City of Laredo, Texas Fine Arts and Culture Commission, 24 Feb 2023

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Fine Arts Committee Meeting 022323

A

It is 5 43.

A

And we'll go ahead and start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

A

Pledge allegiance of the United States.

A

A

Carlos Abraham Florida, Rosie, Santo, cousin Rodriguez.

B

Jesse Shaw.

C

A

Do we have any citizens comments for today? No.

B

Nothing has come.

A

Okay, so then we'll move on to the minutes, um I, don't know if everybody already had an opportunity to read the minutes.

D

It's from November.

C

Yes, we did have a meeting in December and no Quorum in January.

A

Will somebody make a motion to approve.

E

A

Okay, wonderful and then we'll move on to announcements and Communications I.

C

Just wanted to give you an update on the Lafayette overpass public Bar, um the city went out for our accused or request for uh qualifications for a public art manager. uh We had Mr Shaw and Miss from our our committee commission that were the health score. The rfqs that came in City comes from the proved, a selection of up art studio in January 17th, and we have received the proposal from up art studio for the scope of work.

C

It is currently being reviewed at the legal department and hopefully it'll get approved in March at city council.

A

Angie I don't know if it was discussed about the way we had asked that maybe they can also hire out some of the local artists that proposed some of the art cues.

C

um If they go out for qualifications- and we did have I, think local artists, but it needs to be submitted for you know what they were asking for. They need to respond to the how how the RFQ went out um and well the the only one that really did was up Studio.

A

Okay, my question my question: no of Art Studio: do they have their own.

C

Artists, no um and and I have what they're, proposing and they're they're proposing to get local artists, but I cannot share the contract with you until it's actually signed with City management, so I I, it's gonna, have hopefully local contributions for that. There's 17.

C

Petals in the bridge, I don't know, but um the the scope of work is what they're going to be doing and in there is higher, hopefully, hiring people from look locally. Yes, but I will bring you and that's further down on the update of public art as to how the the process is going to work and your role.

B

C

We will bring that contract once.

E

Inside so you want to, will we be able to see the you know the the proposed Architects coming up well.

C

The proposed art right now, no um that right now, it's just their scope of work. What they're going to be doing, how they're going to be organizing it because there's no designs, no, not yet no, not yet but I'll, uh hopefully in the March meeting, I'll, be able to bring you the final contract as it is signed.

C

A

Because that was I, don't know if you all got to see the RFQ, but that was one of the only things that Jesse and I saw that they they handle the scope of work, but they themselves don't actually paint the murals. So we recommended that they hire out some local talents, some local muralists, to to come in and help with the project and.

C

I think they're gonna just be managing the work.

B

C

The artists or groups of artists that make their proposals.

D

Well, that that was their job anyway, to begin with, no.

C

No, the way that it's being done, let's say: I have a public art project. They will ask for a manager, so uh somebody's going to come in and manage the work.

D

Okay, wait: what is that part of the city plan well and I? Guess the master plan and.

C

That's in your pocket, it's the the role of engineering and your role. I have invited uh Mr Chavez to come in and talk to you about how that would be done, um but he's out of towns when he sends us.

A

So moving forward for any public art projects, the city engineering department is going to oversee any rfqs that are proposed by the city and so he's going to be our liaison right.

C

A

C

If you're still going to be meeting here, he he's going to be reading liaison between.

A

When it comes to yeah, so uh right now is asking particular about the Lafayette Street mural. So uh oh, they were one of the ones who submitted an RFQ. For this sorry.

D

um So up artist is the people that we that.

C

Would say right.

D

C

So for individual projects, they're going to be asking for a project manager: okay, okay,.

B

The one that's.

C

Going to be putting out the request for proposals and just handling that part of it, okay,.

E

The college that particular person going to be paid or how does.

C

That work they have submitted a proposal for the contract. um I, don't know how they're going to be paid, but honestly I don't know they. They submitted a proposal. I'm.

A

Assuming it would have come from the the public.

C

A

C

It doesn't say on the on the I guess: when it passes city council, they have to say where the.

B

C

Are coming so as of right now, I don't know, but I'm, assuming it's going to be from there. So they're coming.

F

In as a consultant, it's like a design projects.

C

A project manager they're the ones that are instead of uh the city going out for bids from for artists they're, the ones that are going to be putting that out.

A

So in looking at the rfus, though, I did I think moving forward, a design should be included, because that was one of the things that even the artist no one was asked to submit a design. No.

C

No it's to manage the project. Okay, I mean I, don't know if it could be them or they're.

A

Probably gonna they're still going to be open calls.

C

So I believe so does it manage and then it's it's going to be part of the contract, managing the process of working with an artist or Artist Artist team on design development and creating collaboration with the fine arts and culture commission and the City of Laredo. So.

A

We'll be part of the design process as well. It's.

C

D

This is for this one project and.

C

A

There's people that apply yes, and so we are meeting with the other local people. They didn't submit a full application and everything that was required so.

G

That's? Why? Because their application was incomplete,.

D

G

Oh people didn't complete the application, so we had to go to somebody else.

A

Yeah, it's a it's a lengthy application. It.

C

Is and if things are missing that are required.

B

F

C

Just some forms where you like a conflict of interest, form that you need to sign and submit it with it it some of them did not include that yeah.

D

How many were submitted? There were three.

E

Also experienced in living with any kind of job similar to the one that they're going to perform and they need to provide information on that.

C

Examples where they've.

E

Done this before so.

C

D

These were artists or a manager position the manager position. It was.

C

For a project manager, oh.

D

Okay um to manage this District.

C

I learned so we had a up Art, Studio Escape Productions from Laredo Texas and Antonio boronia from Laredo.

D

Texas and those were the only three that were the only three that came in.

C

Oh, that came in and.

B

C

Other two correct made memorang were not complete the application they were not complete, so the only one we consider was Art of Art Studio and it is I mean the their proposal. For what they're going to be doing is it's kind of complicated yeah? Yes, it really is, but I will bring you the final contract, so you can see exactly what they'll be doing and it's not producing me or it's managing the project.

D

C

They they do have a lot of experience with that. Well,.

D

I thought that was always going to be their role anyway, not producing.

C

Artery, managing no, no, no they're they're robust to himself.

D

Oh okay, so now they've been hired to manage this.

C

Particular project got it um they're, also developing uh standard operating procedures for artists right so I I, don't know the status of that if it's been approved or not, but the funding is already there from the last contract. Okay,.

A

Okay, so then uh we'll go ahead and move on to stock reports.

E

What happened to the the layers of metals and letters that were going to be proposed, so we're already made, and they were asking for artists to to I.

C

Don't think it got that far.

E

C

Know we were preparing one site which was the South Branch library to have the letters, but we have not heard back from convention and visitors bureau well.

A

I don't know about that project.

C

It was metal, metal letters, and this was a CBB project, Laredo letters different heights, depending on where they were, and they were going to have artists right on them kind.

B

B

G

C

That um I don't know where that that's at right now, but.

G

I can find out from my can I ask one more question on the Lafayette project Rosie. What is that, when is that slated to begin.

A

I don't know the the.

C

um Let me see if she provides the timeline, because.

B

A

Just started as of January, and it got approved at the this January meeting correct.

C

Yes, January 17th.

C

um He said she has a Time as soon as I believe as soon as they sign the contract and it's not going to go in for approval to city council until the 20th of March, so bring probably hopefully maybe a month to go out for for requests for proposal from artists. Maybe in May it's still. It's still a ways out and.

G

Is there a budget for this project.

C

uh I do not know the uh they're proposing how much they're going to charge and that's where they'll figure out. If there's funding for it.

G

The project management group is going to figure out what they're going.

C

To try no they've, given us a proposal as to how much they're going to charge uh it's up to for us to come up where the budget, where the money is coming from the funds. So when it passes city council, they have to identify a funding source I'm, assuming it's going to be from the the two percent of our well, that's, obviously, what.

D

It was about yes, yeah.

B

C

Are installation and project delivery they're, estimating three months from.

G

C

Signed from when it's performed when it starts yeah.

D

So were the letters part of the also the city master plan, no.

C

That was a completely different funding from the convention and visitors.

E

Okay, but they were supposed to forward I, think some of the.

C

Artwork signs to.

E

D

Or comment or something, okay,.

E

Another thing that we talked about and I think it was at the Sears uh mentioned that she was going to look into it, which was the possibility of having plaques for the different murals that we have in the Parks.

D

E

Yeah I don't know if that went through if she was able to find.

C

Out I, don't think I, don't think she she's approached.

E

Anybody because, unless she said that uh that she didn't have any understanding, whether uh murals done previous to would be included. But.

C

I can find.

B

C

That I feel that anyways.

B

That should be right. They should be right.

E

But yeah we'll see.

E

C

The understaffed reports you do have a copy of the biannual report, correct that was submitted um for July 20 2022 through December um I, know that that uh the list of the Commissioners have have changed. But this is what was in the books December at.

D

The end of December: do you have the new list.

C

Of if you practically the same, we just have vacancies in district one and two.

C

um I don't know if.

D

Dr Colin Campbell is no longer with us.

C

No, he if he was it, was forfeited because he had more than four absences. Okay and I. Don't know that if the new uh city council is there going to be a report, I know they appointed you Gail.

D

D

Yeah great very nice man, Dr Tyler,.

D

So but the other people here they're all still there, no no.

C

um Armando Lopez um was replaced with Miss Amici.

D

Oh Mantle's, not here anymore, okay,.

D

C

If they district one district, one, that would be um the new one, the new, um what's the.

D

Person's name Gonzalez, okay,.

C

No, no that's descriptive. Yet.

D

She's also in the council.

C

Yes, so you're pointing no.

D

Oh Melissa, so that's Merck's, space, okay, Melissa, Sierra, okay, okay,.

C

Okay, but one and two right now are are vacant. We don't have any okay, anybody appointed just yet.

B

D

Well, what about the mayor? Because his Feet's no longer than there.

C

um Mr Shaw stays okay. uh Until the mayor appoints somebody or reappoints Mr Scott I mean he doesn't reappoint them Mr shop because he needs to serve customers. Now, doctor crazy.

C

A

Are there any updates on the public master plan.

C

um I was gonna, have uh Mr Chavez the city engineer to come in and give you a summary of what the role of his role the.

G

C

Show and uh of course, the commission's role, so he did send me an email he apologizes he couldn't be here, he's he was traveling out of town, but it's. This is just a copy of the list that he gave us. Okay um and I can read it out loud. The engineering department will present all submissions to the fine arts and culture commission. Further review and approval they will approve, they will not approve engineering department will not approve any artwork rendence or other art components.

C

Without the approval of the Fine Arts, they will manage the executed contract and will provide a copy to the commission once it's executed by the city manager, and they will act as Liaisons between the Fine Arts, commission and the public library for all related uh items under the scope of work as part of whatever contract it may be, and they will they are going to be the ones approving payments based on the percentage of work completed.

C

So um you will still have a very big part in in the selected.

D

Arts so Mr Ramon Chavez is the city engineer.

C

D

Does he have people working with.

C

D

Mean that would be involved with this, or is it really just him.

C

No, no, he has people, I mean I'm, sure he's not the one. Okay.

D

D

Do we have anything else.

A

um Well, we already discussed by Lafayette over past.

C

A

Project is there anything else that you needed to add to that? Oh no,.

C

uh As soon as I.

B

C

The contract I will bring you a copy that way. You'll know what the scope of work of of Studio is going to be. Okay,.

A

And did um Eileen have any other, like updates for us. No.

C

No I I tried to reach out to her, but I know that she's been traveling a lot so.

A

Are there any other possible projects that the city was looking at as.

C

Far as I know, right now, no, but uh I did talk to him when I asked him to please let me know when things are coming that way. I can give you all heads up of anything. Coming up, I mean, and this is things that are coming through. You know there could be other projects that that may be. uh Maybe a council member.

B

C

Asking for but I'll try to keep you updated on. What's coming up.

G

Do not initiate projects for art and on this commission, do you just work with whatever's initiated.

C

By council members is that what that has been the practice? Yes, this.

G

B

C

Initiated by by councilman Alisa.

D

But that's not to say that we see we're supposed to meet with our council person, okay once a month or something and have conversations, and so that's not to say that we cannot suggest something to them. If you have something in mind in your District that you that you're representing here, um we can talk to our council members and they have discretionary funds for things as.

G

D

Or if they want a project that they could, you know have something to say about I, don't know, but we we can interact with them. Okay. So it's good to know your the district that we're representing and what's out there and hopefully you know some of their discretionary funds would go to art or.

C

If I'm in the public park.

G

If they, if we can get it right, if we get them to initiate something.

D

But that money is designated for what's it called only.

G

um Public spaces, okay,.

A

Space is affiliated with the city. It's.

D

The buildings new building projects that the city is CIP.

C

D

Clothing line buildings, it's.

C

D

It's only that the two percent that we.

B

D

Lobby for is going towards that.

C

um Not not the new build well, not any, but any new bill, let's say: I'm, building a new library. Well, two percent of that has to go up there. Budget for art right um and I'll I'll. Send you the link for the master plan? Okay, um let's say it's, it's something anything above ground.

G

C

G

But we can initiate art on any city building.

C

We can't we can't well. This money has to be City for on city property, right, that's right! Yeah! They have to be built. A City built right, yeah there used to be the murals grant that could be on private property, but that has not been funded and.

D

They haven't funded it in a long time and I, don't know if we could request that that be refunded, maybe through.

A

Was there anybody left in the budget no.

C

No, no, not for that. One I think we were able to fund two two murals right with that, and that specifically was for private property. You need to get permission from the right from.

D

The I know that I know that there were murals um funded by discretionary funds. Honorable.

B

Even after that so yeah that's.

D

What's been happening with the murals, they are being funded by the discretionary function and the first time out.

C

That John funded everybody got their share so that each.

D

Right they they distributed that money to each the city council. We.

C

Apons in 2019.

A

I have a question now that the boonie branch is going to be reopened. Would there be um a possible project to put some public art there, like in the plaza or because.

C

It's already existing building yeah it's already an existing building. I know that they're gonna remodel it I still don't know because I the library's, not in the whole building we're only in a small footprint. Okay, oh so the rest of the bill. I still don't know. What's going to be going in, there wait.

D

Did we have a meeting there one time Jimmy, no I went there a long time.

F

Ago, oh, yes, yes, we had a meeting there one time a long time ago,.

C

D

We've been on for the very beginning.

C

You may be thinking about the Inner City branch.

B

D

Where we met I, remember yeah yeah, that's where it was yeah. No.

C

Rooney I, don't think, there's a lot of room for us. Okay, at least the Library part. Okay, yeah.

D

Yeah I knew we met someplace.

B

D

Would be nice to have a sculpture there, yeah I know beautiful, sculpture,.

A

Since it's reopening, you know they're remodeling it that falls in within I'll.

C

Have to check yeah no well if it's using CIP funding, but.

D

I, don't think yeah. If it's not using CIP funding, then it doesn't qualify that.

B

D

Mean the council person in that District cannot have.

C

Commissions, a.

D

Good commission, or put out a call to artists.

E

To get something, what district is downtown Alyssa.

D

F

F

Real quick who's deciding what projects are part of the CIP, so I know the city goes out for bids on millions of dollars. You know a year uh who's deciding whether a project qualifies for those funds and who is in charge of the design process.

B

D

Isn't it said that any CIP building yeah.

F

D

Have public art, yeah.

F

But I I personally have seen.

C

Department, which was qualified, and there is a set amount for this year- yeah, don't ask me how much is.

F

The one that says, okay, this this project here, let's just say, okay, we're going to remodel this building right.

D

D

The city, the master plan, isn't it part of the master plan.

C

D

Art the public course it doesn't escape that every CIP project will have art.

F

Well, CIP funds right yeah, but like for instance, right now we go to you, know up for bills, there's none. They have CIP money in there.

F

um I maybe saw one last year off of a trail with some River features and stuff like that, where I had some CIP plugs, but I haven't seen any other ones, so who's the one deciding whether okay, this remodel.

C

This is going to get funded. This is not um that that's on city council, they vote for the budget every year um they can, we can submit. We want a new library building and it's determined annually whether it's going to be funded or.

F

Not so um I guess, my question is: if you have a million dollars worth of budget right off of the city's full budget.

B

F

um You know you have 10 projects out of those 10 projects, who's deciding which one's getting the CIP funds is my question, because the city council can't isn't going to do that unless it's already been designed by a consultant was.

A

I think it was right.

D

Yeah any any project that is.

B

D

Because there aren't any projects, I assume right now, except the Lafayette one.

F

No there's no there's a bunches.

D

There's a bunch of punches, but what projects are they? What are they.

F

I've seen some from remember, in fact they did the Conseco house recently.

C

F

See any CIP monies for that one and.

C

It might be that it is not CIP money.

D

Yeah they're using it has to be CIP money.

F

Right so construction projects right.

C

Yeah every model I, don't think, would qualify uh any. It's got to be anything above ground that uses CIP money. Yeah. That's true! That's.

A

B

E

B

A

E

Same thing bridge is not something that it's not was recently right. No.

D

It doesn't have to be recent, it just has to have CIP funding.

C

Well- and it might not be, it might be that Mrs using performance, I.

F

C

Where the funding source is yeah, but uh but we can find out.

D

Yes- and we recalled there was some.

F

Money left over yeah because I've seen I've seen learning none um just on last year, maybe one that I could come up in the top.

C

Of mind yeah, and it could be that one year you there is no money for art. It depends yeah. Okay, that's.

F

One of the things because you know, if you have these, what constitutes that CIP money right, let's just say you have a a like you- put an example, a new library right and that new library cost 10 million dollars whatever. That is right. Two percent is supposed to go to Art right.

B

F

You know who's deciding whether that is.

A

Automatically done.

D

I do too, if it's a VIP project, then it's automatically two percent right.

C

D

What I understand well.

C

Like I do have a new library in in the CIP plan: okay, but it's not funded for this year. So.

F

There's no yeah, so if there's an actual CIP plan, yes,.

C

Yes and I I, don't have it with me and I know we. uh We brought it before you before to show you what got funded. Let me look.

D

Yeah it'd be great to have that information, because.

C

Somehow the finance department determined that it was two percent of these projects. Oh.

F

Okay, so you guys have set aside a certain amount of projects that you guys are very deemed that these are going to go. Two percent for CIP, okay,.

C

If there's other CIP projects like if you're doing you know some kind of groundwork, underground.

D

B

D

Ground buildings or structures, or whatever.

F

That makes sense.

G

Every projects that are approved.

C

Funds and then they'll say: okay you're getting this much.

G

And so when, when do those projects come out, when does that yeah? When do the list of those projects come up, they.

C

Get approved in September the end of September to to start in October. Our budget is October to September.

B

Fiscal year so before.

C

The new physical year starts, city council approves.

G

Those so there are projects right now and there's some funding right now that we could.

D

Look at to see what, if we can get a list of those things yeah yeah, so we would be aware, which is a good idea for us to be aware. Otherwise we don't know anything yeah we're in the dark and then.

F

The other, the other question, I guess just it'd- be possible to talk to Ramon. As far as how he's allocating that is it through an allowance. Is it through yeah.

C

That's the reason I wanted because there's some questions that.

D

C

Can't talk not answer.

D

C

I don't know uh how last this year's allocation is working if they're like doing it like the previous year, where they give a certain percentage to each.

C

Either saving half of it for one big project and then giving some to the each of the.

D

Districts but I didn't know that was part of it. I thought it was strictly yeah.

F

Two percent, but two.

D

Percent that the city had to give for art for those projects, CIP projects, I, didn't I, don't remember it ever being we're gonna give it to the council. People well.

C

Unless you decided at that level, I mean.

D

C

D

It was only decided that one yeah, when they decided not to give it to us yeah.

E

Everything is theirs.

D

Yes, oh I know that.

C

You could hey, we want this up and they don't know.

D

But then they approved the master plan and within that Master.

A

B

A

D

Whatever yeah, it was.

F

Gonna have to go to the voter, though, if it's such a big Bill, like that you're taking money off of taxpayers as a two percent or.

A

D

F

The way, no because it's kind of confusing right now that.

D

We're talking about it's like the allotted uh funding for that project. It's.

F

Two percent they're.

D

Taking two percent for art- in other words, it's part of the project right, but the witness.

F

That the staff is explaining- that's not the case, it.

C

Wasn't it wasn't before on 2019 there was a certain amount allotted and they decided to split yeah.

A

You you provided a budget breakdown for each district and each.

C

What they had left over some have already used like uh councilman Torres used it for the Clark.

D

Right they got all that money in their discretionary.

E

And the thing is that they selected the persons that they wanted to do the work.

D

That's right: we had nothing to say about it, because it was their discretionary.

C

D

B

C

I'm sure he it wasn't enough, for it, I mean he had to use, find some other funding, I'm sure councilman daughters for the for the Clark.

D

Oh, oh I know: I, live in the hike we live in the nights, we see it every day and then uh councilman's body used it for the Russell mural.

G

Right that was uh yeah five years ago. Oh.

C

Were you there yeah when they're trying to decide whether to let her do it or not? Yeah.

E

That all the time we were getting ten thousand dollars of people to do, murals that you know the one that that young man did on that building. That is the history of of.

A

Oh yeah, yeah I.

E

Mean I'm pretty sure that he spent most of the money in Pace I mean the the list.

C

Yeah and then that was another special case, because that was funded through uh Community Development as part of the building yeah.

D

D

And the reason he got it was because.

D

Is because the others like didn't, qualify or sent once again.

G

C

Money yeah, like.

D

Something happened that we ended up. He was the only one who qualified me, but we liked it anyway. I.

E

Mean we all agree.

B

D

You you turn in your paperwork and there was. It was missing, something I.

E

Don't remember.

D

Yeah I have a question on those projects that are pending, who determines what projects are going to be done? First,.

A

B

A

Asking who takes priority like.

B

F

A

Okay, it's going to be Lafayette, then we're gonna. Do this I right.

C

Now it's really the council person, that's that's what I was talking about yeah, whatever comes.

D

But if it's a two percent money is used for that, then isn't it unfair that if you have only one council person, that's wishing for that, council person will probably be pushing for all the ones that he wants for his history. That was that's what I'm concerned about, because then it wouldn't be fair.

D

We need a committee or somebody to determine because hey two percent, let's say one year, we have a lot of new buildings coming in or whatever and there's some a lot of money for projects and then it depends who who is calling for those projects and.

A

Well, there's going to be fast for them or maximum amount of projects right.

C

No, no, um the plan calls for the if that's a new building, that two percent stays with that building for.

G

C

um She also suggested that maybe part of it go from one major project: city-wide, not just any right.

D

It's okay! If it was like somebody that is what it's calling for I don't know.

G

Yeah building is in a specific District, then that money stays in.

C

That that's two percent, that's.

G

Not a city-wide thing, because I would think going back to what you were saying that it would be incumbent upon us to really Lobby our different District, our city council. People, to you know, really push them to to kind of say: hey we want art in our district. I would think that would be one of our roles.

D

That is one of our roles, but yeah.

G

But but if but if it's only but the money has to stay, I mean ask for our new development in the Heights. We're not going to ever see. If that's great.

B

C

The way it goes we're not going to receive that no and that or another thing I mean that's why it got spit the first time. I, don't know how they're splitting it up this time, uh but as per the master plan, you know I'm building a new library here. Two percent of that budget is supposed to go towards some art feature for that building.

F

I think this is where, where Ramon I keep saying, it gives us a lot of insight. Also because, if it's being written inside of the contract for the contractor.

B

As an allowance.

F

Right, that's also kind of.

C

Agree and that's really kind of what happened with with uh the one from Community Development. The contractor had.

B

To write it into into the account the.

A

One for what, for.

C

A

Ricky Castillo.

C

A

Okay, so I will make sure.

C

You have a lot of technical questions and hopefully he'll be able to answer them.

A

Do we want to go ahead and reschedule learn.

C

Excuse me if we are scheduled, if we keep to the the schedule, would be March 16th that is spring break, so I don't know. If you want to move it.

E

C

Move it for the 23rd yeah.

D

C

Because yeah any art stuff going on I.

D

Mean well I'll, be honest, dancing on the 24th in Houston, okay,.