To: CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
From: JACK MEYER, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER
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DISCUSSION REGARDING RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL THAT SOME UNALLOCATED FUNDS FROM JPPAF BE ALLOCATED TO COMMISSIONING A PERMANENT LGBTQIA+ SCULPTURE, AND RECOMMENDING SOME UNSPENT FUNDS CURRENTLY ALLOCATED TO A MURAL AT TRANSIT CENTER BE REALLOCATED TO LILIENTHAL PARK, A VIRTUAL ART MAP AND/OR A COMMUNITY ART CENTER.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following the City Council’s decision to relocate the (currently funded) Gate Wave sculpture from the Transit Center to Gateway Parkette, the Council allocated $75,000 from the John Parsons Public Art Fund (JPPAF) to the commissioning of a mural on walls at the Transit Center. Subsequently, Public Works informed Community Services that due to condition of the masonry wall proposed, a mural wasn’t viable as it would be vulnerable to deterioration from water seeping through the porous masonry.
At the Cultural Art Commission meeting on May 28, 2025, the 5 Commissioners present voted to place a discussion of a possible recommendation to reallocate some or all of those funds towards other currently unfunded projects, namely public art at a proposed Lilienthal Park, a virtual art map and a possible community art center at a location to be determined.
Additionally, the Commissioners present voted to discuss advising City Council to direct additional currently unallocated funds remaining in JPPAF toward the commissioning of a permanent LGBTQIA+ sculpture to be located on Artesia Boulevard in front of the North Branch Library.