10-21-98v• CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH CULTURAL ARTS BOARD - October 21,1998
AGENDA
I. Call meeting to order.
H. Approval of minutes.
III. Old Business:
A. Report on Concert in the Park - Karen Clark and Nancy Bodge
B. First Night - Rosemary Fletcher and Nancy DeCandis
IV. New Business:
A. Future plans for Plaza - Steve Rosenbloom
B. Art in public schools - Alice Gartland
V. Other Business
• VI. Adjournment
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The regular meeting of the Cultural Arts Board was held Wednesday, October 21, 1998 in the
Commission Chambers. Chairperson Alice Gartland called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M.
Present were:
Alice Gartland
Rosemary Fletcher
Visitors:
Timmy Johnson, Staff Liason
Pat Williams, Staff Liason
Nancy Bodge
Karin Clark
Steve Rosenbloom
Cindy Grossberg
Nancy DeCandis
Mary Jenkins
Nancy DeCandis motioned to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting, September 16,
1998, Rosemary seconded and the motion carried.
Steve Rosenbloom to presented the Board with his proposal to create an Outdoor
Art/Architectural Project in Plaza Street median (Fraizer Park). After the presentation, Alice
motioned to accept the following language "On October 21, 1998 the Atlantic Beach Cultural
Arts Board heard a conceptual presentation regarding improving the median on Plaza Street. The
concept of constructing a well thought out sculptor park in this space is a project we endorse and
would fully support. Of this idea moves forward, we would look forward to working with the
city during all phases toward bringing it to fruition. At this stage, we have not considered any of
the questions or concerns of the project and we recommend they be addressed before the project
is finalized ". Nancy D seconded and the motion passed.
Alice brought the grant funds letter she wrote per Mayor Shaughnessy's request from last
month's meeting. All members present stated they would sign the letter with Alice if she so
desired.
Karin Clark reported that the Concert in the Park was a success. She wrote thank you notes to
Timmy Johnson, The Mayport Mariners, along with a stipend of $200.00, and Mayport Navy
officials. Several people wrote letters and suggested two concerts a year. Karin suggested a
Spring and Fall concert with a different format each time. Committee will look into a spring date
for concert.
Nancy D is still working on art classes. The City has requested a background check which she is
looking into.
Alice mentioned she heard the Atlantic Beach Elementary School lost an art teacher. She spoke
with Ponte Vedra Elementary School and they have a group of volunteers that come into the
schools at least once a month to teach the children. Alice stated the Board should take on a
similar project. Nancy D motioned looking into how to help Atlantic Beach Elementary
perpetuate their cultural arts program. Alice seconded and the motion carried.
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Cultural Arts Board
Meeting Minutes of October 21, 1998
Page 2
Alice talked about First Night becoming 5010 non profit organization. Cindy Grossberg stated
there appeared to be more pros than cons and that recommendations from an attorney are needed
before proceeding any further. Nancy D suggested holding the January Cultural Arts Board
meeting after the First Nights Steering Committee meeting in January to further discuss First
Night's non-profit status.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 P.M.
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October 21,1998
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TO: Mayor Suzanne Shaughnessy
City of Atlantic Beach
FROM: Cultural Arts Board
City of Atlantic Beach
At the September 16 meeting of the Cultural Arts Board the City Manager, Jim Jarboe,
stated that if the Board needed the City to write a grant, to let him know. The Mayor
requested a letter from the Board concerning grant funds and said she would contact
the County about these funds.
Funds come into Duval County from the Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs.
These funds are distributed by the Cultural Council of Jacksonville. Numerous art groups
such as museums, symphony, theatres, music groups, etc. apply for State funds through
the Cultural Council. Who gets what amount of money is decided by the Council. I think
it would be worth investigating the possibility of the City of Atlantic Beach applying
directly to the Division lof Cultural Affairs for an event like First Night. Large amounts of
arts funds are being directly allocated to art events in some of small southern Florida
counties.
• Can we investigate the possibility of direct requests to the Division of Cultural Affairs,
Department of State, Tallahassee, for our First Night event? If so, we should make this
effort.
Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Alice Gartland
Cultural Arts Board
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Plaza Street Median
Outdoor Art/Architectural Project
Overview
Over years of casually viewing art, architecture, parks, cities, etc., I have
observed that many places and/or spaces are defined by either their unique
outdoor visual presence or by a readily identifiable physical structure (or
structures) that somehow either define or provide a mental image associated
with the area. Examples of this can range from a single statute or turn -of -the -
century courthouse located in or on the town square of a rural Georgia town to
the sweeping arch in St. Louis or the space needle which remains from the
Seattle World's Fair. On a broader scale cities like Washington DC with the
memorials, New York City with its numerous outdoor landmarks like the Statute
of Liberty and Central Park and Paris with the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de
Triomphe on the Avenue de Champs Elysees, also provide vivid, memorable
examples of how outdoor architecture can be an integral part of ones visual
perception of a city.
In some regard a small, residential community - like Atlantic Beach - having no
singularly defined town center, but instead several random municipal/commercial
• areas (i.e. city hall, Adele Grage Community Center and Towne Center),
predominately surrounded by a large residential area, could initially be viewed
as an unlikely candidate for implementation of such a concept. However, from
living in Atlantic Beach and having a fairly clear understanding as to the parks
projects that are developing in our city, my recommendation is for the Atlantic
Beach Cultural Arts Board to endorse and help identify funding for an outdoor
artlarchitectural park for our city. It is also my view that the ideal location for
such an undertaking would be the median strip on Plaza Street.
Why an outdoor art/architectural Proiect2
There are several reasons why this project would benefit Atlantic Beach. Our
core city is made up of an eclectic blend of 1920's to 1940's southern coastal
architecture. Over the last twenty years, a variety of different architecture has
been added making the overall architectural theme even more varied.
In my view a project, such as this, irregardless of which vernacular (traditional or
modern or a combination of both) it gravitated toward, would greatly enhance the
ambiance of our community and provide another passive recreational space for
citizens to enjoy. In addition, the Plaza Street median strip is a valuable green
space in the community that is currently not been well maintained and is very
is underutilized by the public.
Why Plaza?
The five -way, stop is a focal point in our community and most likely has the
highest traffic count of any intersection within the core city. The Plaza Street
median offers a relatively long, symmetrical city block which, due to the houses,
offers adefined frame vista from either the five -way stop looking east or East
Coast Drive looking west. It also contains a large number of mature, possibly
historical palm trees which could be incorporated as part of the overall design.
While the on -street parking, in my view, visually detracts from the beauty of the
space, I believe with an innovative architectural design, this distraction can be
minimized.
Conversely, it is also my contention that the current five -way stop is somewhat of
a "visual wasteland." Therefore this project could also dramatically soften and
improve the visual negative impact of this high -traffic pedestrian
crossing/automobile intersection.
Problems?
If you want to make enemies, try to change something. Woodrow Wilson
(1856-1924), Twenty-eighth president of the United States
The two primary problems I envision are funding and possible resident
opposition.
The cost of this project will be directly proportional to its level of development."' In
my view the optimum design would be an outdoor sculptor garden, anchored by
a low -lighted fountain in the center with numerous benches and ample green
space on either side (east and west). At the minimum, a tastefully implemented
landscape plan, again with benches, would be a marked improvement but would
lack the strong visual impact of a sculptor garden.
In addition to the initial construction costs, there will be on-going maintenance
issues for the city to consider. Based on the design, and through adherence to a
low maintenance project, these costs could also be minimized.
The Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts Board should also consider some residents,
particularly initially, may oppose this concept for several reasons. Some
residents will arbitrarily want no changes to the median. Typically the thought
process concludes that improvements bring more people to the area and the
additional people bring more noise, litter, crime and other problems sometimes
associated with unwanted visitors. In addition, there could be residents who, for
various reasons, will publicly frame this project as a complete and utter waste of
• taxpayer money.
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However, it is my strong contention that, over time, the project would enhance
property values and instill a greater sense of pride into this neighborhood. It is
currently a mix of both older core city and new and renovated single-family
homes along with some multi -family, particularly on the western end. The on -
street parking will remain a problem but, at present, I know of no way around this
issue.
Timeline
The most economical timeline for this, if it gains support, could be. to do this
project in conjunction with the upcoming storm water drainage project. Both the
east and west ends of Plaza Street will be dug up for storm water lines and it is
conceivable that many of the project's construction costs could be minimized or
subsidized through the storm water construction contract which, for this area, will
likely not begin for another 12 to 18 months.
Summary
In closing, I would ask each member to objectively and constructively think about
where our city is going from a parks development perspective and the role the
Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts Board could play in our cities future by endorsing
and helping bring to fruition a unique project like this. If done properly, it could
be a wonderful visual amenity the city would enjoy for generations to come. In
addition - similar to the current momentum of landscaping beach accesses - a
project like this could bring added attention to and consideration for improving
other public greenspaces in much the same way.
I would like to thank all of the Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts Board members for
the opportunity to present this concept and I very much appreciate your time and
interest in this matter. I would be glad to answer any questions.
Very sincerely,
Steven M. Rosenbloom
Home: 246-1901 Office: 350-1024
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On October 21,1998 the Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts Board heard a conceptual
presentation regarding improving the median on Plaza Street. The concept of
constructing a well thought out sculptor park in.this space is a project we endorse and
would fully support. If this idea moves forward, we would look forward to working with
the city during all phases toward bringing it to fruition.PT�_W10 r,� ��J\
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