Report Prepared by: Jennifer Flachman, Senior Management Analyst
Title
SUBJECT: Provide Direction on Graffiti Abatement Request for Proposal and Public Art Request for Proposal, Prioritize Certain Public Amenities in the Public Art RFP Process
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers a draft Graffiti Abatement Request for Proposals and Public Art Request for Proposals and provide staff with direction, as well as consider prioritizing certain public amenities for the Public Art Request for Proposals to serve as a deterrent to unauthorized graffiti.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council -
A. Provide direction to staff on Graffiti Abatement Request for Proposals and Public Art Request for Proposals; and,
B. Considers prioritizing certain public amenities for Public Art Request for Proposals as a deterred to unauthorized graffiti.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Provide staff direction; or,
2. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in City Council motion); or,
3. Continue to a future City Council meeting (date and time to be requested in City Council motion).
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code Section 8.36.070 - Right of city to remove graffiti
City Beautification, as provided for in the 2023/24 Adopted Budget.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
This project aligns with the City Council’s FY 2023/24 Goals and Priorities of City Beautification by continuing the open call for art projects and abatement of unauthorized graffiti.
DISCUSSION
Graffiti Abatement
The City Council has expressed interest in providing guidance - and direction on a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the unauthorized Graffiti abatement program. This process addresses city owned facilities only. Private property owners are responsible for their own maintenance which is typically reported and enforced through the code enforcement process.
Graffiti is a recognized artform, but unsolicited and unauthorized graffiti is vandalism. Currently, abatement on city owned facilities is being accomplished through a short-term contract, ninety days. The contract will likely expire before a longer-term contract after the RFP process. The Council expressed interest in potentially considering another short-term contract, which would be considered separately at a later meeting.
Attached and incorporated as part of this administrative report is a Draft RFP for council discussion and possible direction.
Public Art
The City Council has recently received public comments regarding public art as a potential deterrent to unauthorized graffiti. The City Council currently has $100,000 allocated for public art. The next step is issuing a Request for Proposals for locations and individual artist projects.
Staff recommends that specific public amenities be included as priority projects under the RFP. For example, the city recently received public restroom facilities at Applegate, McNamara, and Rahilly parks. These facilities have already had unauthorized graffiti removed or covered by the contractor. These locations should be priorities under the RFP. The city has an example where this arrangement has helped deter unauthorized graffiti at McNamara Park.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
None at this time. The City Council is only being requested to provide direction on the Graffiti Abatement Request for Proposal and Public Art Request for Proposals. At the conclusion of the RFP process the City Council will consider approval of contracts to award the work. At that time the fiscal analysis will be evaluated.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Public Art RFP
2. Graffiti Abatement RFP