City of Sunnyvale
Excerpt Draft Meeting Minutes
- Arts Commission
7:00 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,
CA 94086
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Veith called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chair Agnes Veith
Vice Chair Kathryn Filley
Commissioner Molly Kauffman
Commissioner Mariia Tkachenko
Commissioner Christina Wright
Present: 5 -
Council Liaison Klein present.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
3 26-0362 Review and Recommendation of Public Art for Lakewood Park Renovation
Staff provided an overview of the public art selection process for the Lakewood Park Renovation. The project includes a public art budget of $140,660. Staff received 41 qualified artist applications, and five artists/artist teams were selected to develop conceptual proposals. The Commission’s recommendation is scheduled for City Council consideration on October 6, 2026.
The Commission received presentations from the five finalists:
-Pete Beeman – An interactive kinetic sculpture inspired by a radar dish and flower, featuring a hand crank, lighting, sound, and complementary seating. -Sijia Chen Studio – Launch Point, a 15-foot illuminated sculpture inspired by a rocket and pencil, featuring integrated seating and community-developed imagery.
Attachment 10
September 16, 2026Arts Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft -James Peterson / Art & Contraptions – Apricot, a sculptural piece inspired by Sunnyvale’s agricultural, aerospace, and technology history, incorporating stainless steel, colored panels, seating, and illumination.
-James Shen and Jennifer Tran – Where We Meet, an interactive, functional sculptural bench inspired by a Möbius strip and designed to encourage gathering and community connection.
-Urban Rock Design – A sculptural proposal incorporating figurative forms and imagery.
Commissioners discussed the concepts and asked questions regarding interaction, accessibility, lighting, heat, seating, maintenance, durability, drainage, climbing and safety considerations, community engagement, and how each proposal related to the park and Sunnyvale community.
Following discussion, Commissioners individually ranked the five proposals.The Commission finalized and accepted its rankings.
Final Rankings:
1. James Shen & Jennifer Tran – Where We Meet
2. Tie:
-Pete Beeman
-James Peterson – Apricot
3. Sijia Chen Studio
4. Urban Rock Design
MOTION: Commissioner Tkachenko moved and Commissioner Kauffman seconded, the motion to approve the Arts Commission's final rankings of the five Lakewood Park public art proposals for recommendation to the City Council, as listed above.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Attachment 10
September 16, 2026Arts Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Yes: Chair Veith
Vice Chair Filley
Commissioner Kauffman
Commissioner Tkachenko
Commissioner Wright
5 -
No: 0
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Veith adjourned the meeting at 10:37 p.m.
Attachment 10