Minutes of the Work Session held November
20, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor Lopez-Rogers and Council Members Chuck
Wolf, Vice Mayor
Jim
Buster
Frank
Scott
Ken
Weise
Jason
Earp
Betty
Lynch
ALSO PRESENT
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
Andrew McGuire,
City Attorney
Linda Farris,
City Clerk
Scott Tkach, Project Manager, Capital
Improvement Projects
1) City Manager, Charlie McClendon, introduced Scott Tkach,
Project Manager, Capital Improvement Projects, who presented an update to the NPDS
annual report for a stormwater permit.
Mr. Tkach present the tasks anticipated
to be completed during the next reporting year. He stated staff will continue the
public outreach effort and volunteer program, including stenciling, putting storm
drain placards up, conveyance ditch cleaning, and employee training. He stated
they would like to develop a post-construction stormwater inspection and would
like to continue to provide the development community with education materials
and engage them as partners in this un-funded mandate.
Council and staff discussed the hotline
available to citizens and the issue of back washing pools.
2) DISCUSSION OF THE MUNICIPAL ART COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Assistant
City Manager, Rogene Hill,
gave an update on the Municipal Arts Committee. Rogene Hill introduced Chair,
David Sours, and Katie Gillen, a member of the committee. Ms. Hill stated the
Committee would like final comments on the Public Art Master Plan and then it
would be brought back for adoption. She stated to make Avondale an arts
destination, they are working on the development of a brochure to distribute
and on a survey to receive public input. She suggested a proposal to look at a
project to create a Fallen Heroes memorial adjacent to the new Old Town
Library. Ms. Hill stated they have had some discussion about sculptures for
the civic center. She stated the Sun Dial will be dedicated at the Regional
Library after the first of the year and asked for feedback on having a piece of
public art in front of each of the buildings at the civic center. Ms. Hill
also stated the committee would like to pursue a public art major development
and public project idea and get feedback. She explained they would like major
development to be asked to provide a piece of public art.
Ms. Hill stated the committee would like
to bring back a revision to the resolution that would increase the number of
members for the committee. Currently there are seven members and two
alternates. She stated the committee would like the two alternates to be
regular members and increase the number to nine with two alternates.
Council Member Lynch congratulated the committee
for a great job. She stated she agrees with increasing the number of members.
She talked about the upcoming Board, Committee and Commission interviews and
the possibility of finding additional members. Regarding the zoning ordinance,
she stated Avondale already has public art in some communities and therefore,
she felt it would not be a great cost to developers to have it written into the
zoning ordinance. She stated that she liked the ideas of the Fallen Heroes
monument but asked why is it being proposed for Sernas Plaza as opposed to the
Fallen Heroes walkway and monuments that are out there. Rogene Hill responded the
location was being proposed just because the new library and new plaza was
being built, but it could be put to public comment. She stated her thoughts
for Sernas Plaza was that this is the original city center street and would
that be a place for a monument that brings out the diversity of the community.
Secondly, she mentioned the art work where there is a circle of children with
an opening for another. She stated that is the type of art work she would
suggest for the Library/Sernas Plaza.
Council Member Buster stated that he
feels that art plays an important part in the community. He expressed concern
regarding cost and stated he would like to see what the city can do within a
reasonable fashion. He asked how far along staff was on the Fallen Heroes
monument. Ms. Hill responded it was just at the discussion stage. Council
Member Buster inquired if he knew someone who was interested, how could they be
contacted. Ms. Hill responded he could e-mail the information to her.
Council Member Weise stated the committee
should be proud of themselves. He stated he would like to see children more involved
in the art projects.
Vice Mayor Wolf stated the public Art
Master Plan was a wonderful body of work. He agreed that good art could be provided
at a relatively low cost; however, he was not convinced that that should be the
single focus. He felt the ordinance itself needed to be scalable. He stated
as to the additional members, anything less than 10 was fine. Vice Mayor Wolf
stated he would like to see the Fallen Heroes monument in conjunction with the
Veterans Memorial Walk. He stated that in concert with how the library develops
as a center of knowledge, from that perspective the Fallen Heroes monument at
the library may be a little out of place.
Council Member Earp inquired as to likely
criticism the City would receive about the art. Ms. Hill responded about having
public input through a brochure and a survey to be sure before decisions are
made. Council Member Earp thinks the committee has done a great job. Ms. Hill
stated anyone was welcome to attend the meetings.
Council Member Lynch stated developers could
come in and simply do an entry monument and nothing else, such as in Rancho
Santa Fe. She specified that there could be a requirement for monuments
throughout the development.
Mayor Lopez-Rogers expressed her thanks
to the committee. She agreed with going forward with the ordinance, the
additional members, and the public project. She was unsure about the Fallen
Heroes monument at this time.
Council Member Earp expressed concern and
asked that the area not lose its roots with the addition of the art. Rogene
Hill responded the committee was very much in tune with that and that was why
those words were part of the document.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come
before the Council, Vice Mayor Wolf moved to adjourn. Council Member Earp
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
_____________________________
Mayor
Lopez-Rogers
_________________________________
Linda M. Farris, CMC
City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes
are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Work Session of the Council
of the City of Avondale held on the 20th day of November, 2006. I further
certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that the quorum was
present.
__________________________________
City Clerk
