NEW BUSINESS  9.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

KEY INTENDED OUTCOME:
Enhance Cultural and Recreational Activities

HISTORY:

At the  September 25, 2017 Commission meeting, a dual referral was made to the Neighborhood and Community Affairs Committee and the Art in Public Places Committee by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez to refer a discussion regarding having local artists decorate the current temporary security barriers being deployed and new security barriers the City will be installing in pedestrian zones. This item was discussed at the October 17, 2017 meeting of the Art in Public Places Committee and was referenced again at the October 18, 2017 Commission Meeting.

ANALYSIS:

The City of Miami Beach, through its Art in Public Places Ordinance, has an established set of criteria for evaluating works of art being proposed for placement on public property and provides the City with a professional assessment of the project’s feasibility, cultural merits and appropriateness for display. All submittals shall comply with the requirements of the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places Ordinance No. 2004-3448. As noted in Sec. 82-562 (8) and Sec. 82-612, Art in Public Places Committee shall make recommendations to the City Commission regarding the placement of proposed donation of works of art for placement on public property in the City.  

In selecting/approving works of art, the Art in Public Places Committee and City Commission shall consider the following criteria:

(1)    Appropriateness to the city construction project or existing site.

(2)    Maintenance requirements.

(3)    Quality of the work.

(4)    Likeliness that the artist can complete the work within available funding.

(5)    Reflection of enduring artistic concepts, rather than transitory ones.

(6)    History of the artist in terms of completion of works on time.

(h)    In obtaining the advice of the design review board, or historic preservation board, whichever has jurisdiction over the matter based on the location of the proposed project, according to such board's normal application and review procedures, the staff of the Art in Public Places Committee shall present the proposal to such boards prior to submittal of a final recommendation by the Art in Public Places Committee to the City Commission. At the time of the board's review, the boards may impose binding criteria, subject to later reconsideration, on the following matters: location, size, footprint, massing, and relationship to context, including the establishment of a range of acceptable materials.

In determining maintenance needs of a project, such factors, including but not limited to, value, size, material, location, and potential for vandalism will be assessed to ensure proper care and maintenance of the work of art, and to assure that the work of art will remain in a condition and high quality satisfactory to the City.  Maintenance shall include not only care of the work of art itself but, if applicable, the public property immediately surrounding the work of art; particularly if the art is placed in a City park.

On October 17, 2017 the Art in Public Places Committee met and discussed having local artists decorate temporary and permanent security barriers the City will be installing in pedestrian zones, including those currently located and planned for Lincoln Road and Española Way. A motion was made by the Committee and passed unanimously stating security barriers, whether temporary or permanent, are not appropriate locations for Art in Public Places installations due to site functionality, ongoing vandalism, maintenance, and security concerns. Barriers are placed in highly trafficked areas and surfaces are easily damaged with daily activities.

As for the design of permanent barriers, the Committee noted long term architectural solutions for well-designed security barriers are currently being addressed by James Corner Field Associates as part of the Lincoln Road Master Plan.  As well, the barriers for Española Way have been selected by representatives from the City of Miami Beach Fire, Police, Public Works, Capital Improvements and Emergency Management Departments, who have researched and identified a retractable bollard system in combination with fixed barriers, as specified by the U.S. Department of Defense. Funding for the retractable and fixed security bollards was approved at the October 18, 2017 meeting of the City Commission. The fixed bollards, five (5) on Drexel Avenue and four (4) on Washington Avenue will have decorative covers that will be used to enhance the fixed bollards.

It was further stated by the Art in Public Places Committee that no funding was identified for the implementation of the proposed concept. At this time, the Art in Public Places fund balance (147) is $887,147 which is net of projects previously approved by the Mayor and Commission, including Miami Beach Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Projects and SoundScape Park Project. The balance of $887,147 also needs to provide funding for AiPP funding for the following:

·   site specific projects funded by Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond, including Flamingo Park, Fire Station 2 and Lummus Park; which have not yet been appropriated and are restricted by public bond covenants

·   additional funding for the Miami Beach Convention Center AiPP projects as approved through Resolution 2016-29480; and

·   Annual program administration and future maintenance of the public art collection.

The Art in Public Places fund balance (147) is programmed to be used as follows:

CONCLUSION:

A motion was made by the Art in Public Places Committee to not proceed with the proposed location, based on appropriateness of site, future maintenance requirements, and lack of funding.