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Pacific Grove accepts "Dancing Monarchs" sculpture gift; staff to recommend installation sites
Summary
Council unanimously accepted a donated stainless-steel-and-fused-glass sculpture titled "Dancing Monarchs" and directed staff to return with proposed installation locations after consulting BNRC and public-works considerations.
The Pacific Grove City Council unanimously accepted a donated outdoor sculpture, “Dancing Monarchs,” on May 21 and directed staff to return with candidate installation sites for council approval.
Environmental program staff presented the donation from Pacific Grove residents Jan and John Stewart. The work, by artist Peter Hazel of Reno, is a stainless-steel spiral with fused-glass butterflies, described in the project packet as approximately 12 feet high and 6 by 6 feet in diameter. BNRC (the Beautiful Natural Resources Commission) reviewed the proposal on April 15 and recommended that the council accept the donation.
Public commenters generally praised the gift as appropriate for “Butterfly Town” while one resident asked whether monarch butterflies are actually present at Chase Park and urged caution about a perceived mismatch between the subject and location. Others and BNRC noted the donors were open to site work and the commission offered to help with location scouting. Questions raised at the meeting included how the work would be anchored, who would install the footing, coastal permitting if placed inside the coastal zone, and long-term maintenance responsibility.
Staff and the donors responded that the artist would construct and install the sculpture and that the donors offered to fund installation of a footing; public-works staff and environmental programs will review site engineering needs and coastal permit requirements if a coastal-zone location is proposed. Council emphasized safety and security: commissioners and members of the public noted potential vandalism or climbing risks and requested that staff consider plantings or other design features to discourage climbing and protect the work.
Votes & next steps: A motion to accept the donation carried 7-0. Council then directed staff to return with proposed sites and any permitting or maintenance information needed for a final council decision on placement. BNRC offered to assist with location evaluation if requested.
Ending: Staff will bring a site-selection report to a future council meeting that addresses foundation/anchoring design, coastal-permit requirements if applicable, maintenance responsibilities and potential interpretive signage or pollinator plantings to support monarch habitat.
