For City Council Meeting [April 10, 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 Approve the Designation of an Art Park and the installation of art along Willow Avenue South of First Street for the National Endowment for the Arts Grant and Adopt Budget Resolution No. 7317 Authorizing expenditures of program grant funds.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On January 23, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 7275 Accepting the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant for $20,000 with local in-kind contributions for $20,000, for a total of $40,000.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
In coordination with Eisenhower High School, the City received an art piece designed by students to display in a future art park in the City. This agenda item seeks to have City Council consider acceptance of the proposed Art Park Designation along with installation of subject art piece. Approval of the art park and art piece is critical to meet adherence of the NEA grant, and provide the necessary reporting to the National Endowment for the Arts to complete the process. A site plan depicting the proposed art park location along with a photo of the art piece is included as Attachment 1.
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The City of Rialto expects to receive $20,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, and staff requests $20,000 in matching funds coming from General Fund Reserves. Staff recommends increasing revenues in the amount of $20,000 in Grant Project Fund Account Number 248-400-8811-7560 and appropriating:
$10,000 in Account Number 248-500-8811-2011,
$2,500 in Account No. 248-500-8811-1001,
$2,500 in Account No. 248-500-8811-1010,
$10,000, in Account No. 248-500-8811-1020, and
$15,000 in Account No. 248-500-8811-2021
for a total amount of $40,000 for the costs associated with the Art for Life Project.
OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT:
Annual maintenance of the proposed art park is estimated at $5,500 and will be absorbed into the park maintenance annual budget in the programs of the maintenance division in Public Works.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET IMPACT:
On January 23, 2018, the City Council Approved a budget resolution to set the project budget for the capital project to construct the improvements as set forth in the grant specifics.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Approve the Designation of an Art Park and the installation of Art located along Willow Avenue South of First Street for the National Endowment for the Arts Grant and adopt the Budget Resolution authorizing expenditures of program grant funds for $20,000 with Local In-Kind Funds of $20,000 for a total of $40,000.