Staff Report: Amenity Credit for Terminus Development (Public Art) (Parks)

Staff Report: Amenity Credit for Terminus Development Public Art (Parks)

Date: April 19, 2021
Department: Parks & Recreation
Subject: Amenity Credit for Terminus Development Public Art

Background

Design Build Services (DBS) is the developer of the Terminus building at 2840 Peatt Road, a commercial building currently under construction. At the October Parks, Recreation, Culture and Beautification Committee meeting, DBS presented with a request to create a piece of public art to be located on site at the Terminus building in lieu of a financial amenity contribution. At the time, the City was waiting on the results of a grant application for public art. It was decided at the Committee meeting to wait to make a recommendation to Council on the decision regarding this artwork until the final grant result was received. After learning in March that the grant application was not successful, staff proposed bringing the proposal by DBS to Council for consideration.

Commentary

As described in the attached letter to Council, the proposed art depicts a custom Rail Train Bumper/Wheel Stop that highlights the inner workings of the wheels of the steam train. This public art feature would be installed at Peatt and Hockley at the location of the new Terminus building and features Langford’s rich train history. DBS proposes that the piece would preserve Langford’s rail history, help to educate residents, provide a location to rest and socialize and would tie in with the Terminus entryway. The artwork is created by local artist Jeremy Humpherville who was born and raised in Haida Gwaii. The piece stands five feet tall with a bench on one side (please see Schedule A for photos). A draft Public Art Policy will be reviewed by the Parks, Recreation, Culture and Beautification Committee in April and will be brought to Council for their consideration in May 2021.

Financial Implications

DBS would like to ask Council to consider approving this educational art feature in lieu of a required financial amenity contribution. The artwork was originally valued at $40,000 and would take three months to build. Subsequent to the letter, DBS indicated that some changes to the design were being made which would increase the value of the piece, the final price is not yet known.

The required General Amenity Reserve Fund contributions total $56,813.75 for the Terminus at 2840 Peatt Road. The City will receive the full value of the General Amenity Reserve Fund contribution, through a combination of the art feature and a monetary payment by DBS for the difference.

Legal Implications

None noted.

Options

That Council:

Approve Design Build Services’ request to install the public art feature at the Terminus building located at 2840 Peatt Rd, and that the cost of this art feature may be used to offset a portion of the required $56,813.75 in amenity contributions payable to the City in respect of this project; AND

Require Design Build Services’ to install the public art feature in an approved location prior to applying any credits towards required amenity contributions and, if located on private property, register a Section 219 Covenant on the title of the property requiring that the art feature be retained and maintained in that location in perpetuity;

Direct staff to take no action at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

Submitted by:
Cory Manton, Manager of Parks and Recreation

Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Manager of Legislative Services

Concurrence:
Donna Petrie, Manager of Business Development and Events

Concurrence:
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning

Concurrence:
Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief

Concurrence:
Lorne Fletcher, Manager of Community Safety and Municipal Enforcement

Concurrence:
Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng, P.Geo, Director of Engineering

Concurrence:
Leah Stohmann, MCIP, RPP, Deputy Director of Planning

Concurrence:
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:
Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services