Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution approves the fabrication, installation, and delivery of the South Point Public Works Facility Percent for Art Project at 402 S Point Rd. Funding for public art is calculated as an additional 1% of the eligible project budget as called for in the Percent for Art ordinance (MGO 4.30). Construction estimates in the schematic design phase were approximately $43.8 million; an additional 1% for art was calculated to be $437,991. The proposed agreement with The Milligan Studio, LLC for the artwork authorizes the use of up to $337,920 of the Percent for Art allocation.
The 2026 Adopted Capital Budget included $43.7 million for the Far West Facility project (Munis project 13016) supported by $41.7 million in General Fund GO Borrowing and $2.0 million in Federal Sources. The Percent for Art project is supported by the GO borrowing. No additional City appropriation is required with approval of the proposed resolution.
Title
Approving the design of a site-specific public artwork for the South Point Public Works Facility (402 S Point Road) and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a competitively selected agreement with The Milligan Studio, LLC. for fabrication, delivery, and installation. (District 1)
Body
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new South Point Public Works Facility for consulting and design services with a single Architectural/Engineer (A/E) design firm and multiple sub-consultants as indicated in the supporting exhibits for all design phases, bidding phase, construction administration phase, and warranty administration phase; and
WHEREAS, the new facility, now being called the South Point Public Works Facility, will provide a location on the far west side of Madison for fleet vehicle parking and maintenance service bays for waste and recycling vehicles, snow removal equipment, forestry vehicles, other Streets Division related equipment and personnel space, and a portion of Parks Division and Fleet Division operations and personnel; and
WHEREAS, the RFP explained that the winning A/E would be required to include an artist on the design team from initial planning through final design and construction and warranty phases, and that the artist would help identify public areas where art could be incorporated into the site as architectural features or as permanent public art installations; and
WHEREAS, Purchasing led a selection process to review the proposals to the RFP and the committee chose Sketchworks Architecture, LLC with The Milligan Studio, LLC, as part of their design team to receive the contract; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2025, the Common Council approved RES-25-00341, File # 87864 Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter a 4-year, competitively selected service contract with Sketchworks Architecture, LLC for professional architectural and engineering design consulting services; and
WHEREAS, The Milligan Studio was tasked with designing public art components that would be integrated into the project, visually accessible to the public; and
WHEREAS, The Milligan Studio engaged stakeholders to understand what the people wanted to see in the finished artwork including hosting their own community gathering on August 21, 2025, and attending the Streets Division-Sycamore Staff Picnic on August 22, 2025, among other research, including consideration of responses to a community survey put forth by arts staff; and
WHEREAS, The Milligan Studio presented their initial designs to the Madison Arts Commission on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and received input from the commissioners; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2026, the Madison Arts Commission approved the modified proposed designs for “Sky Plow” by The Milligan Studio, LLC for the South Point Public Works Facility; and
WHEREAS, the design phase is now complete, staff would like to execute an agreement for fabrication, delivery, and installation directly with The Milligan Studio, LLC.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the proposal for “Sky/Plow” as the site-specific public artwork as the South Point Public Works Facility Percent for Art Project, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute an agreement with The Milligan Studio, LLC for up to $337,920 for all costs associated with fabrication, installation and delivery of the proposed artwork.