APPC approves $75,000 from Public Art Fund for Ruth Asawa panels

The Santa Rosa Art in Public Places Committee voted to approve a $75,000 allocation from the Public Art Fund to Artworks Foundry for casting restored Ruth Asawa panels intended for Old Courthouse Square.

Meredith, arts program staff, told the committee the original contract for the panels was signed on 01/11/2022 for $300,000, but subsequent reviews uncovered additional work and increases in size and cost. “So it was thought to be 277 square feet, but it was actually 328 feet,” Meredith said. She told the committee the foundry has provided a new quote of $546,165 and the city has already paid roughly $30,000 for scanning the panels.

The project’s cost increase reflected several factors staff listed to the committee: the panels required more repair work than originally expected; additional square footage was discovered; the original contract did not account for tax and some fabrication costs; and casting materials and labor prices have risen. Meredith said staff added a 5% contingency (roughly $25,000) to the estimate.

Meredith described the committee’s current Public Art Fund balance as $537,000 across related accounts, with roughly $407,000 in the project fund. She said staff identified about $57,000 of encumbered contract balances that could be returned to the public art fund and recommended moving $75,000 from the Public Art Fund to the Artworks Foundry contract to cover the shortfall. “I think, that looking at our budget, and the importance of these panels for our community, my recommendation today is that we pull $75,000 aside to put into this Artworks Foundry contract for these panels from the Public Art Fund,” Meredith said.

Committee members asked where remaining funds would come from and were told additional funding sources remain under consideration and final approval from the city manager is required before forwarding the contract to the City Council. Meredith told the committee the foundry could begin casting this summer after council approval. She also said staff were exploring temporary display options in Courthouse Square if panels are ready before the overall fountain restoration is complete.

Committee members discussed timing for public outreach tied to a major Ruth Asawa retrospective at SFMOMA. One member suggested coordinating an announcement to coincide with regional attention to Asawa’s work; Meredith said staff would wait for a confirmed timeline from the foundry before making a public schedule.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve $75,000 from the Public Art Fund to Artworks Foundry for casting the Ruth Asawa panels for Old Courthouse Square. Mover: “Devel.”; Second: Kristen Kiefer. Vote recorded (named): Chair Nathanson — Aye; Vice Chair Kristen Kiefer — Aye; Committee member Fuentes — Aye; Committee member Faulkner — Aye; Committee member O’Brien — Aye. Outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous). - Motion: Elect Kristen Kiefer as vice chair (committee organization). Mover: committee member (name not specified); Second: committee member (name not specified). Vote recorded (named): Chair Nathanson — Aye; Vice Chair Kristen Kiefer — Aye; Committee member Fuentes — Aye; Committee member Faulkner — Aye. Outcome: approved.

Why it matters: The panels are identified as an important public-art restoration for Old Courthouse Square; staff said the additional funds will allow casting in bronze and move the project toward installation pending city-manager and City Council approvals.

Next steps: Staff must secure final approvals from the city manager and the City Council. If approved, the foundry expects to begin work this summer; staff will return with a confirmed timeline and a public outreach plan once the schedule is finalized.