Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager Office

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Michael Tubbs, Management Analyst
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager John Reeves, Chair, Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission Ernie Shaw, Interim Director, Parks and Recreation Department Lynne Braddock Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
Date:	September 17, 2008
RE:	Donated sculpture Hedgehog House

Please place the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the September 23, 2008 meeting:

Project History. On December 14, 2007 Christopher Fennell submitted a donated art in public places – donation form proposing to donate the sculpture “Hedgehog House” located at the north entrance of South Park to the City.

The Arts Commission at its January 9, 2008 meeting voted to approve the artistic merits of the environmental sculpture “Hedgehog House” and to recommend to the Lawrence City Commission that its donation by sculptor Christopher Fennell be accepted.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at its March 11, 2008 meeting voted 5-0 to keep the artwork until it had decayed to the point it needed to be taken down.

The Lawrence Historic Resource Commission at its April 17, 2008 meeting voted 5-0 to approve the project with the conditions noted by staff:

1. Any changes to the approved project will be submitted to the Historic     Resources Commission prior to the commencement of any related work.

2. The art will be monitored by the Parks and Recreation Department and will be removed when blighted.

Project Status. A final report from the Historic Resource Commission was received on August 25, 2008 --- with this report all appropriate and necessary approvals have been obtained.   The piece, at the northwest corner of South Park near 11th and Massachusetts Streets, was part of the 2007 Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition. It is of unfinished wood and will naturally deteriorate over time in place.

Action Request.  The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission recommends that the City Commission approve the proposed donated art sculpture “Hedgehog House” by Christopher Fennell of Birmingham, Al.