Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Columbus Public Service Department’s (DPS) High Street Streetscape Improvements Project stretches from the Short North Arts District to the southern University District. It is a $25 million dollar capital improvement project that will transform one of the busiest sections of the highly traveled High Street corridor. Augmenting the project is a public art component that is budgeted at $423,000, which is roughly 2% of the streetscape budget.
Development released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain a firm to lead a robust public art planning process. In July 2017, Development entered into a professional services contract with Designing Local, a Columbus based firm specializing in cultural planning and public art. Designing Local’s team included Marc Pally, an art curator and former public art administrator. They were unanimously selected by the panel created to review the RFP.
Designing Local led a participatory process leading to the completion of the Art on High Strategic Public Art Plan. A Call for Artists, or Request for Qualifications (RFQ), was included in the Plan. The RFQ contained artist submission requirements and mapped potential locations for public art along the High Street corridor. The sites were vetted by DPS. Development amended its contract with Designing Local to include the artist selection process.
Designing Local released an RFQ for one month in June 2018. It was posted in 12 national locations frequented by professional artists. Of the applications received, 139 met the eligibility requirements. The Artist Selection Panel eventually scored the applicants down to three finalists and two alternates that were approved by the Columbus Arts Commission (CAC). The finalists, Marc Fornes, Christian Moeller and Marc Reigelman, visited Columbus and spent time walking the project site. Their proposals were presented to the selection panel on October 17. Following which, the art panel unanimously selected Mark Reigelman, a Cleveland native residing in Brooklyn, NY.
Reigelman’s proposal shows intellect, humor, energy and an unexpected look at the manufacturing history of the city. He researched items historically made in Columbus and created a sculpture using the shapes of some of these items. At the Panel’s request, he will rethink the overall shape of the sculpture in order to accommodate a mix of contemporary and historical elements. On October 23, the CAC approved Mark Reigelman as the Art on High public artist. Reigelman returned to Columbus in November to attend an event with interested community members hosted at the Brandt-Roberts Gallery in the Short North Arts District. He also used the time to research contemporary maker items. Once under contract, the artist will develop a new proposal incorporating the Art Panel’s comments and return to the CAC to begin the art approval, engineering & fabrication process
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 construction phase of the High Street Streetscape Enhancement Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $423,000.00 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund.
Title
To amend the 2018 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer between projects within the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Reigelman LLC for the fabrication and installation of the Art on High Public Artwork; to authorize the expenditure of $423,000.00 from Fund 7735 Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; and to declare an emergency ($423,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Public Art Program and Department of Public Service saw an opportunity to collaborate on a public art project associated with the High Street Streetscape Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1900-2017 authorized the city to engage Designing Local of Columbus, Ohio to develop a public art plan in conjunction with the planning for High Street improvements; and
WHEREAS, Designing Local created the Art on High moniker and conducted a participatory planning process and completed the Art on High Strategic Public Art Plan, which was approved by the CAC on February 27, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Designing Local contract was later amended as authorized by ordinance 1326-2018 to include the artist selection process; and
WHEREAS, the Art on High Plan included an Artist Call/Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that was released nationally for one month on July 4, 2018; and
WHEREAS, an Artist Selection Panel reviewed 139 eligible applicants, ultimately selecting three finalists: Marc Fornes, Christian Moeller and Mark Reigelman and two alternates; and
WHEREAS, the three finalists visited Columbus and presented their proposals to the Panel on October 17, 2018, and although requesting some changes to his proposal, the Panel unanimously selected Mark Reigelman; and
WHEREAS, Reigelman agreed to incorporate the Panel’s requests and on October 27, 2018, the Columbus Art Commission approved artist Mark Reigelman as the Art on High public artist; and
WHEREAS, Reigelman visited Columbus in November to meet Italian and Victorian Village residents, Short North business owners and to research contemporary maker items; and
WHEREAS, Reigelman’s work is contemporary, showing skill, artistic growth, sensitivity, and a wry sense of humor. He is scheduled to complete the artwork for Art on High by winter 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to enter into contract with artist Mark Reigelman of Reigelman LLC for a public art installation on North High Street within the confines of Department of Public Services High Street Streetscape Improvement Project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Reigelman LLC for the fabrication and installation of the Art on High Public Artwork to keep pace with the construction phase of the High Street Streetscape Enhancement Project, for the preservation of the public heath, peace, prosperity, safety, and welfare: NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget, authorized by ordinance 1010 -2018, be and is hereby amended to provide sufficient budget authority for the appropriate projects authorized within this ordinance as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7735 / P440119-100000 / Public Art / $406,429 / $16,571 / $423,000
7735 / P441749-100001 / Green Columbus Fund / $633,018 / ($16,571) / $616,447
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to transfer $173,000, or so much thereof as may be needed, between projects within Fund 7735 within the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Reigelman LLC for the creation of a public artwork for Art on High (associated with the High Street Streetscape Improvements Project)
SECTION 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the sum of up to $423,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7735 in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance to be expended from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund.
SECTION 5. That these agreements are awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That for 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.