City of Moline Public Art Commission met Dec. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
Present: Jeff Dismer, Ann Hartley, Alex Salaverria, Lucie VanHecke, Amanda Augsburger, Kirk Marske
Absent: Daniel Otten
Staff: Seán Foley, Jennifer Bizarri, Savanna Cruz
Others: None
1. Call to Order
Chairman Dismer called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes: November 20, 2023 Meeting
Motion made by Commissioner Hartley, seconded by Commissioner Salaverria to approve the minutes from November 20, 2023 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Public Comment
None
4. Informational Items
a. Welcome new PAC Commissioner Kirk Marske
Kirk Marske has been attending Public Art Commission meetings as a staff member of Renew Moline/Moline Centre, and has now been appointed as a Commissioner for the PAC.
Chair Dismer stated the Election of Officers will be held in January 2024 for the PAC.
5. Action Items
a. Place Making/Art Projects
1) Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative 2024
Commissioner VanHecke stated Kevin Maynard, Quad City Arts (QCA) Executive Director, and herself met with the City of Moline Engineer, David Dryer. She explained the same day of the meeting she received emails that the Moline Chief of Police stated sidewalk/street asphalt art is not allowed in the State of Illinois. Commissioner VanHecke and Mr. Maynard discussed the emails with Mr. Dryer. The Federal Highway Administration has a guideline manual for roads, which includes not having paint on crosswalks or streets. The concern Mr. Dryer has is that it could potentially cost the City in losing federal funding for their roadways. He also believes the City’s Risk Manager would most likely oppose the street art too. Mr. Dryer said there should be a new manual coming out in the next couple of months that could possibly change the rule and allow for pavement art. Mr. Maynard believes the Commission should still move forward in applying for the Bloomberg Grant. The PAC would not be asking the Engineering Department for any funds. The funds would come from the Bloomberg Grant and/or the Commission, but possibly having the Engineering Department close down the sidewalk/street if needed.
2) Bass Street Toilet Building Mural or Other Art on Blank Walls of New Facility
Commissioner VanHecke stated the bid for the construction project on the toilet building is out right now. Once the contractor is selected and the final decisions are made for the building, Amanda Bolt, Moline Parks and Recreation, will send Commissioner VanHecke the final dimensions, and then they can get those dimensions to Quad City Arts so they can draft a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The Commission discussed that the mural should be an interactive piece, an experienced artist should create the design part of the mural, and involve the community to help.
3) Public Sculpture Program
Commissioner VanHecke came prepared with 6 locations for rotating sculptures. The locations would run along 5th Avenue and would create an art walk. The six locations discussed were: 1) The Sound Conservatory, southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 17th Street. 2) Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue. 3) Julie’s Artistic Rose, northeast corner of 5th Avenue and 16th Street. 4) VIP’s intersection, 5th
Avenue and 15th Street. 5) The green patch between parking lot entrances across from Chimies Taco bar, 1409 5th Avenue. 6) Intersection of 13th Street and 5th Avenue. Commissioner Marske recommended the 6 by 6 feet landscape grates on 5th Avenue that need to be removed and replaced with something. The Commission would like to put a permanent sculpture in the space near the Channel Cat/Riverwalk, and eliminate the Mercado on Fifth and Bass Street Landing sculpture locations. Mr. Foley stated the Commission would need to ask the City’s Engineering Department permission to put sculptures in most of the new locations.
4) Floreciente Neighborhood Mural potential at proposed Veterans Memorial
No updates on the Floreciente Neighborhood Mural.
b. PAC Budget 2024
It was confirmed the PAC is going to be getting an additional $75,000 added to their budget. Mr. Foley explained $22,000 is from qualified CIP Projects and $53,000 is from the City Council’s contingency line. The Public Art Commission’s 2023 Annual Report is due soon. Chair Jeff Dismer prepared the 2022 report and will prepare it again for 2023.
c. Upcoming City Projects – 2% PAC Funds
Mr. Foley stated MKSK created a survey on their website to get public input on what the community would like to see for the Riverfront Master Plan. Commissioner VanHecke had updates on city projects. The City is in the early stages of re-doing 7th Avenue, between 15th Street and 19th Street. The City has determined that the stop lights are not needed and are looking to put in one or two roundabouts. The roundabouts would be a great place to put sculptures. The City is also looking into a grant that could possibly widen the sidewalks along River Drive, and that could be an area for artwork.
d. Upcoming Potential Private Projects - 1% PAC Funds
The Skate Park is on hold for now.
e. Google Map of Art Locations
Commissioner Salaverria stated the website is a work in progress.
f. Art Maintenance Program Application
Commissioner VanHecke had drafted the guidelines, but forgot to bring them to the meeting. She stated applicants can apply for the program in September and October, and in November the Commission would go over the submittals, then in December the PAC would choose applicants. The applicant would match funds the Commission approves for a project. The Commission needs to decide the maximum amount that would go towards each project. They discussed a maximum of $1,000 for each project, and accepting 5 projects a year, totaling a $5,000 budget per year.
Motion made by Commissioner VanHecke, seconded by Commissioner Augsburger to approve a budget of $5,000 per year to go towards the Art Maintenance Program. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Other Business
Mayor Rayapati had shared an idea with the Public Art Commission that incorporated temporary artwork in an alleyway. Mr. Foley created a PowerPoint presentation on underutilized urban spaces. The presentation had images of alleyways from cities across the nation that included artwork, and included a potential location in Moline on the McDermott Property. Commissioner Marske suggested the alleyway behind Bad Boys Pizza and/or the alleyway behind the Watermark Corners. Commissioner Hartley suggested the alley art change with seasons. Mr. Foley will send his presentation to the Commission to review again.
Commissioner VanHecke scouted a few locations for potential murals: 1) 1417 6th Ave, west side of building. 2) 1320 5th Ave (Meli’s), west side of building. 3) 1321 5th Ave (Tony’s), east side of building. The Commission also discussed murals along 7th Avenue and a “Welcome to Moline” mural on the side of the Kone building on River Drive.
Mr. Foley stated the Commission will need to come up with a 2024 Annual Work Plan.
7. Announcements
Next Regular Meeting scheduled for Monday, January 15, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.
8. Adjourn
Motion made by Commissioner VanHecke, seconded by Commissioner Hartley to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9687
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