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Minutes 02-20-16 AGENDA FOR ART COMMISSION PUBLIC ART WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Saturday, February 20, 2016 10:00 a.m. City Library Program Room 208 South Seacrest Boulevard Boynton Beach Present Deborah Bottorff, Chair Robyn Lorenz Rachel Mondesir (arr. 10:22) Kim Weiss Sarah Offutt, Alternate Absent Anderson Slocombe Paul Sirota Staff Debby Coles-Dobay, Public Art Manager Mona Laventure, Recording Secretary, Prototype, Inc. I. Chair: Call to Order Workshop Chair Bottorff called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. II. Chair: Introduce Public Art Manager Chair Bottorff welcomed all present to the Workshop, and explained that a presentation would show plans for public art in the City’s future. She introduced Public Art Manager Debby Coles-Dobay, who works directly with the Arts Commission. III. Public Art Manager: Presentation A. Workshop Review Ms. Coles-Dobay explained that today’s meeting is a Master Plan workshop. The Master Plan was presented in 2013, and many of its goals have been accomplished since that time. The workshop is intended to update that Plan. B. Public Art Workshop Presentation  Introduce Arts Commission Board Members Board members Robyn Lorenz and Kim Weiss introduced themselves at this time. Meeting Minutes February 20, 2016 City of Boynton Beach Public Arts Workshop  Recognize City Officials Ms. Coles-Dobay recognized the support of the City Commission, City Manager, and Arts Commission Board.  Current Public Art Projects in City Ms. Coles-Dobay explained that the Arts Commission’s goal is to integrate the arts into the community and stimulate cultural interaction, education, and economic development. Public art is funded by a 1% fee levied on development and redevelopment in the City, which is collected when permits are issued. The fee funds the operations of the Art in Public Places Department, as well as programs such as the Avenue of the Arts and the International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium. The fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget for public art is approximately $165,000. Ms. Coles-Dobay continued that developers may keep part of the 1% fee to build public art within their projects. She assists these projects in determining the type of art and its location. These art projects must be approved by the Arts Commission before a final Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is issued for the development. Public art is commissioned through a public process by an independent selection committee. All art is original and may consist of mosaic, sculptures, glass, kinetic, video, water elements, monuments, and more. Public art is accessible at all times and may be created with a site-specific purpose. Public art generates economic development, creates and supports jobs, encourages cultural tourism, and attracts businesses, corporations, and residents. The State of Florida has more than 60 public art programs; there are more than 500 such programs throughout the United States. Over 50 public art projects are located in Boynton Beach, and are featured on a virtual tour at www.boyntonbeacharts.org. Ms. Coles-Dobay continued that certain types of art projects stand out for the City, including kinetic art, eco/environmental art, and glass art. She noted that the International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium is presented biannually and has led to the acquisition of several public art projects. The focus on glass art includes a celebration of the work of stained glass artist Conrad Pickel, who was a resident of the City.  Future Public Art Projects in City Ideas for future public art include placement at key entryways to the City. Some of the concepts within featured areas may include the following:  The area between Gateway Boulevard and Federal Highway West;  The gateway feature on Boynton Beach Boulevard; 2 Meeting Minutes February 20, 2016 City of Boynton Beach Public Arts Workshop  Historic mural in Dewey Park. Ms. Coles-Dobay noted that within the Arts District, the Arts Commission allows bay gate doors to change on an annual basis rather than going through the official City process. She confirmed that City permission is necessary if individuals or business owners wish to have murals on their buildings. The historic mural proposed for Dewey Park would be reimagined with high-resolution digital imaging and applied to the building.  Recommended New Public Art Project Placement Ms. Coles-Dobay explained that the Downtown Cultural District extends from Seacrest Boulevard and East Ocean Avenue to Federal Highway. The Town Square Plan is currently under redevelopment. Possible plans for this location include a kinetic art gateway feature, which could be lighted at night. She advised that the Avenue of the Arts program is an annual on-loan program which features new artwork every year. The program extends along Ocean Avenue to Federal Highway. The program is now in its seventh year and will feature kinetic art in 2016. Nine works from the collection have been sold over the years. The price range is typically between $1000 and $10,000. Other new plans include the 500 Ocean Project, which is currently under construction. The developers have hired sculptor Albert Paley to create an iconic sculpture at this site. To the north of Federal Highway, murals are planned in Harvey Oyer Park, while an eco-artist is planning a sculpture for the Casa Del Mar gated community. On Federal Highway South, the PNC Bank also plans an eco-art project, which will be a green wall with sculptural elements to enhance the building’s sustainability. Other eco-art projects include the Old Dixie Eco Walk at Seaborne Cove, which began as a median strip and was turned into an ecosystem to sustain butterfly wildlife with 62 native plants. The focus on environmental art ties into the community’s sustainable features. In Heart of Boynton North, a streetscape project is featured on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Seacrest Boulevard. The artist worked with the community to determine what is considered culturally significant. Upcoming projects include working with the planners of Sara Sims Park and integrate public art into this park space. The East Water Treatment Plant, which is undergoing an upgrade to its facility, hopes to educate the public on how water reaches each tap. A project is planned to illustrate this process, including an educational pavilion and direct access to water. There have also been discussions on how to improve the City water tower’s visibility during both day and night. 3 Meeting Minutes February 20, 2016 City of Boynton Beach Public Arts Workshop Ms. Coles-Dobay continued that public art can help provide parks with a sense of character. There is currently consideration of creating a dog park within the City. Existing facilities include Quantum Park, which is jointly owned by Quantum, the City, and the County. Because so much of this park is wild space, there has been discussion of involving an eco-artist in the planning process for this facility.  Review of Events and Programs Ms. Coles-Dobay advised that the City uses visioning criteria to help determine its arts- related events and programs, including the following:  It is unique to Boynton Beach;  It must appeal to a wide audience;  There must be educational and multicultural benefits;  It must attract national and international partners and participants;  It must focus on public art;  It must be manageable and expandable. In addition to existing programs such as the Avenue of the Arts, the City also works to build relationships with artists and groups who participate in its various programs. Galleries are encouraged to come into the City, and empty storefronts allow artists to exhibit their work. Eco-art is integrated into the City’s green initiatives. The International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium will next be held in February 2017.  Results of Public Art Survey Ms. Coles-Dobay continued that this survey was published between January 14 and February 5, 2016. She reviewed the results, which show that 85% of respondents have seen public art in the City. A majority were also aware that public art is funded by development and redevelopment, and feel that public art should be included in these projects. They feel the City’s public art initiatives increase global visibility, stimulate cultural interaction, and attract visitors, businesses, and corporations. Respondents expressed a desire to see more functional art in the City, such as bus stops, bicycle racks, lighting, or other amenities that could include public art features. The most popular public art was identified as the Avenue of the Arts. IV. Public Engagement  Instruction for Engagement Activity Ms. Coles-Dobay took comments from the public at this time, including a request for more gala festivals. She explained that there have been requests for these events, which were vetted by the Arts Commission but were not found to meet the criteria, such as being unique to Boynton Beach, offering cultural and multicultural educational benefits, or a focus on public art. 4 Meeting Minutes February 20, 2016 City of Boynton Beach Public Arts Workshop Ms. Coles-Dobay continued that she is actively involved in the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, which is funded by a 1% bed tax. She explained that the City’s Arts Commission is not a nonprofit agency, as it receives funds through the development/redevelopment fee; this means they cannot always apply for grant funds through the Cultural Council. They do, however, support the Arts Commission’s efforts, and have worked with the City on artists’ needs assessments and Town Square planning. Nancy Flynn, representing the town of Ocean Ridge, stated that this municipality hopes to cultivate a relationship with Boynton Beach from a perspective of encouraging art in public places. Ms. Coles-Dobay advised that all the City’s announcements are sent to Ocean Ridge for inclusion in its newsletter, and that she is open to further discussion of how to connect the communities. The Public Art Ordinance was adopted in 2005; if a development is already underway from an earlier date and makes only minor modifications, this will not trigger the 1% public art fee. Some developers, however, have expressed interest in including public art on an elective basis. It was also suggested that the City encourage the repurposing of items into kinetic art, such as children’s toys or unwanted items. Ms. Coles-Dobay stated that the City is working on a program for the 2017 International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium in partnership with South Tech Academy and three key artists. The intent is to create a project to be featured at the Symposium, which would be built from upcycled items and feature alternative energy sources. She suggested that schools could invite students to contribute items for this exhibit.  Elect New Public Art Projects Ms. Coles-Dobay concluded by inviting all present to identify images posted throughout the room which represent their top priorities for implementation. She emphasized that these are conceptual images only: the City hopes to identify what the public would like to see showcased in various areas. She also directed individuals to identify locations on a map at which they would like to see public art. She thanked all present for their attendance and their interest in making the public arts program a success. V. Meeting Adjourn There being no further business at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. [Minutes prepared by K. McGuire, Prototype, Inc.] 5