Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department

Public Art Advisory Board

MINUTES

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
6:15 p.m.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Conference Room

316 North Academy Street, Cary, NC 27511

www.townofcary.org

Present: Carol Aupperle, Chair; Ginger Castle; Eric Forehand; Ginger Hayes; Pat Hudson; Elizabeth Ray; Carl Regutti; Smythe Richbourg; Lejandro DeRomas, Teen Council Representative; Lauren Mincey, Teen Council Representative; Marla Dorrel, Council Liaison

Staff: Denise Dickens, Lyman Collins, Vicki Hayes

Guests: Laura Blackman, CVA; Elizabeth Conner, Artist; Nik Nikolaev, Artist

A. Call to Order – Carol Aupperle, Chair

B. Roll Call

· Noting those absent

Mathias Bishop

· Noting a quorum is present

Quorum was present at 6:15 pm

C. Adoption of Agenda

· Approval of DRAFT agenda

ACTION: Ginger Hayes made a motion to approve the agenda. Pat Hudson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

D. Minutes

· Approval of DRAFT 17 October 2007 minutes

ACTION: Pat Hudson made a motion to approve the October 17, 2007 minutes with grammatical changes. Eric Forehand seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

E. New Business

· Review Private Development CVA/Panther Creek Apartments Public Art

v Laura Blackman presented a PowerPoint presentation on the design idea by the artist Erik Beerbower for this integrated public art project within the Alston Activity Center area. There was a limited call with twenty applicants and three interviewed. The design theme “Nature meets Urbanism.” This project is integrated into the sidewalk which the Developer will be turning over to the Town once the project is finished. The Town will maintain the sidewalk including the piece. This section of sidewalk is part of the greenway system and link to the sidewalks off McCrimmon Parkway.

v At the Board’s suggestion staff will address any copyright issues with the maps used to develop the project.

v TOC Staff will also be reviewing the work for maintenance, engineering, and long-term planning impacts at the site.

ACTION: Pat Hudson made a motion to recommend approval of the design for the Panther Creek Apartments assuming the copyright issue is addressed and there are no significant maintenance issues. Smythe Richbourg seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

· Review Draft Goals - Discussion

v Denise Dickens presented a PowerPoint presentation for developing the 2008 Goals. This was based on a review of the Public Art Master Plan’s 26 recommendations. At the end of the presentation, Denise asked the Board to brainstorm on areas that needed attention.

Ø Neighborhood identity

Ø Transit public art

Ø Increase the pool of potential partners (beyond CVA)

Ø More public awareness for Cary’s Public Art collection

· Review Draft Year End Report for Council - Discussion

v Denise Dickens distributed a Draft Year End Report for the Board to review.

ACTION: Ginger Castle made a motion to approve the Year End Report. Pat Hudson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

F. Old Business

· Downtown Streetscapes Project Update – Elizabeth Conner and Nik Nikolaev

v Project Artist Conner and Landscape Architect Nikolaev reported that landscape, hardscape and integrated art elements were included in the 60% design submittal to the Town of Cary and will be shared at the upcoming November 15 public meeting. To date, these integrated elements include Street Oases (with seating, shelters, and storm water features), Town Square, a Community Garden, Icon/Memory markers, Gateway roundabout features, and aesthetic (pre-cast and other) way finding elements in streets and sidewalks.

v The Community Garden and round-a-bouts were the newest developments reviewed.

v They explained that the roundabouts present multiple challenges and opportunities. Challenges include working within safety guidelines and sightline restrictions; while opportunities range from creating aesthetic features that mark significant entry points to Downtown Cary, to enhancement of pedestrian and vehicular safety by lighted Gateway features that contribute to traffic calming and clarify traffic circulation.

v There was discussion about how the Gateway roundabout features relate to other Streetscape elements. Members of the Board expressed a need to articulate the connection between the historic and the contemporary, as well to clearly describe the Gateway roundabout features’ relationship to Streetscape concepts included in 30% design. Color and lighting should be carefully considered.

v Conner explained that the Gateway roundabout design is intended to provide a link between the historical and the contemporary, between downtown and the newer neighborhoods developing beyond the roundabouts. The Icon Markers reflect the history of the Town, and the round-a-bouts will be the welcoming gateway feature that shows that Cary is also moving forward.

v Nikolaev asked: “What is Cary? It is called the Technology Town. Roundabouts are a contemporary, high-tech way to calm traffic and to provide pedestrian-friendly streets that are not overpowered by cars. The roundabout itself is new to Cary, so it is appropriate for the materials and design of the Gateway roundabout features to also be contemporary, relating to the Cary’s present and future.

v They showed an in-progress digital animation that simulates a driver’s experience moving through a roundabout. This simulation will be updated to include fully-developed designs for the Gateway Features, and it will be shared with PAAB during a scheduled Board meeting, prior to sharing the design with the public when the entire project reached 90% design.

· Work Plan ’09 and Other Projects Timing - Update

v Since time was running short Staff suggested discussion at a later meeting.

· Town Hall Campus - Update

v Catherine Widgery came at the end of October and she will develop a concept for PAAB to review.

· Bartley Park - Update

v To be discussed at the December meeting.

· Review of Current PAAB Goals

v The Board reviewed the goals under New Business.

G. Reports from Representative Organizations

· Cary Visual Art (CVA) – Pat Hudson

· Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) – Carl Regutti

Ø No report at this time.

· Other Organizations

H. Public Speaks Out (opportunity for guests and members to address Board – limit 5 minutes per speaker)

I. Adjourn

v Smythe Richbourg made a motion for the meeting to adjourn at 8:25pm.

The Town of Cary is committed to providing all citizens with the opportunity to participate fully in the public meeting process. Any person with a disability who needs an auxiliary aid or service in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Town of Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The e-mail address is sue.rowland@townofcary.org; the phone number is (919) 469-4011; the TDD number is (919) 469-4012.

Please contact Vicki Hayes with any questions about this agenda. The e-mail address is vicki.hayes@townofcary.org and the phone number is (919) 319-4560.