HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-4 Staff Report - Utility Box Art Pliot ProgramSCHEDULED ITEM
D-4
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: TROY L. BUTZLAFF, ICMA-CM, CITY MANAGER
FROM: LOUIE F. LACASELLA, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
DATE: JUNE 5, 2017
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED UTILITY BOX ART PILOT PROJECT FROM AZUSA
BEAUTIFUL
SUMMARY:
The City has received a proposal from Azusa Beautiful to establish a Utility Box Art Pilot Project (Project). The
Project proposes to commission local artists to create temporary art work on up to ten (10) City owned utility
boxes along Azusa Avenue between 5th and 9th Streets. A number of cities throughout Southern California have
adopted similar projects. In several of these cities, including Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and Monrovia, the
project is coordinated by an arts commission or committee. Although an Art in Public Places Commission has
been created, it has not yet been convened. This action seeks direction from the City Council whether to convene
the Art in Public Places Commission to develop guidelines and criteria for implementing the proposed Utility Box
Art Pilot Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Review the proposal from Azusa Beautiful and, if desired, direct Staff to convene the Art in Public Places
Commission to develop guidelines and criteria for implementing a Utility Box Art Pilot Project on Azusa
Avenue between 5th and 9th Streets.
DISCUSSION:
Utility box art programs have been implemented in several cities throughout California to add artistic flare and
detract graffiti in neighborhoods and communities. Locally, utility box art programs have been established in the
cities of Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and Monrovia.
Staff has received a proposal from Azusa Beautiful to create a Utility Box Art Pilot Project (Attachment 1 and 2).
The project entails the beautification of up to ten (10) City owned utility boxes located along Azusa Avenue
between 5th and 9th Streets. Staff has identified nine (9) potential utility boxes in the designated area (Attachment
3) that could be used for this pilot program. The Project would be open to local and regional professional artists,
professional artist teams and arts organizations that live, work or operate in Azusa or the greater Los Angeles
County area.
APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
6/5/2017
Proposed Utility Box Art Pilot Project
June 5, 2017
Page 2
In 2009, the City adopted the Art in Public Places Program to enhance the physical appearance of the community
by facilitating and promoting opportunities to provide for cultural enhancement. The program goals are listed
below:
Distinguish Azusa as a special place to live, work, play and visit;
Integrate the vision of artists with the perspective of other design professionals into the planning and
design of the urban landscape;
Provide every member of the community easy visual access to artworks from vehicles on major public
streets;
Provide means to counterbalance what many consider to be negative effects of development;
And strengthen cultural awareness, creativity, and innovative thinking in the community.
To establish guidelines for implementing the Art in Public Places Program and to provide guidance to the City
Council on public art projects an Art in Public Places Commission was created. The Art in Public Places
Commission is comprised of five (5) members appointed by the City Council from various City boards and
commissions. The following individuals have been appointed to the Commission:
Commissioners Date Appointed Term Expires
Jule Arevalo 9/30/2015 9/30/2019
Robert Donnelson 9/30/2015 9/30/2019
James Griffith 9/30/2015 9/30/2019
Stevie Heath 9/30/2015 9/30/2019
Pam Mercado 9/30/2015 9/30/2019
If the City Council is interested in implementing a pilot project as proposed by Azusa Beautiful, Staff believes it
would be prudent to convene the Art in Public Places Commission for the purpose of working with Azusa
Beautiful in developing design criteria and guidelines for the pilot project. In addition, the Commission will serve
as the selection committee for choosing artists for the project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Azusa Beautiful has agreed to commit $3,000 to fund all expenses, including design development and production
costs, related to the pilot project.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Louie F. Lacasella Troy L. Butzlaff, ICMA-CM
Management Analyst City Manager
Attachments:
1) Azusa Beautiful Utility Art Pilot Project PowerPoint
2) Draft Utility Box Art Pilot Project Application
3) GIS Map of Proposed Utility Box Locations
A Z U S AAZUSA
^!
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^!Foothill Blvd.
6th St.
5th St.San Gabriel Ave.Azusa Ave.Alameda Ave.S a n ta F e A v e .AzusaCity Hall
AzusaLight &Water
CVS
Target
USPS
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1 inch = 300 feet
Path: C:\ArcGIS_Misc Projects 5\Hien V\Utility Box\map 2.mxd Date: 5/30/2017
J.Prado
Utility Box Art Project
Geographic Information Systems
Data: Azusa Light & Water - EngineeringData: Azusa Light & Water - Engineering
Foothill Blvd.Azusa Ave.Legend
^!1 Box
^!2 Boxes