The Benicia City Council took action on an an art project donation and the city’s 2017 General Plan Annual Progress Report at its Tuesday meeting.
The Arts & Culture Commission issued a request in mid-2017 for proposals for its initiative to add more public art to the downtown and throughout Benicia. Artists were to submit proposed designs for traffic signal boxes, trash can enclosures and benches situated in highly visible, public right-of-ways. Lisa Reinertson, a local professional artist who sculpted several statues of Martin Luther King, Jr. which stand in places such as the University of California, Davis, and Kalamazoo, Mich., submitted a bronze sculpture called “Neptune’s Daughter.” The submission also went through the three-stage process of approval in concept by the Art Selection Panel, the Public Art Subcommittee, and the Arts & Culture Commission. The Arts & Culture Commission recommend the city accept the donation. It was also recommended that the council allocate funds toward the cost in a joint venture of funding amenable to the council, with the commission initiating targeted fundraising and the council allocating funds as available. for proposals for its initiative to add more public art to the downtown and throughout Benicia.
City staff recommended the Arts & Culture Commission, after approving the selected pieces for trash can boxes and trash can enclosures, notify the respective artists and work with Public Works on all necessary permitting. Upon completion of the paperwork, artists can begin decorating their sites, which staff anticipates will be completed by summer. “If the Council agrees to accept the donation of ‘Neptune’s Daughter’ and provides direction to staff to provide a portion of the required funding, staff will return with a recommended funding plan, and proceed with preparing and executing an agreement with the artist,” David Dodd, the library’s director of cultural services, wrote in a report.
Councilmember Mark Hughes aired his concerns about the project. The councilmember said the remaining funds for the statue should not come from the city but be gained through fundraising. He said it could set a bad precedent if Benicia began funding civil projects through the city.
Councilmember Alan Schwartzman also said he was weary about committing city funds toward the project.
Mayor Elizabeth Patterson said she had no problem with funding the art project through the city, as she considers it a part of the project that reinvigorated the downtown area to attract tourists to Benicia. Vice Mayor Steve Young was the most ardent supporter of the art project.
Ultimately, the City Council voted to give direction to staff to accept the sculpture with the condition the city attorney and city staff were in agreement to ensure the notes and numbers in the staff report were agreeable and that staff gives the council alternative ideas for funding the project. The vote was 4-1, with Schwartzman casting the lone dissenting vote.
In other business, the council voted 3-2 to accept the 2017 General Plan Annual Progress Report and direct the Planning Division to submit the report to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and to the Department of Housing and Community Development. California cities are required to submit an annual report of the status of their General Plan and progress in its implementations to the governor’s planning office every year.
The council will meet on Tuesday, March 20. According to the city’s weekly newsletter, City Manger Lorie Tinfow wrote that the much-discussed water and sewer rate report would be presented at this meeting.
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Mayor Patterson please give the residents/voters proof of your statement. “reinvigorated the down town area to attract tourist to Benicia”. If appears your side kick also agrees without proof. Pure Socialist Progressive thinking.
Bob, you know the most prevalent “trick” of politicians is to state something loudly without proof and wait for a sycophant to chime in in agreement. It worked for Hitler very well.
Maybe but President Trump claims he invented it.
Although in a rare moment of generosity President Trump did admit Fox News and its friends perfected it.
Ahhhh … the old Hitler analogy. The safe retreat of every Liberal. Call a conservative Hitler when the Conservative makes sense.
I haven’t seen this card played in a little while. Thanks for playing it! I enjoy knowing that a valid point was made.
Also, I enjoy the Fox News comment. Yes, all other news media have absolutely no agenda whatsoever. At least FN is honest about it!
Matter, do you think Mr. Davis is a liberal?
Thomas do you think Mr. Davis is conservative?
Well, I can certainly attest that I’m not liberal. I’m not overly conservative, either…but I do believe that what I earned, is mine and not for the government to give away to whiners; I do believe the governments sole job is to maintain a formidable military so what I earned I can keep without a foreign government stealing it. I have issues with the GOP; they ought not be so sanctimonious and tell women what they ought to or not to do with their bodies. FIscally responsible anarchist/hawk is what I say most often.
Thanks Thom! Was just making sure Matter attributed his “Hitler analogy” accusation appropriately.
As an aside, I think the “sanctimonious” part on the conservative side is further reaching than just women’s rights. Just my two cents.
Don’t really care. Using the hitler analogy is old and tiresome whomever uses it
Oh Boo Hoo. Getting right down to it all analogy is tiresome. What is REALLY tiresome is folks who “follow the leader” instead of thinking. I have unfriended most facebook acquaintances simply because they reposted crap that just is not true if they had taken the time to look further…SURE, it sounds OK, but it is more often than not, completely wrong. Take this remark by our communist mayor, for example….she asserts that this sculpture project is “part of the project that reinvigorated the downtown area to attract tourists to Benicia”…therebye (of course) attempting to take credit for it. I’m sure it was an innocent remark and merely preening; S’OK, folks with little to feel good about need to occasionally say stuff that makes them feel good. However, as a long term resident (40 years thereabouts), I haven’t seen any reinvigoration (although it is nice to see we still aren’t fighting over the Lido).
Thanks for repeating my line on the mayor. Very good.
Pretty sure Thom is not a Liberal.
Bob. We have proof that art work and sculpture works create an environment of cultural tourism. It was presented to city council last July via the prestigious Americans for the arts economic study conclusively shows the relationship been access to public art and culture and economic prosperity. Perhaps if if did a little homework prior to your constant complaining you’d see how the big picture tends to be more positive than the small minded contrarian positions you tend to feel most comfortable in taking.
Believe me I am not small minded. Just show me the dollars and cents that show economic investment.. You cannot show that. All you can show is an emotional feeling. That does not create prosperity it creates a very false sense of value. If you would have read what I wrote you would not make that silly comment.. Give me the big picture ,on the economy of this city. Ever take a look at our financial crisis. I make fact based conclusions. I do not live in your Socialist Progressive dream world.
Terry, do you honestly believe that an organization called “Americans for the arts” (whether or not they are prestigious to anyone other than the members), could POSSIBLY have a study that did NOT conclusively show a relationship between public art and culture (whatever the heck that is) and economic prosperity. That is the problem with studies funded by any organization; the study will conclusively point out what it was contracted to find. Big Pharma does it, Big Tobacco did it, both political parties do it (which is why the polls were SO WRONG in the last election). Furthermore, I’m sure no one cares whether or not art is available in town (we have lots of artists here); what I care about is wasting public funds on attractive waste baskets.
You’re very cynical about things you don’t know. Please visit their website. Read their mission statement. Look at their client list. What a Very small minded response. I believe your humble , insulated opinion of public art is shared by your very select breakfast buddies. Maybe a trip out into the real world where folks understand how art shapes a culture might do you a bit of good. It’s not a black and white world out there.
I agree I am cynical. I have 68 years of being disappointed that have shaped my view of the world. Being cynical is a realistic way of life since it prevents you from being disappointed. I do have to admit that as a youngster I enjoyed the Chicago art museum and George Seurat helped me understand how little dots can make pictures (precursor to digital arts). What does distress me, though, is folks who let their personal wants (like community support for the arts) make them oblivious (as you have done, Terry) to the real world expenses such an expense means. Do we REALLY have the funds available to make pretty waste baskets in town? Are you willing to fire a fire fighter or policeman to fund your art? Or are you like most liberals and believe the bucket has no bottom?
Very good Thom. That places it as it should be. I appreciated art and I do consider myself an artist. In my retail and wholesale days I did create style, colors and very appealing garments that were very successful. If not I ate it. Art should be fully supported and funded by the PATRONS. Thank you.
Suspicion and contempt for public art is sad. A nation which does not, in its inherent structures, both public and private, support the arts is sterile and sad. Winston Churchill said, “The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them….Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the reverence and delight which are their due.” He was right. All the great civilizations – in every continent – have supported great art throughout history and continue to support the arts in public life. It is what sustains us as a society. Whether our public art attracts tourists is not the point. The point is that such displays indicate the level of intelligence, education and culture we have as citizens of this town.
There is only one type of art for some, and it is always colored in red, white and blue!
I love that Art. I sure hope you also do. I and many others are very PATRIOTIC. My favorite Holiday is 4th of July and the end of the WAR IN EUROIPE. Loved it. We won and still are winning. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Which color did you create?
Sorry, should have said the use of colors. You would not understand.
Actually, I come from a long line of actual artists. So, I probably have a bit of an edge over you. BTW – Did I tell you I had to burn a US flag last fall?
*burned
Victory in Europe day (May 8 which is a holiday in France but not here)? or Armistice Day (Nov 11, which ended a world war, not just in Europe)?
Bob. Here’s some numbers for you from the INDEPENDENT study. Non profit Arts and culture organizations in Benicia generates $4.7 million dollars a. year in revenue. 147 full time job equivalents and more than $417,000 in city and state sakes taxes. Go read the study.
DROP IN THE BUCKET. The Rellick, Lucca’s and First Street Café produce more than that. $47,000 in sales tax to this city? Remember of that total sales tax the city gets 1%. Do the math, please. You get 5/10,000 a year donation from Valero and at the same time are very anti Valero and fossil fuel. I do remember the Art Community at those CBR meetings. That tells the whole story. You think you are special and you are not. But you still get the donation. Without donations you do not exist. I am not at all anti art but do understand this whole art issue very well. There other folks that live and work and contribute in this city and it is not to the Arts. Think about it and remember you are a part of a very special city and that is all.
Terry, Did you mention Valero in your comment?
Terry does not have to mention Valero. When the arts put in a request for money to Valero they get it. If they do not put in a request for money they will not get it. That did happen one year and Valero took some heat when it was all on the art folks. Lets be realistic the art community is supported very well in this city and all they do is think they run this fine city and they do not. Get real.
No mention of Valero. It’s just another deflection.
For those people concerned that the City is spending City money on art, the entire cost of the project is being funded by private donors.
That is the way it should be. Steve is there any city staff time or council time directed to this project. That is a cost to the city. Maybe the art patrons should contribute to the city budget. Do you contribute to the CAC or does the mayor. I sure hope both of you buy gift cars at Christmas time and give them to the CAC. That will tell the residents a lot about your true contributions and dedication to this fine city.
A point a few have seemed to miss.
Thank you steve for pointing this out.
I’m confused…the article above spent a whole 4 sentences about funding some sculpture with some back and forth….with the mayor saying she had no problem funding from city funds. Here is the excerpt: ” Councilmember Mark Hughes aired his concerns about the project. The councilmember said the remaining funds for the statue should not come from the city but be gained through fundraising. He said it could set a bad precedent if Benicia began funding civil projects through the city.
Councilmember Alan Schwartzman also said he was weary about committing city funds toward the project.
Mayor Elizabeth Patterson said she had no problem with funding the art project through the city, as she considers it a part of the project that reinvigorated the downtown area to attract tourists to Benicia. Vice Mayor Steve Young was the most ardent supporter of the art project.
Ultimately, the City Council voted to give direction to staff to accept the sculpture with the condition the city attorney and city staff were in agreement to ensure the notes and numbers in the staff report were agreeable and that staff gives the council alternative ideas for funding the project. The vote was 4-1, with Schwartzman casting the lone dissenting vote.”
So I gotta ask, How does this add up to the entire cost being funded by private donors.
We need to ask Vice Mayor Young. He seems to have all the answers. The arts in this city are well funded by Valero and other donations. I have always felt the arts should be funded by the PATRONS not at all by City Funds.
Agreed. There appears to be a disconnect between the article and the statement of councilman Young.
Vice Mayor Young is a “One Trick Pony”. CBR is over.
The Vice Mayor is savvy to the advantages of using social media platforms instead of clamming up and hoping you get elected in a tech-rich age of communication. These are the forums of now. If I ever run for office, I will not attend organized forums. My views should be widely known by now. There will be trolls of course, but just tune them out. It’s that simple.