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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: June 1, 2015 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:15-293 ACTION ITEMS <br />Agenda Number:10.B. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Chris Zapata <br />City Manager <br />BY:Cynthia Battenberg <br />Community Development Director <br />FINANCE REVIEW:David Baum <br />Finance Director <br />TITLE:Staff Report for City Council Direction on the Utility Box Art Program <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />This report provides a proposed approach to carry out the next phase of the Utility Box Art <br />Program and fulfills a City Council request for additional detail on the differences between <br />painting and wrapping the utility boxes with art. Staff requests Council direction on the <br />proposed approach. <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Utility Box Art Demonstration Project presented by staff at the November 16, 2013 Arts <br />and Culture Town Hall meeting received enthusiastic support from meeting participants. <br />Based on this feedback, the Office of Business Development in partnership with Streets Alive <br />initiated the Utility Box Art Demonstration Project. The demonstration project consisted of <br />seven locations in and around Downtown San Leandro and one in the industrial area (Next <br />Generation Workplace District). Because most locations were comprised of two adjacent utility <br />boxes, a total of fifteen boxes were wrapped with murals to the theme of Innovation, <br />Sustainability & Technology. On the evening of March 24, 2015, Business Development staff <br />and Streets Alive led a public walking tour to celebrate the new murals and interact with the <br />artists and interested community members. <br />Analysis <br />With successful completion of the utility box demonstration project, the next phase of the <br />Utility Box Art Program will be a new grouping of City-funded boxes to be placed throughout <br />the City. Business Development staff will identify eligible boxes with particular attention given <br />to areas where the artwork could make a positive impact, such as high visibility corners. Staff <br />anticipates that the City Council’s appropriation of $25,000 will be sufficient for 7-10 utility box <br />locations. <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 5/27/2015