5/7/2025
Public Arts Commission
May 07, 2025
6:00 PM
Fridley Civic Campus, 7071 University Ave N.E.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Approval of Meeting Minutes
1.Approve April 2, 2025, Public Arts Commission Minutes
New Business
2.Artist Response to Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Our call for artists.
Old Business
Other Items
Adjournment
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AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date:May 7, 2025 Meeting Type:Public ArtsCommission
Submitted By:Julianne Beberg, Office Coordinator
Title
Approve April 2, 2025, Public Arts Commission Minutes
Background
Approve April 2, 2025, Public Arts Commission Minutes
Financial Impact
Recommendation
ApproveApril 2, 2025, Public Arts Commission Minutes
Attachments and Other Resources
April 2, 2025, Public Arts Commission Minutes
Vision Statement
We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses.
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Public Arts Commission
April2, 2025
6:00 PM
Fridley Civic Campus, 7071 University Ave N.E.
Minutes
Call to Order
6:00 PM
Present
Josh Collins
Ryan Fugleberg
Kara Ruwart
Frank Sedzielarz
Maija Sedzielarz
Gary Swanson
Gary Osterbauer
Ann Bolkcom, Council Liaison
Guest: Scott Lund, President, Fridley Creative Arts Foundation
Staff Liaison: Scott Hickok
Absent
N/A
Approve of Meeting Minutesof March 5, 2025
1.Approve March 5, 2025, Meeting Minutes. Minutes were approved with the following
modifications identified by MaijaSedzielarz. Savage Library, not Hopkins,was the blank that
needed to be filled in and Josh Collins clarified that he was asking if we were reviewing and
this process. Kara Ruwart
made a motion to approve, seconded byGary Swanson, to approve the minutes with
amendments suggested. The motion passed 5-0.
New Business
2.Request For Qualifications (RFQ) For Commons Park Sculpture
Sedzielarz and the Commission generally for their research in addresses and organizations
where the invitation will be seen. Hickok also thanked Chair Collins edits and revisions
suggested in the RFQ process documents and the agreement example. Mr. Hickok explained
due to time constraints at the end and with having limited time to have the draft agreement
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Public Arts Commission Minutes Page 2
Meeting 5/2/2025
revised version of the
office and prepared for the Jessica Turtle, Northern Leopard Frog Sculpture for Moore Lake.
Scot Hickok also explained that some of the email addresses where RFQ materials were sent
came back as non-mailboxes, or incorrect email addresses. He continued that out of about 17
addresses attempted, as many as six addresses were rejected. This still left a healthy number of
organizations that received and would share the information.
Commissioner Maija Sedzielarz suggested that the Fridley High School Arts Program be made
aware of the Public Art Initiatives and to be invited to participate in some of the upcoming
events and promotional activities. Sedzielarz continued that crosswalk art and trash can art are
projects that she sees as she researches and looks at what other cities are doing. A suggestion is
that the Fridley Band could play at some of the celebrations like park openings/sculpture
unveilings. Council member Bolkcom liked the idea of connecting with the Fridley Art Teachers
and they could be connected with the park and recreation Department to be involved in
workshops such as Tap-weaving, Basket-making, Notebook Sketching, Zentangle Art creation,
etc.
Gary Swanson asked that we review the schedule we defined in the RFQ and wanted the
Commission to make note of the dates decided, which are:
Publish the RFQ April 2, 2025
Hold Information Meeting April 7, 2025
RFQ Responses Due back by May 2, 2025
Regular Meeting of the Commission Reviews Finalists May 7, 2025
May 14, 2025, Potential Special Meeting of Commission to further discuss artists
Finalist Notification May 21, 2025
Finalist Full Presentation to the Park and Recreation Commission and Public Arts
Commission (in a joint meeting on June 8, 2025 - TBD)
Final Public Arts Commission Recommendation to Council July 8, 2025
A general discussion ensued, including the question, do we believe this is the correct amount of
time to make the selection and to do what is necessary to notify the artist. A general discussion
ensued regarding the potential number of responses we could get based on the value of the
project, the review process, scoring of the responses, etc.
Old Business
will be easier to
fundraise once it is clear what their money is going toward. Lund also provided updates on
Fridley Art Foundations plans to promote themselves in the 49er Parade, have art projects for
children and adults to attract attention like painting rocks to take home and potentially another
coloring project.
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Public Arts Commission Minutes Page 3
Meeting 5/2/2025
th
Mr. Lund also announced that on June 17, 2025, Betty Ann Addison is hosting a plant sale on
th
her property at 1315 66 Avenue NE. Some of the proceeds from the plant sale will be
dedicated to the Art Foundation. All are welcome and are encouraged to attend.
Scott Lund indicated that the Foundation has its website up and donations can be made directly
into the website.
Lund concluded by indication he is looking for volunteers to walk in the parade and carry a
banner for the Public Arts Foundation. He will be the Grand Marshal in the Parade, so other
volunteers will be necessary.
Vice Chair Ryan Fugleberg suggested that, depending on how many responses we get back, we
thth
may want to begin reviewing the responses on the 5 or 6 of May. There was a consensus that
that may be necessary, however no motion or official vote.
Adjournment:
Frank Sedzielarz made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Kara Ruwart, motion passed
unanimously Meeting Adjourned 7:48 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Hickok
Recording Secretary
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AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date:May 7, 2025,Meeting Type:Public ArtsCommission
Submitted By:Scott Hickok, Community Development Director
Title
Artist Response to Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Our call for artists.
Background
Very exciting news! We likely will have over 20 artist responses to our invitation to propose.
As you all will recall, an RFQ for artists was advertised on April 2, 2025. An optional information meeting
was made available for artists on April 7, 2025. Since that time, we have now had 19 artists (as of the
writing of this memo the deadline is EOD today, so there will likely be more by the time you all receive
the bundle of information you will be receivingMonday).
Mike Maher, Jesslyn Quiram, and I are meeting on Friday afternoon (today) to discuss and potentially
Because of the deadline being the end of the dayFriday, this packet will reach you before the last artist
responses are in. Therefore, please watch for the full bundle of all artist responses in your e-mailbox
Monday, along with score sheets. You can score ahead if you feel so compelled. I realize that that is a
tall order with potentially over 20 artists. We did wantto provide a full month for artist responses and
for the Commission we have allowed for additional meeting timein May, if necessary to make our final
artist selection.
Looking forward to an art-filled night of review on Wednesday.
Financial Impact
Funds for the public art in this park, in the location specified, will be raised by the Fridley Public Arts
Foundation.
Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Commission be prepared to receive the full responses for the RFQ in their
emails on Monday and be prepared for scoring on Wednesday evening. Early independent scoring is
acceptable, if you have the time and are so inclined. Staff want to recognize that this is a tall order in a
short time for working Commissioners and if early review and scoring at home is not realistic, there will
be no judgement or demerits we will all review as a group on Wednesday. We will keep any and all
Vision Statement
We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses.
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earlyscoring that may have been completed quiet until any that have not reviewed and scored have
seen all the artists and drawn their own independent conclusions.
Attachments and Other Resources
N/A
Vision Statement
We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses.
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