DATE: 01/15/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2025-18
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
CANVAS ON THE CURB PILOT PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to receive an update on the Canvas on the Curb Pilot Program and provide direction on the future of the Program.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council provide direction on the future of the Canvas on the Curb Program.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
On January 12, 2022, the City Council was presented with information on program options to transform existing utility cabinets into public art displays. The presentation included information gathered from programs at eight (8) different public agencies, pros and cons for various options on administering the program, and requested direction on proceeding with a pilot program for the City of Corona. The City Council provided feedback to staff, which was utilized to design a pilot program. On June 8, 2022, the City Council received the proposed Utility Box Art Program information, provided direction for the City to fund the wrapping of the first box to kick off the program, and approved proceeding with the project.
The project was renamed the “Canvas on the Curb” program, and it sought to beautify seven (7) existing City-owned traffic signal cabinets during its pilot phase with vinyl wrap using local artists’ work. All areas of the City, except Grand Blvd., were eligible for the program, totaling 144 possible artwork locations. The City agreed to fund 50% of the program costs for the first year. Program materials and guidelines were developed and attached to this staff report. Subsequently, a call for artists was announced on social media on September 15, 2022. Staff also contacted the Corona Art Association and high school art teachers at Corona, Centennial, and Santiago High Schools.
ANALYSIS:
38 artwork submissions were received by the October 19, 2022, deadline, with the artist's preferred locations for their artwork. City staff from the Public Works Department, Community Services Department, and Communications Office narrowed down the submissions to 15 semifinalists. On February 28, 2023, the City launched an online poll for the public to vote for their favorite artwork. When the survey closed on March 18, 2023, a total of 678 votes had been received, and the top seven (7) pieces of artwork were identified and presented to the City Council for their review and approval.
Upon the City Council's approval of the artwork, the seven (7) utility boxes were wrapped.
The canvases display the artist's name, the name of the art piece, and the name of the sponsor.
With the pilot phase in completion, staff is seeking direction on the program's continuation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Continuation of the program in its current form will result in a fiscal impact of $16,240 for seven (7) boxes per year. Staff will seek sponsorships to offset the cost of each box by $1,500, which can reduce the financial impact by up to $10,500. Sufficient funding is available in the Community Services Department operating budget within the General Fund 110 to support this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to provide direction on the continuation of the Canvas on the Curb program, and there is no possibility that approving this agreement will have a significant effect on the environment.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: MIRNA ROMERO, MANAGEMENT ANALYST II
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – Canvas on the Curb Program Guidelines
2. Exhibit 2 – Presentation