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THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF ,

M E M O R A N D U M 2

DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2010 CI6130

TO: CRA/LA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

FROM: CHRISTINE ESSEL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CRA/LA STAFF: DAVID RICITIELLO, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR LEN BETZ, PROJECT MANAGER SUSAN GRAY, CULTURAL ARTS PLANNER

SUBJECT: African American Firefighter Museum. Adoption of findings and authorization to expend up to $25,000 for Public Improvements at the African American Firefighter Museum consisting of a tribute to Arnett L. Hartsfield at 1401 South Central Avenue in the Central Industrial Redevelopment Project Area.

DOWNTOWN REGION (CD9)

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners, subject to City Council review and approval:

1. Adopt, and request that City Council adopt, a joint resolution pursuant to Section 33445 of the California Health and Safety Code finding that: (i) the payment use of $25,000 in CRA/LA Central Industrial Redevelopment Project Area tax increment funds for the development of the Arnett L. Hartsfield tribute (“Public Improvement”) to be installed on public property at the African American Firefighter Museum, at Fire Station #30 located at 1401 South Central Avenue, within the Central Industrial Redevelopment Project Area, will benefit the Project Area by eliminating blight within the Project Area; (ii) the proposed expenditure is the only reasonable means of financing the Public Improvement; and (iii) the development of the Public Improvement is consistent with the five-year implementation plan for the Project Area.

2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or designee to execute an agreement with the California Artist Coalition of Los Angeles (CACLA) providing funding in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for said Public Improvements.

SUMMARY

The Public Improvements will be dedicated as a tribute to Arnett L. Hartsfield, a local black firefighter, who was at the forefront of integrating fire stations in the 1950s. The tribute will be designed by renowned Los Angeles artist and will be installed in the courtyard of African American Firefighter Museum at 1401 South Central Avenue, which is publically owned and open to the public to enjoy and for use during civic ceremonies and events. AAFM ARNETT L. HARTFIELD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 2

PREVIOUS ACTIONS

February 15, 1985 - City Council adopted the Cultural Historical Landmark designation (CF# 84- 2225)

January 21, 2010 - Cultural Affairs Commission approved the public art projects for the African American Firefighters Museum, under the condition that the project will go to the Public Art Committee of the Department of Cultural Affairs for technical review.

June 17, 2010 - The Public Art Committee of the Department of Cultural Affairs reviewed and approved the project.

DISCUSSION & BACKGROUND

Location

The African American Firefighter Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, which is housed in a building listed as Cultural Historical Landmark number 289. The museum is located at 1401 South Central Avenue, in what was Fire Station 30, at the northern end of historic Central Avenue. The facility currently consists of exhibition space, meeting rooms and landscaped courtyard.

Developer Entity

The City of Los Angeles

Selection Process

Artist: CACLA conducted the artist selection process, and identified Artis Lane as the most appropriate candidate to portray Hartsfield. Lane is a prominent Los Angeles artist, and her accomplishments include works dedicated to in the , Washington DC, and Parks at the Smithsonian Institute National Portrait Gallery. Lane has been honored with a retrospective at the California African American Museum and the Courage Award for TransAfrica Forum.

Description and Project Context

CRA/LA has had a long-standing commitment to the Arts and Humanities, recognizing that they play a significant role in the overall revitalization, stabilization, growth and sustainability of communities, and has received numerous awards from the Public Art Network of the for the Arts. CRA/LA initiated tribute projects in , North Hollywood, East Hollywood, Chinatown and Wilmington, and based on the positive response to these projects, has embarked upon a similar project to provide assistance for the Hartsfield tribute at the African American Firefighter Museum.

Arnett L. Hartsfield was already a man of distinction when he joined the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1940. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Hartsfield was the only person in his family to earn a bachelor's degree and upon graduation became an examining assistant for the Civil Service in California. Moreover, for his service in World War II, Hartsfield won a Bronze Star. Hartsfield served in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) between 1940 and 1961. For all but five of Hartsfield's years of service, the fire department was segregated, and it was nearly impossible for blacks to earn promotions. His foray into firefighting was his first

AAFM ARNETT L. HARTFIELD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 3 experience with segregation. He was not allowed to participate in the fire academy, where LAFD recruits went for training, because it was an overnight program, and blacks were forbidden to spend the night with white firefighters. Instead of training, Hartsfield was directed to a " only" fire station at Central Avenue and 14th Street, one of two such stations. Despite his accomplishments prior to joining the LAFD, and the fact that well into his firefighting career Hartsfield earned a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, he never received a single promotion during his two decades in LAFD.

Upon retiring from the LAFD, Hartsfield used his background to advocate for by teaching in a black studies department of California State University, Long Beach, and practicing law. To ensure that the struggles these firefighters endured would never be forgotten, Hartsfield authored a book about the city's first black firemen called "The Old ” and led the effort to open the African American Firefighters Museum in 1997. In 2007 the LAFD honored Hartsfield with a lifetime achievement award. This public art tribute will memorialize his accomplishments and service for the benefit of the general public.

The African American Firefighter Museum (AAFM) is housed at old Fire Station 30, which was established in 1913, to serve the Central Avenue community. It was one of two segregated fire stations in Los Angeles, between 1924 and 1955. The Museum is in the process of building a series of exhibits that include a wide array of firefighting paraphernalia, including vintage engines, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck and a 1890 hose wagon, uniforms, badges, helmets, displays of African American Women firefighters, photographs, and other authentic firefighting artifacts from the fire service dating back to 1924. In addition, the Museum engages visitors in an examination of human relations through the stories of the "Old Stentorians", men who worked during the periods of segregation and desegregation, and offers an opportunity to explore and learn from the actions that allowed them to excel despite adversity. Admission to the Museum is free for individual visitors, and the facility is available for rentals for special events such as receptions, banquets, book signings and speaker’s forums.

CRA/LA Art Program staff worked closely with CACLA and AAFM on the proposed placement of tribute in order to make sure that it was fully visible to the public, and to see that a local artist create the design. The tribute will be fabricated from bronze and mounted onto a granite base with security lighting for evenings will eliminate the risk of theft and vandalism.

CACLA anticipates that the tribute can completed within six months of release of the funds.

Project History

CACLA and AAFM have collaborated on the AAFM public art program for the past 3 years. The Tribute proposal has received approval from the Department of Cultural Affairs.

AAFM ARNETT L. HARTFIELD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 4

Community Benefits

CACLA has demonstrated commitment is to bring diverse, high standard, professional visual arts projects and programming to the greater Los Angeles area, and has worked closely with the commercial and non-profit sectors to promote the arts and to make Los Angeles an important regional Cultural Destination.

With community input, staff has planned to dedicate the funds towards this effort for the Project Area. This program is in keeping with the CRA/LA’s objective of attracting and retaining high quality, financially responsible, and community-based arts organizations within its Project Areas, and collaborating with local artists on urban design projects.

The addition of Lane’s artwork to this location and the tribute to Harnett’s outstanding accomplishments will help draw residents and tourists to one of the Project Area’s most important cultural anchors, with the intention of promoting an identity for Central Avenue as a popular regional cultural destination. This program is in keeping with the CRA/LA’s objective of attracting and retaining talented and community-based artists within its Project Areas, and collaborating with local artists on urban design projects.

Findings

Pursuant to Section 33445 of the California Redevelopment Law, the CRA/LA with the consent of the legislative body, may expend tax increment funds to pay for public improvements within or contiguous to a project area, if the legislative body can make certain findings. The attached Resolution makes the following findings:

1) T he Public Improvement is of benefit to the Central Industrial Redevelopment Project Area in that it will assist in eliminating one or more blighting conditions within the Project Area by removing one or more blighted conditions by providing a safe environment through mechanisms such as museums and community facilities that reflect the various ethnicities and cultures of the community.

2) T he City and CRA/LA staff have found, after pursuing an investigation of funding from the City, that no other reasonable means of financing the Public Improvement is available to the City.

3) T he use of Project Area tax increment funds to pay for the Public Improvements is consistent with the Five Year Implementation Plan for the Central Industrial Redevelopment Project Area adopted on November 1, 2007 by Resolution No.7099 by growing the permanent exhibits for the African American Firefighter Museum, will assist in providing cultural heritage information for the education of the general public, and will promote the use of the public courtyard space.

Financial Analysis

AAFM ARNETT L. HARTFIELD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 5

CACLA will secure up to $50,000 in additional funding for the project coordination and installation, and the AAFM will be responsible for any maintenance of the public improvements after they are installed. CACLA will also be providing funding for a companion mural for the sculptural elements to the value of $67,000.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

N/A

SOURCE OF FUNDS

Central Industrial Tax Increment Fund.

PROGRAM AND BUDGET IMPACT

The action is consistent with the adopted FY2011 Budget and Work Program. Following the approval of this item, $3,389,700 of $3,563,700 will remain in the Economic Development budget category. Sufficient funds are available to make any legally-required State ERAF payment in FY11. There is no impact on the City’s General Fund.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

The recommended actions including the funding, installation, and maintenance of the tribute, are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15311 (Accessory Structures) of the State CEQA Guidelines.

Christine Essel Chief Executive Officer

By

______Calvin E. Hollis Chief Operating Officer Real Estate & Economic Development

There is no conflict of interest known to me which exists with regard to any CRA/LA officer or employee concerning this action.

Attachments

Attachment A: Finding of Benefit Resolutions (H&S Code 33445) Attachment B: Artwork Rendering and Site Plan

AAFM ARNETT L. HARTFIELD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 6