Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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City of Port St. Lucie Utility Cabinet Box Wrap Artwork 2020
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Submitted By: Alessandra (Alex) Tasca, Community Programs Administrator, Neighborhood Services Department
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal for vibrant neighborhoods.
Executive Summary (General Business): A Call to Artists was published on 9/10/2020 soliciting artwork to keep in stock as replacement images for Utility cabinet boxes that need new wraps over the next 2 years and for a series of Utility cabinet boxes that we will wrap at the new Winterlakes Park in the Torino neighborhood. The City’s Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB) scored the images based on 4 criteria provided by the Neighborhood Services Department. Each image had the possibility to receive 5 points max for each criterion and a total of 20 points overall. The scores for all the images were tallied by the Neighborhood Services Department. A final adjudication is presented here in the agenda item for approval.
Presentation Information: PowerPoint presentation, 15 minutes, by Alex Tasca.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the images for use on Utility cabinet box wraps as presented.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve an alternate plan for the images.
2. Move that the Council not approve the artwork and provide staff direction.
Background: The Utility cabinet box beautification project began with the inception of the N.I.C.E. program, is funded by the N.I.C.E. program and has proven to be popular. Traditionally, the City uses nature-themed images but, at times has chosen other themes such as the military images along Veteran’s Memorial Parkway. Neighborhood Services, Public Works and the City’s Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB) work together to coordinate the selection of art submitted during the Calls to Artists and the installation of the wraps. Staff has exhausted previously approved images and needs to keep a stock of images on hand as wraps begin to show wear so that they may be replaced and maintained.
A next phase of the project may include an additional Call to Artists and working with FP&L to wrap additional boxes owned by them. AT&T would like to refrain from wrapping their boxes.
Staff included in the 2020 Call to Artists a request for images specifically for the Winterlakes Park in the Torino neighborhood, separate from the general call for the City at large. This will be the first collaboration with FP&L as a pilot project to determine the next steps for working with them and allow the City the opportunity to include public art in the new park and further engage with the neighborhood.
The Call to Artists outlined specific criteria for submission. The 5 criteria that Neighborhood Services provided to the PAAB to judge the artwork were as follows:
1. Overall creative and aesthetic nature of the artist's or team's conceptual design (5 points max.)
2. Relevance of the piece to the City, its values, culture and people (5 points max.)
3. Relevance of the piece to the theme of this Call to Artists (5 points max.)
4. Suitability of the work for outdoor display (5 points max.)
The PAAB was asked to judge each piece of art individually and provide a score out of 20. A total of 7 PAAB members scored the artwork. Therefore, each piece of art could reach a max. of 140 points total. The Neighborhood Services Department collected and collated the final tallies. Based on the number of images needed and to maintain a high level of quality art staff determined that the cutoff for scoring would be 50%. Only art that received a minimum of 50% of the maximum number of points 70/140 would be recommended for approval. Winners selected will be announced and recognized with a letter and certificate.
Ø The general call for the City at large received a total of 59 entries. 45/59 entries received a final total score of 70 points or higher (14 did not and are being recommended for elimination). Additionally, staff identified another 4 images that did receive 70+ total points from the PAAB but, are being recommended for elimination based on not being in line with the overall themes and objectives of the project. Staff is recommending that 41 images be approved for use in the City at large as needed (see “Call for Artists 2020_Final Tally”).
Ø The Winterlakes Park (Torino) call received a total of 15 entries 11/15 entries received a final total score of 70 points or higher (4 did not and are being recommended to be used as back up for Winterlakes Park only, if needed). Staff is recommending that all 15 images be approved for use in the City’s Winterlakes Park as needed (see Call for Artists 2020_WINTERLAKES_Final Tally).
Neighborhood Services staff will work with Parks & Recreation, Public Works and the City’s wrap vendor to layout the images and choose the appropriate images for the appropriate boxes based on rank size, shape, location and quality of the images. Use of the images is contingent on the quality of the image being fit for use. If staff encounters any issues with image quality, we will provide the opportunity to the artist to correct the image and if it cannot be corrected staff will not be able to use it.
Issues/Analysis: N/A
Financial Information: The cost is anticipated to be approximately $400 per wrap and will be covered by the N.I.C.E. Fund.
Special Consideration: The Winterlakes Park construction should be concluding in December and we would like to prepare the Utility cabinet box wraps in time for the inauguration of the park.
Location of Project: City at large and Winterlakes Park in the Torino Neighborhood.
Attachments:
- City of PSL Press Release (in relation to the Call for Artists) issued on 9/10/2020.
- Presentation of images for the City at large selection (includes images recommended for elimination).
- Presentation of images for the Winterlakes Park selection (includes images recommended for back up).
- Overview of the Winterlakes Park Utility Cabinet Boxes being proposed for wrapping.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: N/A
Legal Sufficiency Review:
N/A