DATE:May 4, 2026
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
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
SUBJECT:UPDATE ON THE UTILITY BOX ART PILOT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council, by Minute Order, receive and accept an update on the Utility Box Art Pilot Program and provide direction on whether to support the continuation and expansion of the program for Fiscal Years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following the successful implementation of the Utility Box Art Pilot Program (“program or pilot program”), staff is providing an overview of the pilot program and seeking City Council direction on whether to continue and expand the program.
The pilot program has transformed ordinary utility boxes into community-driven art installations, enhancing the visual landscape while serving as a deterrent to vandalism.
The program was well received by the community and aligned with the City’s goals of beautification, community engagement, and crime prevention.
Based on these successful outcomes, staff recommends continuation and expansion of the program and is seeking City Council direction on whether to move forward with this recommendation including identifying current and future funding sources.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the City Council approved a pilot Utility Box Art Pilot Program to address increasing incidents of vandalism on City-owned utility boxes while enhancing public spaces through art.
The program was developed collaboratively between the Parks and Recreation Department and the Foster City Police Department following Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies, which identify public art as an effective deterrent to graffiti and vandalism.
As part of the pilot program, four (4) City-owned traffic signal utility boxes were selected in high-visibility locations and treated with a combination of painted and vinyl-wrapped artwork. The pilot also included a formal artist application and selection process, with priority given to local artists.
The pilot program allowed staff to evaluate program effectiveness, community interest, and overall feasibility prior to returning to City Council for direction on future implementation.
ANALYSIS
The Utility Box Art Pilot Program has proven to be an effective and well-received initiative that advances several City goals, including beautification, community engagement, and crime reduction.
1. Strong Local Artist Interest – The pilot program generated meaningful interest from local artists, including residents, students, and community members, demonstrating a desire for more public art opportunities within Foster City. The structured application process supported high-quality, locally relevant artwork while fostering community participation.
2. Positive Community Feedback – Feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, with community members expressing appreciation for the added color, creativity, and vibrancy throughout the City. The artwork has contributed to a stronger sense of place and community pride.
3. Beautification & Vibrancy – Utility boxes are transformed into unique works of art that enhance the City’s visual character and contribute to a more vibrant public realm.
4. Community Pride & Engagement – The program provides opportunities for local artists to contribute to the community and reflect Foster City’s identity, culture, and diversity.
5. Crime Reduction – Consistent with CPTED principles and outcomes in neighboring cities, utility boxes with artwork experience reduced vandalism, as individuals are less likely to deface public art.
6. Operational Insights for Future Phases – The pilot also provided insight to inform future implementation. Staff identified opportunities to refine the program moving forward, including providing clearer guidance on application methods and design expectations, refining criteria for utility box selection based on visibility and need, providing notification to the neighborhood prior to the art installation, and streamlining coordination between artist selection and installation. Staff also evaluated application methods, noting that painted installations are generally more cost-effective, while vinyl-wrapped installations offer a faster installation timeline.
Given the strong artist interest and positive community response to the program, staff recommends its continuation and expansion to additional utility boxes throughout the City. Staff is seeking City Council input and direction on the pilot program including:
1. Does the City Council have any feedback or recommendations for improvements to the program?
2. Does the City Council support the continuation and expansion of the program beyond the first-year pilot?
3. If the City Council supports continuing the program, will the City Council support funding Fiscal Years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 using the Community Benefit Fund Account (005-0110-413-4251) while staff identify alternative funding sources through arts grants, donations, and sponsorships by individuals, businesses or organizations?
California Environmental Quality Act
This 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.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the Utility Box Art Program is $13,704 per year in FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 for a total of $27,408, to be paid from the Community Benefits Program Fund (Fund 005) which has a current balance of $960,000. These costs will be included in the proposed biennial budget to be presented to Council on May 19, 2026.
Funding will support:
Artist stipends for painted and vinyl-wrapped utility boxes Vinyl fabrication and installation
Paint, materials, and anti-graffiti coatings
Over the next two years of program implementation, staff will explore potential sponsorship or partnership opportunities to help offset program costs and expand the number of utility boxes included in future phases. This may include individual, business, and nonprofit sponsorship of utility boxes or the program. Any such opportunities would be brought forward to the City Council in accordance with the City’s Sponsorship Policy and would supplement future funding considerations. Identifying additional funding sources will help support the long-term sustainability of the program.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Innovation