Administrative
Report
N.3., File # 23-5396 Meeting Date: 1/17/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A PROCESS TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY
INPUT FOR AN ARCHWAY ART PIECE ON ARTESIA BOULEVARD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Strategic Plan, City Council directed staff to explore and report back on the process needed to establish an archway art piece along Artesia Blvd, west of Inglewood Ave. Specifically, Council asked for information on how the community could provide input on such an art project. City staff comprised of individuals from the Public Works, Community Services, and Waterfront & Economic Development Departments have been exploring appropriate process options for community outreach, the evaluation of potential archway locations, art types, costs and necessary permits
BACKGROUND
An entryway art piece would assist in creating a sense of place along Artesia Boulevard. Staff has found that a number of options exist to involve the community in an art archway project but costs may vary depending on the location, type of sign/art, size and illumination. This staff report details the differences associated with the process of soliciting community input for a traditional archway street sign, versus the process for establishing a new piece of archway art in the public right-of-way. A sign allows for specific input from the community, city staff, and City Council with regards to design, size and scope. Whereas, artwork allows for the community, Public Art Commission and/or City Council to describe the style sought after but leaves the execution of the design and vision to a selected artist with less discretion from City Council on a final design.
Archway Sign
An archway sign is a more streamlined process so this staff report will begin by outlining the steps needed to execute a new sign project. The City would issue an RFP to a qualified sign contractor.
The sign contractor would seek community input on location and specific design elements, return to City Council with preferred options (with cost estimates for each) based on community feedback and seek direction from City Council on said preferred options, allowing further edits and changes to any or all of the presented design options. The project would not require any entitlements and, once a location and design has been chosen by City Council, the sign contractor could progress straight to permit review. The contractor would convert the conceptual drawings into construction ready plans, submit for necessary easement permits in order to perform work in the right-of-way, submit necessary building permits to ensure the sign adheres to minimum building codes and construct the sign. It is
N.3., File # 23-5396 Meeting Date: 1/17/2023
building permits to ensure the sign adheres to minimum building codes and construct the sign. It is anticipated that this process would take 1.5 years, inclusive of issuance of an RFP, community outreach for ideas, at least one City Council meeting to review preferred options, permit review and construction. The Council could also seek input from the Public Art and/or Public Works Commissions as part of the process. Each of these meetings would add a month or two to the schedule.
In terms of budget and costs, staff conducted research on nearby cities that have recently constructed or sought to fund similar projects. In 2022 a similar archway sign was completed in the City of Los Angeles to celebrate Historic Filipinotown at a final cost of $580,000. Another proposed archway sign in the City of La Mesa is still seeking funding and has been estimated to have a cost of $400,000. The City of San Pedro voted to put out an RFP for an archway sign at a suggested cost of $300,000. City staff also researched different types of signage, and found that costs could vary depending on the type of sign that is created (archway, single-leg sign, etc.).
Archway Artwork
The City’s existing Public Art Master Plan provides some guidance on the process of creating a piece of art to welcome citizens onto Artesia Boulevard. The City’s Public Art Master Plan was adopted by the City Council on April 19, 2016 and sets forth the guidelines and criteria for selecting artists and artworks for public spaces. Similar to the process outlined above, the master plan calls for an RFP to engage artists.
The artist selection criteria specifies that the artist(s) shall be evaluated based on several criteria, including previous artwork that is high-quality in concept and construction. They must also be selected based on experience collaborating with architects and other professionals, as well as whether the artist has previous work within relevant timelines and budgets. The artists should be selected based on familiarity with the community and its characteristics, history, identity, geography and culture and have previous work that they can show that has those characteristics. The artist should also be selected based on experience integrating artwork into infrastructure and building function, as well as previous projects or ideas that have the potential to attract visitors and residents.
The artist should also be selected based on previous work that builds on cooperation between the private and public sectors, artists, arts organizations and community members. The plan also calls for the process to involve a broad range of people and communities in the design and creation of the artwork, and the artist should have experience working with diverse communities as well as repurposing underutilized spaces.
One key difference between the process for a sign versus the process for a piece of art is that a sign contractor would take design ideas from the community to produce a series of sign options based on that feedback. The sign contractor would return to council to present several options based on input received and seek further direction or revisions on design criteria. Conversely, an artist would seek community input via contests, meetings and surveys, but, instead of returning to council with design options, they would present their vision based on the feedback received. The artist may accept some design comments from the City Council, but would be focused on receiving approval of the vision at the proposed cost rather than making significant adjustments.
Another key difference between the two processes would be that an artist could lack the expertise required to produce construction plans, pull permits, and build to code. As such, the process for an artist would require a second RFP to locate a capable and licensed contractor to convert the conceptual drawings into construction ready plans, submit for necessary permits, and construct the
N.3., File # 23-5396 Meeting Date: 1/17/2023
conceptual drawings into construction ready plans, submit for necessary permits, and construct the artwork. The second RFP would add eight months to the schedule, resulting in a total timeframe of up to 2 years.
In terms of budget, the cost associated with an art archway would mimic that of the cost for a sign mentioned above, which is estimated from approximately $300,000 to $500,000. However, the budget would increase to also include payment to the artist for his/her vision, which is unknown at this time and dependent on each individual artist.
COORDINATION
The Waterfront and Economic Development Department coordinated the preparation of this report with the Community Services and Public Works Departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact associated with the art archway project is expected to be in excess of $500,000.
This cost could be subject to change depending on the process of selecting an artist(s) as well as the location selected for the sign and relevant permits and easements that may be needed for each potential location. Costs could also be affected by construction, costs of materials, and lingering supply chain issues. It is also possible that a successful archway installation would have a net positive effect on the local Artesia economy.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Archway Sign PowerPoint Presentation January 17, 2023 (Blue Folder) • Map - Artesia Blvd. at Inglewood Ave.