TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Eilen Stewart, Cultural Arts Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of the Cultural Arts Commission Recommendations for Utility Box Beautification Project Artwork Proposals and Locations, and Disbursement of $38,400 from the Public Art Trust Fund (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
A) APPROVE ARTISTS AND LOCATIONS
B) DISBURSE FUNDS
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) recommendations for Utility Box Beautification Project artwork proposals and locations, and disbursement of $38,400 from the Public Art Trust Fund (PATF).
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
If approved, Phase II of the Utility Box Beautification Project will consist of 12 locations, 13 artists, and 18 individual boxes (one location is dedicated to two artists and several locations have multiple individual utility boxes). Each artist will receive a stipend of $600 for a total of $7,800. Each utility box is estimated to cost up to $1,700 for a not-to-exceed amount of $30,600 for installation. The total allocation for this project is not to exceed $38,400 from the Public Art Trust Fund. The PATF currently has a total balance of $2,064,154.23 with nearly $1.4 million in allocated funds and $655,000 in unallocated funds. The use of PATF funds for this project is congruent with the purpose of the PATF as detailed in the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Section 10.90.050.
BACKGROUND:
At the March 7, 2023 meeting, City Council directed the Cultural Arts Commission to develop a work plan of several items including Phase II of the Utility Box Beautification Program. Launched in 2018, Phase I of the Utility Box Beautification Program installed 11 artworks by South Bay residents on utility boxes thought out the city.
DISCUSSION:
Staff worked with the Cultural Arts Commission to develop a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for 12 locations of utility boxes around the City, including locations in north and east Manhattan Beach where there are fewer opportunities for Public Art.
The RFP focused on local artists who live, work, or take classes/attend school in the cities of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, or El Segundo. Each location was allocated a stipend of $600 regardless of the number of utility boxes to be wrapped at that location. All boxes at one location were to be designed by the same artist.
The RFP was advertised on City social media channels, in local publications and to local artist groups. Staff received 40 applications from artists of varying ages, skill levels and disciplines. The CAC reviewed all applications, selected 13 artists and assigned them to locations (presentation attached). Two of the artists are siblings under the age of 13; the CAC elected to place both of these artists at location # 16 and allocate a $600 stipend to each of them, resulting in 13 artists at 12 locations. Due to multiple boxes at several locations, the total number of utility boxes to be wrapped is 18.
If approved, artists will enter into agreement with the City (attached) to provide the proposed artwork in a digital format. Staff will engage an installer (installer agreement attached) to work directly with artists to properly size, scale, and adjust the artwork for the approved location, then print and install the artwork.
The Parks & Recreation Department is in communications with Public Works as they undertake the Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal (MBATS) project to make improvements to the traffic signal controller equipment and infrastructure (and thus utility boxes). All efforts have been made to ensure that the boxes identified and wrapped in Phase II will not be affected by MBATS. In the case that it is necessary to remove or replace a utility box in the course of this project, the artwork will either be reinstalled on the replacement box or be relocated to a comparable location.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
This item was reviewed by the Cultural Arts Commission at the March 20 and June 19 meetings. The CAC voted unanimously to approve the proposed candidates and locations and recommend to City Council for review.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed utility box beautification project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (the “common sense” exemption) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the agreement is exempt from CEQA. Additionally, the project qualifies for a categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines, given that the project consists of minor alterations of existing private or public mechanical equipment, with negligible or no expansion of use. Furthermore, there are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class; therefore, there are no unusual circumstances.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has prepared the agreement template.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Artist Agreement
2. Installer Agreement
3. PowerPoint Presentation