HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-2022 Public Art Commission - State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Subcommittee Agenda PacketSaratoga Public Art Commission
State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork Subcommittee Agenda
December 19, 2022 – Page 1 of 2
SARATOGA
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
STATE ROUTE 85 & UNION PACIFIC
OVERPASS ARTWORK
December 19, 2022
10:30 A.M. REGULAR MEETING
Saratoga City Hall, Linda Callon Conference Room · 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070
Participation Information
The meeting will be held in-person and teleconference pursuant to amendments to the
teleconference rules required by the Ralph M. Brown Act allowing teleconferencing during
a proclaimed state of emergency when a local official has recommended social distancing.
Members of the Committee and the public may participate in person at the location listed
above on the agenda or via the Zoom platform using the information below.
• Webinar URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86252967202
• Webinar ID: 862 5296 7202
• Call In: 1.408.638.0968 or 1.669.900.6833 (enter the Webinar ID provided above
when prompted)
Written Communications
Comments can be submitted in writing at www.saratoga.ca.us/publicart. Written
communications received prior the end of the comment period will be provided to the
members of the committee and included in the agenda packet and/or supplemental
meeting materials.
Public Comment
Members of the public may comment on any item for up to three (3) minutes. The amount
of time for public comment may be reduced. Public Comment will begin with speakers
attending in-person first followed by those attending via Zoom.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Any member of the public may address the committee on matters not on the agenda. The
law generally prohibits the committee from discussing or taking action on such items.
However, the committee may schedule the item for discussion at a future meeting.
Saratoga Public Art Commission
State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork Subcommittee Agenda
December 19, 2022 – Page 2 of 2
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. Subcommittee Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and approve the minutes from the December 8, 2022 meeting.
Draft Minutes
1. State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork
Recommended Action:
Receive information on placement of art on the Saratoga Avenue Union Pacific
Overpass. Consider options for implementation of the work plan item as well as
alternative options or amendments that could be proposed to the Commission for
the Fiscal Year 2023/24 work plan, such as a live sculpture. Prepare a
recommendation to be considered by the Public Art Commission at the January 23,
2023 meeting. If needed, additional meetings may be scheduled to prepare a final
recommendation to the Commission.
Memo
ADJOURNMENT
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF THE AGENDA, DISTRIBUTION OF AGENDA PACKET, &
COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
I, Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda was posted
and available for review on December 16, 2022 at the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga,
California and on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us
Signed this 16th day of December 2022 at Saratoga, California.
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to the
committee by City staff in connection with this agenda, copies of materials distributed to the committee
concurrently with the posting of the agenda, and materials distributed to the committee by staff after the posting
of the agenda are available on the City website at www.saratoga.ca.us and are available for review in the office
of the City Clerk at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Governor’s Executive Order, if you need assistance
to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at bavrit@saratoga.ca.us or calling 408.868.1216 as
soon as possible before the meeting. The City will use its best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to
provide as much accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety.
[28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA title II]
Saratoga Public Art Commission
State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork Subcommittee Minutes
December 8, 2022 – Page 1 of 2
MINUTES
SARATOGA PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
STATE ROUTE 85 & UNION PACIFIC OVERPASS ARTWORK
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 8, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Ramya Vasu, Commissioner Siana Smith
Absent: None
Also Present: Crystal Bothelio, Kayla Nakamoto
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
None
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork
Recommended Action:
Receive information on restrictions on placement of art on underpass pillars,
concrete elements, and structural components. Consider options for implementation
of the State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork work plan item and prepare
a recommendation for implementation to be considered by the Public Art
Commission at the January 16, 2023 meeting. If needed, additional meetings may be
rescheduled to prepare a final recommendation to the Commission.
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager, shared that the State does not allow artwork
and no painting on structural elements of overpasses.
The Committee requested that staff report the graffiti on the State Route 85 overpass
to the State for cleanup.
The Committee asked for additional information about options for adding artwork to
the Union Pacific overpass.
The Committee discussed alternative projects to the State Route 85 & Union Pacific
Overpass Artwork work plan item that could be proposed as part of the Fiscal Year
2023/24 Public Art Commission work plan. The Committee requested additional
information about options for adding artwork to the retaining walls on Saratoga
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Saratoga Public Art Commission
State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork Subcommittee Minutes
December 8, 2022 – Page 2 of 2
Avenue near State Route 85, inquired about opportunities for the Commission to
provide input on artwork for the walkway to Hakone project, and considered options
for a live sculpture in a City median that involves a physical sculpture structure as well
as live plants.
The Committee requested a meeting before the January Commission meeting to
discuss further consider proposing a change to the existing State Route 85 & Union
Pacific Overpass Artwork work plan item or new work plan options as an alternative
to the State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork work plan item. Changes or
additions would be proposed for the Fiscal year 2023/24 work plan. Additionally, the
Committee asked if the Public Works Director could attend the next Committee
meeting to discuss options for a live sculpture.
The Committee proposed that the January Commission meeting include review and
possible changes to the subcommittee assignments.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
City of Saratoga
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CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Art Commission Online Art Challenge Subcommittee
From: Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
Date: December 19, 2022
Subject: State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork
At the May 16, 2022 Public Art Commission meeting, the Commission approved a
process for implementing its ambitious Fiscal Year 2022/23 Work Plan. One of the
key elements of the implementation process included formation of subcommittees
that would meet outside of the Commission’s regular meetings to schedule to
develop a recommended plan or program to be presented to the Commission and
if necessary, to Council, prior to implementation. One of these committees was
formed to research opportunities to install artwork, such as a mural, on the State
Route 85 and Union Pacific overpass pillars and concrete elements.
State Route 85 Overpass
During the committee’s December 8, 2022 meeting, staff shared that the State does
not allow the installation of artwork on the pillars and concrete elements.
Placement of art on the sloped dirt area underneath the State Route 85 overpass
may be an option but an artwork proposal is needed before a definitive answer can
be provided.
Union Pacific Overpass
During the December 8 meeting, the Committee requested additional information
about adding artwork to the Union Pacific overpass on Saratoga Avenue. Since
then, staff has learned that Union Pacific does not allow installations that inhibit the
ability to inspect the overpass in any way. Proposals for signboards, canvas, or
other similar installations would most likely be rejected. If the City were to submit a
proposal for addition of artwork, the City would need to provide specific
information about the proposed work including proposed paint type, colors,
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method of painting, surface preparation, cleanup, and paint application. Any
proposals may not promote trespassing or limit sign distance on the railroad
corridor. Additionally, the City would be required to enter into a reimbursement
agreement with Union Pacific to cover their costs associated with project review
and coordination.
Saratoga Avenue & State Route 85 Retaining Wall
During the December 8 meeting, the Committee inquired about the retaining walls
on Saratoga Avenue near the on and off ramps to State Route 85 and whether
these walls could be used for an artwork installation. The walls are maintained and
managed by the State. Staff has requested if the same restrictions on overpass
artwork apply to these walls.
Saratoga Village to Quarry Park Walkway
The Committee expressed interest in having the Commission provide input on art
for the Saratoga Village to Quarry Park Walkway. When complete, the project will
result in a walkway from Saratoga Village, past Ha kone Gardens, to Quarry Park.
The project will be implemented in phases with the first phase beginning with a
pathway between the Village and Hakone Gardens, the second phase extending the
walkway to the Quarry Park east entrance, and the third and final phase continuing
the walkway to the Quarry Park main entrance.
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Living Sculpture
The December 8 Committee meeting also included discussion of options for a live
sculpture in a City median as an addition to the Commission’s 2023/24 work plan
and possibly as an alternative to the State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass
Artwork work plan item if ultimately determined to be unfeasible. Several public art
examples of living sculptures are shown below.
Example 1: hello
• Location: Randall's Island Park, Manhattan
Example 2: Giant Head Planters
• Location: Chicago Cultural Mile and Navy Pier
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Example 3: Airborne
• Location: Melbourne, Australia
Example 4: Earth Goddess
• Location: Atlanta Botanical Gardens
State Route 85 & Union Pacific Overpass Artwork Work Plan Description
The City Council approved description of the work effort as well as the
implementation schedule approved by the Commission is below.
Research opportunities for artwork, such as a mural, to be placed on the State
Route 85 and Union Pacific overpass pillars or other concrete elements (shown
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below in yellow). Present proposed plan to City Council for consideration and
implement with approval from the City Council.
Committee Members:
• Siana Smith
• Ramya Vasu
Implementation:
• November – December 2022: Subcommittee to develop a recommended
opportunities for artwork
• January 16, 2023: Commission consideration of committee recommendation
• February 2023: City Council consideration/approval of Commission
recommendation
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