The Public Art Committee asked for additional funding at the Bainbridge Island City Council meeting last week.

The committee asked for $3,600 in new funding for a digital media campaign, along with approval of the 2021 public art budget.

Steven Rabago of the arts committee said the digital media campaign is for six months, after which the city could decide if it should continue, either externally or internally.

Councilmember Leslie Schneider said she likes the idea. “It really lets the public know that these new pieces can be purchased by the community — after people fall in love with it.”

Councilmember Brenda Fantroy-Johnson agreed, saying she saw some of the example videos and feels this is “the best plan to try to market this.”

Rabago said whether the public or city buys the art money comes back to the art fund, which helps pay for public art activities.

The PAC also asked for $17,000 for Something New IV; $600 for an open call for art; and $1,500 for the Otocast digital wayfinding app.

The digital app would help folks locate the collection of public art sculptures that are rotated each year as part of the Something New project. That agreement also would be for one year. After that he said he hopes to find funding elsewhere.

PAC would hand over video content to Otocast, which would upload and manage the system. “We want to bounce pass it over to professionals who can handle it,” he said to “get more eyeballs on the content” and focus on educating the public about the art.

Also at the meeting, the council discussed the Puget Sound Energy Franchise Agreement Process. The agreement will expire April 23, 2022, unless renewed or extended. The process includes a public outreach plan.

The council also discussed the responsibilities for a new Climate Mitigation/Adaptation Officer. The new position would lead the development and implementation of climate change-related programs across all city departments, the community and with regional partners.