Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: June 25, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Carmen Nichols, Assistant City Manager
Subject: Dizdar Park Interpretive Art Display Proposal
BACKGROUND
The City of Camarillo commissioned Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIart) under a Professional Services Agreement in June 2024 to administer the RFP for the creation of an interpretive art display as a part of the redevelopment of Dizdar Park. The park renovation project was undertaken by the City’s Public Works Department in 2024 and the public art installation is scheduled for quarter four of 2025.
Dizdar Park is the site of the former Ventura County Fire Station No. 54, a building which were demolished as a part of the project. The project will mitigate this unavoidable loss of a historical resource through the delivery of an interpretative display of public art.
The proposed public art project will include a permanent, high quality, on-site, publicly accessible interpretive display that commemorates the history of the former Ventura County Fire Station No. 54 property. The interpretive art display will represent a key component of the Dizdar Park redevelopment, designed to educate visitors about the site's historical significance while enhancing the park's cultural and educational value for the community.
The display will be located at the Northeast entrance (Garden Entrance), facing west, and will be designed following the required mitigation measure CUL-1 of the City Council Certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified at the March 22, 2023 City Council meeting.
The RFP, administered by SCIart, included bilingual outreach to over 800 public art agencies and individuals through direct mail, social media, and industry publications.
From 1,381 the information requests generated by the RFP, five submissions were
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received, with two subsequently withdrawn, leaving three qualified proposals for consideration.
DISCUSSION
Artist Selection Process
The three qualified proposals were presented to the EDLU Committee for review and evaluation.
Joe Adams presented a limestone wall installation featuring curved walls with embedded lighting and interpretive panels, supported by a reinforced foundation with protective coatings and comprehensive maintenance procedures.
Jose Trejo Maya proposed an innovative three-part installation incorporating motion sensors and projection elements, with a design approach emphasizing broader indigenous cultural contexts and interactive technological components.
Elisa Torres submitted a design featuring metal panel construction that incorporates newly discovered historical photographs from the Museum of Ventura County archives, utilizing proven fabrication methods and partnerships with local educational institutions.
On February 13, 2025, the Economic Development and Land Use (EDLU) Committee reviewed proposals for the project. Following thorough consideration of each proposal's artistic merit, feasibility, community engagement components, and alignment with project goals, the EDLU Committee recommended the selection of artist Elisa Torres' design.
Artist Background
Elisa Torres brings extensive experience in public art and community engagement to this project. Her qualifications include:
Public Art Commission Experience
•Current member of the Oxnard Commission for Public Art (two years) •Completed several large-scale murals within the City of Oxnard •Currently overseeing the commissioning of over $1 million in public art projects for the City of Oxnard
Exhibition History
Elisa’s work has been exhibited at numerous local venues including Acuña Art Gallery, Ojai City Hall, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Buenaventura Art Gallery, Mc. Nish Art Gallery, and DWTN Art Gallery. She has participated in significant community festivals including PACC The Arts Festival (2017), Juneteenth Festival (2016), Día de Dizdar Park Interpretive Display
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los Muertos at Heritage Square (2016), Night in Oaxaca (2016), and Artists for Justice (2015).
Community Engagement
Torres has demonstrated commitment to community-centered art through her work developing workshops for children at the Dr. Lopez Community Garden and leading large community participation projects involving groups in creating murals and other public art installations. She believes in art as a positive outlet and encouragement for positive change within communities.
Project Description
Artistic Concept
The proposed artwork will comprise a series of metal panels with etched tiles depicting the chronological history of Dizdar Park. The installation will tell the complete story of the site through four distinct narrative panels:
1.Panel One: The gifting of the land by the Camarillo family for the creation of a church yard
2.Panel Two: Introduction of Mike Dizdar, after whom the park was named
3.Panel Three: The story of Eugene Putnam and the creation of the Fire House
4.Panel Four: The end of the firehouse era and the transformation into a public park
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Historical Research
The project is built upon original research conducted by Torres, including visits to the Museum of Ventura County to access photography archives and gather primary sources. The research includes the production of never-before-seen photographs of the fire house developed from negatives deposited with the museum. A Historical American Buildings Survey (HABS) was also conducted by a professional historian and will be referenced for the project.
Fabrication Details
Design Modifications
Following the EDLU Committee recommendation, staff worked with SCIart to finalize fabrication plans. During this process, technical challenges were identified with the original design concept that necessitated modifications to ensure structural integrity and cost-effectiveness.
Original Design Challenges
The initial design presented four sheets of metal free-standing above a concrete base, requiring ¾ inch metal thickness to withstand public park conditions. This approach proved unfeasible due to weight, installation complexity, and material costs.
Revised Fabrication Approach
An alternative solution was developed that allows for thinner metal utilization while improving the overall installation with the following elements:
•Configuration - Six metal tiles, welded together rather than single large sheet to create each panel.
•Installation Method - Each tile will be pinned to a supporting wall structure, allowing the metal to float free of the structure.
•Enhanced Fabrication - A new fabrication company has been identified that can produce deeper and more textured engraving on thinner metal. •Visual Improvements - The introduction of a wall behind the artwork will make the entire work appear larger and improve design clarity by masking visual noise from background trees and planting.
•Accessibility - The structure will feature a slanted plane to improve text legibility for people of all ages, heights, and abilities.
The modified design was presented to the EDLU Committee on April 28, 2025 and the Committee recommended to move forward with the new design for City Council approval.
Local Manufacturing Partnerships
The project emphasizes local economic development and educational partnerships. The metal fabrication will be completed by a specialized company based in Oxnard, providing the deeper and more textured engraving capabilities required for the revised Dizdar Park Interpretive Display
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design approach. The design and construction of the concrete base structure will be handled by a local Camarillo-based company, ensuring proximity for project coordination and supporting the local business community.
An innovative aspect of the fabrication process involves a partnership with Rancho Campana High School's RC Makes program for metal tile manufacturing. This collaboration provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students while contributing to a significant community art project, creating an educational component that extends the project's impact beyond the final installation.
Community Engagement
Artist Eisa Torres developed a comprehensive community engagement strategy that extends throughout the project timeline, recognizing that meaningful public art emerges from authentic community connection and participation. Her approach prioritizes creating multiple touchpoints for residents to contribute their stories, memories, and creative input, ensuring the final installation reflects not only the historical significance of the site but also its contemporary meaning to the Camarillo community. The following multi-faceted engagement program is designed to build anticipation for the installation while fostering a sense of collective ownership and pride in the completed work:
Educational Partnership
•California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI): Historical talks regarding Dizdar Park and community history, with Capstone students creating digital content for social media and SCIart website
•Digital Archive Development: Students and faculty will work with the community to record stories and curate a digital archive of the project and community involvement
•Camarillo Library Partnership: Monthly public art talks to engage the community, concluding with a Dizdar project focus in August 2025 Community Workshops and Events
•July and September Workshops: SCIart community connection events to raise project profile
•Heritage Days Activities: Family-friendly participatory workshops •September Community Printing Workshop: During Studio Channel Islands Art Bash, featuring steam roller pressing of community-generated artwork •Print Making Events: Community invitation to create prints representing the park and its various meanings
Digital Integration
•Social media campaign connecting the community with the project development •Community platforms for sharing stories and memories about the park •QR codes with the final installation linking visitors to the digital archive and project history
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•Timeline presentation for project delivery through digital platforms Temporary Community Art
During Heritage Days, six recent CSUCI graduates will work with the public to create temporary murals at Studio Channel Islands, providing opportunities for community members to learn about Dizdar Park's history and contribute to the artistic dialogue.
Project Timeline
•Community Workshops: July and September 2025
•Fabrication Completion: August 2025
•Installation: Completed by December 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
The total project cost of $100,000 will be divided among three separate contracts for: 1) artist design and artist-led community engagement activities, 2) fabrication, and 3) concrete work and installation. These contracts will be awarded and approved by the City Manager based on established dollar thresholds for contract authorization.
Funds for the Dizdar Park Interpretive Art Display are included in Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget for City Parks/Cultural Arts Services Account No. 101-4500-443.46-23.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
City staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that this project is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the interpretive art design by Elisa Torres for the Dizdar Park Interpretive Art Display project; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements, documents, and change orders, if required, for this project.
ATTACHMENTS
Dizdar Park Interpretive Display Summary of Proposals
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None