HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-06 Arts Culture Commission MinutesMarch 6, 2006 Special Edina City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2
MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
AND EDINA PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE
HELD MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2006
AT 5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:35 P.M. in the Community Room of Edina
City Hall. Answering rollcall were the following members of the City Council: Members
Housh, Hulbert, Masica, Swenson and Mayor Hovland. Members of the Edina Public Art
Committee in attendance included: Linda Kieffer, Chair, Dick Crocket, Brad Benn, Diana
Hedges, Pat Greer, Kristen Christianson, and Kay Wetherall. Staff present included: Gordon
Hughes, City Manager, John Keprios, Park Director, Ceil Smith, Assistant to the City Manager,
Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director and Debra Mangen, City Clerk.
Mayor Hovland noted the purpose of the work session was to review the design for the
stained glass window proposed for installation in Edina City Hall. Ms. Keiffer reviewed
briefly the process the Edina Public Art Committee had followed to date. She introduced
Michael Pilla, the artist who had been commissioned to prepare a stained glass design.
Mr. Pilla explained he was a stained glass artist and a restoration consultant. He listed various
projects he has been involved in the design and installation of new stained glass windows,
including the Hopkins Public Library. Mr. Pilla displayed a small window he had made, and
outlined the difference in the technique he used to create his stained glass, noting he used
copper and not lead in the architectural elements of his windows. He also explained that he
covered the soldered joints of his windows with a cover fabricated from copper making the
window not only more interesting to view, but also resulting in a stronger product.
Mr. Pilla showed the picture of his design and explained it represented the waterfall and mill
that were part of Edina's history. He said the window wall adjacent to the elevator in City
Hall was the proposed location for the finished window. Mr. Pilla said the window will span
both the first and second level of City Hall and be able to be viewed from either story. He
presented samples of the glass representing both the color and style that would be similar to
that proposed to be used in the Edina window.
Mr. Pilla explained that the window would take him approximately six months to create and
about one week for installation. He said the cost of the commission was $60,000. If authorized
he would ask for twenty-five percent of the commission for completion of the design; twenty-
five percent to begin fabrication, another twenty-five percent prior to installation and the
remaining twenty-five percent when installation was complete. Mr. Pilla stated he worked
alone, but did employ other artists to aid in the fabrication of projects under his direction.
Dick Crockett, Edina Community Foundation Director and Edina Public Art Committee
Member briefly reviewed the financing for the proposed project. Mr. Crockett reminded the
Council that $20,000 had been reserved in the 2005 City of Edina Year End General Fund
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March 6, 2006 Special Edina City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2
Balance for this project. He added that the Community Foundation had $12,000 in the bank
and also received a donation for the project of $3,000 from Xcel Energy with the promise of an
additional $2,000. Mr. Crockett added with the Utility Check-off program that would be
initiated during the summer of 2006, he felt confident the remaining $25,000 funds would be
received.
Consensus of the Council was positive towards the project and they directed staff to place the
item on the March 21, 2006, Council Agenda for formal action. Mayor Hovland thanked the
Edina Public Art Committee for their work in placing public art within City Hall.
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Mangen, City Clerk
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