City Council accepts donated carved granite monument; committee to submit memo of thanks

Portland City Council accepted a gift of public art — a carved granite monument proposed for the parcel adjacent to India Street and Fourth Street — the Public Art Committee reported during a remote meeting.

Sean, city staff, told the committee the council accepted the donation from applicants Judy Kendrick and Jim DeBaez and that staff had worked with Portland Water (the landowner) to finalize an easement to provide public access. Sean said there were no council questions and no public comments during the brief item at council.

Committee members who attended the council meeting said they were ready to speak in support but did not get the chance because the council agenda moved quickly. Judy Kendrick, who joined the committee meeting during the public-comment segment, thanked the committee and council for supporting the gift: “I’m happy to join you this evening. You feel like a, a group of friendly faces… I look forward to continuing work with you,” she said.

The acquisitions and governance subcommittees will draft a memo of thanks and record the committee’s support in the public record; committee members said they will circulate the draft language and send project files to newly seated member Justin Levesque so he can review the project history.

The committee also described its liaison model for new projects: one committee member meets with applicants to explain submission requirements and stewardship expectations before a formal acquisitions review.

Separately, committee members said Daniel Minter and Alice Spencer are preparing a proposal for a permanent piece at East Bayside Kennedy Park field; staff asked them to target the packet deadline for the committee’s August meeting or, if needed, submit for consideration in September.