APPMIN 01 08 1996ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
LA QUINTA CITY HALL -SESSION ROOM
JANUARY 8, 1996
The regular meeting of the Art in Public Places Commission was called to order at 3:05 P.M. by
Community Development Director Jerry Heenan. As the Chair was absent and the Cornrnission is
without a Vice Chair, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Shamis/Klein to appoint
Commissioner Walling Acting Chair.
I. ROLL CALL
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioners Michelle Klein, Elaine Reynolds,
Rosita Shamis, and Acting Chairman John Walling.
Council Member Stan Sniff was also in attendance.
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Klein/Shamis to excuse Commissioner Sharon
Kennedy (who arrived late) and Chairran Nancy
Nard. Unanimously approved.
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development DirecCor.Terry Herman, Planning Manager
Christine di Iorio, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer
II. CONSENT CALENllAR
A. Minutes: Acting Chairman Walling asked if there were any changes to the Minutes
of December 4, 1995. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Reynolds/Shamis to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
B. Financial Statement: There being no changes, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Shamis/Reynolds to approve the Financial Statement as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT -None
IV. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Review and selection of artwork/artist for the La Quinta Village Retention Basin
Project.
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Art in Public Places Minutes
Junuarv R, 1996
1. Acting Chairman Walling reminded the Commission of the three proposals
that were before them for consideration. The proposals were:
a. Steve Rieman - La Ouinta's Solar Sculpture "A Season Tracker".
b. Barbara Grygutis -Land Massing.
c. Paul Berber/Silva -An Olla Vessel
2. Community Development Director Jerry Herman reviewed each of the three
proposals for the Commissioners.
3. Acting Chairman Walling asked if the drain would be removed. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman stated the drain and pump would remain
as they are.
4. Acting Chairman Walling asked if each of the artists would need additional
funds to enhance their projects. Community Development Director Jerry
Herman stated each of the artists had submitted a basic proposal that could
be completed with the proposed budget, each identified additional treatments
which would require additional funding.
5. Commissioner Klein stated that the proposal by Mr. Berber and iVlr. Silva
was the closest to the budget. Council Member Sniff reminded the
Commission that their proposal needed additional funding for the landscaping
and lighting. Commissioner Klein stated she thought all three proposals were
original in concept, but the purpose or creation of what goes into 'the basin is
what helped her make her selection. The proposal submitted by Barbara
Grygutis makes the retention basin a place and does not fill up a space.
6. Acting Chairman Walling stated that Steve Rieman also had a similar piece
in that he was trying to create a place. Council Member Sniff added that
most of the proposal was in the basin and did not raise out of the basin.
7. Council member Sniff stated he felt there were two planes -the basin itself
and whatever rises above the basin in the line of sight It was important that
whatever is done addresses not only the basin but the public passing by as
well. He thought the Commission needed to look at the basin itself and what
could rise above the basin to give a complete comprehensive look. In his
opinion, the most comprehensive proposal was the one submitted by Ms.
Grygutis. The terracing of the basin and the primary work wouad not be in
the basin. The land bridge stretching out from the fountain ties the restaurant
and the basin together. The pillars of light would complement the work at the
restaurant. Of the three, the most amactive and comprehensive was the
proposal submitted by Ms. Grygutis.
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January 8, 1996
8. Commissioner Klein agreed that of the three proposals, Ms Grygutis met all
the necessary criteria.
9. Commissioner Shamir stated she preferred the proposal by Barbara Grygutis
as she has done a great deal of site specific artwork. She was concerned,
however that the $20,000 budget would not cover the cost of the bridge and
the terracing and she did not want the work to be done in stages. The City
needed to work with the community to have this piece completed.
Commissioner Shamir asked staff if additional funds were available.
Community Development Director Jerry Herman suggested that if the
Commission selected Ms. Grygutis, a motion should be made and cn~ntain the
recommendation to the City Council that additional funds be added to
increase the amount of the budget.
10. Acting Chairman Walling asked if the proposal by Ms. Grygutis would stand
on its own without the terracing. The general consensus of the Commission
was that it would not.
11. Commissioner Shamir asked what materials would be used by Ms. Grygutis.
Community Development Director ,Terry Herman stated that the Commission
should not design the project at this stage. The Commission should select an
artist based on the concept submitted and then work with them to reach a
design suitable to everyone.
12. Commissioner Shamis asked if the APP could work with other departments
to help cut costs. She also asked if it was known how high the pillars would
be. Council Member Stan Sniff stated he had spoken with Ms. Grygutis and
she indicated it would not be terrible high; maybe five, six, or seven feet and
it would be able to be seen as you drive by. The pillars are to be translucent
with light shinning through, different sizes, and heights with very soft colors.
13. Commissioner Shamir asked if the boulders were to be used. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman stated it would depends on the rock
treatment used by Ms. Grygutis. Commissioner Shamir stated the
amphitheater needed to be a part of the design. Council Member Sniff stated
that Ms. Grygutis thought she could do a comprehensive job for $50,000 or
less.
Commissioner Kennedy joined the meeting at 3:25 P.M.
14. Acting Chairman Walling recapped the discussion for Cormissioner
Kennedy and stated there was a general consensus of the Corrmrission to
award Barbara Grygutis the contract. Council Member Sniff stated staff
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January 8. 1996
should write up a staff report for Council consideration stating the
Commission's recommendation was to award the contract to Ms. Grygutis
and ask for an additional $30,000 for the budget.
15. Commissioner Kennedy asked if the developer, Mr. Koenig, would pays for
part of the landscaping. Staff stated he would participate.
16. Mr. Alibaba, the restaurant owner, asked that the project be completed prior
to his grand opening in May, 1996. He will be having several celebrities at
the opening and he did not want to have construction going on during the
opening. Additionally, he asked who would be responsible for the carrying
the insurance. Staff stated they would investigate the matter.
17. Commissioner Reynolds asked if Mr. Alibaba would be willing to invest in
the construction of the piece. Mr. Alibaba stated that his restaurant was being
built by donations and he would not be utilizing any of his own funds. He
went on to explain how the name "Sesame's" came to be. In addition, he
would be moving the art piece by Mr. John Duncan, that was on display in
front of his restaurant in Palm Desert, to the entrance of the restaurant. His
concern about the basin artwork, was that the projecC be completed prior to
his opening.
18. Council Member Sniff asked if the public should have access to the art piece,
and if so, then security should be a part of the proposal. Some type of railing
should be made a part of the design. Community Development Director
Jerry Herman stated the slope should determine what will be needed. A lot
of factors would need to be considered.
19. Commissioner Reynolds asked if this could be a meeting place for small
gatherings. Staff reminded everyone that an amphitheater would be
constructed at the Civic Center.
20. Commissioner Kennedy asked about the maintenance of the grass. Council
Member Sniff stated it would always be green whether it was the developers
or the City's responsibility.
21. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Cotnmissioners Reynold/Klein to recommend to the City Council awarding
the Retention Basin contract to Ms. Barbara Grygutis, that additional monies
not to exceed $30,000 be added to the budget, and if the additional funds
were not approved by the Council, another artist would be selected.
Unanimously approved.
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Art in Public Places Minutes
January 8, 1996
22. Discussion followed regarding the use of the rocks and their placement. Mr.
Alibaba stated he would ask the contractor to not install the rocks until the
final approval by Council.
B. Request from the Public Works Department for additional funds for the Fritz Burns
Park.
1. Associate Engineer John Freeland presented the information contained in the
staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Commissioner Reynolds asked if the Commission should ai~nend their
contract so that in the future there was a stipulation regarding additional
funds for engineering costs that were not a part of the proposal Community
Development Director Jerry Herman explained the history of the project.
3. Commissioner Klein asked if any of the funds needed could come from the
pool fund. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained where
the funds were coming from and this was the amount still needed.
Discussion followed regarding an alternative source for the fundls.
4. Commissioner Shamis asked about the costs associated with the installation
of the sidewalk. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained
that the extra cost associated with the sidewalk was caused when the City put
the construction of the pool and the artwork would not be included in the
pool plans.
5. Commissioner Klein asked if the towers had been placed. Associate
Engineer John Freeland stated the contractor was proceeding with the
foundation work and the artists had not been on site as of yet. They
anticipate being completed with the foundation work by the end of this week.
He went on to describe where the artwork would be located and the reason
for the additional costs.
6. Commissioner Klein asked where the pool would be constructed if approved.
Associate Engineer John Freeland clarified that if the pool wire to be
installed in the future, the artwork would be in the same location. This way
it would not be included in the pool area. Discussion followed regarding the
proposed site and the installation time for the artwork.
7. Associate Engineer John Freeland explained thesurface matting material and
how it functioned.
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8. Acting Chairman Walling asked what would happen if the APP did not
approve the allocation of the funds. Associated Engineer John Freeland
stated there would be no other source to fund the work from. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman explained the expendiUtres to the
Commissioners.
9. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Walling/Shamis to approve the expenditure as requested.
Unanimously approved.
10. Commission Klein asked when the park would be completed. Associate
Engineer John Freeland stated the park should be completed by the first of
February and the artwork completed by the end of March.
C. Commissioner Items
Community Development Director Jerry Herman briefly went over the
correspondence contained in the Commissioner's packets.
2. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained that staff would
no longer be delivering packets and would be making arrangements with the
Commissioners to have the packets picked-up.
3. Staff informed the Commission that the City Council had approved the
Student Art Wall and would be contacting the La Quinta schools regarding
placement of the childrens's artwork.
D. Future Agenda Items
1. Workshop
2. Dedication of DeMartino and DeMatteis/Emerson artwork.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Kennedy/Shamis to
adjourn this meeting of the Art in Public Places Commission to a regular meeting on February 5,
1996, at 3:00 P.M. This meeting of the Art in Public Places Commission was adjourned at 4:11
P.M., January 8, 1996. Unanimously approved.
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