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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/05/2019 - Minutes1 | P a g e RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Members Present: Bill Huls, Brianna Burroughs, Dave Samek, Duffy Delgado, Evelyn Reingold, Kaie Wise, Mary Clymer, Neil Sheesley, Susan Jessick Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Administrative Assistant Chip Vincent, City of Renton, CED Administrator Guests: Christie Randolph, prospective Arts Commissioner Jennifer Henning, Planning Director, City of Renton Planning Division Brad Strauch, PSE Energize Eastside Environmental Scientist/Sr. Land Planner Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Neil Sheesley at 6:00 pm. Introduction of Guests: Christie Randolph recently submitted an application to join the Arts Commission. She is recently retired from Group Health and moving to Renton in November. She has a background in design and business and is interested in becoming more involved in her community. Jennifer Henning introduced Brad Strauch from PSE who is currently working with the City on permitting the Energize Eastside project that will result in 58 new utility poles over a 16-18 mile stretch between Renton and Redmond, starting at the Talbot Hill substation. These 80-90 foot poles will replace the existing utility poles. Brad and Jennifer presented an opportunity for the installation of public art to a few select poles in the current installation plan. PSE is requesting feedback from the Arts Commission on the selected pole locations and design of the art. The City has not yet made recommendations for the pole standards. Finishes can be galvanized steel or a self-weathering finish and art can be applied to either finish. The intent is to add art to a few of the new poles, and depending on the scale of the art, the number of poles may vary (ex. a smaller design, a 6-8 ft design as opposed to a full pole treatment, would allow more poles to receive the art treatment). PSE will absorb the cost of the art installation. Jennifer will select a dozen targeted locations for the pole art and will report to the Arts Commission for further review and final selection. The project is currently under review for permitting and will open for public comment once approved. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 2019 meeting were read and approved. MSC (Mary/Bill) Correspondence and Announcements: SoCo Culture meeting – The next meeting of SoCoCulture is November 15 at Highline Heritage Museum in Burien. RMAC Small Project Grant application is November 10 – the deadline to apply for the Small Project grant for 2019 funding is Sunday, November 10. Small Business Saturday is November 30 – The annual SBS and annual tree lighting in Downtown Renton are Saturday, November 30 at Piazza Park. Santa House – The Downtown Santa House is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 14 and 21 at the Civic Theatre between 1 and 5pm. Ravishing Women Festival – The 2019 festival is November 24 at the Hyatt. Tickets are available online. Seattle Film Summit – The summit is November 15, 16 and 17 at the Hyatt. 2 | P a g e Budget Update: Changes to the City Art Collection Municipal Art Fund Ordinance were adopted by Council on November 4. The new budget allocation replaces the current 1% for the arts program with the same average amount annually; a total of $15,000. This will provide a more predictable source of revenue for the City’s Arts Commission that is not subject to the ebbs and flows of building construction cycles. Additionally, for the first time the Council is creating a new budget line item for arts maintenance with an initial funding commitment of $10,000. Once the Arts Commission completes its art inventory and condition assessment this will be adjusted in the budget to reflect the long term cost of maintaining the City’s increasing public art inventory. On-going Projects, Events & Programs:  Olde Fashioned Halloween Party – The 14th annual Halloween party witnessed record attendance with more than 700 children participating in the festivities.  Scarecrow Competition – The judges selected the scarecrow designed by Sparkle as the winner of the 2019 competition. The people’s choice judging that took place online selected Merrill Garden’s scarecrow vignette as their 2019 winner. There were more than 20 designs submitted for the competition.  South Renton Mini Murals – The mini murals on the back of 20 road signs were installed along the Burnett Linear Park between 7th St and 4th St on Saturday, November 2nd by artist Vikram Madan. The 20 designs feature Renton history and a celebration of the community in the South Renton neighborhood.  Downtown Loop Project – Western Neon presented the proposal for the location of the Loop in the plaza at S 2nd St and Main Ave S. The designs are under review by Transportation, Public Works and the Planning Department for final approval. Once approval has been received, Western Neon is prepared to begin fabrication and installation with the goal of wrapping up the project before the end of the year.  Sunset Art Update – The Parks Department has closed Sunset Park to begin Phase 2 construction and will be working closely with artists Kirk Seese to develop a final design proposal and timeline for installation. Parks will work with Kirk to create a final design proposal to be presented to the Arts Commission for final approval.  Sunset Fence Repair – A motion was made and approved to purchase a replacement set of diamonds for the Sunset Fence up to the amount of $784.51 to replace the two broken panels and purchase spares for future repair needs. MSC (Evelyn/Kaie)  Small Business Saturday – is Saturday, November 30th and will commence with the traditional downtown tree lighting and arrival of Santa. The Arts Commission will participate in the event by hosting a community booth in the Pavilion between 3 and 7pm and offering a kid’s craft activity. A motion was made and approved to sponsor the stage performances at the tree lighting and the purchase materials for kid’s activities in an amount up to $1500. MSC (Bill/Dave)  Inventory System – The City has elected to purchase a license for the cloud-based inventory system, Collector System, to maintain a complete inventory of the City’s art collection and to assist in the establishment of a maintenance schedule for the collection.  New Year’s Eve Party – Dave Samek presented a budget for the 2019 New Year’s Eve party in Downtown Renton. o Band 1 (Chrome Molly) - $1000 o Band 2 (Kennydales) – $1100 o Sound and lights - $300 o Rental for RTC - $1000 o ADV budget - $200 o Security/bar staff - $400  Total budget: ~$4000 3 | P a g e A motion was made and approved to support the facilitation of a New Year’s Eve party at the Renton Civic Theatre in the amount of $4000. MSC (Evelyn/Mary) New Business: Bylaws Update – The Arts Commission bylaws are in need of updating. There are elements missing from the current set that are referenced in City code. The lack of a deaccession policy, for example, indicates that the current bylaws are in need of attention. A draft update will be presented for review at a future meeting. Hunt Fountain – The public art piece located at 200 Mill Ave S needs to be addressed for potential relocation. Plans for the site include a complete demolition of the parking lot and will require the fountain be removed, or risk destruction. More information is needed about the fountain before the Arts Commission is comfortable making a recommendation. It is unclear whether the piece is missing elements, or is still functioning. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm.