Title
Resolution to Approve the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC) Professional Services Agreement with Herbert Dreiseitl for Design Work to Propose a Project Integrating Stormwater in a Rain Garden Centerpiece for the Ann Arbor Municipal Center ($77,000.00)
Memorandum
In November of 2007, City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a percent for Art Program, which sets aside one (1) percent of the approved budget of large capital improvement projects to be reserved for public art with funding overseen by the commission. The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC) encourages greater community awareness of, access to and participation in the visual arts in Ann Arbor.
In 2004, AAPAC studied public art in other great cities to shape a strategic plan for public art. The study included reviewing best practices, processes for art selection and neighborhood access and suggested locations for public art installations in Ann Arbor.
For the first step of the planning process, each year AAPAC creates a public art plan, which prioritizes sites, projects and funds for art in the public places that the commission will support in the coming year. For FY09, the first year of the Percent for Art Program, AAPAC wanted to concentrate their energy and resources in one important project. The Municipal Center was the unanimous choice because of its central location, its access to the most people, and because art work there will become an integral part of our city government and community life for the next fifty years. This major priority means that percent for art funds from many projects is intended to be pooled with the theme of the art work related to the funding source has provided for in the ordinance.
The second planning step was for AAPAC to convene a Public Art Task Force, made up of community members, stakeholders, and city workers who would be using the municipal center buildings. The job of the taskforce was to prioritize art sites and projects at the Municipal Center. The rain garden, a central part of the architect's design, was designated as the ideal centerpiece of this environmentally advanced building as it is the most accessible to the general public. It is also the entrance way to both the Courts/Police Building and City Hall.
The Task Force researched and sought out examples of storm water related public art projects from artists around the country and around the world. Herbert Dreiseitl was the chosen artist. As a world renowned public artist and urban planner specializing in the integration of storm water in public art and with his many years of experience with large public projects, he was selected to propose three art installations that would make the conservation and retention of rain water interesting, accessible, educational and beautiful to the public. The three pieces are intended to interrelate to each other, and integrate the old and new buildings with the rain garden.
These three art installations are intended for the following locations;
Front Huron Street edge of the Rain Garden (large marker or plinth)
Wall of the Atrium way between the two buildings
Lobby area in Courts/Police Building
AAPAC requests your approval of a professional services agreement in the amount of $77,000.00 with Mr. Herbert Dreiseitl for the design work associated with proposing project that would integrate storm water in a rain garden centerpiece for the Ann Arbor Municipal Center. Funding for this stage of the design process is available in the approved Ann Arbor Municipal Center project budget. Funding to complete the project will come from Funds previously appropriated for public art.
Staff
Prepared by: Venita Harrison, Management Assistant, Public Services
Reviewed by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Margaret Parker, Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Chair
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Public Art Commissions encourages greater community awareness of access to and participation in the visual arts;
Whereas, The 2009 Public Art Plan for the Ann Arbor Municipal Center included an installation that would use storm water gathered from the building site to create a rain garden for the new environmentally advanced building;
Whereas, Herbert Dreiseitl was the selected artist that to propose an art piece that would make the conservation and retention of rain water interesting, accessible, educational and beautiful to the public; and
Whereas, Funding is available in the approved Ann Arbor Municipal Center project budget;
RESOLVED, Council approve a Professional Services Agreement with Herbert Dreiseitl in the amount of $77,000.00 for the design of a rain garden centerpiece for the Ann Arbor Municipal Center and related installations for the lobby areas of the Court/Police and Larcom Building;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be hereby authorized and directed to execute said professional Services agreement after approval as to form by the City Attorney and approval as to substance by the City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary actions to implement this resolution; and
RESOLVED, The Professional Services Agreement with Herbert Dreiseitl be funded from the approved Ann Arbor Municipal Center project budget with funds to be available without regard to fiscal year.