Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves on-site restoration for City Park steel sculpture; budget timing discussed
Summary
The committee approved a restoration proposal for a large hemicylindrical steel sculpture in City Park using an on-site garnet-blasting method. Staff described a $8,500–$9,950 cost estimate and discussed limited remaining fiscal-year maintenance funds and other urgent repairs.
The Iowa City Public Art Committee approved a proposal to restore a large steel sculpture in City Park and allocated funding from the committee maintenance budget, the committee heard.
Staff summarized a condition-assessment program conducted with the Midwest Arts Conservation Center and identified several priority repairs across the public art inventory. The committee highlighted the Neighborhood of Seasons mosaic by Jill Harper as needing outreach to locate the artist; downtown bronze sculptures are slated for scheduled maintenance in July.
For the City Park piece described in the packet as a hemicylindrical ("Triacial") steel work, contractor Dave Dennis proposed an on-site restoration using a garnet-blasting technique that would avoid off-site transport. Staff presented a cost estimate of about $8,500, rising to up to $9,950 if crane rental is required. Staff said city equipment might eliminate transport costs and that staff could assist with a new concrete base and reinstallation.
Committee members reviewed available funds: staff reported roughly $13,000 remaining in an opportunity fund and about $5,000 in the maintenance fund; a committee member noted that matching grant funds have already been spent and that the effective available total for immediate spending was closer to $18,000. Members discussed the practicalities of completing work before the fiscal-year end and whether to pursue one or more additional smaller maintenance projects if contracts can be executed quickly.
A motion to approve the restoration proposal and a $10,000 budget allocation for the project was moved and seconded; the transcript records one committee member stating opposition but otherwise shows the amendment passed. The minutes do not provide a roll-call tally; staff were directed to pursue contracting and to try to secure any additional short-term maintenance work that can be encumbered before the fiscal-year end.
