Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art Lease topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves three-year $160,000 lease for temporary sculptures at Smart Financial Center over objections
Summary
The council approved a three-year artwork lease with Cozo Industries LLC totaling $160,000 (annual $40,000 plus $40,000 for install/deinstall), funded by the Sugar Land 4B Corporation; the measure passed 5-2 after debate about purchase vs. lease and use of 4B funds.
The Sugar Land City Council approved a three-year artwork lease with Cozo Industries LLC on July 15 to install three large sculptures at the Smart Financial Center plaza. The contract totals $160,000 — $40,000 per year for three years plus $40,000 for installation and deinstallation services — and passed 5-2.
Nicole Guevara, a city staff member, said the city opted to lease rather than purchase the pieces because the company’s works are expensive and the city wanted a temporary installation to test how the plaza is activated. “So we did look at that, but at the end of the day, we decided that for the purpose of this, this plaza, we wanted something that was a little bit more temporary so that we could look at how it activated the plaza, what sort of engagement we got with the pieces,” Guevara said. She added that the lease requires Cozo Industries to maintain and make repairs if there is damage.
Council member Boettcher asked to see images and asked whether the city had considered purchasing the pieces. Guevara said a permanent purchase would be “very expensive,” and that long-term maintenance also favored leasing. Council member Jacobson confirmed the expenditure will come from the Sugar Land 4B Corporation, a quarter-cent sales tax fund for quality-of-life projects, not from property-tax general fund dollars.
Council member Jacobson said constituents expect the city not to increase the property tax rate and questioned using 4B funds for a temporary $160,000 installation; he moved to table the item but the motion received no second. A motion to approve was later made by Whatley, seconded by Jacobson, and the measure passed 5-2. The transcript does not record which council members voted no.
Discussion only: council debated purchase vs. lease, long-term maintenance responsibilities and location/activation of the plaza. Decision: council approved the three-year lease funded by the 4B Corporation. The lease requires Cozo Industries to handle repairs; the city did not provide a purchase price or long-term maintenance cost estimate during the meeting.
