CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
STAFF REPORT
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal
Hill, California 90755-3799
4/25/2023
AGENDA ITEM
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
YVETTE E. AGUILAR
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
OUTDOOR PUBLIC ART PROJECT BUDGET ADJUSTMENT
Summary:
The City has a history of incorporating art into parks and public facilities. With the opening of the Signal Hill Library, the City Council desired to enhance the facility by encouraging creative expression. To effectuate this purpose, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an outdoor public art project and formed a subcommittee to review responses. The City issued the RFP twice and did not successfully identify a qualified artist that could fulfill the project requirements for $50,000. Staff contacted local artists to obtain additional feedback regarding the criteria in the RFP and discuss whether the proposed compensation was sufficient to fulfill the City’s vision. After consulting with various artists, staff recommends reissuing the RFP and increasing the project budget amount. Staff is seeking the City Council’s concurrence to reissue the RFP and increase the project budget by $30,000. The additional funding would come from the unallocated General Fund for a total project budget of $80,000.
Recommendations:
1. Authorize staff to reissue the RFP for the Outdoor Public Arts Project at the Signal Hill Library.
2. Approve the proposed increase of $30,000 for a total project allocation of $80,000. The increased budget would be reflected in the FY 2023-24 Year 2 proposed budget.
Fiscal Impact:
The FY 2022-23 budget currently has $50,000 in General Funds allocated for this project. The request for an additional $30,000 will increase the total General Fund appropriations to $80,000. The current FY 2022-23 budget is sufficient to cover expenditures through June 30, 2023. Any remaining project expenditures will be reflected in the FY 2023-24, Year 2, proposed budget and prior unused funds would be carried over to the next year’s budget.
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Strategic Plan Objectives:
Goal No. 5: Ensure an enhanced quality of life for the residents.
Goal No. 6: Promote a transparent and open government.
Background:
The City has historically incorporated public art into new City parks and facilities when feasible.
Some examples include the Mist Tower and Gallery Windows at Hilltop Park, the Tribute to the Roughneck sculpture and Solar Interpretation of the summer solstice and winter equinox at Sunset View Park, and the mural located at the basketball courts in Signal Hill Park. The City also requests developers incorporate art into their projects through private property development.
With the opening of the Signal Hill Public Library in 2019, the City continues its desire to incorporate an element of public art in the new City facility. As part of a collaborative effort, the Signal Hill Historical Society originally committed to a $50,000 sponsorship for this Outdoor Public Art Project.
In April 2019, City Council approved the release of an RFP for the Outdoor Public Art Project and created the Arts Sub-Committee which included two Council Members, one Parks and Recreation Commissioner, the Community Services Director, and two members from the Signal Hill Historical Society. The RFP garnered responses from sixteen (16) artists, both local and from the surrounding areas. Of the total proposals received, six (6) were interviewed by the sub-committee. After the interviews, the sub-committee was not able to come to a consensus on the artist; the Signal Hill Historical Society pulled its funding for the project.
During the budget development process for FY 2022-23, the City Council approved $50,000 from the City’s General Fund to restart the project with 100% of the decision-making process left to the City, ensuring the availability of funds for the project. The sub-committee was modified to include the original two Council Members, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, and the Community Services Director. In February 2023, the City reissued the original RFP with an updated timeline, and artists who had been previously interviewed were contacted to encourage proposal submittals and generate interest. The City received two (2) proposals in response to the RFP.
After reviewing the proposals with the Arts Sub-Committee, the decision was made to reconsider augmenting the funding, reevaluating the scope of work, and re-releasing the RFP for a third time.
Further, the sub-committee revisited the scope of work that limited the artwork to a visual representation of the history of Signal Hill. The sub-committee decided the existing historical timeline mural inside the Library Children’s Area served that purpose and found there was an opportunity for a more creative, progressive visual art piece to be added to the Zinnia Courtyard.
Analysis:
City staff contacted local artists to garner their professional feedback of the RFP, relating to the scope of work, reasons for not submitting proposals during the second RFP release, and ideas for generating more interest in project.
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Below is a summary of information shared by the artists:
· The Scope of Work should be updated to not focus on the “history of Signal Hill” as the main component, as that significantly limits the artists’ ability for creativity and individuality. · Artists suggested a scheduled tour of the outdoor library space, and the interior, to allow the artists to familiarize themselves with the environment of the community. · City to provide the artists with the opportunity to meet with the sub-committee for more guided direction. Artists shared that unlike more traditional RFP processes, the development of an outdoor public art piece required more discussion with the sub-committee to understand their vision for the project.
· City should provide direction on the type of media preferred for the space, as this is critical for an artist to determine whether they could execute the vision of the sub-committee. · City should allow a non-proposing artist to review the RFP prior to publication, to ensure that artists have clear direction to be able to successfully and adequately present an idea for consideration.
· Due to increasing costs and inflation, the original $50,000 allocation was limiting and didn’t provide sufficient or adequate compensation to purchase material, compensate for the artist’s time, use of resources, and overall ability to commit to the project timeline. Artists shared that augmenting the allocation by $30,000 would help address this concern and likely improve an artist’s ability to submit a proposal that is thoughtful, thorough, and will adequately compensate the artist for their time, resources, talent, skill set, and materials. · City should increase the amount of time given to submit a proposal. City should also discuss the project timeline with the selected artist to ensure that the appropriate time is given for quality execution of the artwork.
· City should consider issuing a stipend for artists that move through the interview process and are considered finalists to compensate them for a portion of their time and resources spent.
If City Council approves the additional $30,000 to supplement the existing $50,000 budget, staff would update the RFP to reflect a revised scope of work incorporating the feedback received, and updated the project timeline. Based on City Council action this evening, staff would release the RFP in May 2023, with a goal for the project completion by the City’s upcoming 2024 centennial celebrations.
Reviewed:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
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Approved:
_________________________
Carlo Tomaino
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