5 6
7 DATE: March 18, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Cory Call, Police Captain
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation & Police Department
SUBJECT: PILOT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY-DESIGNED UTILITY BOX ART AND APPROPRIATING $8,220 IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
FROM THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND ACCOUNT NO. 005-
0110-413-4251 TO OFFSET THE COSTS FOR THE PILOT
PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council consider adopting a resolution authorizing a Utility Box Art Pilot Program and appropriating $8,220 in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 from the Community Benefit Fund Account No. 005-0110-413-4251 to offset the costs for the pilot program; and find the Utility Box Art Pilot Program exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Utility Box Art Pilot Program is an initiative designed to transform ordinary utility boxes into vibrant, community-driven art installations. The goals for the pilot program are to enhance the aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces, foster community engagement, and deter vandalism through public art.
In response to the growing incidents of utility box vandalism over the years, the Foster City Police Department and Parks and Recreation staff worked together to develop a
5 6
7 Utility Box Art Pilot Program in 2023. This program, which was inspired from successful implementations in neighboring cities, aims to combat vandalism while fostering artistic expression. The pilot program involves an artist application and selection process with priority given to artists that live, work, or attend school in Foster City. The artist application review will include a review and recommendation by City staff to the City Council Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee with final approval by the entire City Council. As part of staff’s recommendation, staff will seek input from the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee before finalizing the recommendation to the Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee. The pilot program recommends both painting and vinyl wrapping of artwork to utility boxes for variety and versatility. Following the conclusion of the pilot program, city staff and program partners will conduct a comprehensive review to assess its overall value and determine its potential sustainability in the future.
Staff is seeking the City Council’s approval to move forward with the Utility Box Art Pilot Program and consider adopting a resolution approving the appropriation of $8,220 in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 from the Community Benefit Fund Account No. 005-0110-413- 4251 to offset the costs for the program’s materials and supplies. The remaining funds for the project will come from the Foster City Foundation-Art and Culture Fund in the amount of $5,485. These funds came from donations received earmarked for arts and cultural programs.
BACKGROUND
Foster City Police Department (FCPD) staff attended a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training which focused on vandalism prevention strategies which include the application of artwork to commonly vandalized property such as utility boxes which are in the public right of way and vastly disbursed throughout the city. In addition to the applied artwork as a crime deterrent measure, most communities experience an added sense of community pride and find the artwork adds beauty and vibrancy to their community.
Utility boxes are known to be frequent targets of vandalism. Vandalism to utility boxes includes the use of markers or paint to place unwanted messages and images to the utility boxes. Once the vandalism is reported to FCPD, an officer will create a crime report and will investigate the vandalism to identify the person(s) responsible. City maintenance staff must then remove or paint over the graffiti which is at a significant expense to the City in the form of labor costs, materials, services, as well as impacts to other City services when staff are pulled away from their other duties and responsibilities. This is in addition to the harmful aesthetic impacts to the community from blight.
The FCPD tracks incidents of vandalism throughout the City and notably during the 5 6
7 pandemic, vandalism to City-owned utility boxes decreased significantly. As the community came out of the pandemic, rates of vandalism to City-owned utility boxes quickly increased. The following information represents the number of City-owned utility boxes reported to the FCPD as being vandalized, which includes traffic signal utility boxes as well as utility boxes located within neighborhoods/parks:
•2020 – 1 utility box
•2021 – 3 utility boxes
•2022 – 18 utility boxes
•2023 – 12 utility boxes
•2024 – 12 utility boxes (to date)
As noted above, there have been 12 reports of vandalism to City utility boxes to date.
This number is only anticipated to increase by the end of the year. Some of the vandalized boxes were located within parks while others were along roadways. In addition, a couple of AT&T and PG&E boxes were also vandalized. Note that AT&T and PG&E boxes are not included in the pilot program as these are privately owned.
To address the vandalism as well as to promote City beautification and civic pride, staff from both the FCPD and the Parks and Recreation Department began meeting last year to develop a Utility Box Art Pilot Program for the City similar to programs that are common in the neighboring cities of Belmont, Redwood City, Santa Clara, Los Gatos and more. In addition, the pilot program was presented at the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting twice in 2023. One meeting was a general overview of the program, and the other focused on the proposed pilot program. The Committee members were supportive of the pilot program being implemented in Foster City.
ANALYSIS
Many cities/towns/counties have implemented public arts programs, including utility box art programs, with at least one goal of the program being to deter unsightly graffiti.
Two cities that have implemented successful utility box art programs to address high rates of vandalism to utility boxes include Hayward and Redwood City. Each agency reported over a 90% reduction in vandalisms to specific utility boxes that were adorned with artwork. A common theory explaining the decrease in vandalism to objects after having artwork applied is that many people find it more difficult to deface an artist’s artwork, and that some graffiti intended to be seen clearly, may be subdued by the artwork.
The proposed pilot program will be evaluated based on its continued feasibility, the program’s effectiveness in reducing vandalism to utility boxes, and resident feedback on the program’s promotion of City beautification and civic pride. Once the pilot program has completed, staff will return to the City Council with a progress report and if successful, a request to make the Program a permanent offering. 5 6
7 Utility Box Art Program Goals
•Beautification & Vibrancy – Transform plain utility boxes into unique works of art, creating a more vibrant, beautiful streetscape and contributing to the unique character of Foster City.
•Community Pride – Artwork supplied by community artists will function as a form of visual expression to a moving audience with the goal of demonstrating a safe, diverse, equitable, and inclusive urban environment, and will further enhance the culture of Foster City.
•Crime Reduction – Employing a CPTED tactic aimed at decreasing and deterring vandalism, the application of artwork to utility boxes is expected to deter rates of vandalism to the treated utility boxes.
Included Utility Boxes
Only utility boxes owned by the City will be included in the program. It’s recommended that only traffic signal utility boxes be included in the pilot program for now. Utility boxes located in neighborhoods and in parks may be considered in the future if the program is adopted as a permanent program by the Council and expanded beyond traffic signal utility boxes.
Traffic signal utility boxes are recommended for the pilot program due to their placement in high-visibility areas as compared to utility boxes located in the neighborhoods and parks. Maximizing the number of citizens who are able to view the utility boxes will allow the City to maximize community input as the Program is evaluated and considered as a permanent program.
Four (4) utility box locations have been identified and are recommended for inclusion in the pilot program. The City has a current Traffic Signal System Upgrade CIP project (CIP 301-698) planned and the Project accounts for this CIP which will result in many of the City’s traffic signal utility boxes being replaced due to age in the next couple of years. The utility boxes recommended for the pilot program are newer and will not be impacted by the CIP project.
The recommended traffic signal utility boxes are located at these locations (photos are included in Attachment 2):
•E. Hillsdale Blvd. @ Gull Ave.
•Metro Center Blvd. @ Edgewater Blvd.
•Foster City Blvd. @ Polynesia Dr.
•Edgewater Blvd. @ Port Royal Ave. (north end)
The project will encompass select PG&E service pedestal utility boxes, which are owned by the City and will be included in the scope of work. These utility boxes accompany the standard traffic signal utility boxes and are typically the narrower and 5 6
7 taller of the two utility boxes.
Application of Artwork
Paint and vinyl wrap are the two most common methods for application of art to utility boxes. For the pilot program, it’s recommended that both application methods be utilized; two utility box locations will have artwork painted onto the boxes and two will have artwork applied to the boxes using vinyl wrap.
Having a utility box painted will involve an artist(s) applying approved artwork to a utility box using acrylic paints. Time needed to complete a utility box painting is dependent on various factors, such as intricacy of the artwork, availability of the artist(s) to work on the project, and completion deadlines set by the City. Cities with similar programs report that the average utility box painting takes between 2-4 weeks. The artist(s) would be responsible for any required surface preparation.
Applying artwork using vinyl wrap involves approved artwork in the form of digital images sent to a vendor who will print the images onto vinyl. The vendor will apply the vinyl wrap to the utility box, which typically takes 1-3 hours per utility box. As part of the service, the vendor completes all work necessary to complete the project, including surface preparation and all required measuring, to ensure printed vinyl sections are sized correctly for each specific utility box.
The application of acrylic paint and vinyl wrap are expected to have a useful life of 5+ years. For every painted and vinyl wrapped utility box, the City will be responsible for applying an anti-graffiti clear coat which is expected to extend the life of the application, as well as for ease of cleaning and removal of graffiti.
Artwork Information
The artwork selected for the program should enhance the surrounding area, transforming the street, and reflecting the neighborhood or area where the utility box is located. The artwork should be visible from a distance; therefore, bold colors and designs will be recommended, unless designed to blend in with a backdrop. Artists may submit more than one concept for the same location.
Artist & Artwork Eligibility
All adults and youth will be invited to apply; however, priority will be given to artists that live, work, or attend school in Foster City. Artists may enlist assistants or art instructors to help them complete the project. All entries must be of an original design and artwork from the applicant and must be suitable for viewing by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Selection Criteria
5 6
7 •Artist’s experience and ability to complete the project within a provided time frame
•Creativity and originality of the proposed artwork
•Adherence to the goal of adding beauty and vibrancy to Foster City •Artwork that relates to the utility box location
•Artwork that emphasizes the City’s unique characteristics, history, cultural demographics, or key activities unique to the community Artist Rights
All artists selected to have their artwork applied to a utility box will be required to sign an agreement releasing all rights to the artwork to the City. Specifically, the agreement will include a waiver of all artists rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act, 17 U.S.C §§106A and 113(d) ("VARA"), the California Art Preservation Act, Cal. Civil Code §§ 987 and 989 ("CAPA"). Through this agreement, the City can remove, replace, or modify the artwork at their discretion. The City would also be authorized to use the artwork for any City purposes, such as for advertising and publicity purposes.
Artist Stipend
A stipend will be paid to the artist(s) by the City. The stipend paid for painted utility boxes will be more than is paid for vinyl wrapped utility boxes due to the difference in labor that is required of each artist.
For a standard sized traffic signal utility box, a stipend of $500 will be paid for each painted utility box and $300 for each vinyl wrapped utility box. One stipend will be paid for each utility box, regardless of the number of artists involved in a project. If a PG&E service pedestal utility box is included in a project, a stipend of $300 will be paid for each painted utility box and $100 for each vinyl wrapped utility box.
Stipends and costs associated with the Utility Box Art Pilot Program are subject to available funding and to City Council approval as part of the City’s annual budget process.
Utility Box Art Review Process
The pilot program involves an artist application and selection process with priority given to artists that live, work, or attend school in Foster City. The artist application review will include a review and recommendation by a committee made up of City staff to the City Council Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee with final approval by the entire City Council. As part of the staff’s recommendation, staff will seek input from the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee before finalizing the recommendation to the City Council. The staff review committee will include staff from the Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Police Departments. 5 6
7 Pilot Program Process
•Identify utility boxes to be included in the pilot program. •Call for Local Artists – A public notice will be released announcing the pilot program to the community. The community will be provided with all information needed to submit their artwork for consideration.
•Application Process – Interested artists will submit their artwork for consideration. All required steps in the application process will be clearly provided in the Call for Local Artists document.
•Artist Selection Process – Process and selection criteria is detailed in the Call for Local Artists document. Selection process:
oReview of the application package by staff review committee oReview and input by the Parks and Recreation Committee oRecommendation to the City Council Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee
oFinal approval by the City Council
•Selected artists will sign all required waivers and agreements. •Artists will attend an orientation meeting.
•Paint – Artists painting their artwork will begin work and have their mural completed by the date indicated in the agreement.
•Vinyl Wrap – Artists submitting artwork to be transferred onto a vinyl wrap will submit their work to the selected vendor with all specifications provided in the Call for Local Artists document being met. The vendor will print and complete the artwork application process by the date indicated in the agreement (artist will not be held responsible for vendor delays)
•Inspection of the final product will be completed by City staff and the Public Arts Committee for quality assurance.
•City staff will apply an anti-graffiti clear coat to all approved artwork. •The pilot program will be evaluated with input from City staff and the Parks and Recreation Committee. A recommendation will be presented to the City Council Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee and ultimately the City Council for their review and acceptance prior to recommending adoption of a permanent program.
California Environmental Quality Act
This pilot program is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq. and the CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15000 et. seq.), including without limitation, Public Resources Code section 21065 and California Code of Regulations 15378 as this is not a “project” that may cause a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment and if a “project,” is exempt under the “common sense” exception (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3)) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this action may have a significant effect on the environment. 5 6
7 FISCAL IMPACT
The below table provides a summary of the anticipated costs for materials and supplies to fund the pilot Utility Box Art Program.
Table 1: Estimated Expenditures for Four Utility Boxes
Artist Stipend for Painted Standard Boxes ($500 each- Qty 2) $1,000 Artist Stipend for Painted Pedestal Boxes ($300 each- Qty 2) $600 Artist Stipend for Vinyl Standard Boxes ($300 each- Qty 3) $900 Artist Stipend for Vinyl Pedestal Boxes ($100 each- Qty 1) $100 Estimate for Costs of Vinyl Wrapping ($2776.25 each - Qty 4)* $11,105 Estimate for Costs of paint and other materials and supplies Total Expenditures for Pilot Program $13,705
Foster City Foundation-Art and Culture Fund ($5,485)
Remaining Balance Needed to Fund Program $8,220
If approved, funding of $8,220 would be appropriated from the Community Benefit Fund to go towards the Utility Box Pilot Art Program.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Innovation
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Utility Box Art Pilot Program Information