INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: June 23, 2025
Subject: Draft of Guidelines for Public Art Program on County-Owned Utility Boxes
(Traffic Signal Boxes) - Review and Recommendation to Board of Supervisors
Submitted For: Warren Lai, Director
Department: Public Works Department
Referral No: IOC 25/**
Referral Name: County Public Art Policy
Presenter: Larry Theis, Theis Engineering and Warren Lai, Public Works Department
Contact: warren.lai@pw.cccounty.us <mailto:warren.lai@pw.cccounty.us>
Referral History:
On February 6, 2024, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Internal Operations Committee the development and recommendation of a policy and procedures governing placement of art on County property.
On September 9, 2024, the County Administrator’s Office presented a draft County Public Art Policy to the Internal Operations Committee. The County Public Art Policy was approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 3, 2024, which included direction for the development of a program for public art on county owned utility boxes.
Referral Update:
The Public Works Department contracted with Theis Engineering to develop the attached Guidelines for Public Art Program on county-owned utility boxes. Theis Engineering reviewed several public agencies art programs on utility boxes.
Staff requests the Internal Operation Committee review and provide feedback on the draft guidelines to implement a Public Art Program on County-Owned Utility Boxes (Traffic Signal Boxes). The program is being established to provide guidelines for artists to submit their proposed artwork for a specific utility box location to the District Supervisor’s Public Art Selection Committee (DPASC) for initial review and recommendation to the Countywide Public Art Advisory Committee. Once both committees have approved the proposed artwork, then the artist will apply to the Public Works Department for a special encroachment permit (specifically for Public Art on County-Owned Utility Boxes). This permit is proposed to be a no-fee permit and will not require the typical liability insurance or cash bond requirements to avoid discouraging artists from providing the art due to the out-of-pocket cost of permit fees or obtaining insurance coverage. The permit will specify the amount of time the artist will have to complete the artwork.
The guidelines provide specific details about who may apply for a permit, the length of time the artwork may remain in place, the process for requesting time extensions for artwork being displayed, restrictions on the type of dark color paint or use of vinyl wraps that increase heat buildup in the equipment cabinet, and restrictions on what can be included in the artwork. The The Public Works Department will maintain the record of the artwork on County-owned utility boxes when the permits are issued.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Consider draft guidelines and provide direction to the Public Works Department on any revisions to place on a future Board of Supervisors agenda for consideration.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
The Public Works Department received a general fund allocation of $25,000 for FY 25-26 to fund the development of the program. There will be a modest fiscal impact to implement this Program. The staff costs of administering the Art Approval process and issuing an encroachment permit, including inspection costs, will be funded by the Public Works Building Maintenance Budget. In an effort to promote the program, the County will not seek to recover actual costs from artists.
The County Public Art Policy states the Public Art Program on County-Owned Utility Boxes includes artist design stipends. The initial Board allocation of $25,000 will not be available to provide artist stipends. The Public Works Department proposes stipends are at the discretion of Board members and available funding.
Attachments:
Guidelines for Public Art Program on County-Owned Utility Boxes (PDF)