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OCII authorizes Arts Commission to use $1.13 million for Mission Bay South public art
Summary
The Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure approved an MOU with the San Francisco Arts Commission to spend $1,125,424 in Mission Bay South in-lieu public-art fees on a Park P2 project and to follow a joint artist selection process that favors local artists and includes community workshops.
The Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure on June 1 approved a memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Arts Commission to use $1,125,424 in in-lieu public-art fees for a public art project in Mission Bay South’s Park P2.
OCII project manager Mark Slutskin told commissioners the funding comes from developers that chose to pay fees instead of building on-site art and that the MOU would let the Arts Commission lead selection, installation and long-term maintenance. Staff proposed OCII appoint two representatives to the artist-review panel and recommended Chair Bustos and Commissioner Beiser serve as those representatives.
“The request today is to authorize the interim executive director to enter into an MOU with the Arts Commission and to approve the public art project plan for Park P2,” Slutskin said.
The Arts Commission’s public art director, Susan Pontius, said the commission will run an RFQ, convene an artist qualification panel and select three finalists for community workshops and final approval. The timetable presented calls for the Visual Arts Commission review on June 16, an RFQ issuance on June 21 with an August 6 deadline, finalist selection in late August, final proposals by October 8 and a final decision on December 6.
The project budget is $1,125,424, with staff presenting a split of 20% for administration, 10% for long-term conservation and 70% for the artwork itself; 10% of the art cost is reserved for contingency. Staff said maintenance of the civic-arts collection will be the Arts Commission’s responsibility, with OCII landscape crews assisting with routine cleaning.
During public comment, Mr. DeCosta urged the commission to redirect funds to community centers and to ensure indigenous communities are directly compensated, arguing Mission Bay is public-trust land and that Muwekma Ohlone descendants should receive tangible benefits. Commissioners pressed staff and the Arts Commission on outreach to Native and other local artists; Pontius and project manager Jackie Ventresco described prior projects that included direct partnership with Native communities and said local applicants will receive scoring preference.
Vice Chair Rosales moved the MOU and project plan; Commissioner Brackett seconded. The commission approved the item by voice roll call (4 ayes, 1 absent). The approved resolution is listed as resolution 19-2021. The Arts Commission and OCII staff said they will conduct community outreach and issue the RFQ as scheduled.
