July 28, 2026
Public Works
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Josef Munoz, Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works
Jene Levine Snipes, Development Project Manager
Subject:
Accept and Appropriate Additional Caltrans Grant Funds for the Richmond Art and Lighting Project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $800,000 expenditure is funded by the California Department of Transportation Clean California State Beautification Program grant. The Fiscal Year
2026-2027 project budget will be increased by $800,000, and the corresponding grant revenue account will be
increased by $800,000. Total Caltrans funding under
Agreement No. 04-2911 will increase from $300,000 to
$1,100,000. There is no net change to the General Fund
(Account String: 15436431-400708-23031).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
October 18, 2022
June 18, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City previously secured $4.7 million for the
Richmond Art and Lighting Project, including $3.7 million in Caltrans funding for lighting and pedestrian-safety
improvements, $300,000 in Caltrans funding for
transportation art, and $700,000 in local funds. Caltrans has amended the transportation art agreement to provide an additional $800,000, increasing funding for the art
component to $1.1 million and total project funding to
$5.5 million. City Council action is required to accept the grant funds and increase the fiscal year 2026–2027
revenue and expenditure budgets for the project.
AGENDA
REPORT
July 28, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE an additional $800,000 from the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) Clean California State
Beautification Program grant for the art component of the Richmond Art and Light Project, increasing the total
funding under Caltrans Agreement No. 04-2911 from
$300,000 to $1,100,000; and AUTHORIZE the City
Manager or their designee to execute all grant-related
documents and agreements required - Public Works
Department (Jene Levine Snipes 510-307-8132/Daniel
Chavarria 510-620-5478).
DISCUSSION:
Project Background and Scope
The Richmond Art and Lighting Project is a coordinated public art, beautification, lighting, and pedestrian-safety initiative focused on the Interstate 580 undercrossings at Macdonald Avenue, San Pablo Avenue, and Barrett Avenue. The project is intended to improve the appearance, safety, visibility, and pedestrian experience at these highly traveled gateways while highlighting Richmond's history, culture, and community identity through transportation art.
The transportation art component includes:
July 28, 2026
Restoration of two existing murals at the Macdonald Avenue and San Pablo Avenue undercrossing;
Installation of two new murals on the opposite abutment walls at those locations; and
Painting the support columns and the large exterior beam (i.e., girder) at the Barrett Avenue undercrossing.
The broader project coordinates these art improvements with lighting and other pedestrian-safety and accessibility upgrades at the three undercrossings.
On September 12, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 93-23, authorizing the Public Works Director and City Engineer to execute master agreements, program supplemental agreements, fund exchange agreements, fund transfer agreements, and amendments with Caltrans. This authority supported execution of the project agreements while preserving the City Council's responsibility to accept and appropriate grant revenues through the City budget.
The City and Caltrans subsequently entered into Transportation Art Agreement No. 04- 2911, effective July 18, 2024, providing an amount not to exceed $300,000 in Clean California State Beautification Program funds (Attachment 1). Under the agreement, the City is responsible for artist procurement and contract administration, preparation and installation of the transportation art, compliance with Caltrans encroachment-permit requirements, and completion of the required Transportation Art Proposal, Copyright License and Waiver of Moral Rights in the Arts, and Transportation Art Maintenance Agreement.
Project Funding and Funding Amendment
The City previously secured $4,700,000 in funding for this project, which includes $4,000,000 in Caltrans grant funding and $700,000 in local funds.
Caltrans and the City fully executed an amendment dated July 2, 2026, increasing the funding available under the agreement by $800,000. The amendment raises the total Caltrans contribution from $300,000 to $1,100,000 (Attachment 2). The additional funds are reimbursement-based and must be used for eligible project costs in accordance with the amended agreement and applicable Caltrans requirements.
The project funding framework is adjusted as follows:
Funding Source Original
Amount
Additional
Amount
Amended
Total
Caltrans Clean California
(Art Component) $300,000 $800,000 $1,100,000
July 28, 2026
Funding Source Original
Amount
Additional
Amount
Amended
Total
Caltrans Clean California
(Light and Safety) $3,700,000 $0 $3,700,000
General Fund $700,000 $0 $700,000
Total $4,700,000 $800,000 $5,500,000
The additional funding will support completion of the art component and related project- delivery costs, including artist services, materials, wall preparation, access and traffic- control requirements, contractor oversight, insurance, prevailing-wage and certified- payroll compliance, and installation within Caltrans right-of-way.
Recommendation
Accepting and appropriating the funds will allow City staff to establish the required budget authority, process eligible expenditures, submit reimbursement requests, and complete the project scope in coordination with Caltrans. City staff recommend that the City Council adopt the attached resolution to accept and appropriate the additional $800,000, increase the fiscal year 2026-2027 project revenue and expenditure budgets by the same amount, and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all grant- related documents and agreements required (Attachment 3). The requested action has no current impact on the General Fund.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Agreement 04-2911 Transportation Art Agreement Clean California Beautification Fund Contribution
Attachment 2 – Agreement 04-2911 Amendment No. 1
Attachment 3 – Resolution