Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	November 5, 2007
	Agenda Item No. 36 Roll Call No. 07- Communication No. 07-671 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Approving Professional Services Agreement with Agrest and Gandelsonas Architects, LLP for schematic design of the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at Western Gateway Park, not to exceed $132,750.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend approval of the Professional Services Agreement with Agrest and Gandelsonas Architects, LLP, (Diana Agrest and Mario Gandelsonas, Principals, 176 Grand Street, 2^nd Floor, New York, New York 10013), for a lump sum amount of $98,750, and reimbursable costs not to exceed $34,000, to provide schematic design services for the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at Western Gateway Park.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $132,750

Funding Source: $132,750 from a new project - PKS169 Gateway West Park - funded with a transfer of $501,000 of TIF backed G.O. Bonds remaining from the original Western Gateway Redevelopment Project - URR027 - 2007-2008 CIP, Economic Development Page 5.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Earlier this year, Mary and John Pappajohn announced the donation of several sculptures to the Des Moines Art Center for placement in the proposed Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at Western Gateway Park. Mr. Pappajohn’s donation of art offers an opportunity for Des Moines to create one of the most significant collections of art in the United States. Mario Gandelsonas has been working with the Pappajohns and the Des Moines Art Center on various options for a conceptual design of the sculpture garden. It is necessary to create a schematic design for Western Gateway Park, which alters the current park in a way that best showcases the art and accounts for the security and maintenance needed for this very special collection. The Parks and Recreation Department recommends that Agrest and Gandelsonas Architects prepare the schematic design in cooperation with John Pappajohn, the Des Moines Art Center, and the City. The selection was based on the significance of the Pappajohn collection, and Mario Gandelsonas’ proven vision for downtown planning and the work already underway between the architect and the art donors. Several local subconsultants will be used to assist the architect in developing the schematic design.

There remains a need for a final agreement between the City, the Pappajohns, and the Des Moines Art Center, which will define the exact terms of this gift. The creation of that agreement will be aided by having an agreed upon schematic design for the Western Gateway park sculpture garden. There will be significant opportunity for input on the proposed sculpture garden. In addition to direct input from the Pappajohns, meetings will be held with stakeholders that assisted in the development of the original Western Gateway Park. The schematic design process and sculpture park planning will be led by a committee including the Pappajohns, the Des Moines Art Center, and the City, represented by the City Manager, Park and Recreation Director and Ward 3 Councilmember Christine Hensley. The schematic plan will also be presented to and reviewed by the Urban Design Review Board and Park and Recreation Board. The final schematic design will be presented to City Council for approval.

Portions of the park will be modified for placement of the sculptures; funding for these changes will be raised privately. There will be some funding from the City. Currently, $500,000 remains from bonds previously sold for Western Gateway Park and these will be transferred to this sculpture park project. This total amount will not be known until the schematic design phase is completed.

Staff has negotiated a Professional Services Agreement with Agrest and Gandelsonas Architects, LLP, for a lump sum amount of $132,750, to provide schematic design services for the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden at Western Gateway Park. A future additional contract will be required to produce final design construction documents, specifications, and construction phase services.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

Normal Council actions on consultant services for design, an agreement with the Des Moines Art Center, and professional service agreement for final design and construction phase services.