Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Columbus Art Commission has proposed a legacy public art installation at North Bank Park to commemorate the City's Bicentennial. The Commission has identified two funding sources for the project: the Miranova TIF - Riverfront Vision Account and an unspent percent for art allocation provided by the Ohio Art Council for North Bank Park. Together, these sources comprise the project's overall budget of $250,861. The Riverfront Vision Account, a sub-account within the Miranova TIF, was created to fund improvements set forth in the Riverfront Vision Plan.
This ordinance initiates the project by funding the artist selection process using a $50,000 allocation from the Miranova TIF - Riverfront Vision Account. This initial allocation will be used for three primary purposes: 1) hiring an art professional to oversee and manage the process; 2) funding artists to create site specific project proposals; and 3) retaining an individual to assist with staffing the artist selection panel and curatorial team, and other project related duties. The Director of Development will enter into a series of contracts to undertake these steps, with no single contract exceeding $20,000.
This ordinance also authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a professional services contract with Shelly Willis and to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the City Code. Ms. Willis is a nationally noted art professional with over 15 years experience managing complex public art projects. She is currently serving as a curator for Columbus Public Art 2012, a temporary public art exhibition planned for downtown Columbus during the city's bicentennial year. Her selection to lead the artist selection process and advise the City during the commissioning phase will contribute to a coordinated effort. This legislation is filed as emergency to meet the timeframes of the 2012 Bicentennial celebration.
CITY DEPARTMENTS RECOMMENDATION: Approval
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the appropriation of $50,000 and the expenditure of $36,000 from the Miranova TIF - City Riverfront Vision Account (Ordinance #1578-98), adopted by Columbus City Council on June 29, 1998.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $50,000.00 from the Miranova TIF - City Riverfront Vision Account; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into a professional services contract with Shelly Willis to administer the public art artist selection process for North Bank Park Project; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into professional services contracts with up to four artists for the development of site-specific proposals for North Bank Park for an amount not to exceed $16,000; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $36,000 from the Miranova TIF - City Riverfront Vision Account; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Art Commission (CAC) was asked to identify public art projects; and
WHEREAS, the CAC identified an opportunity to commission a legacy public art installation for North Bank Park that would celebrate the City's Bicentennial utilizing available, geographic specific funds available from the Miranova TIF - Riverfront Vision Account and the Ohio Arts Commission's Percent for Art Program allocation to North Bank Park; and
WHEREAS, the Miranova TIF Riverfront Vision Account was expressly created to fund improvements to the river corridor within the boundaries of the adopted Riverfront Vision Plan, which includes North Bank Park; and
WHEREAS, the CAC advises using the art professional services of Shelly Willis to administer the artist selection process, as she is already participating on the curatorial team for Columbus Public Art 2012 and brings over 15 years of experience in the selection and commission of public art; and
WHEREAS, best practices in the field of public art include juried invitational artist calls to select a small group of artists to commission site specific art proposals and to pay these artists an honorarium/artist fee for their work; and
WHEREAS, assistance is needed staffing the various components of the artist selection process; and
WHEREAS, the CAC and Development Department staff will continue working with the Director of Recreation and Parks and his staff to fully coordinate all phases of the North Bank public art project; and
WHEREAS, the artist selection process needs to start immediately to complete the installation of a permanent public art project in North Bank Park during the City's 2012 Bicentennial; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and authorize the expenditure of said funds in order to initiate the artist selection process to commission a permanent public artwork at North Bank Park as part of the City's 2012 Bicentennial Celebrations, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That from the unappropriated balance in the Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account , Fund 406, and from any and all sources unallocated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending in December 31, 2011, the sum of $50,000, be and hereby is appropriated to the Development Department, Department 44-01, Project 440071-100000, OCA 440071, as follows:
Object Level One 01, Object Level Three 1112, Amount: $14,000
Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, Amount: $36,000
Section 2. That the Director of Development be and is authorized to enter into a professional services contract with Shelly Willis to administer the public art artist selection process for the North Bank Park Project for an amount not to exceed $20,000.
Section 3. That the Director of Development be and is authorized to enter into a professional services contracts with up to four artists for the development of site-specific proposals for North Bank Park for an amount not to exceed $16,000.
Section 4. That the provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code relating to competitive bidding be and hereby are waived.
Section 5. That the expenditure of $36,000 or so much as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Development Department, Department 44-01, Miranova TIF - Riverfront Vision Account, Fund 406, Project 440071-100000, OCA 440071, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336.
Section 6. That in the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.