HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.2 Utility Box Art Pilot Program G~�
`�� i '"�� STAFF REPORT
�
HERITAGE & CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
DATE: February 11,2016
TO: Honorable Chair and Coininissioners
F,,-�
FROM: Te an McLane Cultural Arts &Herita e Mana er � �� � s'"���./'��� '�
g , g g r''� ,/ , �_...---
�
SUBJECT: Utility Box Art Pilot Program
By: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts�'Heritage Manager
DCECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Coxninission will consider a proposal to conduct a Utility Box Art Pilot Program,where Staff would issue
a call for local professional artists to design and paint six utility boxes along Village Parkway. Staff will show
samples of painted utiliry boxes from other ciries.
FINANCIAL IMPACI':
Staff estimates the cost for a Utiliry Box Art Pilot Program—including artist payments and staff time— to be
appro�rnately $7,700. Per the Public Art Ordinance, this project is eligible for funding with Public Art Fund
monies,with City Council approval.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend the Ciry Council allocate up to$8,000 from the Public Art Fund for the purpose of a Utiliry Box
Art Pilot Program and recommend a theme or themes.
DESCRIPTION:
Over the years, Staff has received feedback from the communiry relating to the establishment of a Utiliry Box
Art program. Utiliry Box Art programs are popular because they are a relatively easy and inexpensive way to
bring public art to City streets, define neighborhoods and serve as an effective graffiti deterrent. Livermore
established its UrbanArt Mural program in 2013. Pleasanton established its Project Paintbox program in 2015.
San Jose and Hayward have extensive and long-established programs that have served as models for many
other cities throughout the Bay Area.
Each ciry's program is operated a litde differendy. Some cities contract with professional artists,while others
offer an art contest and award the boxes to students or community groups. Those using professional artists
typically provide a small contract and require the artist to provide all supplies. Those using students may or
may not offer a stipend and typically the city provides materials or pays for the design to be printed and
ITEM NO: 8.2
wrapped onto a box,much the way ads are wrapped onto a bus. Depending on the format chosen,costs to
produce an art box range from$200-$1,000.
Most cities focus their art program on fewer than 10 boxes per year,and either seek sponsors for the boxes or
fund them out of general operating or program budgets. Pleasanton's was city-funded,while Livermore's
program was sponsor-funded.
Some cities determine a unifying theme for their boxes; others let artists choose their own themes or let
residents and businesses suggest themes. Pleasanton's theme was "Pleasanton's history, culture, flora and
fauna." Livermore requested designs showcasing "Livermore's cultural diversiry, historic heritage or
acknowledges a key activity that takes place in the area."
Staff estimates direct costs for a s�-box program featuring work of professional artists to be$4,800-$6,000. '
Designing and implementing a new uriliry box program would require approxunately 25 hours of supervisor
(F'1� staff time,estimated at$1,700.
Long term, the City would also be responsible for art maintenance costs, although maintenance costs on
utility box artworks are rypically quite low,estimated at less than$100 annually for all six boxes. Painted utiliry
boxes are seldom vandalized,and in fact many cities add utility box art programs with intention of reducing
e�usting graffiti problems, since the large blank boxes are prime targets for taggers. While Dublin has
considerably less graffiti than some of the larger Bay Area cities,utility box graffiti does occur,particularly
along Village Parkway,near Dublin High School. MCE's graffiti report showed 41 incidents of street graffiti
(utility boxes, street signs and light poles) last year,which cost the City more than$2,000 in labor and
materials.
Staff is proposing a pilot project that would paint six City-owned signal boxes along Village Parkway. The
first three on the list fall within the neighborhood around Dublin High School. The second three are
proposed in the Village Parkway District within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area,which the Ciry has
identified as an area it envisions as a "vibrant" and"aesthetically pleasing setting."
The six locations proposed are:
• Southbound Village Parkway at Davona Drive
• Southbound Village Parkway at Brighton Drive
• Southbound Village Parkway at Tamarack Drive
• Southbound Village Parkway at Amador Valley Boulevard
• Northbound Village Paxkway at Dublin Boulevard
• Northbound Village Parkway at Lewis Avenue
Based on input from surrounding cities regarding their past experiences, Staff recommends the pilot program
invite proposals from local professional artists who have the demonstrated abiliry to complete such a project.
Proposals would be evaluated by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Conunission, or a committee of stakeholders
that includes two Cominission members and representatives from the public and business communiries. The
Heritage and Cultural Arts Coinnussion would recommend box designs to City Council for final approval.
Staff also recommends the Call for Artists provide general themaric guidelines, perhaps one theme to unify
the Downtown boxes and one to unify the High School neighborhood boxes. Another option would be to
establish a theme that could potentially be carried throughout the City, should the pilot be successful and the
City Council wish to conrinue the program. For example, artists could be asked to create designs reflecting
the new Ciry brand: "The New American Backyard,"which was adopted last year.
2of3
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACH M ENTS:
None.
3 of 3