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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-29 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes COMMISSION ON CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT March 29, 2011, 8 am Council Chambers, City Hall Minutes Commissioners Present: Steve Ribble, Chair; Judy Boothbay, Susan Blake-Leonard, Susan Carlisle, and Susan Jonason, Vice-Chair; Tim Lo Absent: Karen Sites, Patricia Stowell Staff Present: Shirar Patterson, Councilor Geoff Gratwick, and Art Morgan, City Engineer Others: George Kinghorn, DBP Board member; Councilor G.M. Palmer, Jing Jang, CEO of the Bangor Chinese Learning Center Chair Ribble called the meeting to order. 1. Welcome & Introductions Those present introduced themselves for the record. 2. Approval of Minutes of Feb. 23, 2011 Geoff Gratwick made a motion to approve the Minutes of Feb. 23, 2011 as presented. Motion was seconded by Susan Jonason. Unanimously voted. 3. Sister City Charette Discussion Councilor G.M. Palmer, (on behalf of Jing Jang, CEO of the Bangor Chinese Learning Center), briefly reviewed this item. This item has come before the Commission previously. Today they have come before the Commission to discuss proposed location(s) for the Sister City monument to recognize the relationship between Bangor, Maine and Harben, China. Design/location alternatives:  Shirar reviewed the development sites that are approved and proposed for the waterfront so that the Commission can take that into consideration. The proposed location for the monument at the waterfront is outside of any development parcels.  Primary question on this issue is whether or not the waterfront is an appropriate location for the monument – does it set precedence. Should there be more than one monument recognizing all of Bangor’s Sister City relationships – is the waterfront the place where these should go?  At previous meetings, the waterfront was cited as the location for the W. Mkt. Sq. sculpture, and for this Sister City monument. There have also been discussions for other locations.  Commission has received advisement from the City’s consultant for the waterfront saying that it is not an appropriate place to collect all of the left over pieces of public art that may come into the future.  Councilor Palmer stated that the waterfront is where they feel this monument should be as the water is the connection to China and the world. So many ways this relationship can blossom further such as with business people.  Perhaps Commission should establish a cohesiveness of how to go forward when requests like are submitted.  One idea put forth is to have a plaza of plaques that describe events along the river and relationships with others in the country – it’s an historical and enlightening and welcoming piece. Could also have sculptures and statues as part of it.  Art Morgan suggested that in keeping with Gerry’s initial proposal The Continuity of Community sculpture could be the center piece along in a planting bed of dwarf lilacs. th  Staff will bring a conceptual presentation ready by the April 27 meeting in order to have more of an idea of scale and approximate cost. 4. Discussion and Vote on Staff recommendations of Downtown Bangor Partnership’s “Continuity of Community Proposal” Chair Ribble excused himself from participating in this discussion due to a conflict of Interest; he asked that Vice Chair Jonason handle this item.  at the last Cultural Commission meeting this topic was introduced but there was no action at that time.  Downtown Bangor Partnership (DBP) wants to move forward an eventual redesign of West Market Square in order to open up the square for public use – funds are not available from the City at this time however.  DBP feels that the sculpture and the fountain currently in the square impede the ability to use the area for events; have also approached the City Manager requesting the sculpture be removed.  the sculpture is a significant piece of public art and the DBP Board proposes that it have a more prominent location elsewhere in the community where it will have a greater presence. They have made suggestions for consideration that it be placed at the waterfront or the gateway to the BIA. However, they do not feel it is their responsibility to determine the exact siting of it – it is outside of their purview to do that – this would be for the Cultural Commission to decide.  the Cultural Commission needs to make a determination as to whether or not they feel it is appropriate to move this request to the full City Council. Comments: Geoff Gratwick:  should come up with a recommendation as to where to relocate the statute. He recommends for consideration having a subcommittee with landscape architects, city staff and 1-1 members of the Cultural Commission and report back in another month. Art Morgan:  one of staff’s concerns about removing this piece of art from West Market Square is that it not be put in storage as there is potential for it to be damaged. Staff would like to determine its new location prior to removing it from its existing location. The two locations recommended are good and could be pursued; there are also other locations within the downtown such as Merchants Plaza. Gerry G.M. Palmer:  proposed that the sculpture go to a location where it could be more prominent, it could be elevated. Does not feel it matches the Victorian nature of the storefronts in West Market Square. In going forward would like to have the square footage of the square available for people to gather and perhaps have more appropriate art going forward. George Kinghorn:  Realizes that finding a location could take a significant amount of time. DBP would like to be able to move forward with their plan of opening up the square and not delay it much longer. He would be happy to assist the City or Cultural Commission in helping find a suitable site for it. Susan Blake-Leonard:  Is there money to relocate the sculpture? Shirar Patterson:  In support of this effort it is being proposed that $5,000 be set aside within the Downtown TIF funds - this would be for starting next year’s budget. This has not been approved yet – they’re in the process of that. Art Morgan:  That amount would only cover the removal; that is not the amount to relocate it. Sandra Blake-Leonard:  Would the downtown merchants be willing to assist with funds for placing? Shirar Patterson:  The DBP is currently going through their budget process – this is something for them to consider but they have a very, very small budget. Geoff Gratwick:  Budget – how much to relocate. Art Morgan:  relocation costs, depending on the distance, would be $6-7,000; I would anticipate we would use our own sources to accomplish this work. Geoff Gratwick made a motion that the sculpture in West Market Square be moved within the next 8 weeks. Seconded by Susan Blake-Leonard. Geoff Gratwick made a motion that in the next 8-10 weeks a sub-group be appointed by Steve Ribble, Chair of the Commission on Cultural Development, to determine a new location. (this information will then be brought back to the Commission for approval whereby it would then go to City Council for approval.)  Shirar added that this matter will also have to go to the Historic Preservation Commission, so not sure if the 8-10 weeks will be feasible.  Art Morgan added as a reminder that there will be no funds available to pay for this until July 1, 2011, if the budget is passed by City Council.  In response to Tim Lo’s question as to a timeline for the redesign of West Market Square, George Kinghorn responded that the removal of the sculpture and fountain are just the first phase of the overall project. As funds become available for the larger design of totally redoing the square that would be a later project.  Art Morgan added that with respect to the construction timeframe, it could take 2-3 weeks (the demolition, abandon utilities, rebuild surface). Geoff Gratwick amended his previous motion to read “have the Commission return in 8 weeks with a proposal for other sites for the relocation of the sculpture and with the timing and budget to be put back to the City staff so that they can report in a realistic way to the Commission at their late May meeting”. Seconded by Sandra Blake-Leonard. Unanimously voted.  Shirar added that CDBG funds cannot be used for this project; however, funds from the Downtown TIF possibly could be used – but does not seem that it could come from the current budget year. She’ll report back to the Commission on this matter.  Tim Lo added that he is aware of an event that is scheduled for W. Market Sq. in August 5-6 so if construction can be done either before or afterwards this will be helpful with that event. 5. Continued Strategic Planning Discussion  Vision Steve Ribble reviewed the Commission’s decision on what they have charged themselves to review in their operational ordinance and their enabling ordinance. Their vision is to develop and maintain a comprehensive and cultural policy subject to approval by the City Council based on a 5-year vision statement and strategic objectives to support such statement.  Priorities Part of the Commission’s priorities should possibly be to leverage a portion of our funds into some additional dollars. That issue is more complicated then taking a portion of our budget and use it as match money for a grant. Resources that we do have can be used to attract greater resources to maintain the funding level. Shirar added that this is an opportunity in Bangor to have a state-wide presence. This can help with building the network. There are arts issues that impact on a state-wide level. This could also be a goal of the Commission – it will bring more prominence in the Bangor community if we get state-wide recognition for what we’re doing and will help in raising grant funds. Shirar added that for the next meeting she will update what the Commission’s strategic objectives might be. The Commission can then edit it, add to it, etc., after which the final version can be given to the Council letting them know that this is the Commission’s plan in moving forward. 6. Schedule next meeting Next meeting is scheduled for Wed., April 27, 2011 @ 8 am.