SR 03-27-2018 3E
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 27, 2018
Agenda Item: 3.E
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Subject: Award of Contract to Deborah Aschheim for Percent-For-Art Project for Fire
Station #1
Recommend Actions
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award Deborah Aschheim, a California-based artist, the fabrication of the artwork
to be installed at Fire Station No. 1;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Deborah
Aschheim, in an amount not to exceed $160,000.
Executive Summary
A new 25,000 square foot above-grade fire station at 1337-45 7th Street, to replace the
existing Fire Station No.1 at 1444 7th Street, will soon be built. In accordance with the
City’s Percent for Art ordinance, the project will include a public art element. Deborah
Aschheim designed art glass panels to illustrate the stories and experiences of the
Santa Monica Fire Department, from both a historical and modern-day perspective that
will be installed in various bays. Staff recommends the Council authorize a contract
with Deborah Aschheim in an amount not to exceed $160,000, funded by the Percent-
For-Art (PFA) allocation generated by the Fire Station No. 1 Capital Improvement
Project.
Background
In 1986, the City of Santa Monica adopted Resolution Number 7231(CCS) to establish a
Percent for Art (PFA) Program to enrich the lives of all residents of and visitors to the
City of Santa Monica by providing funding for various forms of public art. The PFA
Program requires that eligible Capital Improvement Projects set aside a budget of an
amount equal to at least one percent of the total project budget for public art. The Fire
Station No. 1 project is a qualifying Percent for Art project.
2 of 3
Vendor Selection
A Request for Qualifications for Southern California-based artists to design public art
was published in October 2015. Following a competitive panel selection process that
considered five possible artists for the project, Deborah Aschheim was selected to
receive the commission based on having the strongest presentation, submission, and
portfolio of previous public artworks. In June 2016, she was awarded a contract
(contract #3154) in the amount of $40,000 for the delivery of an artwork proposal. This
contract has concluded and has been closed, which requires a new contract to be
created for the fabrication and installation of the art piece.
Discussion
Ms. Aschheim’s proposal, “Back Story” is an illustrated narrative translated in art glass
panels that tells stories of the Santa Monica Fire Department, past and present. The
extended timeline of this project allowed Ms. Aschheim to pursue an in-depth
engagement with SMFD that included observation of fire, rescue and paramedic
activities, the fire training academy and SMFD administration. The artist spent hundreds
of hours observing Fire Department Personnel, working closely with Deputy Chief Tom
Clemo.
Over the course of this informal “artist residency,” the artist has generated a significant
body of work related to the SMFD in addition to images that will be translated into 15
permanent glass architectural elements. Ms. Aschheim will be contracting Franz Mayer
of Munich, an internationally renowned glass fabricator, to fabricate the artworks. These
large-scale glass panels will be installed on the interior of the Fire Station in the Watch
Room and the Community Room. The artist will also produce an accompanying book of
sketches and text excerpts from interviews with SMFD personnel. This artwork will be a
significant addition to the City’s Public Art Collection and an engaging feature of the
city’s newest state-of-the-art fire station facility.
On June 19, 2017 the Public Art Committee recommended approval of Ms. Aschheim’s
proposal. The Arts Commission then unanimously approved the proposal and approved
a budget for fabrication at $160,000 at its meeting the same day. Ms. Aschheim will be
responsible for all fabrication and installation as part of the contract.
3 of 3
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Total award for the project is $200,000, $40,000 of which has already been paid to Ms.
Aschheim for the completion and delivery of the artwork proposal. The contract to be
awarded to Deborah Aschheim is for an amount not to exceed $160,000. Funds are
available in the FY 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program budget. The contract will be
charged to account C010081.589000.
Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Fire Station No 1 - Artist Renderings
B. Oaks Initiative Disclsoure - Aschheim
Fire Station #1 ‐ Artwork Renderings
REFERENCE:
Agreement No. 10644
(CCS)