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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/28/2001 - JointI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Joint Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of August 28, 2001, which were approved by the City Council on September 11, 2001. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 11th day of September, 2001. Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL MINUTES JOINT MEETING OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL AND THE ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMISSION August 28, 2001 - 12:10 p.m. CITY COUNCIL Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.* Mayor Pro Tem Rex A. Kinnison Brent Chesney* Javier Colmenero Henry Garrett Bill Kelly John Longoria Jesse Noyola Mark Scott City Staff Present City Manager David R. Garcia Deputy City Manager George Noe City Attorney James R. Bray Jr. City Secretary Armando Chapa Recording Secretary Rachelle P. Ramon ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMISSION Dr. Linda Avila, Chairperson Chuck Anastos George Balli Deborah Fullerton Dennis Kemmerer Leticia Mondragon Elizabeth Reese Sheila Rogers Colin Sykes Van Phan Villa ABSENT Ricardo Sanchez (ACC) Tom Schmid (ACC) Mayor Pro Tem Kinnison called the meeting to order in the Basement Training Room of City Hall. City Secretary Chapa checked the roll and verified that a quorum was present to conduct the meeting and Mr. Kinnison noted that there was a quorum of the Arts and Cultural Commission. Dr. Avila said the commission meets once a month to discuss aesthetic and artistic issues and they requested the joint meeting with the Council to discuss, in particular, how the percentage for art ordinance affects the bond projects that were recently approved. She said the members studied the ordinance and recommended that some of the smaller projects not receive the percentage funding so that they could focus instead on the larger projects, including the seawall, the convention center and the arena. *Mayor Neal and Council Member Chesney arrived at approximately 12:15 p.m. Dr. Avila discussed the importance of public art and its role in Corpus Christi. She noted that many people travel to larger cities to experience art but not everyone has the opportunity to do so, particularly children. In addition, providing artistic offerings in Corpus Christi increases the city's ability to attract tourists. With regard to the percentage for public art for the seawall project, Dr. Avila said the commission recommended that the funds (approximately $20,000 to $40,000) be used to hire a consultant to assist with planning a possible seascape design. Minutes - Joint Meeting August 28, 2001 Page 2 Regarding the arena and convention center, Dr. Avila said the commission would like the architectural firm designing those projects and a Development Committee of the ACC to each recommend a list of three to five artists, from which one artist will be selected upon the consensus of both groups. The Development Committee will then recommend that artist to the whole ACC, which in turn will make a recommendation to the City Council. Mayor Neal said he had been delayed in another meeting and he asked the commission members to introduce themselves, which they did. Responding to Council Member Kelly, Mr. Noe said the arena budget includes a line item for art of 11/4% of the $28 million construction cost, which comes to about $400,000. The seawall project includes $1.5 million for streetscaping and enhancements. Mr. Garcia said that amount will need to be used for excavating and replacing the sidewalk in front of the seawall. Mr. Noe noted that 1V4% of the $1.5 million amounts to about $20,000. Mr. Noe said that based on the estimated construction costs of the convention center, the allocation for art will be about $250,000. In reply to additional Council questions, Mr. Bray said the allocation applies against a city construction project which is defined in the ordinance as a "building, parking facility, park, arterial street, sidewalk, or any portion thereof." Council Member Longoria discussed the concept of an art master plan and described successful plans in other cities. Additional discussion ensued about that issue. Mayor Neal commented that he had served as a member of the Municipal Arts Committee and he believes Corpus Christi does have a commitment to public art but the problem is how to fund institutional projects. Returning to the discussion about the percentage for art allocations, Mr. Noe pointed out that all the expenditures have to be spent on the project itself, which he explained. Mr. Garcia said there are many ways to utilize those funds in order to create an artistic impression throughout a facility. For example, the theme of the Spanish missions is highlighted throughout the San Antonio Convention Center through repeated patterns in the carpeting and in other ways. Mr. Longoria made a motion to direct staff to bring back for the Council's consideration a request for proposals for the percentage for public art for the seawall project for planning and design between $20,000 and $40,000. The motion was seconded by Mr. Chesney. Mayor Neal called for a voice vote and the motion passed unanimously. Council Member Scott referred to the percentage for public art for the arena and convention center projects and he questioned how the funds can be used. Mr. Bray said the ordinance states that "the works of art shall be permanent (and) may be integral to the architecture...." Mr. Kemmerer said the commission members were looking at a stand-alone piece of sculpture. Mr. Kinnison said staff has pointed out that the budget for the convention center is very limited. Minutes - Joint Meeting August 28, 2001 Page 3 Dr. Avila said the members of the ACC's Development Committee are formulating their concept about the kind of art they would like to see in the convention center and arena; however, she pointed out that an artist has not yet been selected and considered by the full commission. Council Member Colmenero said an RFP takes time and the ground breaking for the arena project will be occurring in the near future. Mr. Chesney made a motion to endorse the commission's recommendation regarding the process for the percentage for public art for the arena and convention center projects as follows: A. Architectural firm to recommend three to five artists B. Development Committee of Arts and Cultural Commission to recommend three to five artists C. Development Committee and architectural firm reach consensus on artist D. Development Committee brings consensual recommendation to Arts and Cultural Commission E. Arts and Cultural Commission brings recommendtion to City Council Mr. Colmenero seconded Mr. Chesney's motion. Mayor Neal called for a voice vote and the motion passed (Kelly abstaining). There being no other business, Mayor Neal adjourned the joint meeting at 1:10 p.m. on August 28, 2001. T r * * * * * * * * * * * * *