Public Art Committee
Regular MeetingPortland, ME · February 18, 2026
Agenda
Anna Berke, Chair
Sharon Dennehy, Vice Chair
Kat Zagaria Buckley
Phoebe Cole
Alison Gibbs
Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee
Justin Levesque
Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor appointee
Stephanie Motter
John Whipple
Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee
Management & Administration
Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning and Urban
Development Department
PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
4:00 PM Hybrid Meeting (State of Maine Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall or online via Zoom)
1. Zoom Meeting Information
Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this
meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the
requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy.
Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information
on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c-
245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public
Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875
Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875#
Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875
International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM
2. Call to Order
* Roll Call
* Minutes from January 21, 2025 meeting (see Attachment)
3. Staff Communication
A. Public Art Program
Presenter: Sean King
1. Public art fund - contingency funds for emergency repair at Jewel Box (see
attachment)
2. Conservation assessment FY26
B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: no updates
Presenter: Sean King
4. Subcommittee Reports
A. Governance/Board Development (Zagaria, Buckley, Dennehy)
1. Committee chair updates
2. Committee member feedback for FY26 annual plan and proposed budget FY27
B. Acquisitions Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee member updates
2. Gift updates from Judith Kendrick and Jim DiBiase
C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates
D. Collection Management Subcommittee (Dennehy, Berke, Zagaria, Buckley)
1. Subcommittee member updates
2. Jewel Box - staff gathering information from other departments, expenditures to date
and comparison with other bus shelters along Congress Street
5. Project Reports
A. Portland Harbor Common new acquisition subcommittee (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque &
Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee member updates.
6. Public Comment Period on Non-Agenda Items
7. Other Business
8. Meeting Adjourns
Next Meeting - March 18, 2026
Packet
Anna Berke, Chair
Sharon Dennehy, Vice Chair
Kat Zagaria Buckley
Phoebe Cole
Alison Gibbs
Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee
Justin Levesque
Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor appointee
Stephanie Motter
John Whipple
Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee
Management & Administration
Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning and Urban
Development Department
PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
4:00 PM Hybrid Meeting (State of Maine Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall or online via Zoom)
1. Zoom Meeting Information
Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this
meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the
requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy.
Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information
on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c-
245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public
Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875
Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875#
Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875
International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM
2. Call to Order
* Roll Call
* Minutes from January 21, 2025 meeting (see Attachment)
3. Staff Communication
A. Public Art Program
Presenter: Sean King
1. Public art fund - contingency funds for emergency repair at Jewel Box (see
attachment)
Page 1
2. Conservation assessment FY26
B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: no updates
Presenter: Sean King
4. Subcommittee Reports
A. Governance/Board Development (Zagaria, Buckley, Dennehy)
1. Committee chair updates
2. Committee member feedback for FY26 annual plan and proposed budget FY27
B. Acquisitions Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee member updates
2. Gift updates from Judith Kendrick and Jim DiBiase
C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates
D. Collection Management Subcommittee (Dennehy, Berke, Zagaria, Buckley)
1. Subcommittee member updates
2. Jewel Box - staff gathering information from other departments, expenditures to date
and comparison with other bus shelters along Congress Street
5. Project Reports
A. Portland Harbor Common new acquisition subcommittee (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque &
Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee member updates.
6. Public Comment Period on Non-Agenda Items
7. Other Business
8. Meeting Adjourns
Next Meeting - March 18, 2026
Page 2
Anna Berke, Chair
Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair
Kat Zagaria Buckley
Phoebe Cole
Alison Gibbs
Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee
Justin Levesque
Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor
Stephanie Motter
John Whipple
Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee
Management & Administration
Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning & Urban Development Department
PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE
January 21, 2026 MINUTES
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. HYBRID (in person or online via Zoom link)
City Hall – State of Maine (2nd floor), 389 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct
this meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the
requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy.
Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience.
For more information on how to use Zoom, please go to:
https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c-245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public
Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875
Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875#
Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875
International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM
------------
1. Call to Order
• Roll call
o Committee members present – Berke, Zagaria Buckley, Cole, Dennehy, Gibbs, Hrenko,
Levesque, Motter, Wilson; Committee members absent – Michniewicz, Whipple
• Minutes from November 19, 2025 meeting. (See Attachment).
o Motion to approve (Berke), Second (Dennehy), All approved by a show of hands
2. Staff Communication (No public comment will be taken)
A. Public Art Program
Presenter: Sean King
1. Public art fund - Reduction of $3,505.60 for Jewel Box. (See Attachment).
2. John Ford sculpture and granite post relocation. Committee to reflect relocation
recommendation into FY26 annual plan
3. Conservation assessment FY26. Staff is working with Tuckerbrook Conservation LLC on
Page 3
contract.
4. Schedule of meeting in 2026. (See Attachment).
5. Committee member term expiration and renomination deadline. City Clerk to begin
renominations during May 2026.
B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: No updates
Presenter: Sean King
C. Collection updates
Presenter: Sean King
1. John Ford sculpture and granite post relocation.
2. Conservation assessment FY26
3. Subcommittee Reports (No public comment will be taken)
A. Governance/Board Development (Berke, Dennehy)
1. Committee chair declaration. Chair Berke to resign as Chair, recommends Kat Zagaria-
Buckley as a replacement. Dennehy makes a motion for Kat Zagaria-Buckley to chair the
PPAC, Gibbs (seconds). Roll call vote (9-0 approve, Michniewicz, Whipple absent).
2. Preparation of FY26 Annual Plan & Proposed budget FY27. (See Attachment). Chair
Berke request subcommittee accomplishments and goals to inform the annual plan.
B. Acquisitions (Formerly “Gifts”) Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates. Subcommittee members discussed public art
gift donors for India Street monument have met partial fundraising goal to begin artist
commission, Committee members to review engraving details once finalized. A
Collection plaque will be purchased and installed upon final installation of public
artwork gift.
C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke, Gibbs)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates. Subcommittee members discussed how to
highlight open call for artists commission at Portland Harbor Commons Park on social
media and drafted upcoming posts. Other outreach ideas discussed included
community workshops, webinars and collaboration with Creative Portland and other
local publications.
D. Collection Management (Formerly “Site Selection”) Subcommittee (Dennehy, Gibbs, Berke,
Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates. Subcommittee members did not have
updates.
4. Project Reports (No public comment will be taken)
A. Portland Harbor Common new acquisition subcommittee (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque & Zagaria)
1. Subcommittee members to share updates. Subcommittee members shared the Round 1
submissions deadline is February 11, 2026 and will provide updates at future meeting.
5. Public Comment Period On Non-Agenda Items – No public comment
6. Other Business - No new business
7. Meeting adjourns – @4:45pm
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FY26 - Public Art Fund (July 2025-June 2026)
TOTAL PPAC Balance
A Total Balance (includes FY26) $ 405,155.45
B Total Encumbrances $ 202,172.00
C Total Approved budget expenditures $ 166,000.00
Remaining Balance $ 36,983.45
Remaining Encumbrances from approved budget plans
Activity Description Budget
A Congress Square Public Art New Commission - Sarah Sze artist $ 176,000.00
B Bramhall Square Artwork New Commission - Chris Miller artist $ 26,172.00
Total Encumbered $ 202,172.00
Approved budget from FY25
Activity Description Budget
New Commission (Portland Harbor Commons Park)
C Portland Harbor Common Park from FY25 Unspent Funds $ 140,000.00
D Conservation assessment Funds approved for conservation assessment $ 12,000.00
Total New Acquisitions $ 152,000.00
F26 - Proposed Budget Breakdown
Activity Description Proposed FY26 Budget Current Budget Balance
To cover the five-year Collection conservation
assessment, lighting assessment and complete
Conservation and Maintenance conservation projects identified as highest priority $ 10,000 $ 10,000.00
To cover repairs, theft, relocation, Community Art
Contingency Fund grant, plaque purchase, etc. $ 5,000 $ (2,065.60)
Community Artwork grants To contribute to a community artwork project(s) $ 5,000 $ 5,000.00
New public artwork acquisitions (Portland Harbor
New Artwork Commons Park + Artists Stipend) $ 30,000 $ 16,000.00
Total FY26 Budget $ 50,000 $ 28,934.40
FY26 Expenses Funding Source Total (PAID) Project Notes
CBE Contingency $ 3,560.00 Lights and conduit installation at Rustle Dyptich
Port City Glass Contingency $ 3,505.60 Emergency replacement of Jewel Box glass (qt 4)
Subtotal Expenses $ 7,065.60
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