HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.1 FreewayUnderpassArt CITY .CLERK
File # 900-50
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: December 18, 2001
SUBJECT:
Freeway Underpass Art at Dublin Boulevard
Report by Bonnie Leonard, Recreation Supervisor
ATTACHMENTS:
Artist renderings of Dublin Boulevard Underpass mural will be
presented at the meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Z/J/~ Approve design and direct Staff to submit deSign to Caltrans Art
Review Committee
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
$423,000 is available in the 2000-2005 Capital Improvement
Program for Freeway Underpass Art at Dublin Boulevard and
Amador Valley Boulevard
DESCRIPTION: The 2000-2005 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes the
Freeway Underpass Art at Dublin Boulevard and Amador Valley Boulevard project. The project provides
for the design and installation of a painted mural to both sides and both approaches to the underpasses at
Dublin Boulevard and Amador Valley Boulevard and 1-680. The project also provides for installation of
lighting at the freeway underpasses. $423,000 is included in the CIP for this project. The CIP also
includes a separate project for sidewalk reconstruction underneath 1-680 on Dublin Boulevard and
Amador Valley Boulevard. This project provides for expansion of the concrete sidewalks from the curb to
the foundation wall underneath the 1-680. It is envisioned that this project may have decorative paving to
complement the proposed underpass artwork. $88,510 is included in the CIP for this project.
Proposed Mural Design - Dublin Boulevard
The artist team of John Pugh, Daniel Galvez and John Wehrle was selected to design the murals. The
mural for the Dublin Boulevard Underpass is the first of two murals that the artist team will design. In
order to obtain community input on the mural designs, the artists met with local community groups
requesting that members complete a survey prepared by the artists. Additionally, the survey was available
for the public to complete at the Day on the Glen Festival. Information gleaned from the survey was used
in developing design concepts. The resulting design for the Dublin Boulevard Underpass mural is
complete and is ready for review by the City Council. The artists will attend the meeting to present
renderings of the design to the City Council.
The basic design of the Dublin Boulevard Underpass mural consists of an archway fagade with columns
that mimic the concrete pillars in the center of the roadway. In the foyer characters of the past are
depicted from the earliest explorers to current individuals who might be seen at the St. Patrick's Day
Parade or strolling through Emerald Glen Park. The secondary fax tile mural depicts contemporary scenes
of Dublin. The key to the mural is that the figures in the foyer represent a different era than those
represented in the secondary mural.
COPIES TO:
G:XHrtg Cult Art Comm\Council\12-18 freeway, doc
ITEM NO.
Once the design is approved by the City Council, it must be submitted to the Caltrans Art Review
Committee for approval. Upon approval by the Caltrans Art Review Committee, application will then be
made for Caltrans encroachment permits. The encroachment applications will be distributed to the
effected Caltrans departments for review and comment. It is possible that this review process could take
several months. The best-case scenario woUld allow the artists to begin wall preparation and painting as
early as March.
It must be understood, however, that even if encroachment permits are granted, work on the art project can
not begin before Caltrans releases the 580-680 Flyover Project contractor from liability for the underpass.
At this time Caltrans plans to open the connector in late January and complete the project in June. The
contractor may be released as early as January.
Sidewalk Reconstruction Proiect
When this project was put together for the CIP, the sidewalks underneath 1-680 at Dublin Boulevard and
Amador Valley Boulevard had several unpaved sections that needed to be improved to provide full access
to pedestrians. Caltrans, as part of the work that was done on the Dublin Boulevard freeway underpass,
replaced the sidewalk on Dublin Boulevard with standard concrete. The sidewalk on Amador Valley
Boulevard was not affected by the Caltrans work, thus has not been replaced. Staff is investigating
several sidewalk treatments for both Dublin Boulevard and Amador Valley Boulevard and will be
discussing the proposed treatments with the artist team. The proposed sidewalk treatments will be
brought back before the City Council at a future meeting for direction.
Recommendation
The Freeway Art Underpass Selection Committee and the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
reviewed the design of the Dublin Boulevard Underpass mural and recommend approval by the City
Council.
It is the recommendation of Staff that the City Council approve the design of the Dublin Boulevard
Underpass mural and direct Staff to submit the design to the Caltrans Art Review Committee.
Regarding the Amador Valley Boulevard Underpass mural design, it is anticipated that a final design will
be presented t° the City Council in July 2002.
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