year. It was noted that a grant could be applied for the design-build process also. Ms. Aplin, Ms. Miller and Ms. Harding volunteered to run a committee on the grant application.

Discussion encompassed the process for choosing and design of the sign. Chair Newby explained that a Request for Proposals (RFP) would be advertised for artists to respond and they would submit the design, construction and installation. A selection committee is created and would review and make a recommendation to City Council for approval. The Committee would set the parameters of the RFP.

A grant does require a 20% match so if this match cannot be obtained from Council they would definitely have to locate the funds from additional sources.

Chair Newby then gave a brief explanation on the additional duties of the Public Arts Committee.

It was determined that the user group would be the City and the Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Harding commented that a holistic approach to the sign should be used instead of design after design.

It was noted that the sub-committee members would discuss and handle those issues.

The clerk explained that notice must be given for these meetings and it is preferred that these meetings be held at City Hall. However, they could meet at the Homer Public Library. It would be good to have someone keep minutes so there was a report given at the next regular meeting. It was determined that due to schedules a meeting was scheduled for December 29, 2009 at the Homer Public Library at 10:00 a.m.

B. Scenic Byways Grant Process

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

This was covered in the previous discussion.

C. Fundraising

This should be discussed during the strategic plan development. The worksession on January 21, 2010 will be devoted to developing this plan.

Discussion regarding attendance for the January 21, 2010 worksession. Ms. Aplin stated that she would be gone February 16-25, 2010 so she will not be at the meeting. However, they should not plan around her absence in February since her travel arrangements have not been confirmed yet. Ms. Harding stated she would be out of state from February to April. It was noted that they could discuss travel plans for the members at the January worksession.

It was determined that the January worksession should be 2 hours to appropriately cover the development of the strategic plan. Chair Newby explained that it was very important to develop this plan for the Committee to stay focused since they are getting more and more projects on their plate.

It was briefly discussed that there will be no capital projects for 2010. There will be some road building, but the only possible project is the completion of the Spit Trail and Chair Newby put the City on notice that the PAC will be involved in that and should have a maximum amount of $75,000.00 to work with for public art. She noted that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission are involved in this also.

D. New Member/Applicant Update

It was briefly discussed that recruitment efforts were needed for one more member for the committee.

E. Review 1% for the Arts Requirements (postponed from September)

This topic was added to agenda due to comment received from City Manager Wrede that the Committee was stepping outside of its bounds beyond the 1% for art. She noted that the responsibility was listed in the Guidelines. Chair Newby recommended everyone review the Administrative Guidelines and the Ordinance that created the PAC.

Mrs. Krause commented that the members could locate that information on the City webpage through the link for the City Clerk.

F. Review Administrative Requirements (postponed from September)

This was included in the previous discussion.

G. Funding Sources for Large Metal Sculptures (postponed from September)

The Committee discussed the amount of money needed to purchase one Gong was $15,000.00. Once the funds were obtained then it would have to be decided where it would be housed until a location was agreed upon for display.

This could be included in the Strategic Plan.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Website Update (postponed from September)

Mrs. Krause asked for further clarification on the website. What, where when, etc. She explained she did not really know what the intent was here. Chair Newby stated that it was discussed with the former staff that the Public Arts Committee wanted their own page that has all the documents such as the Administrative Guidelines, the strategic plan, the picture inventory and locations of all city owned artwork. Moreover, give information on fund raising opportunities also.

They would like a more formalized page that offers more information for the public.

Mrs. Krause stated that the recent RFP for redesigning the city website just closed and she would let Terry Felde know the request of the PAC.

B. 2010 Meeting Schedule

The committee briefly reviewed the Resolution for meeting dates. It was agreed that a discussion on changing the February date would be held during the January worksession.

C. Memorandum from Staff Re: Establishing a Strategic Plan for 2010 and beyond

Chair Newby stated she would work with Mrs. Krause in composing the agenda for the meeting in January. She noted that it would be conducted fairly loosely since they are starting from scratch. It was agreed that Julie Engebretsen would be asked if she could assist and attend the worksession to give direction in creating the strategic plan.

Ms. Krause also expounded on the benefits of having a strategic plan by sharing the progress the Port & Harbor Commission has made on their projects.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A. Ordinance 09-51(A) Authorizing the Formation of a Public Art Fund

C. Resolution 09-89(S) Meeting Frequency Changes to Quarterly

D. Memorandum to Mayor and City Council Members dated September 18, 2009

Re: Recommendation on Ordinance 09-51(A)

There was no discussion.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

None.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

Mrs. Krause had no additional comments.

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Newby was thrilled to have two new members Carol Harding and Michele Miller.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE

Ms. Aplin commented on the sub-districts have really done their own thing has far a signage.

Ms. Fellows commented it was a great meeting and apologized for being late.

Ms. Wolfe was thrilled that they can look forward to having a quorum. She is very happy to have the new members who are full of information and knowledge and will enhance the meetings. She additionally expressed that the meeting for the Art Selection Committee for the Library Advisory Board and two things have come up, possible quarterly art discussions by artists being displayed in the Library, since they were not many submissions she recommended exhibiting one new and up & coming artists. This will allow them to display some of their work to the community. This would be display only not retail.

Ms. Harding commented that it was thrilling overseeing all the private agendas, its very exciting.

Ms. Miller had left the meeting at noon.

ADJOURN

There being no further business to come before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 12:09 p.m. The next worksession is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 21, 2010. The next regular meeting will be on February 18, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. there with a worksession at 10:00 a.m. at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers, Homer, Alaska.

Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

Approved: