To: CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
From: JACK MEYER, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE PUBLIC ART OPTIONS ON THE ESPLANADE
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BACKGROUND
As part of the fiscal year 2024-25 City Budget, the City Council allocated $100,000 from the John Parsons Public Art Fund to be used to commission public artwork installations along the Esplanade. In response, the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) created the Subcommittee (Subcommittee) to identify and promote public art options on the Esplanade, consisting of Commissioner Taner and Vice Chairperson Christian-Kelly. The purpose of the Subcommittee is to identify and promote options for public art installations along the Esplanade. The CAC, at its regular meeting on February 25, 2026, voted unanimously to receive and file a report submitted by the Subcommittee, and then voted unanimously to continue the discussion to the Commission’s regular meeting on March 25, 2026. At the March 25, 2026 regular meeting, the CAC again voted unanimously to continue the discussion to the Commission’s regular meeting on April 22, 2026 and requested Liaison to determine feasibility of a non-competitive request for a proposal to complete the bollards at Avenues A, C, F, I and Vista Del Mar, which were not finished due to a funding shortfall in 2016.
The CAC Liaison consulted with the Financial Services Department’s Purchasing Analyst, who confirmed that this could be considered a continuation of an uncompleted program previously approved by both the (former) Public Art Commission and City Council and therefore would not necessarily require a competitive procurement process. The final decision on this would be up to the City Council.
Attached, as reference, is the Subcommittee’s previously submitted proposal outlining future art installations along the Esplanade for the CAC’s consideration, and a proposal from dp mosaics, artists responsible for the partially completed set of 22 bollards currently installed along the Esplanade, to complete the work as intended. Staff recommends the CAC review the Subcommittee’s proposal and determine whether to provide support; request additional information, if necessary; or continue the discussion to a future meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
• Presentation - Options for Art on the Esplanade
• dp mosaics Proposal for Esplanade Bollards