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Home My WebLink About9-4-25 PAAC Agenda PacketPublic Art Advisory Committee Thursday, September 4, 2025 3:30 PM Harvat Hall City Hall, 410 E. Washington AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Public discussion of any items not on the agenda 3. Consider minutes of the July 10, 2025 PAAC Meeting 4. South East Junior High Longfellow Tunnel Painting Project 5. Local Option Sales Tax Presentation (City Manager’s Office) 6. Staff updates 7. Old or New Business 8. Adjournment If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please contact Rachel Kilburg Varley, Public Art Coordinator at 319-356-5248 or rkilburg@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. DRAFT, p.1 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 7/10/2025 Minutes Public Art Advisory Committee July 10, 2025 Emma J. Harvat Hall Public Art Advisory Committee Members Present: Leslie Finer, Andrea Truitt, Ron Knoche, Sophie Donta, Rachel Kinker, Anita Jung, Nate Sullivan, Stephanie Brunia Members Absent: Juli Seydell Johnson Staff present: Rachel Kilburg Varley Public Present: Gary Sanders Call to Order Truitt called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Introduction of New Member: Stephanie Brunia Brunia, appointed to the Art or Design Professional seat for an unexpired term vacated by Jeremy Endsley, introduced herself. Public Discussion of Any Item Not on the Agenda Gary Sanders provided public comment encouraging public art in Black Hawk Mini Park honoring Chief Black Hawk and a sign recognizing the area as a park. Officer Election: Vice Chair Anita Jung volunteered to serve as Vice Chair. Sullivan seconded the nomination and motion passed to appoint Jung as Vice Chair (8-0). Consider minutes of the June 5, 2025 PAAC meeting. Donta moved and Knoche seconded that the minutes from the June 5, 2025 meeting be approved. Motion passed (8-0). Arts Alliance Feasibility Study Presentation Kilburg Varley introduced Teva Dawson, founder of Group Creative Services, the consultant group hired to complete an Arts Alliance Feasibility Study. The Study is sponsored by the City, Iowa City Downtown District, and Think Iowa City and is being led by a Steering Committee formed of local arts and culture stakeholders. Dawson provided an overview of the process, explaining the purpose and goals, scope, timeline and phases of the Study and invited questions or comments from the Committee. Jung provided suggestions for other groups or connections to make during the input phase and expressed her support for the Study. Truitt asked when the Study DRAFT, p.2 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 7/10/2025 will be finalized and Teva shared that they are targeting early Fall and can continue to engage the Committee as desired. Teva asked the Committee for feedback on what needs they see in the arts community. Jung mentioned fostering community among the different arts groups and helping keep organizations sustainable. Sullivan shared that he hears many organizations struggle with promoting and marketing their events. Donta shared that the need for studio space, exhibition, and gallery space all emerged during the Strategic Planning process. Brunia pointed out Mindframe in Des Moines as a good example to look into. Staff thanked Teva for her presentation and invited Committee members to send any other feedback to her. Public Art Condition Survey & Report: Next Steps Kilburg Varley reported that her, Knoche, and Seydell Johnson met to refine the Condition Survey and Report provided by the Midwest Arts Conservation Center (MACC) to develop a plan to follow-up on restoration recommendations and plan annual maintenance activities. She recommended that the City contract with MACC to visit Iowa City to perform restoration on a sampling of the bronze sculptures and simultaneously train City staff to perform the maintenance in the future. She also noted that during the review it was discovered that a handful of artworks were inadvertently left off the survey, so MACC has agreed to perform a condition assessment on those during the visit for a small site fee. Finer made a motion to approve the recommendation for a contract with MACC for the bronze sculpture restoration and training, Sullivan seconded. Motion passed (8-0). Discuss FY26 Budget Priorities Kilburg Varley reviewed the memo in the agenda packet. She noted the FY2026 budget was decreased by $4,000 over the prior year. She asked the Committee to communicate their budget priorities for the coming year. Sullivan stated that maintenance should be a top priority due to recently completing the survey and several members agreed. Jung also stated that the matching grant should continue to be a priority and to also to maintain some flexibility within the budget to see what comes of the Arts Alliance Feasibility Study. Truitt suggested mapping gaps for public art and investment in the community. Finer also encouraged the Committee to consider opportunities for new requests, such as the idea in Black Hawk Mini Park suggested in public comment. DRAFT, p.3 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 7/10/2025 Kilburg Varley noted that the Sculptor’s Showcase funding hits every other year due to timing, and it will need to be budgeted for in FY2027. Sullivan made a motion to approve the FY2026 budget priorities as follows, Finer seconded. Motion passed (8-0). FY2026 Public Art Budget Priorities Programs 2026 Matching Grant Program $15,000 Sculptor’s Showcase* $0 Opportunity Fund** $15,000 Maintenance  MACC staﬀ training for artwork maintenance  Restora on of 1-2 exis ng pieces $20,000 Misc. Longfellow Tunnel Mural – SEJH Project $500 Misc: events, prin ng, plaques, etc. $1,500 TOTAL $52,000 Staff Updates Kilburg Varley noted that she will begin including a Public Art Strategic Plan progress tracker in the agenda packet and invited the Committee to provide feedback on how it can be most helpful. She also noted that Truitt will be presenting the Strategic Plan to City Council at their August 5, 2025 work session. Finally, she also noted that a ribbon cutting was held for Uplift and was a successful event. Sullivan asked if a plaque would be installed and staff noted it is being manufactured but will be installed. Old or New Business None. Adjournment Knoche moved to adjourn at 4:22 pm. Sullivan seconded. Motion passed (8-0). DRAFT, p.4 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 7/10/2025 Public Art Advisory Committee Attendance Record 2024-2025 Name Term Expires 6/6/24 8/1/24 9/5/24 10/3/24 11/7/24 12/5/24 2/6/25 3/6/25 4/3/25 5/1/25 6/525 7/1025 Ron Knoche N/A X X O/E X X* X X* X X* X X X Juli Seydell- Johnson N/A X X X X* X X X X X X* X --- Steve Miller 12/31/23 X X --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Eddie Boyken 12/31/24 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Andrea Truitt 12/31/25 O/E X X X X X X X X X X X Anita Jung 6/30/23 X X X O X X O O O O/E O/E X Jenny Gringer 12/31/23 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Jeremy Endsley 12/31/25 X X X O/E X O/E X X O/E --- --- --- Nate Sullivan 6/30/26 X X O/E X O/E O/E X O/E X X O/E X Leslie Finer 12/31/26 X X X X X X X X X X X X Rachel Kinker 12/31/27 X O/E X X O/E X X O/E X X X X Sophie Donta 12/31/26 --- --- --- --- X X O/E X X X X X Key: X = Present X* = Delegate attended O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member Updated: 9-1-25 PROGRESS TRACKER Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) Strategic Plan | FY2025–FY2030 Highlighted text = updates since last time MAINTENANCE & STEWARDSHIP Strategic Plan Action Item Status Summary Next Steps  Implement recommendations from the Public Art Condition Assessment; aiming to complete at least 1 maintenance or repair project per year. Signed Agreement with MACC to perform bronze treatments & training. $18 spent of $20k set-aside for maintenance in 2025.  Schedule restoration & training for bronze sculptures  Incorporate public education component  Update Public Art Management Guidelines to implement a timeline, process, and communication standards for removal or deaccessioning of aging, unsalvageable, or non-maintainable works. Not started  Review existing language and bring edits to PACC for discussion/approval – tentative Fall 2025  Maintain updated condition records and prioritize maintenance planning and budget set-aside annually.  Staff has begun working with Engineering Dept. to enter art inventory into the City’s asset management software (Cartegraph)  Review Cartegraph’s capabilities to schedule maintenance & restoration work orders Develop standard procedure for evaluating the anticipated lifespan and maintenance needs for new or proposed permanent installations. Not started  Review existing language and procedures and bring recommendation to PACC for discussion/approval Continues on next page Updated: 9-1-25 ARTIST WORKFORCE & LOCAL CREATIVE ECONOMY Strategic Plan Action Item Status Summary Next Steps  Continue annual public art grant program; aiming to increase visibility and grow the diversity of applicants, project types, and locations. Not started StaA will issue a brief survey or informal email to past grant recipients to request feedback on advantages or barriers to our existing grant format. Prior to 2026 grant program cycle, discuss ideas and opportunities to increase visibility and diversity – tentative late Fall/early Winter 2025 Offer professional development resources or info sessions for local artists twice annually. Not started Receive input from PAAC regarding priorities for info sessions or professional development resources and identify local partners. Help connect local artists with accessible and affordable studio space and exhibition opportunities through partners and existing community assets. Not started Create asset map of existing opportunities in the community. continues on next page Updated: 9-1-25 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & FUNDING Strategic Plan Action Item Status Summary Next Steps Identify external grant programs and funding opportunities (state, federal, philanthropic, or community partner cost-sharing) that may support organizational or stakeholder initiatives. Committee member Kinker has identiﬁed tools/platforms to help local artists and organizations search for funding opportunities. Identify and execute partnerships and opportunities to promote these tools. Collaborate to support the partner-led Arts Alliance Feasibility Study and agreeable recommendations resulting from the effort. Arts Alliance Feasibility Study is underway. TBD after study is completed. Through creative partnerships and/or programs, identify and promote underutilized indoor locations for pop-up or temporary art exhibits. Not started Not yet identiﬁed  Establish public art relationship with the University of Iowa. Not started Not yet identiﬁed  Elevate Iowa City Public Art communications through strategic and consistent content on existing City platforms. StaA met with Communications Dept to develop strategic, consistent public art marketing plan & social media content calendar. “Public Art” day on City’s social accounts = ﬁrst Wednesday of every month. Communications staA to implement plan. StaA has content plan available for viewing if you are interested or have ideas. Convene an annual Arts Stakeholder meeting and prioritize regular, informal meet-ups with local arts groups and institutions. Not started PAAC to identify purpose/desired outcome for Arts Stakeholder meeting, then set date. continues on next page Updated: 9-1-25 PLACE-BASED EXPANSION & COMMUNITY ACCESS Strategic Plan Action Item Status Summary Next Steps Identify underserved neighborhoods and/or public spaces to proactively target through existing City Public Art and Neighborhood Outreach grant programs. Not started After Cartegraph asset inventory is complete, overlay public art map with neighborhood associations; staA to collaborate with Neighborhood Outreach Specialist to identify targeted areas.  Enhance and re-activate existing digital public art map(s) to promote the current collection and guide self-led tours. Not started StaA is currently researching other city’s public art maps.  Continue to prioritize pop-up, temporary, or mobile art experiences through community partnerships or annual grant programs each year. 2025 grant awards underway. Form a working group to vet possible strategies & program ideas for partnerships and/or funding opportunities (item below). Execute a targeted funding opportunity or grant program set-aside for 2D/indoor installations and/or displays facilitated in public facilities. Not started See above.  Support a major River-focused public art initiative by 2027, in collaboration with local and university stakeholders. Think Iowa City is leading Better Together 2030 river activation pillar and staA has informed them of this Strategic Planning item to stay in collaboration as work progresses. Form working group to develop a pop- up, river focused pilot program in 2026 to build momentum. -end-