Committee refers proposed Santo Cangulo lighting installation to public art review committee

The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on Sister Cities voted to refer a proposed donation of a lighting-art installation from Santo Cangulo to the city's Public Art Review Committee for review of location, safety, power needs and compatibility with historic districts. Committee members said the installation — described in a letter from Santo Cangulo's mayor and created by a lighting artist who has produced similar works internationally — could require review by multiple city departments. "This talks about location, safety, reviewing with the fire department, all that stuff that would need to happen before we even think about putting this thing up over the street," Christie said. Committee members noted the Historic District Commission and the Department of Public Works would likely have input. A motion to send the donation prospect to the Public Art Review Committee was made and seconded and then approved. Members emphasized that the sister-cities committee lacked the technical and regulatory expertise to make siting and safety determinations and that a formal public-art review would help clarify maintenance, power and historic-preservation implications. The committee asked staff to make the referral promptly so the Public Art Review Committee could assess the proposal in time for any potential visit from Santo Cangulo's mayor in October.