HomeMy WebLinkAboutFuture of Art In Public Places (AIPP) Commission and Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeCITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF THE FUTURE OF THE ART IN PUBLIC
PLACES COMMISSION AND THE CULTURAL RESOURCES
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
DATE: January 26, 2012
Recommendation
By Minute Motion approve one of the following:
1) Disband the Art in Public Places Commission and the Cultural Resources
Preservations Committee and;
2) Create a new seven member commission called the Cultural Affairs Commission
consisting of five members of the current Art in Public Places Commission, one
member of the current Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, and the
president of the Historical Society of Palm Desert or his or her designee.
Background
The Art in Public Places Commission reviews and advises the City Council on all public art
related issues. Specifically, the Commission reviews all proposed public art projects for the
City and private developers and provides recommendations to the City Council on approval of
such projects. The Commission is comprised of seven members, six of whom are Palm Desert
residents with a knowledge and understanding of art, with one seat designated for a
representative of the Palm Springs Art Museum.
The Cultural Resources Preservation Committee reviews and recommends buildings and
objects for historical designation. Currently, there are three Palm Desert buildings with historic
designation; the Historical Society of Palm Desert building, Portola Community Center, and
Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Due to lack of agenda items, the Committee has not been
holding regular formal meetings with actionable items, and instead has been holding informal
workshops. The Committee is comprised of seven members, all of whom are Palm Desert
residents who have knowledge of architecture, historic preservation, and related fields.
In order for a building or object to receive a historic designation it must go through a formal
process of surveying and public hearings by the Cultural Resources Preservation
Staff Report
AIPP Commission and Cultural Resources Preservation Committee
January 26, 2012
Page 2 of 3
Committee and then the City Council. In order to have the ability to conduct these hearings
there must be a committee in place. Due to the Committee's having few agenda items,
staff suggests merging the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee with the Art in
Public Places Commission to create a new seven member body called the Cultural Affairs
Commission. Since the bulk of the agenda items for the body would be public art based,
staff recommends retaining five of the members of the Art in Public Places Commission,
including the representative from the Palm Springs Art Museum, and adding one member
of the current Cultural Resources Preservation Committee and the president of the
Historical Society of Palm Desert or his or her designee. This too would require an
ordinance update.
This consolidation of a committee and a commission would reduce the amount of staff
resources required, and would create a body similar to that found in Culver City, California.
However, it would also require that staff conduct extensive educational workshops on both
public art and historic preservation for the members of the new body.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no direct fiscal impact to the City, and the consolidation of advisory bodies to the City
Council will marginally decrease staff time required to support them.
Submitted by:
Deborah L. Schwartz
Public Art Coordinator
Russell Grance
Director of Building and Safety
Approval:
JoXYM. Wohlmuth, City Manager
Department Head:
Lauri Aylaian —
Director of Community Development
CITY COUNCTLACTION
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER uJ 7
�,zEI�,TIG,,n,ATZl1NOES:Q
ABSENT: CS
ABSTAIN; lV617
VERIFIED BY:
Original on File with City,aerk's Office
* By Minute Motion, withdraw this recommendation
from consideration. 5-0