Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2406-3167CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, October 07, 2024 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     17.Approval of FY 2025 Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Art Commission Workplans; CEQA status – not a project Staff Presentation City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: ACTION ITEMS Lead Department: City Clerk Meeting Date: October 7, 2024 Report #:2406-3167 TITLE Approval of FY 2025 Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Art Commission Workplans; CEQA status – not a project RECOMMENDATION The Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Art Commission Recommend approval of each Commission’s respective Fiscal Year 2025 Workplan. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS On November 30, 2020, the City Council adopted the Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCC) Handbook1, which implemented an annual review and approval of BCC workplans. The details related to the workplan creation is below. Each BCC is required to prepare an annual workplan for City Council’s review and approval. The annual report should include the results of the prior year’s workplan and should consist of up to three priorities. When applicable, the City Council would like to see metrics of community involvement and participation in meetings and activities included in the workplan. City Council may refer additional items to the BCC in response to new developments. If the BCC would like to add an issue for review after an annual workplan has been approved the City Council, a prompt request by the BCC Chair to the City Council is required and the item will then be addressed by the City Council as a whole. BCC workplans for FY 2025 will be presented to Council batched by issue area. Each Community Services Department-related BCC will give a brief presentation summarizing its prior year accomplishments and FY 2025 workplan highlights. At this meeting, Council will review workplans 1 City Boards, Commissions, and Committees Handbook: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/2/city-clerk/palo-alto-boards-commissions-and-committees- handbook_final_2022.pdf for two of the Community Services Department-related BCCs (Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Art Commission). FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT Projects included in commissions’ workplans ultimately require staff time and other City resources to complete. When possible, staff provide input to the commissions during workplan development to ensure the impact on staff time and resources is reasonable given staff workload and other competing priorities. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Commission workplans are discussed publicly either in regular commission meetings or commission retreats. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because this is a continuing administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5). ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Parks and Recreation Commission FY 2025 Workplan Attachment B: Public Art Commission FY 2025 Workplan APPROVED BY: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk Parks and Recreation Commission 2024-2025 Draft Workplan Staff Liaison: Kristen O’Kane, Director Lead Department: Community Services About the Commission The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Commission is to advise the City Council on matters pertaining to the activities of the Open Space & Parks, Golf, and Recreation divisions of the Community Services Department, excluding daily administrative operations. Timeframe covered by Work Plan: June 3, 2024 – March 31, 2025. The Commission is composed of seven members. See Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) 2.25 Sections 2.25.010, 2.25.030, 2.25.040, 2.25.050, and 2.25.060. Residency is required. Further requirements are that members shall not be Council Members, officers, or employees of the City of Palo Alto. Each member of the Commission shall have a demonstrated interest in parks, open space, and recreation matters. For more information about the Parks and Recreation Commission please visit our webpage. Current Commissioners • Amanda Brown (Chair) • Nellis Freeman (Vice Chair) • Anne Warner Cribbs • Jeff Greenfield • Shani Kleinhaus • Joy Oche • Bing Wei Mission Statement The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Commission is to advise the City Council on policy matters pertaining to the activities of the Open Space, Parks and Golf Division, and the Recreation Division of the Community Services Department. Prior Year Accomplishments Parks Master Plan Process Review • Conducted high level review of Parks Master Plan and assigned priorities in the Action Plan Spreadsheet. • Reviewed Action Plan Spreadsheet in detail: o Created categories for review process including best practices, project status, and other departments involved. o Identified priorities led by other stakeholders or other City departments. • Reviewed proposed FY 2024-25 CIP projects with staff. • Began discussion of how to utilize the Action Plan to help inform future CIP priorities. Recreation Program Review • Collaborated with Palo Alto City staff to enhance the Enjoy! Catalog and Community activities, aligning efforts to promote equity and potential cost-reduction for programs, for example, bringing/advertising free programs from other Palo Alto partners, (i.e., PA Adult School) in the Enjoy! Catalog. • Facilitated brainstorming sessions with City staff to pinpoint priority programs and proposed recommendations, including potential programs and providers, to address community needs effectively. • Ad Hoc conducted a comprehensive review of past Enjoy! Catalog’s and benchmarked against neighboring cities. Presented findings and suggested solutions for scaling up at the Commission Meeting in February 2024, align with the Master Plan's reviewing progress. • Successfully spearheaded the implementation of a new QR code on the first page of the Enjoy! Catalog. This innovation allows for simple multilingual instructions directing residents to our website for community events, thereby expanding awareness among residents who speak English as a second language. Recreation Wellness Center • Weekly ad hoc meetings (with occasional staff participation) on stakeholder outreach and research on wellness center needs, potential locations, facilities, programs, and activities. • Worked with City staff on stakeholder outreach and research of wellness center facilities, programs, and activities. • Raised the visibility of the community's need for a gym/wellness center. • We hosted a community meeting on January 17, 2024, to discuss the proposed Recreation Wellness Center. We presented the current preferred location/sites and a second option, depending on the current Cubberley negotiations between the City and the PAUSD. • Provided status updates to the PRC during monthly ad hoc updates and at a January 17th community meeting presentation. Bicycle / E-Bike Policy and Access • Implementation of Council Direction from 2/27/2023 for all bikes in the Baylands and Arastradero Preserve to consider and recommend policy to address: o Reduction of speed limit. o Whether and where to restrict bicycle and horse access. o Adding bike racks at trailheads in open space, where lacking. • PRC ad hoc met throughout the year, working with staff to review policy and regulations regarding the use of e-bikes and electric conveyances in parks and open space areas. This included Palo Alto, neighboring cities, and regional, state, and national jurisdictions. We also met with park users to solicit feedback. • Discussed policy considerations, including parks vs. open spaces, types of e-bikes, and state policy implications with CSD, Transportation and Safe Routes staff, and PABAC, including their E-Bike subcommittee. • PRC ad hoc discussed balancing competing interests and priorities, including wildlife and ecosystem protection, recreation, bicycle transportation corridors, public access, equity, safety, enforceability, ADA requirements, and clarity and communication of rules on October 25, 2022. • After considerable public comment and discussion, PRC unanimously recommended e-bike and electric conveyances policy and regulations for parks and open space on November 22, 2022. Playing Fields Policy and Programs Review • Supported staff in reviewing regional best practices and recommending a synthetic turf replacement strategy for upcoming work at El Camino Park and Stanford/Mayfield Soccer Complex. • Completed initial review of field use policy, including identifying potential areas for further review after engagement with stakeholders, and general policy cleanup recommendations. • Recommended non-policy field use updates, including tournament clean up responsibilities, goal storage and communication with stakeholders. Park Dedication FY24 • Conduct a review of existing list of potential locations for parkland dedication, including prioritization of suitability. • Pursued park dedication for Tower Well Site: o Met with CSD staff and PAHA per City policy. o Recommended park dedication for Tower Well Site to City Council, which was approved with the recommendation to consider a name change. o Initiated name change process for Tower Well Park to Frederick Eyerly Park. • Pursued park dedication for Rinconada Gardens: o Worked with CSD and Utilities staff to review site constraints related to park dedication and determine next steps. • Reviewed a potential site adjacent to San Antonio Avenue at Ponce Drive for a small park, suggested by a community member; added to the existing list of locations for parkland dedication. Grant Opportunities • Work with staff to assess how to understand current City grant process, including current consultant, to use grants more effectively to increase funding for Recreation and Parks programs and projects. Concern about staff time in finding grants, applying for grants, and reporting about grants. • Reviewed current grant application process, associated resources, and recent grant applications opportunities. • Ad Hoc interviewed new resources and potential partnerships which may be effective to increase grant funding, including contacts with Silicon Valley Community Foundation, suggested three projects to share with SVCF corporate partners Foothill Buckeye Creek restoration, Foothill Interpretive Center, and additional restrooms at Mitchell Park/Magic Bridge, plus attempts to contact the Gordon Moore Foundation and the Packard Foundation. • Ad Hoc recommends continuing to strengthen existing partnerships with Friends of Palo Alto Parks, Palo Alto Recreation Foundation, Environmental Volunteers, Grassroots Ecology and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. An example of collaboration between the City and a non-profit, which could qualify for a grant that includes developing joint projects to bring East Palo Alto youth to Foothill Park. PROJECT/GOAL 1: Master Plan Review the process for planning and implementation of the Parks, Trails, Natural Open Space, and Recreation Master Plan (Parks Master Plan) for consistency and coordination with the annual CIP process. Work with staff to conduct a review of the existing policies and progress to inform planning efforts, enhance inter-departmental coordination, and implement best practices. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Optimize implementation of the Parks Master Plan FY 25 – Q1 & Q2 Moderate staff time Complete inventory of projects denoted as high priority, including status Optimize FY26 CIP process for consistency with the Parks Master Plan Coordinate with staff to implement high-priority policies and best practices Yes: Parks Master Plan (Policy 2.G, 6.A) HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Conduct a comprehensive Parks Master Plan review, which includes: • Status review of PRC prioritized projects and programs with staff • Develop recommendations for best practices and inter-departmental coordination to support the implementation of the Parks Master Plan Establish annual and periodic review best practices Yes: Parks Master Plan (Chapter 5: Progress Reporting) PROJECT/GOAL 2: Park Dedication FY25 Pursue and evaluate top priority potential sites and identify potential new sites to recommend dedicating as parkland within our community BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Increase dedicated parkland to provide recreational opportunities, promote the health and well-being of the community, and support biodiversity Advance goals of 4 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, and within 1/2 mile of homes FY25 Moderate staff time (CSD, CAO, Planning, PWE, Real Estate) Recommendation of one or more sites for dedication as parkland Yes: Parks Master Plan (Goals and Policies 1.B, 1.C, 4.D, 5.C) and Comprehensive Plan (Policy L-8.1) HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Work with staff to assess the suitability of potential sites for parkland dedication, including Rinconada Gardens, San Antonio Avenue at Ponce Drive, Los Altos Treatment Plant Site (wetland area), and Baylands Measure E Site (landfill slope portion) Pursue dedication of Greer Park sewer easement associated with the 2850 W. Bayshore Road development project Review previously identified locations and consider new potential sites for park dedication Yes PROJECT/GOAL 3: Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan (BCCP) Update BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Work towards releasing the Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan which was previously developed but not completed Establish updated standards, guidelines, and processes for environmental stewardship and infrastructure development and maintenance in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve FY25 Moderate to high staff time Funding for a consultant will likely be required eventually Generate an update on the current status of the BCCP, including estimated timeline for completion Yes (Parks Master Plan Program 4.A.1) HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Review current draft BCCP and work with staff to assess status of document sections: • Up to date, complete • Up to date, further update required • Outdated, update required • Outdated, appropriate to omit • Identify gaps that should be addressed Work with staff to review status of CEQA and other required environmental reviews Work with staff to recommend a path forward for completing and releasing the BCCP, including: • Identify work that can be completed with current resources during FY25 • Identify any additional required resources and an estimated timeline for completion • Identify work, which is out of scope for the BCCP, to be considered at a later date. Move forward with BCCP updates as possible and appropriate Yes PROJECT/GOAL 4: Nature Preserve Access Policy Access Policy Recommendation for Pearson-Arastradero and Baylands Nature Preserves - work with staff and stakeholders to review all access, including bicycles, e-bikes and other electric conveyances, equestrians, and pedestrians BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Balance recreational access with stewardship of natural resources in the Baylands and Arastradero Nature Preserves Considerations include habitat and wildlife protection, trail safety, community interests, and staff and infrastructure resources FY25 Moderate Staff Time Forward updated access recommendations for Pearson- Arastradero and Baylands Nature Preserves to City Council. Yes (Parks Master Plan Policy 6.D; Program 2.A.7) HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Follow up on FY24 Bicycle and Equestrian Ad Hoc recommendations re: unauthorized trail usage and stewardship of natural resources along trails. Review Adobe Creek Loop Trail and Byxbee Park trail access. Provide input to staff regarding an appropriate response to the 02/27/2023 City Council referral Follow up / review access and activity at Pearson-Arastradero Bowl Loop Trail area and Baylands Adobe Creek Loop Trail Bowl. General trail network access review Yes PROJECT/GOAL 5: Recreation Wellness Center Work with staff to facilitate progress on the Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Recreation and Park facilities for the health and welfare of current and future generations Community engagement 2024 – 2025 Goal – vision of a complete facility CSD staff time, Public Works staff time Selecting the site Completing the facility for the community via the partnership with the City of Palo Alto, Friends of Recreation Wellness Center and community stakeholders Council Approved (Parks Master Plan Goal 1; Policy 4.A) Identified priority major project HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Community engagement with stakeholders and others, including existing facilities Discussion of site alternatives – Greer Park, Cubberley, 10.5 acres, and others Confirmed location of site with Council Approval of site Commission support of LOI with Friends and City of Palo Alto Regular updates for PRC to ensure other Commissioners, City staff and stakeholders are kept abreast of updates Define relationship between Ad Hoc/PRC, Friends group, and the City of Palo Alto Yes PROJECT/GOAL 6: Playing Fields and Racquet Sports Review and recommend updates to playing fields and Racquet Sports policies, including synthetic turf replacement strategy, including tennis and field reservation policies BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL-APPROVED Efficient and successful replacement of end-of-life synthetic turf fields Optimized access to City playing fields Proactive field management FY24-25 Q1&Q2: Complete synthetic turf replacement strategy review FY24-25 Q3&Q4: Complete review of court reservation policy Moderate staff time Meet with playing field stakeholders Successful replacement of end-of life synthetic turf field, contingent upon CIP funding (turf study/analysis) Court reservation policy update Yes: Parks Master Plan (Programs 1.F.1; 2.A.3; 2.C.3) Fair and equity tennis court reservation system that promotes wellness recommendation if warranted HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL-DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Work with staff to review and recommend optimum synthetic turf replacement strategy, including materials, process, and definite timeline Meet with stakeholders periodically for feedback Work with staff to review current USTA resident requirements as it relates to reserving court space in Palo Alto for non-residents Work with staff to convene and support the joint taskforce for racquet sports Meet with stakeholders for feedback and review field or court reservation systems and use policy and recommend an update as appropriate Yes Public Art Commission 2024-2025 Workplan Staff Liaison: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director, Nadya Chuprina, Program Coordinator Lead Department: Community Services / Arts & Sciences About the Commission The Public Art Commission is composed of seven (7) members. The terms are three (3) years in length and commence on April 1. Residency is not required. There are no vacancies as of June 1, 2024. The Public Art Commission oversees Palo Alto's temporary and permanent public art programs. The Commission's primary duties are: ● To advise the city in matters pertaining to the quality, quantity, scope, and style of art in public places ● To periodically review the capital improvement program with the staff for inclusion of works of art in various projects ● To devise methods of selecting and commissioning artists with respect to the design, execution, and placement of art in public places and to advise staff on the selection and commissioning of artists, and the amounts to be expended on art in public places ● To advise and assist staff in obtaining financial assistance for art in public places from private, corporate, and governmental sources ● To review plans for the installation of art in public places and review the inventory of art in public spaces Current Commissioners Loren Gordon (Chair) Hsinya Shen (Vice Chair) Tara de la Garza Ben Miyaji Amber Smith Harriet Stern Lisa Waltuch Mission Statement The Palo Alto Public Art Program promotes the highest caliber of artwork, commissioning memorable public artworks and experiences that stimulate discussion and thoughtful reflection, celebrating Palo Alto’s character and enhancing civic pride and sense of place. PAC’s 2024/25 Adopted Priorities are: Building Community Priority: Develop public art that encourages engagement, belonging, and community participation, and that promotes shared experiences in and around Palo Alto Neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Social Justice Priority: Develop public art projects that will continue to advance empathy, ethnic and cultural inclusion, and celebration, and social, racial, and gender equity. Public Art Education Priority: Widen and strengthen education and advocacy for public art, including through the roll-out and implementation of the California Avenue District Master Plan and the Baylands’ Art Plan, and PAMP long-term goals, while responding to current issues and supporting a wider network of artists. Every public art project undertaken by the Palo Alto Public Art Program meets at least two of its three adopted priorities through its intentionally extensive design and building process that conscientiously engages diverse community members. Specifically: ● Building Community Priority: The design and building process involves diverse groups of multi-stakeholders representing the community. From artist selection and fact-finding through community dialogue to the introduction of the final artwork, this ensures the art resonates with local neighborhoods and commercial corridors. ● Public Art Education Priority: Engaging artists with the local community during the design process helps artists understand the community and locality while educating the public about the public art process, supporting broader educational goals and enhancing advocacy for public art. Prior Year Accomplishments 1.Code:ART 2023: The City of Palo Alto Public Art Program launched its third interactive media art festival, Code:ART, a three-evening event that re-imagines Palo Alto’s underutilized plazas, alleys, and public spaces through interactive light, sound, and motion. The festival featured a major interactive media artwork anchoring the festival and six Urban Interventions activating or reimagining downtown storefronts, alleys, parking lots or blank walls in new and inventive ways. The artworks invited play and participation, engaging area locals in an event that outwardly reflects the creative community and culture that thrives here. 2.California Avenue Murals Festival 2023 - During the summer of 2023 the Palo Alto Public Art Program commissioned artists Olivia Losee-Unger, Nicole Ponsler and Paz de la Calzada to paint vibrant temporary murals in the California Avenue District. Bloom by Nicole Ponsler can be found at Palo Alto Central on 149 California Avenue. Moonflowers for Georgia by Olivia Losee-Unger is located at Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels on 477 California Avenue. The third streetscape mural called Quercus 650 by Paz de la Calzada is located on the ground at the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street. Artist Paz de la Calzada invited volunteers from the community to participate in the painting process. 3.King Artist Residency: Artist Kirti Bassendine served as the 2023 Artist-in-Residence beginning February 2023. The Artist’s Residency project focused on diverse underserved communities residing and/or working in Palo Alto and experiencing socio-economic or housing instability. Her resulting photographs are displayed on King Plaza. 4.Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program receives funding from the City to maintain and care for the City’s growing permanent art collection. The staff is diligent about maintenance, examples include protecting and restoring the Victor Arnautoff Frescoes at the Roth Building, Susan Zoccola’s refabrication, updated software programming for Susan Narduli’s Conversation at City Hall, comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of Charles Sowers’ Sway at the JMZ, conservation treatment of Jerome Kirk’s Homage to Silence, repair of Brian Coleman’s Excel, and the refabrication and installation of midtown community’s Poetry Wall mural. 5.Cubberley Mural: Artist Cameron Moberg completed a mural at Cubberley that reflects the creative community that frequents the site. His design was informed by feedback from Cubberley stakeholders about what they cherish about Cubberley. PROJECT/GOAL 2 : Murals, Murals and Murals in 2024 Based on the successful roll out of mural program in 2023, Staff is continuing with several mural projects throughout Palo Alto: ●Three Murals in Downtown to be painted October 2024: Artists Harumo Sato, Mona Caron and Nigel Sussman have been selected to design and paint three temporary murals on privately owned walls in downtown Palo Alto, animating an important commercial corridor ●ArtLift Grants: Utility Box Edition – 100 applicants, 20 participants painting City-wide this summer PROJECT/GOAL 1 : The 2024 King Artist Residency: Artist Alma Landeta Alma Landeta, current artist-in-residence (AIR), has begun community outreach in a variety of ways: Queeries Hotline, portrait workshops, and open studios. Alma Landeta is focusing on the lived experiences of the LGBTQAI+ community members residing and/or working in Palo Alto with the goal of sparking conversations about inclusion, equity, a sense of belonging and bringing Palo Alto’s diverse communities together through better understanding and compassion. The residency will culminate in a final report of their findings and hopefully a temporary installation on King Plaza in late 2024. PAC and staff will evaluate launching the next Artist Residency for 2025. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED Social Justice Priority; Community Building Priority Funds are available through percent for art Municipal funds. Staff resources and time is used for artist call and the selection processes. Staff will work with the artist during the research, design development and implementation. Artist will use a studio at the Cubberley Campus. The Public Art Commission is committed to a platform for ongoing conversations about equity, inclusion, and belonging in Palo Alto through the arts. As a result, the King Artist Residency Program was established. Community participation will be measured. Council referral to the Public Art Commission November 2, 2020 the City Council voted to refer the development of public art on King Plaza reflecting the City’s commitment to equity. HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE High priority for social justice, building community and public art education. Yes ●Fire Station 5 Mural – Bodeck Luna, artist and community organizer, organized outreach to the Barron Park neighbors and broader Palo Alto community for input on his mural to be painted in August or September ●Digitally Printed Artwork at the California Avenue Parking Structure is planned for late 2024 BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED This project promotes two of the PAC 2024 priorities: Building Community Priority and Public Art Education Priority. New murals scheduled for summer and fall of 2024. Funds are available through percent for art Municipal funds. Staff resources and time will be used for artist calls and the selection processes. Staff will work with the artists during the design development and implementation. Community and stakeholder feedback N/A HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Building community in various Palo Alto neighborhoods, wayfinding,economic development, and enlivening public space Yes PROJECT/GOAL 3 : Integrate Public Art in capital improvement projects (CIP) citywide, such as: ●Fire Station 4: Located in Midtown on the corner of Middlefield and East Meadow, this new building will be near Mitchell Park and Palo Alto Little League. It is highly visible to the community. Artist Stephen Galloway’s approved art design was rooted in his research into the role of the fire station in Palo Alto, and the history of this site. He is working on detailed design development. ●Public Safety Building: Artist Peter Wegner has completed fabrication and the artworks have been installed at the PSB, are protected in place, and awaiting the public opening of the facility. ●Boulware Park Public Art Project: The PAC has approved the artwork by Los Angeles-based award-winning art and design studio UrbanRock Design for the Boulware Park Public Art Project. The artist team visited Palo Alto and conducted meetings with the community to inform their design development. Installation is estimated for fall 2024. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED Enhancing new buildings, and public parks with art. Collaborating with the public on the location, interactivity of the projects and inspiration for the art. Ongoing Municipal Percent for Art funds, collaboration with Public Works, architects, and key stakeholders. Community and stakeholder feedback N/A HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Building Community - the artists have engaged the public for theirinput on Boulware Park, Fire Station 4, and the Public Safety Building. Social Justice Priority and Public Art Education Priority. N/A PROJECT/GOAL 4: Public Art in Private Development The City of Palo Alto enacted the Art in Private Development Ordinance in January 2014. This ordinance mandates that commercial developments over 10,000 square feet either commission artwork on their site or contribute to the Public Art Fund. A few examples of current private developments include: ●3200 Park Blvd Public Art Project: The 3200 Park Blvd project provides an opportunity to honor Thomas Foon Chew, founder of the Bayside Canning Company, and the Cannery’s legacy of community building and ethnic and cultural inclusion. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, the current proposal includes both an external mosaic that includes individuals, communities, past and future, as well as an internal educational wall for historical education. ●Castilleja School: The Castilleja School development project involves modernizing the school by replacing old buildings with a new academic building and facilities. The commission has been supporting the project by providing feedback on the art selection process, placement, and design. ●660 University: This significant project at University and Middlefield Road will have artwork coming for Commission review this fall. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED These types of projects may promote all three of the PAC 2024 priorities. These events require extensive planning and dialoguing. Staff time funded by the Public Art Fund, collaboration with multiple city departments and community stakeholders. Community and stakeholder feedback N/A HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Often times, these projects have high visibility and since they are private developments, PAC staff and commission often provide valuable guidance to ensure compliance with the Public Art for Private Development Ordinance PROJECT/GOAL 5 : Code:ART 2025 The Code:ART events draw larger audiences each year we present the festival. 2025 will be the largest yet, with more ambitious artworks and expanded experiences. Allocation of funds and calls to artists are anticipated to go out in the next few months. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED Code:ART brings the community together to play, interact and collaborate while supporting economic development. Businesses in the University and Hamilton Avenue downtown area are adjacent to the crowds seeking the interactive exhibits. Planning began in Spring 2024. The event is scheduled for October 2025. It is typical to have a larger installation on King Plaza, and up to six additional installations nearby. Collaboration between many city departments, local businesses and volunteers is necessary. Funds from both the Municipal percent for art funds and the private percent for art funds are used for these festivals. Participation numbers and surveys are collected for each Code:ART event to gather feedback and metrics. N/A HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Building Community, Public Art Education N/A PROJECT/GOAL 6: Ongoing Maintenance and Care of the Collection. With a collection of more than 300 artworks, preventative maintenance and restoration of these valuable City assets are an essential part of a public art program, including Charleston/Arastradero Corridor re-fabrication for sculpture destroyed by an accident, deep cleaning of the Jerome Kirk sculpture at the Art Center, and the protection and comprehensive restoration of the historically significant Arnautoff frescoes at the Roth Building. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES NEEDED MEASURE OF SUCCESS STATE MANDATED / LOCAL LAW / COUNCIL- APPROVED This project promotes two of the PAC priorities: Building Community Priority and Public Art Education Priority. Ensuring that these valuable assets are maintained properly and reflect well on the City. Ongoing The annual maintenance allocation of $32,000 is spent down each year. Staff oversees the contractors and work being performed Additional funding was committed by the County for the restoration of the Arnautoff frescoes. A conservator has been hired for this project. A collection of artworks that reflect well on Palo Alto and have not fallen into such disrepair that more costly repairs are necessary or the artwork cannot be saved. Having artworks fall into disrepair may leave the City open to legal action by the artists under the Visual Artists Rights Act. HIGH PRIORITY LOWER PRIORITY COUNCIL- DIRECTED POLICY UPDATE Public Art Education N/A Code:ART 2023 - The City of Palo Alto Public Art Program launched its third interactive media art festival, Code:ART, a three-evening event that re-imagines Palo Alto’s underutilized plazas, alleys, and public spaces through interactive light, sound, and motion. The festival featured a major interactive media artwork anchoring the festival and six Urban Interventions activating or re-imagining downtown storefronts, alleys, parking lots or blank walls in new and inventive ways. Code:ART - The artworks invited play and participation, engaging area locals in an event that outwardly reflects the creative community and culture that thrives here. Images (clockwise): Visitors interacting with Interactive Flow Fields by Steven Wallace; Ripple by Jeffrey Yip Cod:ART 2023 - Impact Metrics - Approximately 13,000 people attended the festival- 21 Bay Area, national, and international artists - 7 interactive new media installations Data from Survey Responses: - 98% of visitors surveyed would love more events like this in Palo Alto -73% of attendees visited a downtown business during the festival - 88% of business visitors made a purchase- 70% of the business visitors spent up to $150 - 60% of visitors came to downtown specifically for Code:ART Image: Helix Seats by Pneuhaus in Lytton Plaza California Avenue Murals Festival 2023 - During the summer of 2023 the Palo Alto Public Art Program commissioned artists Olivia Losee-Unger, Nicole Ponsler and Paz de la Calzada to paint vibrant temporary murals in the California Avenue District. Bloom by Nicole Ponsler can be found at Palo Alto Central on 149 California Avenue. Moonflowers for Georgia by Olivia Losee-Unger is located at Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels on 477 California Avenue. The third streetscape mural called Quercus 650 by Paz de la Calzada is located on the ground at the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street. Artist Paz de la Calzada invited volunteers from the community to participate in the painting process. In January 2023, Public Art staff initiated a public-private partnership pilot program and opened a Call for Walls to identify privately owned walls to host murals along California Avenue as part of the pilot mural event for the California Avenue District. Staff was successful in securing two locations on California Avenue: an exterior wall of the Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels at 477 California Avenue, and an exterior wall at California Avenue Central HOA located at 161 California Ave. Additionally, the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street, which is currently closed to vehicular traffic, was identified for a ground plane mural. At the conclusion of the Murals Festival on June 11, Public Art staff led a public tour of the three newly painted murals, with the participating artists, volunteers, site hosts, and many members of the public in attendance. King Artist Residency: Artist Kirti Bassendine served as the 2023 Artist-in-Residence. The Artist’s residency project focused on diverse underserved communities residing and/or working in Palo Alto and experiencing socio- economic or housing instability. Her resulting photographs are displayed on King Plaza. Collection Care and Maintenance: Historic frescoes titled Modern and Ancient Medicine, 1932 by Victor Arnautoff at the Roth Building at 300 Homer Ave. To ensure the restoration of the frescoes would coincide with the rehabilitation of the building, the Public Art staff is working with teams of fine art conservators to protect and restore these significant artworks. Images: Left - Atthowe Fine Art team is installing rigid protections in August 2023 prior to the commencement of the building construction project. Right - Fine art conservator Anne Rosenthal, a highly reputable expert of frescoes by Diego Rivera and Victor Arnautoff is working on a Grisaille fresco panel in April 2024. Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program receives funding from the City to maintain and care for the City’s growing permanent art collection. Images: In May 2024, a team of art conservators from Preservation Arts completed a condition assessment and detailed conservation treatment of a permanently-sited kinetic sculpture tiled Homage to Silence, 1981 by artist Jerome Kirk. Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program receives funding from the City to maintain and care for the City’s growing permanent art collection. Image: Sway, 2020 by Charles Sowers at the Junior Museum and Zoo at 1451 Middlefield Road is an architecturally integrated kinetic sculpture. It receives an annual inspection and detailed maintenance treatment by the artist. Cubberley Mural: In June 2024, Artist Cameron Moberg completed a mural titled Generations at Cubberley that reflects the creative community that frequents the site. His design was informed by feedback from Cubberley stakeholders about what they cherish about Cubberley. Cameron Moberg's design was inspired by the history and community activities taking place on Cubberley campus . The artist states: “As I walked through the halls of Cubberley, inspiration was coming at me around every turn, the music, the art, the learning, but what struck me most was the generations of people I met. I heard stories from how a woman’s mother took her to Cubberley as a child and now she takes her daughter. It wasn’t just one story like that, there were multiple. I wanted to capture this in the hands representing different stages of life. The butterflies represent the change and beauty that this can bring to the world and the key and keyhole connecting the two walls – like a portal opening up into learning, opportunities and the future”. October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FY2025 WORKPLAN 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Mandy Brown**, Chair Nellis Freeman*, Vice-Chair Anne Cribbs* Jeff Greenfield* Shani Kleinhaus** Bing Wei** Vacant** * Term expires March 31, 2025 **Term expires March 31, 2026 1 Key Accomplishments – Fiscal Year 2024 Recreation Wellness Center Bike / E-bike Policy and Access Playing Fields Policy Review Park Dedications 1 Goals– Fiscal Year 2025 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails Master Plan Parkland Dedication Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan Nature Preserve Access Policy Recreation Wellness Center Playing Fields and Racquet Courts Mandy Brown, Chair b.amandaro@gmail.com Nellis Freeman, Vice-Chair Nellis.Freeman@gmail.com Kristen O’Kane, Director Kristen.O’Kane@cityofpaloalto.org Steve Castile, Assistant Director Steve.Castile@cityofpaloalto.org PUBLIC ART COMMISSION Work Plan October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart TITLE 40 FONT BOLD Subtitle 32 font October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart 2024/2025 Adopted Priorities •Building Community •Public Art Education •Social Justice TITLE 40 FONT BOLD Subtitle 32 font October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart Prior Year Accomplishments •Code:ART 2023 •California Avenue Murals Festival •King Artist Residency •Cubberley Mural •Maintenance Projects TITLE 40 FONT BOLD Subtitle 32 font October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart Priority Projects for 2024/2025 •Code:ART 2025 •King Artist Residency – Alma Landeta •Murals •Fire Station 5 •Downtown (3 murals) •California Avenue parking structure •20 Artlift grant utility boxes •Public Art in CIP projects •Fire Station 4 •Public Safety Building •Boulware Park TITLE 40 FONT BOLD Subtitle 32 font October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart Priority Projects for 2024/2025 •Public Art in Private Development Projects •3200 Park Boulevard •Castilleja School •660 University •Maintenance of the collection, including Roth Building frescoes TITLE 40 FONT BOLD Subtitle 32 font October 7, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart Questions?