Report Prepared by: Stephanie Dietz, Assistant City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Recommendation for the Use of the $3,000 PG&E Corporation Foundation Grant for the Bob Hart Square Project and G Street Undercrossing Maintenance Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City Manager’s Office is requesting that the City Council adopt a motion approving the recommendation of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission for the use of the $3,000 PG&E Corporation Foundation Grant for the Bob Hart Square Project and the G Street Undercrossing Maintenance Project.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission’s recommendation for the use of the $3,000 PG&E Corporation Foundation Grant for the Bob Hart Square project and the G Street Undercrossing Maintenance project.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for consideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Sec. 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2018-19 Budget
DISCUSSION
On November 19, 2018, the City Council accepted the PG&E Corporation Foundation Grant in the amount of $3,000 with a commitment to engage with the proposed Arts and Culture Advisory Commission to identify a local project. In addition to accepting grant funding, the City Council also took action to appoint members to serve on the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission. The Commission held its first meeting on January 10, 2019 and began evaluating potential projects to recommend for the City Council’s consideration.
On April 18, 2019, the Commission approved a recommendation to apply the $3,000 grant equally between two projects: the Bob Hart Square project and the G Street Undercrossing Maintenance project. The Bob Hart Square project will allow for the concrete letters on the front of the planter box located at Bob Hart Square to be stained to match the tile and landscaping projects that were donated to the City. It is estimated that materials for the stain would cost approximately $1,000. The G Street Undercrossing Maintenance project encompasses cleaning the murals within the undercrossing areas and allowing for minor restorative work. Staff estimate approximately $500 for cleaning materials. Once the murals are clean, restoration costs will be further refined. UC Merced students have expressed an interest in providing labor to clean and help restore murals. Staff will work to secure volunteers to offset the overall cost of restoration.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the recommendation as adopted by the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission to allow for work to begin on the identified projects. The PG&E Corporation Foundation Grant had been allocated to the City Manager’s budget during the acceptance of the grant in November of 2018. Staff recommend retaining the funding in the City Manager budget and establishing separate projects to allow for expenditures to be tracked for each project. Should funds not be fully expended, staff will return to the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission and the City Council to establish a new project.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There is no impact on City resources. Funding was previously allocated to the City Manger’s budget, 001-0201-512-17-00 for use by the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission. A budget adjustment will be prepared upon approval, allocating $1,500 to 119067 Art Cmsn-Bob Hart Square and $1,500 to 119068 Art Cmsn-G St Undercrossing.