Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-09 CAC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, June 9, 2021 (Virtual Zoom Meeting) I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Myrland convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present Absent Carol Adney Maureen Boren Sonia Campbell Donna Jean Darby Liz Hauer Lesley Miller Susan Myrland Also Present Deborah Glickman, Business Advocate Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary Councilmember Karina Quintanilla John Vuksic, Architectural Review Commission Liaison III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairperson Myrland stated that Alessandra Moctezuma, Professor, Fine Art, Museum Studies and Gallery Director at San Diego Mesa College, will give a presentation at the July 14, 2021 meeting on how to effectively review and critique art in a public setting. Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 2 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting held on May 12, 2021. Commissioner Adney moved to approve the Minutes of the regular meeting held on May 12, 2021. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Boren and carried 7-0-0 with Adney, Boren, Campbell, Darby, Hauer, Miller, and Myrland voting AYE. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION – Karina Quintanilla Councilmember Quintanilla thanked the Commissioners and staff for their progress with the public art program. B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT – Lindsay Holt No report. C. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION (ARC) REPORT – John Vuksic Mr. Vuksic reported the following from the recent ARC meetings. The façade enhancement for Shiraz Rug Gallery on Highway 111 was approved. An amendment to an approved façade improvement for a multi-tenant building within the Bump and Grind Plaza located at 72221 Highway 111 was continued. Four-unit apartments on Abronia was continued again. Santa Barbara Apartment project (48-unit condo complex on Gerald Ford) was approved. The plans for Sage at Palm Desert located on Dinah Shore and Dick Kelly were approved many years ago. The developer came back with a request for an adjustment to the plans for additional two story units, which was approved. Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 3 An informational item for a façade remodel for Tommy Bahama Home was presented. VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER NONE VII. NEW BUSINESS NONE VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS NONE IX. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSSION OF THE SAN PABLO PUBLIC ART PLAN (No action taken on this item.) Ms. Glickman stated that the San Pablo Public Art Plan Subcommittee agreed to encompass a citywide public art plan as opposed to creating a plan strictly for San Pablo, and therefore the discussion will be based on the City as a whole and not just San Pablo. Once the discussion of the art plan is complete, the document will be taken before the City Council for approval and serve as a reference document. Ms. Glickman referred to the staff report that was included in the agenda packet regarding the questions for discussion to create a citywide public art plan. Ms. Glickman read the resolution regarding inclusion that was approved by the City Council in 2018 that requires a statement on inclusion to be included in all of the public art call for artists, requests for proposals, etc. - What role does public art play in the City of Palm Desert? Commissioner Boren – Referred to the Art & Architecture book that was produced in 2006 that stated the goals of the public art program. “The goal of the program was to create harmony among the buildings, landscaping, and open spaces through the careful placement of art while also serving residents with a means for cultural expression and response.” The image of Palm Desert is very important for tourism, businesses, and attracting people as well as local residents to Palm Desert. Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 4 Commissioner Darby – Art has to be a focal point because it is one of the most positive factors in the City. Code Compliance needs to clean up the sand fences in Palm Desert. Commissioner Hauer – Public art can give a much stronger sense of place and identity to a City. Art can capture and enhance the personality of the community and reinforce its unique and culturally active aspects to encourage visitors to view the art and participate (Desert X, for example). It is a beacon for tourism and locals. Public art can draw locals and tourists to all of Palm Desert and not just El Paseo and San Pablo to show the depth of the City. Public art needs to be totally accessible and something a person can happen upon or make a date to see. By having public art in Palm Desert it can support our local creative community as well as give artists a way to make a living. Commissioner Miller – Palm Desert was the front-runner of public art in the Valley. Likes the idea of Palm Desert being a vacation paradise, a playground, giving Palm Desert a new flavor that attracts visitors and distinguishes Palm Desert from the other Valley cities. Palm Desert is the hub of the Valley having the McCullum Theatre, universities, and business component. Commissioner Campbell – Palm Desert is identified by its artwork and needs more accessible art for residents and tourists. Chairperson Myrland – Art is important in place making. The Commission needs to reflect the culture of a changing place. There is a lot more forward thinking with the universities. There is a directive from the City Council to balance or mitigate gentrification that comes with the development. Commissioner Adney – She reviewed the City’s mission statement that talks about the unique identity of the City (that needs to be defined) and art needs to follow that identity. When the Commission reviews artists, inclusion needs to be considered as well as younger artists who might bring in new media. Include murals that contain an interactive light component at night. Need to think more innovatively. Commissioner Boren - Palm Desert is the center of the Valley, a tourist destination, and a commercial hub that people want to Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 5 differentiate from Palm Springs. Upon question by Commissioner Boren, Mr. Alvarez responded that Palm Desert is known for luxury resorts, relaxation, attracts business owners, visitors, and permanent residents. Councilmember Quintanilla - Palm Desert is the home of education which brings diversity and inclusion from a global scale; there are a lot of graduate students from foreign countries attending the Palm Desert universities. Would like to see a more deliberate focus to have a representation of who Palm Desert is in the present and how it is more inclusive. - What types/genre of art is currently not in the collection, but would be a positive addition? Chairperson Myrland – Artworks that change the scale and connect from a stretch of land (“joining” all three roundabouts on San Pablo). More interactive artwork - when a person approaches the artwork it triggers an audio component that provides historic information. Need more site specific artworks. Commissioner Miller – There needs to be differentiation on Highway 111 between the cities. Include artworks of endangered species connecting from a stretch of land. Commissioner Boren – Need more site specific art that has meaning for the location. We Can Do This mosaic at Carlos Ortega Villas is artwork that was placed in a meaningful location and is site specific. Artwork at Baja Gardens would be site specific. Create an art route that takes people from location to location via signage following an art path throughout the community. Ms. Glickman stated a GPS app can be created. Commissioner Hauer – Create art paths and tours that are focused on art. We can support small businesses within Palm Desert to incorporate tours into the City’s tourism that focuses on history with the tour concluding at a restaurant. Other Valley cities are incorporating commercial ventures to include art tours and present them as tourism opportunities. Enrich Highway 111 with an architectural enhancement. Include interactive art on San Pablo. Commissioner Adney – San Pablo’s identity to be playful and more interactive. Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 6 - What geographic areas of the City would benefit from public art? Ms. Glickman – North sphere. The Commission noted that the north sphere was a priority area once the San Pablo Roundabout project is underway. Create a Sculpture Garden for temporary exhibitions on the large grass area in front of the McCallum Theatre. Commissioner Boren – College of the Desert, University of California Riverside Palm Desert campus, and Cal State University San Bernardino Palm Desert campus should have art placed throughout the campuses. Work with the School District to include the arts into the schools. Students can be exposed to different types of art. X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS A. Traffic Signal Cabinet Beautification Project Ms. Glickman reported that Canyon Copy and Print has installed the vinyl wrap artworks on the traffic signal cabinets located on San Luis Rey and El Paseo; Highway 111 and Fred Waring; and Highway 111 and Monterey. B. San Pablo Phase 2 Ms. Glickman reported that she is still working on the San Pablo Phase 2 project. She will ask the project engineer about the possibility of placing artwork on the other two roundabouts on San Pablo. If artwork can be placed on the other two roundabouts, staff said that there is an option to refer back to the pool of artists who applied for the San Pablo Phase 1 roundabout project. If the Commission decides to go in this direction, then City Council approval may be required. C. San Pablo Roundabout Ms. Glickman stated that she sent the images of the finalists’ proposals to the Commissioners. Charla Elizabeth declined as a finalist due to budgetary issues. The final four artists will present their proposals to the Commission at its July 14, 2021 meeting. The Commission will be asked to rank the Art in Public Places Minutes June 9, 2021 7 top proposals and the top three will be recommended to the City Council for final selection and approval. XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. STAFF Ms. Glickman reported that City Hall will reopen to the public on June 15. Ms. Glickman stated that the July 14, 2021 Art in Public Places Commission meeting will last at least two and one half hours. It was suggested that staff invite CEO Jamie Grant and Kajsa Thuresson-Frary from the McCallum Theatre to an AIPP Commission meeting regarding possible placement of artwork in front of the McCallum Theatre. B. COMMISSION REPORTS Upon question by Commissioner Boren, Ms. Glickman stated that she received a proposal from the artist who is working on the butterfly mural that will most likely be placed on a wall at UCR. It is a possibility that the butterfly mural can be extended on a wall of a building on San Pablo. Ms. Glickman will bring an update of the proposal to the Commission as an informational item. If the Commission would like to consider the extension of the butterfly mural to San Pablo, it can be discussed. Chairperson Myrland stated that she is working on an article for Palm Springs Life magazine for its October issue regarding the expansion of College of the Desert as well as interviewing the interim President and Vice President. XII. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Myrland adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________________________ DEBBIE L. THOMPSON, RECORDING SECRETARY