SR 05:066 - Laserfiche WebLink

Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: BACKGROUND In late summer 2003, Pleasanton teen Ryan Gordon was killed in a tragic boating accident. A number of community-wide efforts have been organized to memorialize Mr. Gordon, including the placement of public art in the community. Staff met with the Gordon family in a series of meetings in the fall of 2003 to discuss their desire to donate a work of public art in memory of their son. Given the sincerity of the Gordon's intention, staff engaged the services of art consultant Lynne Baer to assist in the development of the project and to search for an appropriate artist. It was determined that an artist-designed bench would be the most appropriate artwork. The desired location for the piece was the southern end of newly developed Val Vista Community Park. Artist Donna Billick was initially engaged by the family to develop the artwork, but she withdrew from the project in August 2004. The Gordons then chose Oakland artist Dmitry Grudsky to develop a curving bench, with tile mosaics, depicting themes relevant to Ryan's life and interests. Some of Mr. Grudsky's most recent works have been installed along the City of Berkeley "Arts Walk" on Addison Street. Those items are similar to the type of bench that is being proposed for Val Vista Community Park. At the January 3, 2005 meeting of the Civic Arts Commission, the Commission reviewed the proposed project with staff, artist, and the Gordon family. The Commission was shown a model of the proposed bench, and a sample of the tile mosaic elements that would be part of the art piece. The Commission voted to provisionally approve the project, and requested that staff obtain appropriate public input/comments and report back to the Commission at its February 7 meeting. Staff indicated that it would present the project to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and also display the model at the proposed site to allow for community and neighborhood input. The project was presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on January 13, 2005. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-1 (Dibiase) to approve the project. Commissioner Dibiase cast the lone dissenting vote, indicating his support of the Gordon Family and their efforts, but expressing concern that a pattern of only creating public art benches as memorials was being established. He expressed a desire for more variety in the approach and nature of such memorial projects, encouraging other options that are imaginative and strive for the highest quality. The Parks and Recreation Commission also requested that staff place the model of the bench at the Pleasanton Library for review and comments. The model and sample tiles were on display at the Library from Thursday, January 27 through Friday, February 4. The model was also displayed at the proposed site in Val Vista Community Park on Saturday, February 5. An extensive area of the neighborhood surrounding the site was notified of this opportunity to view SR 05:066 Page 2