TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a right-of-entry permit for the Public Corporation for the Arts, doing business as Arts Council for Long Beach, to access Loma Vista Park, located at
1173 Loma Vista Drive, for the construction of a public art exhibit for a term of five months. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
The Public Corporation for the Arts, doing business as Arts Council for Long Beach (Arts Council), administers the Eye on Design Public Art and Education Program (EOD) whose goal is to educate third graders about civic design and the public art process. The Arts Council selects Accomplished public artists to work with local elementary school students for the selection of potential public art sites and the development of an art concept for the site. Upon completion, the artist and students present their proposal to a panel of professionals for the final selection.
The Arts Council has secured all-inclusive grant funding in the amount of $40,000 from the Miller Foundation to implement an EOD project at Loma Vista Park (Loma Vista). Steve Elcker, the artist who developed the existing tiled park bench at Loma Vista, worked with a third grade class from Thomas A. Edison Elementary School to conceive of a design that would display the solar system. The design is a series of orbits, with one planet per orbit. The orbits will be brightly colored surface areas, with a different color for each orbit. The colors will be created with the resilient surfacing material that is used in playground construction. Each planet will be constructed of cast concrete and ceramic tile, serving as a one-person settee. Thus, as well as being colorful, it will invite children to run, jump, and tumble on a familiar play material. An artist rendering of the solar system is attached (Attachment A).
Loma Vista is a mini-park the City acquired in 2002, from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. The site is very small, only 0.14 acres, and is encumbered with the County's access wells to main trunk lines. The artist has incorporated the manhole covers into the design. The Arts Council has secured approval from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District to paint the covers, thus incorporating them into the overall solar system design. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) supports the installation of the solar system and believes it will bring an attractive element to Loma Vista that should increase use and aesthetically brighten the site.
The proposed right-of-entry permit contains the following major provisions:
. Authorized Use: Access across City-owned property known as Loma Vista Park, located at 1173 Loma Vista Drive, for the sole purpose of installing the solar system public art project.
. Term: September 1,2007 through January 31,2008.
. Installation Limitations/Requirements: The Arts Council must meet with PRM staff prior to entering onto City-owned property.
. Fees: No fees will be charged for access since the completed project provides a public benefit, which will enhance the functionality of the park.
. Insurance: The right-of-entry permit will require the Arts Council to indemnify the City and provide insurance as required by the City's Risk Manager.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on July 26, 2007, and Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on August 2, 2007.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 14, 2007, to enable the execution of the right-of-entry permit.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Miller Foundation will provide grant funding for this project. The Arts Council is solely responsible for all costs not covered by the grant. There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PHIL T. HESTER
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
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ANTHONY W. BATTS |
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CITY MANAGER |