Title
Resolution to Approve Second Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Katherine Talcott as Public Art Commission Administrator ($21,800.00)
Memorandum
Your approval is requested to amend the Professional Service Agreement with Katherine Talcott for consulting services in the amount of $21,800.00, of which $19,800 is for fees and $2,000.00 is for travel expenses. This second amendment would extend the agreement to June 30, 2010, and would increase the total possible compensation to $46,782.15.
The purpose of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC) is to encourage greater community awareness of, access to, and participation in the visual arts, which are an essential component of the vitality, health, and spirit of our community. Commission members are nominated by the Mayor and approved by City Council. Sue McCormick, Public Services Administrator, acts as the City liaison to AAPAC and under her direction, the Public Services Area provides support to the Commission
In August of 2008, Margaret Parker, Chair of AAPAC, presented the 2009 Annual Art Plan to City Council outlining the priorities for their first year. The commission chose the installation of artwork at the Ann Arbor Municipal Center as their first project. The commission gathered members representing local organizations and institutions, the art community, and city operating units that will use the building to form the Public Art Task Force. The mission of the Task Force was to prioritize sites, project ideas, and funding within the Municipal Center.
Based on the specialized expertise needed to support the Commission and project activities, AAPAC and City staff determined that it was in the best interest of the city to hire a part-time consultant to assist the Commission with the Public Art program activities while City Staff continue to provide budget planning and monitoring, communications, and general administration for the Public Art Fund.
Katherine Talcott was hired in February of 2009. Her services include providing overall leadership, general management and assistance in the daily operations of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC), program planning and development, financial management, coordination with project managers and artists, and related activities. The City first contracted with Ms. Talcott in February of 2009 to provide services during that time frame when the Commission needed assistance with program start up activities and prior to projects being initiated. This contract ended in June 2009.
Thereafter, on July 8, 2009, the City entered into a professional services agreement with Katherine Talcott for the period July 6, 2009, through January 31, 2010, in an amount not to exceed $18,002.00, including $3,000.00 for travel expenses while the Commission and the City were working through the process of approving contracts for art installation on the Municipal Center site. A first amendment extended the agreement to January 31, 2010, and increased the hours and the total compensation to an amount not to exceed $24,982.15, which included a reduction to $200.00 of the amount for travel expenses.
As the chief contact person for AAPAC, Ms. Talcott reports directly to the City of Ann Arbor's Public Services Area Administrator. She is currently contracted for an average of 32 hours per week and is responsible for coordinating with AAPAC and City staff on planning, research, and implementation of the public art program, including grant writing, public relations and special events. Extension of this agreement also provides reimbursement for registration and travel expenses to attend one public art conference during this extension period, if so recommended by AAPAC and approved by the Public Service Administrator.
Ms. Talcott comes to the City following a career as an independent curator based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the past 5 years, she has served as curator of the Three Rivers Arts Festival (Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh), responsible for its visual arts programming. Her primary focus was a public art program that focused on environmental artists and community. She also developed annual exhibitions with national and international artists that supported new work by emerging and mature Pittsburgh artists. Recent Public Art installations coordinated by Ms. Talcott include: Market Square (Brett Yaskzo) 2007; Displacement/Inversion and Denied Veritas with Reinhard Reintzenstein (2006); River Eye Lash (Stacy Levy) 2005; and Crate and Barrel (Steven Siegel) 2004.
Approval of the second amendment to the professional services agreement with Katherine Talcott in the amount of $21,800.00 for her continued services as the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Administrator through June 30, 2010 is recommended.
Staff
Prepared by: Venita Harrison, Management Assistant
Reviewed by: Abigail Elias, Chief Assistant City Attorney, Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City entered into a professional services agreement with Katherine Talcott in July 8, 2009, to provide professional services as Public Art Commission Administrator for the period July 6, 2009, through January 31, 2010, in an amount not to exceed $18,002.00;
Whereas, A first amendment extended the professional services agreement to January 31, 2010, and increased the hours and the total compensation to an amount not to exceed $24,982.15;
Whereas, A second amendment to the professional services agreement is needed for Katherine Talcott to continue to provide professional services as Public Art Commission Administrator through June 30, 2010; and
Whereas, Funding is available in the approved FY 2010 Art in Public Places Fund and the approved FY 2010 Capital Budget;
RESOLVED: That City Council approve the second amendment to the professional services agreement with Katherine Talcott in an amount not to exceed $21,800.00;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said second amendment to the professional service agreement with Katherine Talcott 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, That the second amendment to the professional services agreement with Katherine Talcott be funded from the approved FY 2010 Art in Public Places and the approved FY 2010 Capital Budget, with funds to be available without regard to fiscal year.