City, arts group debate

The City Council and the Arts Commission faced off Tuesday, confronting head-on the dissatisfaction on both sides that has been simmering since last year.

Commissioners, used to having their recommendations rubber stamped, were shocked and not a little miffed when the council declined to accept unanimous commission support for the public art to be installed at the Community/Senior Center. The council is expected to make a decision on the proposal at the Feb. 17 meeting.

“This year we had some miscommunications in public art,” Commissioner Suzi Chauvel said. “It is my job to say to [council] — how can we improve communications?”

The council saw the rift as an indication that it should take a more active role in the selection process for public art before recommendations were made by the commission, which is an advisory board.

Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Pearson shouldered some of the blame for the rift.

“I take responsibility for not be clearer about what I wanted at the center,” Pearson said. “I was disappointed that what I wanted was not what was recommended.”

The commission unanimously recommended a dominating sculpture of a breaching whale, one component of a three-part winning entry in a $150,000 competition. Council members said it was not relevant to the building’s purpose of serving the community from tots to seniors. In fact the only piece submitted that Pearson considered at all relevant was a bench with children’s and adults shoes and ballet slippers stashed below it.

Pearson and Councilwoman Toni Iseman were appointed to investigate the purchase of the commission recommendation and installing it at a site the council would find more appropriate.

Commissioner Mary Ferguson expressed concern that the process has been compromised by the delay of a council decision for the centers.

Public art is required for all commercial buildings valued at $225,000 or more. The ordinance specifies that the art is to be installed before the building is open. The centers celebrated their grand opening Saturday.

“Keep in mind, if the art that was purchased and put elsewhere, we still need $150,000 for the art at the Community Center,” Commissioner Mary Ferguson said. “And I don’t think we’ve got it.”

The ordinance also stipulates that the art must be visible from the public right-of-way, which council members opined does not always make for an ideal location, citing the center, which has little space in front of the structure for anything other than landscaping, and not much of that.

Commissioner Pat Kollenda said the decision to decline recommendations is the council’s prerogative.

“Then all hell breaks loose,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said.

Disagreements between elected officials and arts commissioners happen in every city, according to Kollenda. She said one city installed some art that had to be removed due to the public outcry. In another city, a commissioner resigned after a dispute with the council.

“If you want all the projects [submitted for your review] what is the point of an arts commission?” Kollenda asked.

Councilwoman Jane Egly said the point is to make recommendations.

“It is the council’s job to make the decision,” Egly said.

Commissioner Joan Corman said council members can come to the meetings as members of the public, but that doesn’t solve the problem, Councilwoman Verna Rollinger said. The Brown Act prohibits council members from consulting one another outside of public meetings, except for specified exemptions.

“That could lead to five different council opinions,” Iseman said. “I don’t want just one [proposal] presented to the council.”

Pearson concurred.

Mayor Kelly Boyd voiced the opinion that early participation by the council could prevent embarrassment to the artists, who come before council with the full support of the commission and the expectation of approval. Presentations usually include models — called maquettes — of the proposal. It can be costly and the commission is working on ways to make the selection process less financially onerous for the artists, particularly in the current economic climate.

Other assistance is being contemplated.

“My concept: As goodwill gesture the commission could pay the annual $60 business license fee for the artists,” Ferguson said.

Kollenda said her concept was that the city would waive the fees. After all, said Commissioner Mike Tauber, individual artists bring visitors to town.

“What about the other people who pay the fees,” Egly asked.

Restaurants, hotels and business owners pay sales, bed and property taxes.

“People come here for the art, not just the beach,” Kollenda said. “We need to foster that.”

She is pushing for a cultural arts center, possibly a private/public partnership with the Laguna Playhouse or the Aliso Creek complex.

The commission is also proposing the creation of an economic bridge between now and festival season to help keep artists solvent in Laguna Beach. Studio tours are being arranged for the Fridays after the First Thursday Art Walks in April, May and June.

Tours will be publicized.

The joint meeting lasted an hour.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 380-4321 or coastlinepilot@latimes.com.