Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Bertha Henry
Department: County Administration Division: Cultural Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE artwork design proposal for Andrews Avenue Bridge in an amount not to exceed $490,000 (estimated amount of $450,000 for art, $40,000 for contingency), which is currently budgeted in the Public Art Trust Fund, the Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division’s Andrews Avenue Bridge Capital Improvement Fund, and the Constitutional Gas Tax Fund. (Commission District 7)
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Why Action is Necessary
Part I, Chapter 1, Article V, Section 1-88.a.9. of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, requires that the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve the artist's design proposal when the art budget for the artwork portion of the capital improvement project total is $100,000 or more.
What Action Accomplishes
This action allows for the approval of the amount of funds and for approval of the artwork design proposal so that staff can proceed to develop an agreement with the artist to finalize the design proposal, and proceed with fabrication and installation of the artwork.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
BROWARD CULTURAL DIVISION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE MAINTENENCE DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board's value of cultivating community culture, arts, recreation, and life-long learning and goals relating to providing diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural, and economically viable community.
This action is for approval of the proposed functionally integrated artwork design, in an amount not to exceed $490,000 (estimated amount of $450,000 for art, $40,000 for contingency).
Exhibit 1 is the proposed conceptual artwork design by artist Vicki Scuri for the Andrews Avenue Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation project, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The functionally integrated artwork will illuminate and add visual interest to the piers and portions of the underside of the bridge. The artwork is intended to create a landmark for Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale, activate the pedestrian area under the bridge, and aid with movement through the pedestrian space under the bridge.
The proposed conceptual artwork design includes perforated backlit metal panels attached to the piers of the bridge, and programable lighting. The perforations in the metal create a design with abstract visual references to seashells. The lighting will wash the piers and portions of the underside of the bridge with gradient hues of colored light. The piers will be lit from dusk to dawn. The pedestrian area under the bridge will be lit during the day and at night. The lights will be programed to change color each season, and to mark holidays or special events.
The Artist Selection Panel included a City of Fort Lauderdale representative, a member of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association, a member of the Public Art & Design (PAD) Committee, an arts professional, and a Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division representative. A presentation of the proposed artwork was made to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission on October 6, 2020 for informational purposes. City of Fort Lauderdale approval is not required.
The Division issued a Call to Artists on January 10, 2020, which garnered 55 applicants. The artist and her conceptual design proposal were approved by the Artist Selection Panel on September 16, 2020, by the Public Art & Design Committee on October 14, 2020.
NOTE: The Broward Cultural Council (BCC) has approved the Public Art and Design annual plan, including this project; however, because a quorum of the BCC could not be obtained, the BCC has not approved the specific artist and design proposal for this project.
Source of Additional Information
Phillip Dunlap, Director, Cultural Division, (954) 357-7456
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No additional fiscal impact. The $490,000 for the Andrews Avenue Bridge Public Art project is funded from pooled public art funds. A total of $250,000 is budgeted in the Public Art Trust Fund, $129,731 in the Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division’s Andrews Avenue Bridge Capital Improvement Fund and the remaining $110,269 is budgeted in the Constitutional Gas Tax Fund.