To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Rick Tooker, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Shari Cooper, Development Project Coordinator
TITLE:
Title
Dwight Murray Plaza Public Art Project
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendationle
1. Approve the concept design for the Dwight Murray Plaza Public Art project; and
2. Determine that the project is exempt from CEQA; and
3. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement C2017 007 with Artist Ned Kahn in the amount of $180,000 for design and installation of the artwork, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Amendment.
BodyDISCUSSION:
Background
In 1974, the City's Redevelopment Agency dedicated a newly constructed downtown plaza and named it after one of the community's most beloved doctors, Dr. Dwight H. Murray, Sr. The Dwight Murray Plaza (the "Plaza") was for many years known for its prominent clock tower, outdoor conversation and entertainment pit, and waterfall fountain. Over time, however, the clock tower and fountain fell into disrepair, and in the early 2000s the Redevelopment Agency removed the clock tower, repurposed the fountain into a landscaped planter, and installed benches and tables with seats as an interim improvement until such time the City decided to undertake a more comprehensive renovation of the space.
Given its visible and central location on First and Brown streets, locals and visitors use the Plaza as a convenient downtown meeting place. In 2015, the City Council identified the renovation of the Plaza as a high priority project and subsequently approved $1.5 million for redesign and construction of the Plaza and an additional $250,000 from the Public Art Fund for public art in the Plaza in accordance with the approved Public Art Master Plan (June 2014).
In early 2015, the City engaged a planning and design consultant to prepare a new design plan for the Plaza and identify locations for public art as part of that process. The design process included exten...
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