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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.1 - 3460 Temporary Public Art Displays Page 1 of 3 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: November 3, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT: Public Art Display to Honor Community Efforts for Racial Justice and Equality Prepared by: John Stefanski, Assistant to the City Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider the creation of a temporary City -curated installation of public art at the Civic Center to honor the community’s fight for racial justice and equality. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution Authorizing a Temporary City-Curated Public Art Installation at the Dublin Civic Center Honoring the Community’s Fight for Racial Justice and Equality and appoint one or two Councilmembers to curate the public art display. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff estimates the cost of implementing the temporary art display and related maintenance activities to be less than $1,000. Sufficient funds are available in the City Council’s community promotions budget for this project. DESCRIPTION: At the October 20, 2020 meeting, the City Council directed Staff to prepare an item for discussion and action in response to a request from the Tri-Valley for Black Lives and Dublin High School Black Student Union to place a “traveling sign garden” at Eme rald Glen Park for a two-week period. A representative of the groups indicated that the purpose of the garden is to “continue protesting for justice within the Black Lives Matter movement” and demonstrate that it is “not a moment but a movement that must continue being talked about in our society.” The Tri-Valley for Black Lives and the Dublin High Black Student Union are two local groups of residents and students that have been advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other people of color by law enforcement officers. Tri-Valley for Black Lives has established similar displays in the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton. Page 2 of 3 Working with the City Attorney’s Office, Staff has evaluated the request, taking into account the direction from the City Council to evaluate the City’s existing policies and procedures for allowing this type of installation by a private organization. The Dublin Municipal Code (DMC) currently regulates the placement of signs on public property and does not authorize the type of display requested. The City Council also directed Staff to evaluate the implications of creating a public forum. If the DMC was amended to allow the display, it could create a First Amendment issue whereb y other groups could be entitled to use the location for similar displays regardless of the subject matter or viewpoint expressed. In light of these issues, the preferred approach would be to treat this as a temporary art display curated by the City, which would constitute “government speech.” Establishing a temporary public art display in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and in recognition of the community’s involvement in the movement is consistent with City of Dublin’s values for Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity, as stated in the City’s Vision Statement. Speaking to Diversity, the Vision Statement states that the City “will support a wide range of programs and events that reflect and cater to the diversity of our residents.” The display’s purpose would be to reflect tangible community expressions related to the Black Lives Matter movement and the underlying social issues it raises. In establishing a temporary public art display, Staff is recommending that the City Council select one or two of its members to curate the signage and work with Staff on the display of the pieces for the public. The selected City Councilmember(s) could work with Tri-Valley for Black Lives, Dublin High Black Student Union, and other members of the community to identify available works for the display. The Councilmember(s) would select the works to be included in the temporary public art display based on the direction given by the City Council and choose, in consultation with the City Manager, the location of the display. Finally, the Councilmember(s), working with the City Manager, would direct the installation and maintenance of the display. The temporary public art display would be displayed for no more than seven days and would begin no sooner than November 9, 2020 to give the Councilmember(s) and Staff adequate preparation time. The City Council may desire to give additional direction or criteria to the volunteer(s). For example, Staff believes it would be prudent to limit the number of works included in the display to 40 and to limit the footprint of the display to less than 1000 square feet. The City Council might also want to further define the scope and purpose of the display. Staff can assist the Councilmember(s) in selecting an appropriate location for t he display. The City Manager recommends the placement of the signage at the Dublin Civic Center, rather than at Emerald Glen Park or any other park facility. At the Civic Center, the temporary art can be monitored closely to ensure that it is in keeping wi th what was approved for display. Staff has identified two areas in which the temporary public art display could locate as shown below in orange and blue. The orange option would place the display along a path, and the blue option would provide a fixed are a for the display (a “garden” concept). Both options align with Staff's recommendation that the location of this temporary art should be pedestrian-oriented and minimize impacts to traffic safety. Page 3 of 3 Next Steps If the City Council authorizes the temporary public art display, Staff will work with the selected Councilmember(s) to coordinate the establishment of the temporary public art display in accordance with the procedures and parameters included in the Resolution. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: Staff has notified representatives from the Tri-Valley for Black Lives and the Dublin High Black Student Union, requesting their attendance at tonight’s meeting. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution Authorizing a Temporary City-Curated Public Art Installation at the Dublin Civic Center Honoring the Community's Fight for Racial Justice and Equality Reso No. XXX-20, Item X.X, Adopted 11/03/2020 Page 1 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. XX-20 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY CITY-CURATED PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION AT THE DUBLIN CIVIC CENTER HONORING THE COMMUNITY’S FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY WHEREAS, in response to the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, protests, and other public demonstrations have taken place across the country and around the world with calls to address systemic racism and inequality; and WHEREAS, Mr. Floyd’s death is a painful reminder of countless other instances of violence against Black Americans, both recent and throughout the history of our country; and WHEREAS, the Black Lives Matter movement, like the Civil Rights Movement and other movements before it, has articulated the injustices that exist and demanded that action be taken to end this violence. The movement has become a symbol of protest and call to action against racial inequality across America; and WHEREAS, community protests and expression has been at the forefront of a national dialogue regarding systemic racism, oppression, and injustice in recent m onths; and WHEREAS, cities across the country have joined this important conversation by proclaiming support for the Black Lives Matter movement and reexamining how government services operate and how government systems must be improved; and WHEREAS, in the City of Dublin, community members have taken part in rallies, protests, and public meetings, and have sent messages to local leaders and generally engaged in political speech and expressive activity calling for reforms and decrying racism and unequal treatment of members of minority groups and, in particular, Black Americans; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Dublin desires to recognize and honor these community voices and actions, inspire continued conversation, and express the City Council’s belief that black lives matter; and WHEREAS, public art, whether organic or organized, is a vehicle for community engagement and expression; and WHEREAS, the Tri-Valley For Black Lives and Dublin High Black Student Union have encouraged the creation of tangible expressions related to the Black Lives Matter movement and its underlying social issues and have collected such expressions for public display; and Reso No. XXX-20, Item X.X, Adopted 11/03/2020 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, the City Council desires to display a collection of these expressions and potentially others in the form of a temporary public art exhibit at the Dublin Civic Center; and WHEREAS, the City Council further desires to appoint one or two members of the City Council to curate the display, including working with members of the community and community grounds such as Tri-Valley For Black Lives and Dublin High Black Student Union, determining, in consultation with the City Manager, an appropriate location at the Civic Center, and installing and maintaining such display; and WHEREAS, the temporary public art display is consistent with the City of Dublin’s values for Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity, as stated in the City’s Vision Statement; and WHEREAS, the City Council discussed the temporary public art display at its regular meeting on November 3, 2020 where members of the public had an opportunity to provide public comment; and WHEREAS, the project was reviewed consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines and found categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15304, subdivision (e) (minor temporary use of land) in that it is a temporary public art display. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Dublin as follows: 1. The City Council of the City of Dublin recognizes the persistent and lingering racial inequality that is embedded in our public and private systems, including our systems of government. 2. The City Council approves a temporary public art display recognizing the participation of Dublin and neighboring communities in the Black Lives Matter movement to be displayed for a period not to exceed seven (7) days on the grounds of the D ublin Civic Center, beginning no sooner than November 9, 2020. 3. The City Council has appointed _______________________ and ________________________ to curate the public art display. The appointed City Councilmember(s) shall select the works to be included in the temporary public art display (in consultation with members of the community, including Tri-Valley For Black Lives and Dublin High Black Student Union); choose, in consultation with the City Manager, the location of the display at the Civic Center; and direct the installation and maintenance of the display. The ultimate public art display shall be consistent with the purposes of this Resolution. 4. The City Manager shall assist the appointed member(s) in selecting an appropriate location for the display. The location should be pedestrian -oriented, designed to allow the public to comply with public health regulations, and located to minimize impacts to traffic safety. The City Manager shall authorize City staff or contractors to install Reso No. XXX-20, Item X.X, Adopted 11/03/2020 Page 3 of 3 and maintain the display. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of November, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ______________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _________________________________ City Clerk