Parks and Arts
Community Services Commission Update
The five-member Community Services Commission met this week to discuss two agenda items: the design for a new private park in Orchard Hills and a Public Arts Policy Program for the city. Both items passed unanimously.
The Park
Planning administrator Stephanie Frady presented the new Orchard Hills park plan. The first of two new parks planned for Orchard Hills would serve District 4 of the community. The 3.10 acre park would include:
A junior Olympic-sized pool
A spa
A wading pool
A play area
A multi-purpose room
A 3,400-square-foot exercise lawn
56 parking spaces
Sylvia Walker called in to the meeting to express her concern about park’s planned 1,777 square feet of synthetic turf. She wanted to know about the cost of recycling the artificial turf as well as the potential for pollution, injuries, and heat caused by the turf.
Commission members asked about bike racks and EV chargers. Barry Curtis, a Senior Director of Entitlement with the Irvine Company, said there would be bike racks, but that EV chargers would not be offered. The conversation then turned back to artificial turf.
Commissioner Kelly Rodgers said that the Irvine Ranch Water District no longer expressly endorses artificial turf. Frady explained that the artificial turf, which would take up 2.5% of the total grass area, was preferable for its aesthetics and durability.
The item passed unanimously.
The Arts
A Public Arts Program Policy will help the city achieve its public art goals by providing a framework for the selection, creation, and installation of public art. Screen shot from Community Services Commission meeting
Cory Hilderbrand, Community Services Manager, and Kim Mahon, Senior Management Analyst, presented the proposed Public Arts Program Policy. The policy would update the city's 2019 Fine Arts Policy to be more inclusive of all types of public art, including loans, donations, murals, and other projects.
Since the city’s 2019 Fine Arts Policy was established, the city has collaborated with 390 artists in 17 exhibits that drew over 17,000 visitors. Hilderbrand and Mahon explained that due to unsolicited requests for a variety of public arts projects, but has not had a policy in place to guide these requests.
Central to the Public Arts Program would be a proposed Public Arts Panel, which would consist of three art-related professionals and/or community representatives, one member of the Community Services Commission, and one city staff representative.
Each member would serve for at least one two-year term. Members may not serve for than four years (two terms). Members of the Public Arts Panel would review all pubic arts projects, evaluate donations, acquisitions, and more.
If approved, the Public Arts Panel would begin meeting in January of 2024. Screen shot from Community Services Commission meeting
Commissioner Soha Vazirnia wanted to move forward with the Public Arts Policy, but wanted the panel’s members appointed directly by city council members. Chair Naz Hamid disagreed.
“No shade on the City Council, or on all of us sitting here,” said Hamid. “I think that we are not experts on public art. We do need an expert voice weighing in.”
Commissioner Kevin Trussell expressed concern with appropriate subject matter in selected art. He referenced nudity or material that might offend specific cultures or religions. He was told such guidance is already in the policy.
The motion to establish a Public Arts Policy Program passed unanimously and will be sent to the City Council to vote on in July.
Watch this meeting and others at the Community Services Commission meeting videos archive.