DATE:
December 19, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Chadrick Smalley, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Professional Services Contract With ABG Art Group For Rotten City Emeryville Cultural Arts District Programs In An Amount Not To Exceed $615,000, To Be Funded By California Arts Council Cultural District Program Funding Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with ABG Art Group to support the promotion, activities/events, and administration of the Rotten City Emeryville Cultural Arts District with $615,000 in grant funds from the State of California Arts Council Cultural District Program.
Background
On March 21, 2017, the City Council approved Resolution No. 17-38 authorizing an application to the California Arts Council’s (CAC) California Cultural Districts Pilot Program. Following a robust and inclusive application process, on July 10, 2017, the CAC awarded Emeryville’s Rotten City-Cultural Arts District (RCCD) an official State designation, one of only 14 in the State. Districts designated as part of the Pilot Program received a small stipend of $5,000 to use for various needs related to promoting the district, but no significant operational funding was received during the pilot. In the 2022-2023 state budget the CAC requested $36 million for significant expansion of the program to additional districts and to support existing districts, but the allocation was reduced to $10 million with these funds eligible only for the existing 14 districts. Each district was allocated $671,429 to be spent between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025. The remaining $600,000 in allocated State funds remain with the CAC for program administration.
On May 2, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-51 authorizing the execution of a Standard Agreement with the CAC for $671,429 and appropriating the funds to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget for Grant Funds (Fund 254) to be used to support the promotion, activities/events, and administration of the RCCD. The Standard Agreement provides for the following uses of the grant funds:
Support of a feasibility analysis, identification of an operational partner, and development of an Art Center that will complement new and existing programs; Preparation and implementation of a Marketing Strategy that advances the branding of the District, providing collaborative formats for partner events while assisting with business-to-business collaboration, Production of events celebrated District-wide, creating programming to be associated with the Arts Center in advance of its development; Support of marketing of affordable live-work units to local artists; Installation of local artists’ work in District Gateways and along the District’s “spine” (i.e., the Hollis Street corridor), potentially in the form of banners/projections/ murals; Expansion of audio tours to new partners, public art and maker tours, creation of interactive credit signage (QR codes)/program insignia.
Further, the Standard Agreement named the current RCCD partners as follows:
45th Street Artists’ Cooperative
Compound Galley and Interdisciplinary Artist Studios
Emery Gallery
Emeryville Celebration of the Arts
Jered’s Pottery
Pixar
Wareham Development
Since January of 2023, this group has met monthly as the RCCD Advisory Group, advising on the implementation of the Standard Agreement, reviewing the Request for Letters of Interest and Cost Proposals for contracting support, advising on support of local community artists at community events such as Printing in the Park and the Harvest Festival, and supporting development of the RCCD webpage (https://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/1458/Rotten-City-Cultural-District) and collateral material and branding of the district.
Discussion
On July 6. 2023, over 55 individuals including Northern California Public Art Administrators, art consultants and graphic designers, artists, Public Art Committee (PAC) members and the RCCD Advisory Group were provided a Request for Letters of Interest (LOI) due July 18, 2023. Concurrently, a webpage including the Request for LOI and providing background was created. LOIs were received from five firms and individuals. On August 17, 2023, the RCCD Advisory Group was asked to advise on any additional recipients to receive a Request for Cost Proposals. On August 24, staff released a request for Cost Proposals from those submitting LOIs and those recommended by partners, due initially September 14, 2023, and extended to September 19, 2023.
On September 19, 2023 the following respondents submitted Cost Proposals:
ABG Art Group with District Works
Art is Luv and J. Johnstone Consulting
Vickie Jo Sowell
San Francisco on the Bay Media
One additional proposal was submitted after the deadline.
Materials from these four respondents were reviewed for cost effectiveness and programming offerings, with a particular emphasis on direct support of artists. Based on this initial review, an interview panel made up of RCCD Advisory Group members and staff was convened on October 13, 2023 to interview ABG Art Group/District Works and Art is Luv/J. Johnstone Consulting Based on the interviews, the interview panel recommended engaging ABG Art Group/District Works for support of RCCD programs outlined in the Standard Agreement except the Feasibility Study support for the Art Center, for which the interview panel recommended engaging Art is Luv/J. Johnstone Consulting. The contract for Art is Luv/J. Johnstone Consulting for support of the Art Center is currently under negotiation and will be brought to the City Council in early 2024.
ABG Art Group/District Works were noted for both their art installation project management work, artist association, direct assistance to artists in Oakland, and facility and event management. The scope of work proposed by ABG Art Group/District Works was robust and the team offers depth of experience and breadth of available resources. Monthly events and twice annual marquee events will be organized by ABG Art Group with local artist participation. The scope of work includes RCCD identification banners, a mural with augmented reality features including mapped elements infused in design, and a major new installation incorporating new technology. Additional elements include videography of events, support of the RCCD Advisory Group including meeting coordination, as well as branding and a social media campaign. New opportunities for local artists will be identified and a program developed for local artists exhibition. ABG Art Group with District Works have the breadth and depth of expertise to address the entire scope of the RCCD program and to creatively implement the grant-supported activities enumerated in the Standard Agreement.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed contract amount is not-to-exceed $615,000. The State grant award of $671,429 is sufficient to cover the costs of the proposed contract as well as provide $50,000 for support for the Art Center, which will be presented to the City Council in early 2024. As noted above, these funds have been appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget in Fund 254.
Staff Communication with the Public
As noted above, staff engaged with RCCD Advisory Group in all stages of the program development for use of the grant funds. Staff summarized the program components at a special meeting of the PAC on May 11, 2023 and sought a liaison between the PAC and the RCCD Advisory Group. The liaison and staff regularly update the PAC on the RCCD Advisory Group activities.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with ABG Art Group for support of RCCD programs, in an amount not-to-exceed $615,000 to be funded by California Arts Council Cultural District Program grant funds.
PREPARED BY: Amber Evans, Community and Economic Development Coordinator II Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution, including Exhibit A: Professional Services Contract Cultural District Program Contract
| December 19, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM