Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information SheetCity of Denton
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AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Procurement & Compliance
CFO: Antonio Puente, Jr.
DATE: April 7, 2020
SUBJECT
Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, for
approval of a pre-qualified artist list for Economic Development, for various public art projects within the
City of Denton, regarding different styles and types of art work. Providing an effective date (RFQ 7265 -
for a two (2) year term).
INFORMATION/BACKGROUND
It has become an increasingly common practice for Texas cities with vibrant public arts programs to
establish pre-qualified artist lists. Several Texas cities including; Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and
Dallas, as well as numerous cities across the nation, now streamline multiple individual artist RFQs into a
single application and selection process for artists interested in commissioned public art projects. These
pre-qualified lists are established periodically either to coincide with budgeting or to provide opportunities
for new and emerging artists to apply for consideration.
The goal of the City of Denton’s pre-qualified artist list would be to provide a qualified preset list of
approved artists from which the Public Art Committee (PAC) can select artists for specific projects. This
should greatly enhance the City’s ability to move public art projects forward from concept to reality in a
more efficient manner.
The two-year pre-qualified artist list Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was posted on the City’s bid site and
the Call for Artist Entry (Café) site on Friday, December 13, 2019. The application response deadline was
Sunday, January 26, 2020, providing applicants a six-week response time. The project’s Public Art
Committee’s (PAC) Sub-Committee members include: Nick Bagherpour, Jodi Ismert, and Michelle Lynn.
The sub-committee reviewed the artist respondents and recommended an artist list to the PAC at their March
5, 2020 committee meeting.
The PAC has approved public art projects for the City’s new Dog Park, Vela Athletic Complex, and Tennis
Center, as well as the Fire Station #3 project. The PAC has previously selected the three-person sub-
committee for the projects listed. Each respective sub-committee will select and recommend an artist from
the prequalified artist list to the Public Art Committee for their approval. Future projects will also be able
to utilize the list while it remains active.
The approved artists will be contracted by the City and work with the PAC and City Council to execute and
present concepts and proceed with public art installations.
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional art services was sent to 347 prospective firms for these
services. In addition, the RFQ was placed on the Materials Management website for prospective
respondents to download and advertised in the local newspaper. One hundred seventy-one (171) statement
of qualifications (SOQ) were received. The SOQs were evaluated based on published criteria. All artists
scoring 80 or higher were placed on a list for the PAC’s consideration, with the PAC recommending
approval of the list as submitted with 54 artists.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
On March 5, 2020, the Public Art Committee (PAC) recommended approval of the pre-qualified artist list
by a vote of 6-0.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval of the pre-qualified list of firms to be contracted for utilization on various art projects
within the City of Denton as reviewed and ranked by City staff.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
This is a two (2) year contract.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No funds are requested or required to be spent as part of this approval. Individual contracts will be
negotiated with the top-ranked firms and purchasing orders will be issued as needed.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1: Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2: Evaluation Sheet
Exhibit 3: Ordinance
Respectfully submitted:
Lori Hewell, 940-349-7100
Purchasing Manager
For information concerning this acquisition, contact: Jessica Rogers, 940-349-7531.
Legal point of contact: Mack Reinwand at 940-349-8333.