ITEM TITLE:
#23-68 - Approving Port Valdez Company Memorial Art Installation at Meals Hill
SUBMITTED BY: Nathan Duval, Assistant City manager/Capital Facilities Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution #23-68 approving Port Valdez Company Memorial Art Installation at Meals Hill
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Meals Hill sales agreement includes a provision within the Terms of Sale for the installation of a public memorial art piece. The terms of the agreement state “All enhancements to the Property…shall be subject to approval by the applicable planning authority of the City and by the Valdez City Council”.
The attached resolution is intended to serve as the formal approval of the art installation at Meals Hill referenced above.
The design was discussed with the City Council at the November 21, 2023, regular meeting. Council conversation included a desire to include a narrative or greater interpretation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Council member Love, Council member Devens and Council member Foster agreed to form a sub-committee to further discuss the topic. Port Valdez Co Representative, John Clark, has offered to consider modifications to emphasize the spill. Additional interpretative panels relating to the spill and EVOS are going to be installed along the trail outside the scope of the artwork (draft panels included for reference).
To date Council has expressed a desire to not expend public funds on the artwork.
Attachments to the resolution include the presented art piece, a sketch of the location for the art at the entrance, the Bureau of Land Management letter of non-objection and a recommendation from the sub-committee.