Report Prepared by: Jennifer Flachman, Senior Management Analyst
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SUBJECT: Request from the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Subcommittee to Approve Combining $4,500 in City Art Project Funds with $10,000 in Merced County Arts Council California Arts Council Grant Funding for the Downtown Arts and Culture District Signage and Branding Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
Request from the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Subcommittee to Approve Combining $4,500 in City Art Project Funds with $10,000 in Merced County Arts Council California Arts Council Grant Funding for the Downtown Arts and Culture District Signage and Branding Project
RECOMMENDATION
Arts and Culture Advisory Commission - Adopt a motion to approve combining $4,500 in City Art Project Funds with $10,000 in Merced County Arts Council California Arts Council Grant Funding for the Downtown Arts and Culture District Signage and Branding Project
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ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer back to staff for further study.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
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CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the City Council Goals and Priorities: Public Works & City Beautification.
DISCUSSION
On December 12, 2025, following a competitive grant process, the California Arts Council designated Downtown Merced’s Main Street corridor, from N Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, as an official Arts and Culture District.
The Merced County Arts Council served as the lead applicant for the designation, with support from the City of Merced and the Merced Downtown Association. As part of the designation, the California Arts Council awarded $10,000 in grant funding, to be distributed over two years, for marketing and branding efforts associated with the district.
The Merced City Council previously approved $4,500 toward a project that included the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a project to create a district logo and produce signage. The logo would be incorporated into city street signage to help identify and promote the Downtown Arts and Culture District.
The Arts and Culture Advisory Commission subcommittee is recommending that the City coordinate efforts with the Merced County Arts Council by combining the City’s $4,500 contribution with $10,000 from the grant funding to support the creation of a Downtown Arts and Culture District logo and related signage. The proposed logo would be displayed on city street signage along Main Street from N Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.
The combined funding would support the following project components:
• Graphic designer services for logo creation
• Production of 16 large street signs
The proposed signage locations include:
• N Street: Two to four large hanging street signs (two on N Street and two on Main Street)
• M Street: Two to four large hanging street signs (two on M Street and two on Main Street)
• Canal Street: Two to four large hanging street signs (two on Canal Street and two on Main Street)
• K Street: Two to four large hanging street signs (two on K Street and two on Main Street)
The Merced County Arts Council and the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission will report back to the City Council with recommendations regarding the final selection of the district logo and branding materials prior to implementation.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
A total of $4,500 in funding is available within the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget for this expense in the City Manager’s Professional Services Account Line 10001000-511012.
ATTACHMENT
None
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