Carson City Supervisors accept roundabout sculpture, public comments for and against

Carson City Supervisors approved the final redesign of the Carson Street Roundabout sculpture, which will now move onto the next phase of completion.

There has been ongoing public comment, both for and against the art installation, but one comment continued to come up: roads.

Many public commenters Thursday asked why art is being considered when the Carson City roads funds has a deficit.

Commenters also asked about safety, and expressed concern that artwork within the roundabout could be a distraction for drivers.

Public Works Director Darren Schulz spoke to the safety concerns, namely that some commenters were alleging that the project is not in compliance with the Federal Highway Administration.

Schulz said that the FHWA has guidelines across the nation that are general in nature and are typically more specific toward highways and major thoroughfares.

He said that what is being referenced in some of the comments regarding roundabouts and art, the speed of cars are not being taken into consideration.

“Speed has a direct correlation toward safety in a roundabout,” Schulz said. “That roundabout is designed for speeds of 15-20 mph. Art in the roundabout does not bring up any safety hazard.”

Schulz went on that not being able to see across the roundabout, which is already happening due to the height of the roundabout’s center, has no bearing on safety.

“The real goal is the ability to see the next closest incoming lane into the roundabout,” Schulz said. “That’s what you need to have a visual of. Seeing what’s going on across is not necessary.”

As to why the money isn’t being spent on roads, supervisors have already discussed that answer at length at the previous meetings, as well as any time public art is being discussed. In a nutshell, this money was raised specifically for public art and cannot be used for any other purpose. You can learn more about that process here.

Mayor Lori Bagwell said that while roads are a concern, and that city staff works diligently to find roads money to make up the deficit, public art is also a goal that needs to be addressed.

“There is an Arts Master Plan, and there have been numerous meetings since 2018 about putting art in the roundabout,” Bagwell said. “The community said they wanted more art. That was determined in the master plan.”

Bagwell continued, saying that a city is not only a road, and that the board’s job is to balance funding avenues for all of the city’s master plans.

“I try desperately to balance and to find appropriate funding sources that meet all the master plans. I don’t think the city is solely a road. Do I work hard to find road money? Absolutely. These are not general funds (being used for the roundabout). We passed a tax on lodging for visitors to fund the art master plan. That’s where the $75,000 came from. I cannot take that money and go fix the pothole next to my house; it’s not allowed.”

Bagwell continued that not everyone is going to love every single piece of art, but that art is important as a whole for the community.

Supervisor Lisa Schuette pointed out that the action was not to discuss whether or not a sculpture should be placed in the roundabout, but instead, whether or not supervisors wished to approve the final design of the sculpture.

“In terms of the design, we spoke at length regarding really what sense of place means for Carson City to reflect this area. There was quite a bit of back and forth and discussion about what represents Carson City. It is such an amazing community that there are all kinds of items that could, but the cottonwood is huge. We talked about the mountains and how the previous submission did not reflect Carson City mountains. I spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of not only the mountains but how the snow falls in the canyons. The way the new design is depicted with the eagle, it shows it soaring and adds depth to the mountain. The capitol building has been changed. The Carson City silver dollar mint was a huge part of early Carson City. The symbolism from the tribal lands from around this area, that was incorporated. Whether you like the design or not, it does reflect this area and that was what was requested.”

Schuette also stated that there has been public outreach regarding the program since 2016.

“Looking at the role of art in a community, often we look to public art as a way to address a challenge that the city is looking to solve in a way that is meaningful for a broader cross section of people.”

Supervisor Maurice White said that he still does not believe the sculpture design represents Carson City.

“Carson City has plenty of its own history it can rely on,” White said. “As an iconic for Carson City, we should not be relying on state and federal history.”

White said that they still have an “escape clause” and that there are “more important things to do.”

White said when he and Supervisor Stacey Giomi suggested the funding for the piece, he was under the impression that art was required.

Bagwell said that there was similar uproar during the redesign of the roads downtown, but that now, there has been no feedback that the work the city did in McFadden Plaza and downtown is not appreciated.

“I think some things take time but the vast majority of the community has enjoyed the changes. Not everyone, there’s no such thing as a perfect answer. But I think the community has enjoyed McFadden Plaza, last December we were decorated all across the downtown, and the community was so proud of that. While some of you believe this will not be of value, I think there’s (research) that supports the arts bring money into a community.”

Supervisors passed the final design with White voting against.