CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: September 7, 2021 Action Required: Report Only – No Action Presenter: Chip Boyles, City Manager Staff Contacts: Chip Boyles, City Manager Title: Report on Offers for Sacajawea Lewis & Clark Statue and Base Background and Discussion: The City issued a Solicitation of Offers inviting persons or organizations interested in acquiring ownership of the historic bronze sculpture depicting Lewis & Clark and Sacajawea from the City of Charlottesville. Offers were due August 27, 2021. Seven offers were received by the City Manager’s Office. Offers ranged from locally to states of Virginia, Texas, North Dakota, Montana and Missouri. The statue and base are currently stored at the Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center at Darden Towe Park. City Council is being provided this summary of offers and summary of solicitation requirements for a future decision by City Council of who and where to transfer ownership of this sculpture. Offers are good for 120 days from August 27, 2021. Evaluation criteria of offers: The Charlottesville City Council may sell or otherwise dispose of the Statue, as may be in the best interests of the public. In assessing what is in the public interest, City Council may consider any factors it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the following: 3.0 The Offeror’s opinion of the fair market value of the Statue, and any financial benefits to be realized, or financial obligations incurred, in the event that the City Council were to accept the Offer. 3.1 The City Council’s assessment of the quality and long-term sustainability of the Offeror’s Recontextualization Plan. 3.2 City Council’s assessment of the desirability of the Offeror’s intended use of the Statue, and whether or not the intended use is consistent with City Council’s core values. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: Future actions on this agenda item aligns with Goal 1: An Inclusive Community of Self-Sufficient Residents “Intentionally addressing issues of race and equity” and Goal 3: A Beautiful and Sustainable Natural and Built Environment, “Protect historic and cultural resources”. Community Engagement: At this point, limited community engagement has occurred other than public comment at City Council meetings and the receipt of comments as part of the two solicitations of interest and offers. Public comment will be received prior to a final decision by City Council. Budgetary Impact: The budgetary impact is dependent upon the selected disposal means. The City could maintain the statue and base requiring a cost to load, transport and store at a City location; or the City could donate to a non- profit or governmental entity which would bare no cost to the City; or the City could sell to a private entity with a positive revenue source to the City of up to $325,000. Recommendation: Staff recommends a two-person City Council committee to work with staff for a recommendation back to City Council for final disposition recommendation. Alternatives: City Council may individually review offers for a future selection and approval at a City Council meeting; or City Council could decide to relocate and indefinitely store the statue and base at a City location, or City Council could propose a community selection process for a recommendation for final disposition. Attachments: Summary spreadsheet of offers. Lewis & Clark & Sacajawea Sculpture "Their First View of the Pacific". Solicitation of Offers Summary August 27, 2021 Relocate Location Donation base & Offer # Organization Contact name Relocation Site Ownership Public/Private Status statue Contextualization Offer to City 1 Virginia Art Preservation David Petit, LLC Attorney Albemarle County Private Private N/A Yes No $50,000 2 City of St. Dan Charles, MO Borgmeyer, Local Mayor St. Charles, MO Public Public Government Yes Yes, as attached 3 Crow Holdings Harlan Crow Dallas, Texas Private Public N/A Yes Yes $325,000 4 Lewis & Clark Exploratory Alexandria Eligible Non- Center Searles Albemarle County Non-profit Public profit Yes Yes 5 Mandan Hidatsa & Arikara Nation Tribal Delphine Baker New Town, ND Public Public Government Yes Yes 6 Cowtown Promotions Kelly Reid Miles City, MT Non-profit Public N/A Yes No $5,501 7 Robert Robert Hermann, Jr. Hermann, Jr. Saint Louis, MO Private Private N/A Yes Yes $11,000