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Minutes 02-24-09 MINUTES OF JOINT MEETING OF THE BOYNTON BEACH ARTS COMMISSION AND RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD, HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009, 6:30 P.M. AT FIRE STATION #2, 2615 WEST WOOLBRIGHT ROAD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ARTS COMMISSION RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PRESENT: PRESENT: Barbara Ready, Chair Cheryl Arflin (arrived at 6:59 p.m.) Christine Moeller Nubia Richman (arrived at 6:39 p.m.) Anderson Slocombe (arrived at 6:54 p.m.) Halena Wolf Dana Cook, Alternate Donn Davenport, Alternate Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair William Orlove, Vice Chair John Allard Robert Lapin Janelle Sloan Anderson Slocombe Debby Coles-Dobay, Public Art Administrator Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent ABSENT: ABSENT: Barbara Lentz David Barie Betsy Wallshein-Radin, Alternate CALL TO ORDER Chair Ready called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Self introductions were made. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Ms. Moeller moved to accept the agenda. Mr. Cook seconded the motion that passed unanimously. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES A. Approval of January 27, 2009 meeting minutes Motion Ms. Moeller moved to accept the minutes. Mr. Cook seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 1 Joint Meeting Minutes Arts Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 24, 2009 ANNOUNCEMENTS None. PUBLIC ART PROJECTS A.Offices at Bamboo Lane Motion Ms. Wolf moved to approve. Mr. Davenport seconded the motion that passed unanimously. B. Fire Station #5 The artist, project elements and budget changes had been made since the Board's approval of the project. The R.E.O. fire truck would no longer be housed in the lobby, and Public Artist Dana Donaty had been selected to complete the project. Her mural, consisting of firehouse vehicles spanning the past to the present, would be painted on canvas. Additionally, a "Brotherhood in Mourning" sculpture would be displayed in the second floor lobby. Ms. Donaty had been the muralist for the Delray Camera Shop and Gloria's Beach Shack in Boynton Beach. Motion Ms. Wolf moved to approve. Mr. Davenport seconded the motion that passed unanimously. Motion Ms. Wolf moved to approve the artist, Dana Donaty. Mr. Davenport seconded the motion that passed unanimously. Discussion of Arts Commission Visioning Plan and City Parks. Chair Ready noted the Arts Commission's Master Plan would indentify the character and types of things the Board would like to see in different areas of the City. Part of the Board's consideration included opportunities to incorporate Public Art in the City's parks and facilities. To that end, the Arts Commission had been working with Recreation and Parks on Oceanfront Park, Jaycee Park, Congress Avenue Community Park, Boundless Playground, and the Sims sculpture. Chair Ready noted developers were required to use 1% of their budget for Public Art. Of the 1%, 70% was used to create Public Art for the project, and 30% of the 1% funded the Art in Public Places program. Ms. Coles-Dobay had been working with Ms. Rivers and Mr. Majors for many years, noting the Recreation and Parks had contributed a great deal more to Public Art projects than the 70% of the 1%. An artist had been on staff during the planning stages of Congress Avenue Community Park. At the time Recreation and Parks themed the park, the artist had been part of the process. It was 2 Joint Meeting Minutes Arts Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 24, 2009 noted Art in Public Places had contributed greatly to the enhancement of Recreation and Parks' vision, and had assisted in creating memorable "place makers." Updates were provided for projects on which both Boards collaborated, including the following: Congress Avenue Community Park. Artwork had been scattered throughout the park and embedded in concrete, and a number of art pieces had been naturally added into the construction. Ms. Rivers announced that the bids for the park had been received. The project had been budgeted for $3 million, and the three lowest bids received were under $1.9 million. Art elements would be integrated throughout the park site to create a Florida swamp. The park would be totally barrier free and accessible to every age, ability and disability. Staff had previously met with representatives of organizations working on behalf of people with disabilities, and a charrette had been conducted with the design team and the representatives. The concept of place making had been utilized in the design of this park. It was noted a good public space required 10 elements be carried on simultaneously. The bids were being analyzed, and staff hoped to break ground by June. Construction would be completed within nine to eleven months. Oceanfront Park. The Opus 14 turtle sculpture, which was made from recycled materials, would be relocated to the beach. It was noted the undeveloped beach was essential for the existence of marine life. The entire boardwalk at Oceanfront Park would be replaced with a combination of Ipe Wood and durable ceramic tiles. With the removal of the cutouts and vegetation, the deck would become one large area. The project was currently in the permitting process with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Boat Club Park. The restroom would be replaced and the plants at the turnaround would be replaced as well, possibly with a mosaic or a mural. County funding limited the budget for this project, and as such, it would be necessary for City money to be used. Boat Club Park was one of the few locations at which sport and pleasure boaters could access the waterways in the County. It was suggested Public Art elements provide educational components relating to nature and the history of the park. Janet DeVries would be contacted to provide the historical information. Suggestions for enhancing the expansive wall included a mural, graffiti art and having local artists paint sections of the wall. It was noted 95% of good graffiti art had never been defaced, and this art form appeared to be a cost-effective method of enhancing the wall. If painted, it was suggested black lights or solar lighting be used to highlight the wall. As many park visitors engaged in evening fishing, it was suggested the wall depict fishing or boating scenes. Another suggestion included the use of mosaic tiles illustrating underwater scenes. Ms. Coles-Dobay noted Commission authorization would be sought at the March 3, 2009 Commission meeting to move forward with grant opportunities for the Jaycee Park Interpretive Public Art Marker program. Through site interpretation, the program would create a holistic experience that would educate visitors and help them to understand estuary ecology, which was critical to the environment. The markers would comprise various elements including coral stones and custom tiles, and the subject matter would pertain to schools of fish that inhabited the estuaries and the Gulf Stream. Eight sites in the park utilized organic art components and were important to the eco system. The park would also provide a bocce ball court, play areas, and a dock. 3 Joint Meeting Minutes Arts Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 24, 2009 Ms. Rivers noted Jaycee Park had been originally owned by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND). As FIND did not need the land, they offered it for sale for $4.5 million. The City purchased the land, using $700,000 of City money. The remainder of the funds needed to purchase the land was secured through grants, and an additional $2 million in grants had been secured to build the park. The installation of the interpretive markers and elements would make the park a destination point and tie in with the new exhibit at the Children's Schoolhouse Museum. Ms. Rivers noted staff would request the Commission's authorization to utilize impact fee funds of $32,170 to secure a matching grant through the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) for the interpretive marker project. Discussion Of How Public Art Can Contribute To Creating A Park's Character and Place Making. Several other park opportunities would be forthcoming and included the following: Palmetto and Barton Greenway Extensions. The Greenway, Bikeway, and Blueway Plan would establish an interconnected system of greenways, blueways, bikeways and trails through the City. Staff had been attempting to dovetail the Plan with the County's new Plan. Several corridors had been identified for development, including one along the South Florida Water Management District's C-16 Canal. The Palmetto Greens Expansion would expand the greenway to I-95. The Barton Greenway would complete the greenway/bikeway from the west terminus of the Palmetto Greenway Expansion to the Galaxy School. The use of marker systems had been mentioned to identify locations and set forth the history of the area. Placement of entryways, gates, benches and unique signage were also suggested. State funding had been provided for the Greenways projects and, as such, staff had been limited in resources. The need existed for entryways, ingress and egress. Other anticipated connections included Renaissance Commons on Congress Avenue, where a greenway along the E-4 Canal would be built. Eventually, staff hoped to connect the Quantum Eco Park site as a trailhead for the bikeways, greenways and blueways. A conceptual plan had been established for the Quantum Eco Park site, located on Pine Scrub adjacent to a 20-acre conservation site required to be maintained in perpetuity by Quantum Industrial. The site was one of two City-owned properties having an environmental component and included trails, a small nature center, an environmental education center, the trailhead for the greenways, bikeways and blueways, and butterfly and rock gardens. It was guesstimated the cost to build out the park would be $4 million. While no funds were currently available, three grants had been identified. Staff was hoping to secure $1 million in grants, conduct fundraisers and research additional grants. Staff believed the public could be persuaded to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida scrub lands, which were self maintaining. The City Commission had authorized the development of a 501-(3)(c) Foundation to assist Recreation and Parks in its fundraising efforts, and specifically for the $10 million build-out of the Congress Avenue Community Park. Once the Foundation was in place, staff could identify 4 Joint Meeting Minutes Arts Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 24, 2009 other park projects to be developed. A consultant would be on board in March or April of this year, and the process would likely be completed in a year. (Mr. Davenport left the dais at 7:45 p.m. and returned at 7:47 p.m.) Discussion of Existing and Future Public Art Projects and Programs in Parks. Chair Ready noted the budget for the Art in Public Places was limited. The Arts Commission had been attempting to implement ideas and piggy back on existing programs. Input from the Boards was requested. Suggestions included a graffiti art program and the use of interpretive markers in parks to blend art with education and history. Ms. Coles-Dobay noted the Board's vision was to identify various sectors of the City and provide "imagineering" ideas, marrying the ideas with the CRA's Master Plan and Recreation and Parks' Strategic Plan. Public Art elements could enhance areas to be redeveloped and establish place-makers. Ms. Coles-Dobay provided an explanation of the call-to-artists process, adding the process required structure and appropriate budgets in order to be meaningful. Ms. Rivers explained when teams had been established for park development, staff asked that there be a lead consultant and an architect or an engineer for the various disciplines. Staff had requested a Public Artist for the Congress Avenue Community Park and would engage a Public Artist for the greenways. As the Boat Club Park involved only the replacement of a restroom and picnic shelters, the engagement of a Public Artist had not been considered. Additionally, the $3,000 budget would not be sufficient. Chair Ready noted the Board had been exploring various events, and had been considering a kinetic art (art in motion) program, as well as a symposium in the near future, possibly at the Intracoastal Clubhouse. Kinetic art pieces could be displayed inside and outside the Clubhouse for a six-month period. The symposium would bring a good deal of exposure to the City. It was noted the Arts Commission had previously worked with kinetic artist, Ralfonso Gschwend, who was the President of the Kinetic Art Organization and an award winner of the Bejing City Sculpture Competition. Mr. Gschwend would be contacted regarding his participation in the symposium. It was suggested Boynton Beach's sister city in China also be contacted. (Mr. Slocombe left the dais at 8:17 p.m. and returned at 8:19 p.m.) (Ms. Arflin left the dais at 8:17 p.m. and returned at 8:20 p.m.) The Arts Commission had also been discussing a project pertaining to the east water treatment plant next to Edward Harmening Park at Seacrest Boulevard and Woolbright Road. Upgrades were going to be made to the plant, and staff at the plant had expressed a desire to educate the public as to the manner in which the water was treated and the processes utilized. The Arts Commission had suggested demonstrations be conducted at the park evidencing the processes and the manner in which roof runoff was captured and utilized. While parking issues existed at the park, people could visit by bus or by trolley. Ms. Coles-Dobay met with local eco artist, Michael Singer, who utilized water, energy and ecology as his medium. The intent was that Mr. Singer would undertake a project at that 5 Joint Meeting Minutes Arts Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 24, 2009 location. Mr. Singer would be returning to the Arts Commission with a proposal. Ms. Coles- Dobay believed the cost to secure a conceptual idea was approximately $10,000. Once the conceptual idea had been secured, grant monies would be sought to fund the project. Ms. Coles-Dobay also pointed out that the City shared with Delray Beach a waste water treatment plant on Congress Avenue. The water line had been irrigating some of Boynton Beach's park locations and streetscapes. Demonstrations could also be conducted on reused water. The Arts Commission was desirous of initiating these types of projects in the future at the Quantum Eco Park site project as well. Chair Ready reported next year's theme for Avenue of the Arts was eco art, and an eco art presentation would be provided at the next Arts Commission meeting. Eco art would also integrate with other initiatives undertaken by the City and the Green Team. The Arts Commission had discussed the educational components to green initiatives and would also discuss the manner in which Art on the Avenue connected to the Promenade Extension and Mangrove and Jaycee Parks. (Mr. Davenport left the meeting at 8:31 p.m.) The Boards agreed to a joint tour of the parks and workshop to discuss the priorities of both Boards as well as future park sites and projects. Both Boards agreed to have Ms. Coles-Dobay and Ms. Rivers develop an agenda. Ms. Rivers noted the format of Recreation and Parks' Strategic Plan would be changing, and the art component would be incorporated into next year's Plan. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. FUTURE BUSINESS None. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:42 p.m. ~~.~. 0L'- Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 030209 6