Council Discusses Public Art, Heritage Park, Festival and Superstars

The Dublin City Council voted Tuesday to extend suspension of a requirement that large residential developments display public art.

The current two-year suspension expires in May and the 3-2 vote extends the suspension for a year. The public art requirement is that residential developments with more than 20 units purchase or construct a piece of art or pay a fee to the city that would go toward public art. Certain developments such as low-income housing and daycare centers are exempt.

Dublin staff recommended a two-year suspension “given the fact that the economic downturn is continuing to affect Dublin” and that public-art fees might deter potential developers.

Some council members differed on the length of the suspension, while others recommended nixing the suspension entirely.

Councilman Eric Swalwell, a former member of the Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission, said he agreed with the recommendation, adding that he did not think another suspension would drastically impact Dublin’s public-art scene. Although economic recovery can be seen in Dublin, he said, the credit and loan markets are still shaky nationwide and “slapping this art fee back on applicants” could drive developers away.

“Looking at the bigger picture, we’ve done a great job recently with public art,” Swalwell said. “We still have a strong focus on it with the Heritage Park opening.”

Councilwoman Kasie Hildenbrand voted against the suspension, saying that “public art makes our city unique.”

“I know that times are still tough but this is a valuable part of our community.”

Councilman Kevin Hart recommended reducing the public-art fee by half in lieu of another suspension, while Councilmember Don Biddle recommended reducing the suspension to a year.

“It will help to give [developers] notice that this suspension is not perpetual while giving the economy time to fully recover,” he said.

Mayor Tim Sbranti said he saw the fee for residential developments as a “nice-to-have, not necessarily need-to-have.” He said he was excited to see a handful of residential developments slated for approval on Tuesday’s consent calendar, adding that reinstating the public art requirement could chase away such projects in lean economic times. 

The developments included a project in the Dublin Ranch Development called The Terraces, with several four-story multi-family buildings; 44 individual lots in the Silvera Ranch development; and a 76-lot plan in the Positano at Fallon Village subdivision.

Council members concluded the meeting with a lengthy discussion of two major Dublin events: the grand opening and dedication of the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums and Day on the Glen Festival.

The Heritage Park opening is set for July 2 to accommodate attendance of the Kolb family, whose original members have historic ties to Dublin. The Kolb home, a 1911 Craftsman bungalow preserved as a period-style attraction, recognizes George Kolb, a 19th-century pioneer. The German immigrant owned the Dublin General Store before purchasing large land tracts in the area. 

The opening of Heritage Park will include tours of the Kolb home, which family members will attend. The opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and kick off a handful of youth camps, art classes and tours that will be conducted at the park.

“This could rival the Fallon Sports Park opening,” Swalwell said.

Council members also discussed overhauling the Day on the Glen Festival, which was canceled last year. Since then, city staff has distributed a survey to gauge residents’ opinions of the festival and whether it should be revived. 

According to the survey, 51 percent of those who attended Day on the Glen rated it as good and 79 percent said they would have attended in 2010 had it not been canceled. The residents cited family time, affordability and entertainment as key factors in attracting them to attend the festival.

City staff recommended reintroducing the festival with new themes and attractions in 2012. Possible themes include a German-oriented Oktoberfest displaying microbreweries and Bavarian food or a blues festival, the staff recommendation said.  Reintroducing the event would require a larger budget of $85,000.

Hart said other Oktoberfests in Bay Area cities such as Oakland and San Francisco could conflict with plans for a Dublin Oktoberfest. Sbranti suggested themes of pasta and wine or an international festival, which he said would be big draws for Dublin’s diverse population. 

Hildenbrand said she saw benefits in all of the recommended themes, adding that attendance of Day on the Glen was lower because the festival was held in the middle of soccer season.

“We had people rushing through on their way to a soccer game or something else,” she said. “We want something that people can spend the whole day at or come to in the evenings once they’re done with their business.”

Council members said the best event would incorporate several suggested elements, such as chili cook-offs, blues music and restaurant booths, that eventually will become the heart of the festival.  They recommended sending their suggestions for a pasta and wine festival to the Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission and will continue to discuss ideas after the commission explores more options.

Janine Thalblum, Dublin Rotary Club's community service chairwoman, announced the Dublin Rotary Superstars. She said recipients of the third annual awards  "displayed leadership by example, ethics and openness to new ideas."

They included Rob Schnepp, assistant chief for the Alameda County Fire Department. Thalblum said Schnepp was a "true leader" whose acts of heroism included resuscitation of a parrot and saving a sheep. Schnepp, who was on hand to be recognized by council members, also wrote two textbooks on emergency response to hazardous materials and spent time in Serbia to advise armed forces. He said he was "honored to serve Dublin."

Frank Navarro, who works with the city of Dublin in land development issues, also was named. He was vital in bringing the newly opened West Dublin/Pleasanton BART station online and oversees city management of other major projects such as Arroyo Vista and Schaefer Ranch. Thalblum said Navarro, a Danville resident, is a UC Berkeley graduate and avid fan of Cal football.

All Dublin Rotary Superstars, including recipients from Dublin Police and Dublin Unified School District, will be recognized at an April 19 luncheon at Dublin Ranch Restaurant & Bar.  The event will run 12 - 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public.  For ticket information visit www.dublinrotary.com.

Also at the meeting:

• . The Women's Premier Soccer League, based in California and with teams across the nation, will bring the Bay Area Breeze to Dublin High School for an exhibition game April 16. The match against the Cal Golden Bears women's soccer team begins at 6 p.m. and is free. The league opener is scheduled for May 14, also at School. For more information, visit www.wpsl.info.

• Dublin's Relay for Life will take place May 14-15 in recognition of the American Cancer Society's "Paint Your Town Purple" campaign. Purple ribbons will be placed on trees throughout the city, with the relay taking place at Wells Middle School. The event will include fireworks and a luminary ceremony.