SR-308-007
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. II-A
30$--00?- MAY - 9 1989
Santa Monica, California
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City Council Meeting: May 9, 1989
STAFF REPORT
TO:
Honorable Mayor and city Council
FROM:
City staff
SUBJECT:
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PERMANENT ART WORK FOR THE
SOUTH BEACH
INTRODUCTION
This report requests that the city council authorize the City
Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Nancy Holt to
create a permanent pUblic art work for the south Beach. This
work will be the third installation in the
Natural
Elements
Sculpture (NES) Park.
BACKGROUND
At its December 17, 1985, meeting, the City council approved
siting and funding of the Santa Monica 'Art Tooll by Carl Cheng
and 'Singing Beach Chairs' by Douglas Hollis as the initial art
works for (NES) Park. The City Council also directed that the
'Solar Web I by Nancy Holt be included for consideration as the
third NES Park installation pending receipt of necessary funding.
The 'Solar Web' sculpture is a network of dark steel pipes in a
twelve-pointed sunstar frame-work which relates to four concrete
elements on the sand. The art work is a marker for the summer
and winter solstices and the spring and fall equinoxes, with a
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MAY - 9 1989
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particularily dramatic effect designed for noon on the surnm.er
solstice. 'Solar Web I varies from 2 1/2 feet to 16 feet, is 52
feet wide, and 72 feet long. To minimize safety concerns the con-
crete circle on the sand beneath the sculpture (which has a di-
ameter of 15 feet) will be covered in rubber. A California
Coastal Commission waiver for the 16 foot height was granted on
March 27, 1989.
SELECTION PROCESS
In early 1984 the Arts Commission invited twenty-nine artists to
submit proposals for N.E.S. park. Ten artists were selected to
exhibit maquettes first at city Hall and later at the Main
Library. A public opinion survey drew 326 responses. In 1985,
city staff designed and held two public hearings. Approximately
4,000 beach front households were sent an informational brochure
on NES Park inviting participation in meetings held on October 30
and November 6, 1985. Notices were published in the Evening out-
look. Approximately fifty people attended.
Participants were provided with descriptions of the pieces, con-
cerns related to maintenance and safety, and information on fund-
ing available for the project. Artists were available to
describe their plans in detail and survey sheets were distributed
regarding ranking and siting the pieces. 'Solar web's recommended
site at the Santa Monica Venice border was endorsed by a majority
of those responding to the survey. 'Solar Web' ranked third in the
field of ten possible projects. This ranking was identical to
pUblic preference expressed when the models for all ten projects
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were displayed in the City Hall lobby in 1984: i.e. 1) 'Art
Tool'; 2) 'Singing Beach Chairs' and 3) 'Solar Web'. From the
inception of the NES Park project, the 'Solar Web I site at the
Santa Monica border was inextricably intertwined in Nancy Heltls
proposal. In order for the 'Solar Webl to function on the Summer
Solstice this site is a pre-requisite because of the manner in
which its geography corresponds to the alignment of planets in
the third week of June as determined by a consulting astronomer.
A Public Hearing on the siting of Solar Web on the beach at the
Venice border (see attached map) was held by the Recreation and
Parks Commission on April 20, 1989. After public input, the
Recreation and Parks Commission unanimously rej ected the staff
recommendation that the 'Solar Web I be installed at the site for
which it was designed. Seven individuals spoke at the hearing.
Three individuals supported the installation. Four Sea COlony
residents opposed it because the 'Solar Web' would block their
view and spoil the beach. The Recreation and Parks Commission
also received five written communications from Sea Colony resi-
dents opposing installation of 'Solar Web I at the site recommen-
ded by staff. It should be noted the site was originally ap-
proved by city council in December of 1985 after substantial
positive public input including 14 speakers, 8 letters, and a
petition signed by 224 individuals who all favored the plan. One
individual spoke in opposition. It should also be noted that the
Recreation and Parks Commission rejected the Natural Elements
Sculpture Park concept at its meeting of November 21, 1985 be-
cause of its concerns regarding public safety and a wish to
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reserve open space on the beach for recreational opportunities of
a more traditional character than interactive, site specific art
installations. Despite the recent reaffirmation of the concerns
of the Recreation and Parks Commission at the April 20, 1989
hearing, staff recommends that the city Council authorize the
City Manager to install the 'Solar Web I at the reco~m~nded site
because: 1) 'Solar Webl is an open structure that will not block
the views of residences; 2) the art work is approximately 250
yards distant from residences; 3) the art work will enhance en-
joyment of the beach by the general pUblic.
BUDGET AND FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of 'Solar Web' is $72,500. At its meeting of
March 8, 1988, the Council authorized the expenditure of $22,500
from the Percent for Art General Fund Account #01-740-560-000-
905. The balance of the required funding was contributed by the
Southmark Pacific Corporation. An agreement between the city of
Santa Monica and the Arts Foundation executed on March 8, 1989,
obligates the Foundation to remit the $50,000 Southmark contribu-
tion to the City. The fOllowing budgetary changes are required
to implement these provisions: 1) Increase the appropriation at
01-740-560-000-905 by $50,000. 2) Increase the revenue estimate
at 01-907-182-000-000 by $50,000.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the city Man-
ager to negotiate and execute a contract with Nancy Holt to con-
struct and install Solar Web at the site recommended herein and
approve the budgetary changes set forth above.
Prepared by: Barbara Franklin-Moran
Director, Cultural and Recreation Services
Henry Korn
Arts Administrator
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