Agenda Item: 13
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: June 25, 2024
SUBJECT: DAVID MARCH PARK - CIVIC ART
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
PRESENTER: Phil Lantis
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a contract to Jessica Bell in the amount of $108,000 for the civic art piece to be located at David March Park.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with the City of Santa Clarita (City) Civic Art Policy, the David March Park expansion qualifies as a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) that is required to allocate one percent of the eligible project cost for a civic art piece to be located on-site and accessible to the public.
This project will provide for an expansion and additional amenities to David March Park, originally developed in and built by Los Angeles County (County) in 2004. The park is located on a 13.2-acre lot on Via Joyce Drive, and was incorporated into the City in June 2016. Phase I was completed by the County and included the build-out of approximately two acres of the northern portion of the property.
This design project encompasses improvements identified in the David March Park Master Plan for Phase II improvements and was updated by the City in March 2022 in order to meet City standards. Phase II amenities will include improvements to the existing park, as well as the development of an additional five acres of the park property.
An Artist Selection Committee (Committee) was formed at the March 9, 2023, Arts Commission meeting. The Committee includes the following members:
• Arts Commissioner, April Scott-Goss
• Arts Expert, Mario Ontiveros
• Professional Art Administrator, Marcus Mitchell
• Local Professional Artist, Sandy Fisher
• Community Member, Bobbi Tiso
The first Committee meeting took place on April 10, 2023, with the task of developing the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) with call summary, design guidelines, project guidelines, and evaluation criteria.
The RFQ was posted online from October 1 to November 26, 2023. A total of 82 applications were submitted. The Committee scored the applications using the following criteria:
• Visual impact of submitted past projects
• Interpretation and creativity of submitted past projects • Composition and design of submitted past projects
• Craftsmanship of submitted past projects
• Clarity of project-specific intent, relevant professional experience, and artistic vision, as expressed in resume, CV, and application questions
• Design criteria and eligibility guidelines met
The Committee scored the applications online, and three finalists were selected to interview on April 8, 2024. The Committee selected artist Jessica Bell’s concept proposal to move forward to the Arts Commission. On May 9, 2024, the Arts Commission reviewed the Committee’s selection and recommended that it go before the City Council for final approval.
A visualization of the recommended artwork is provided as an attachment. The artwork features three sculptures of flowers in different stages of bloom, ranging from six to eight feet in height.
If approved, the sculptures would be placed along the pathway from Phase I to the parking lot of Phase II.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, funding in the amount of $108,000 for the project is available in Expenditure Account A4002602-516101 (David March Park - Contractual Services).
ATTACHMENTS
David March Park - Civic Art