To: CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
From: JACK MEYER, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER
TITLE
title
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE CITY’S FY2026-27 BUDGET
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BACKGROUND
The City conducts its budgeting and financial reporting through an annual cycle of events and actions called the budget calendar. This calendar gives both the community and the City’s various commissions an opportunity to comment and help inform the City Manager’s budget recommendations.
This item provides the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) a forum to give direct input on the preparation of the FY2026-27 Budget. Any recommendation provided by the CAC will be transmitted by Liaison to the Mayor and City Council via the City Manager’s Office. The deadline for receipt of any recommendations is June 1, 2026.
RECOMMENDATIONS
While the CAC can make recommendations for any funding source, pending the City Council’s approval, staff recommends the CAC does not make any recommendations for new project allocations at this time for two reasons:
• There are currently 3 major projects underway and 1 more modest project in process, consuming City staff resources from multiple departments:
o ARTesia Project - $485,000 for multiple artworks along the Artesia corridor, with 2 Commissioners included in Community Panel shortly to review artists from RFQ. Expected to run for another year.
o “Gate Wave” Sculpture - $275,000 commission for installation at Gateway Parkette, now heading for plan checking and permits. Expected to run through September, 2026.
o Esplanade Public Art - $100,000 already approved for commissions of artwork along the Esplanade. dp Mosaics’ $15,400 proposal now going to License Agreement review in City Attorney’s Office. Expected to complete 4-5 months following approval by City Council. $84,600 remaining to be spent on further commissions.
o Utility Box Art Wraps - $14,433 allocation for 5 art wrap commissions plus fabrication and installation. 2 have been selected, 3 removed from consideration as unviable, so replacements need to be chosen and the fabrications/installations completed.
• There is approximately $48,173 remaining in the JPPAF as determined by staff, an historical low. With $874,433 approved allocations in process, plus two completed murals (“Skate Wave” and “Sea Chatter”) the balance is temporarily atypically low. However, staff have projected a significantly better year in FY26-27 for developer deposits, based upon knowledge of planned projects.
Thus, staff recommends waiting to make JPPAF allocation recommendations until deposits accumulate over the first part of the year. This will better enable the CAC to determine the scale of future projects to recommend, and also to allow some of the current demands on staff bandwidth from current projects to abate somewhat.
ATTACHMENTS
• None