For City Council Meeting [January 23, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Robb R. Steel, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Perry Brents, Director of Community Services
Title
Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 7275 Accepting the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Art for Livability Improvement & Fostering Engagement (LIFE) Grant in the Amount of $20,000 with Local In-Kind Contributions in the Amount of $20,000.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On September 12, 2016, the City of Rialto received notification from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) of the award of a grant for $20,000 to support the design of a public art piece depicting the cultural history of the City of Rialto. The City Council did not accept the Grant at the time of award. The NEA has stated that if the City does not complete the project and expend the funds, the City of Rialto will be ineligible for any NEA grant funding over the next 5 years.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Although the City of Rialto won a grant for $20,000 with matching local in-kind funds for $20,000 to support the design of a public art piece depicting the cultural history of the City, the grant project went dormant over the designated timeframe proposed in the application. During the grant performance period, there were changes to grant writing staff and the City’s grant oversight functions. These oversights lead to a delay in the NEA grant getting to the City Council for consideration. The project acceptance and completion is crucial to the City’s ability to apply for future grants with the National Endowment for the Arts.
On July 7, 2015, the City Administrator signed the application for this award, the City then alerted of its receipt of the grant in 2016, and the grant period set by the application as August 1, 2016 - May 31, 2017. The NEA is requesting that the City of Rialto account for the acceptance and implementation of this grant. This agenda item seeks to have City Council consider acceptance of the grant, have city staff complete the project and provide the necessary reporting to the National Endowment for the Arts to complete the process. The consequence of doing nothing will continue to place the City at risk of losing the opportunity to apply for and obtain any NEA grant funds for the next 5 years.
A creative arts and culture program, the Art for LIFE Project supports the design of a public art piece depicting the cultural history of the City. The grant proposal called for an art park with paths and performing art spaces that are wheelchair-accessible, braille interpretive plaques throughout the sculptural park (as well as artworks that allow tactile interaction), and attentiveness to visibility of sign-language interpreters in the space. The project is principally provided to educate, engage and promote livability among disadvantaged and commonly underserved populations through community engagement, meaningful dialogue and purposeful design of open space (universal and landscape). According to grant documents, the architecturally designed space is to create an accessible mixed-use arts “city park”. The arts park purpose is to spawn a sense of community and pride in arts and culture, advances the physical and social character of the City of Rialto. The existence of an art park expects to prompt meaningful dialogue, interaction and learning among culturally diverse ethnic groups, and advances the City’s mission to serve as a leader initiating universal and landscape designs that advance the arts and preserves the culture and history of a community.
Selecting a site for placing art is as important as the selection of the art. An appropriate site selection ensures that the artist can create a quality design and that his or her work will be easily seen and secure. The placement of future artwork should take into account the recent areas of growth and the implementation of a public art policy. Sites suggested by the public or any entity, at any time, would be subject to review in a regularly scheduled public meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed request is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report and Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends an increase in estimated revenues in Grant Project Fund Account Number 248-400-8811-7960 and appropriation of expenditures with the acceptance of the grant in Grant Project Fund Account Number 248-300-8811-2011. The grant is for $20,000 with a required in-kind match of $20,000 for a total project cost of $40,000. In-kind matching funds include goods and services provided as a part of technical assistance, A\artists engagement/design planning and administrative overhead.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Adopt the Resolution accepting the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art for Livability Improvement & Fostering Engagement (LIFE) Grant for $20,000 with Local In-Kind Funds of $20,000.