BART Transit Column Mural Project
Project Update and Council Action
October 13, 2026
2 Project Background
2024: City staff began discussions with BART.
April 2025: The City retained Evelyn Orantes Consulting.
July 2025: Community outreach began.
August 12, 2025: Council accepted the work plan and
directed murals to reflect Decoto history.
April 14, 2026: Council accepted the community feedback report and five themes.
3 Mural Locations
Up to 10 BART transit columns
Gateway group: 5 columns near Decoto Road and J
Street, shown with purple circles.
Park group: 5 columns along Kennedy Park, shown
with red circles.
4 Artist Selection
Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Artists show their experience and ability to complete the project. Qualified applicants scoring at least 75 points may advance.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Finalists submit mural designs that reflect community themes and BART requirements. Each finalist receives a $2,000 stipend to develop a proposal and attend two forums.
Two phases: qualifications and design
5 Review panel
Laura Buzo, Union City
Jennifer A. Easton, BART
Rosa Valdez, Alameda County Arts Commission
Evelyn Orantes, art consultant
RFQ: 100-point review of qualifications
RFP: 50 points from the panel and 50 points from community input Review panel and scoring
Application Review
6 RFQ outreach through the City website, email, social media, and a press release
Applicant information sessions: October 28 and 29, 2026 History forum: January 9, 2027, 10 a.m. to noon
Artist presentations: March 13, 2027, 10 a.m. to noon
Community feedback: March 13 to 31, 2027
Public comment at Commission and Council meetings
Outreach and public forums
Community Participation
7 RFQ Timeline
Activity Date
RFQ release October 19, 2026
Information session 1 October 28, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Information session 2 October 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Applicant questions October 30 to November 9
Applications due November 30, 2026, noon
Qualifications review December 1 to 16, 2026
Applicants notified December 17 to 18, 2026
Qualifications Timeline
RFQ application and review dates
8 RFP Timeline
Activity Date
Finalist notifications Week of December 21, 2026
Required information session December 21, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Community history forum January 9, 2027, 10 a.m. to noon Design preparation January 9 to February 22, 2027
Proposals due February 22, 2027, noon
Artist presentations March 13, 2027, 10 a.m. to noon
Community feedback March 13 to 31, 2027
Proposal review April 1 to 16, 2027
Proposal Timeline
RFP design and community review dates
9 City Staff and EO
Consulting
Arts and Culture
Commission City Council
•Review sequence
Artist Selection and Final Design
BART
• BART review Late April 2027
• Arts and Culture Commission review May 2027
• City Council review May 2027
• Final design and installation schedule approvals June/July 2027 • Mural installation July to October 2027
Approvals and Installation
10 Artwork design and installation: $150,000
for up to 10 columns
Approximately $15,000 per column
Previously approved project funding:
$200,000
Additional request: $30,000 from Public Art
In-Lieu Fee Fund 268
No General Fund impact
Project Funding
Budget and appropriation request
11 Obtain BART permits.
Clean and prepare the columns.
Develop environmental and traffic control plans.
Manage street, park, and pedestrian access during installation.
These costs are separate from the artwork allocation. Staff will return to Council for site preparation funding and approvals.
Site preparation and safety
City Responsibilities
12 Staff recommends adopting a resolution to:
Accept the project update.
Approve the revised timeline.
Approve the RFQ and RFP.
Appropriate $30,000 from Public Art In-Lieu Fee Fund 268 for the artistic work.
Artist selection returns to Council in May 2027. Site preparation requires separate funding and approvals.
Recommendation
Thank you
Community and Recreation Services Department
Laura Buzo, Director
Chris Valuckas, Manager
Vanessa Muñoz, Recreation Supervisor
Erin Ewing, Program Coordinator
Many other staff across departments
Consultant: Evelyn Orantes Consulting
Please visit the Union City Website for ongoing updates and information https://www.unioncityca.gov/967/BART-Mural-Project