Explanation
Background:
This ordinance will authorize the Director of Development to enter into contract with Designing Local, LTD. for completion of the High Street Strategic Public Art Plan (Plan). The Plan will coordinate with the design phase of the High Street Streetscape Enhancement Project under the direction of the Department of Public Service (DPS). The planning project area is the High Street corridor from Poplar Avenue on the south to Ninth Avenue on the north.
The Plan will create a cohesive public art strategy for the Short North Arts District and the southern University District. When completed it will evaluate, and as appropriate, recommend ways to integrate art into streetscape amenities, enhance locations for performance art, identify locations for discrete art installations, and recommend the process and language for specific artist calls. (The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority has undertaken their own interior and exterior public art planning for High Street between Convention Center Drive and I-670, also part of the DPS Streetscape Project.)
A Request for Proposal (RFP) for consultant services was released during the month of June and posted to multiple arts websites, in addition to the City’s bid postings. Five proposals were received, of which two met the RFP requirements. A five member interview panel consisting of representatives from the University District Area Commission, Short North SID, Short North Alliance, Columbus Art Commission, and the Department of Public Service interviewed the firms, selecting Designing Local, LTD. (Columbus). Sub-consulting for Designing Local LTD. is Marc Pally, an artist, curator and arts administrator specializing in public art. Project planning will be inclusive and finely grained to the nuance of the High Street corridor and its uses. A public art budget of $420,000 will be established for this effort, which is contingent upon the city’s Capital Budget and legislative action.
Emergency action is requested so that work related to the High Street Strategic Public Art Plan can be initiated immediately and keep pace with the design phase of the High Street Streetscape Enhancement Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of $81,000 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with Designing Local, LTD. for completion of the High Street Strategic Public Art Plan; to authorize the expenditure of $81,000.00 from Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; and to declare an emergency ($81,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Public Service is in the construction design phase of the 25 million dollar capital budget, High Street Streetscape Improvement Project, which extends from Convention Center Drive to Ninth Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has a singular opportunity to coordinate public art planning in conjunction with the design phase of the High Street streetscape project, increasing efficiency and potential cost savings, while identifying opportunities for unique, site specific public artworks; and
WHEREAS, the planning for the public art plan will be interactive and seek input from leadership and the broader community in developing recommendations for integrated and site specific public art and associated artist calls and budgets; and
WHEREAS, a public art budget of $420,000 will be established for this effort, contingent on the capital budget and legislative action; and
WHEREAS, the Short North and University District are areas of the city known for their support and celebration of the arts; and
WHEREAS, the Development Department released a Request for Proposal for a consultant or consultant team with strong expertise in public arts administration, project management and curatorial practice, planning and working with capital budget projects, community engagement, and public art administration,; and
WHEREAS, an interview panel of individuals from the University District, Short North Alliance and Special Improvement District, Department of Public Service, and the Columbus Art Commission represented the City of Columbus and recommended the Designing Local, LTD. team to the Director of Development; and
WHEREAS, Marc Pally, as an experienced artist, arts administrator, who as a member of the Designing Local, LTD. team, will hold a yet to be determined artist talk or workshop at no cost to interested artists and community members; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Designing Local, LTD. for completion of the High Street Strategic Public Art Plan and to appropriate the funds to support the High Street Strategic Art Plan, for the preservation of the public health, peace, prosperity, safety and welfare:
BE IT ORDAINDED BY THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Designing Local, LTD. for completion of the High Street Strategic Public Art Plan.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $81,000.00 is hereby authorized in Fund 7735 Northland and other Acquisitions Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.