Agenda Item Wording:
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Consideration of a Mural Application request from Leadership Visalia for one mural proposed on the south-facing facade of the Valley Strong Stadium (Rawhide ballpark) located at 300 North Giddings Street, together with a request for the City Council to authorize allowing placement of a mural on City-owned property.
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Deadline for Action: 3/6/2023
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, (559) 713-4636, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>;
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, (559)713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends, based on the recommendations of the Mural Panel and the Parks & Recreation Commission, that the mural application for the proposed mural located at 300 North Giddings Street be approved as shown in Attachment 2, with the modification that the wording / phrase located on the right-hand side of the mural be removed. Staff further recommends that the City Council authorize allowing placement of a mural on the City owned property containing the stadium.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia received a mural application on January 24, 2023, from participants in the Leadership Visalia program for a mural to be painted on a south-facing wall of the Valley Strong Stadium (Rawhide ballpark) located at 300 North Giddings Street. The stadium is owned by the City of Visalia, therefore authorization for use of the stadium ground for a mural must also be authorized by City Council. The mural, if approved, will be visible from Giddings Street and from the alley located directly south of the stadium, being that the dirt lot is located in the foreground between the mural and the alley. The mural application (see Attachment 1), a rendering of the original mural submitted by the applicant (see Attachment 2), a picture imposing the mural over the wall (see Attachment 3), and a photo of the existing wall (see Attachment 4) are attached. The 38-foot by 12-foot mural is inspired by the subjects of baseball and mental illness and seeks to inspire the community and bring awareness and hope, to people, through an image that people can discuss and identify with.
The proposed mural is designed by Colleen Mitchell-Veyna and Kelsey Gilles. Ms. Mitchell-Veyna has a long resume of painting murals in southern San Joaquin Valley communities and has painted other murals recently in Visalia, specifically at the Farm Bureau and at the Tucoemas Federal Credit Union on Akers Street. The proposed mural depicts three butterflies with the butterfly being chosen as a symbol for people affected by mental illness, being that the cocoon like condition of the butterfly in the early stage of development resembles feelings exhibited by those with mental illness. The mural’s background depicts a stadium, baseball diamond, and field lighting. The foreground is shown with two quotes, which are clearly illustrated in Attachment 2. At the Mural Panel meeting (see discussion below), the applicants confirmed that one of the quotes that was taken from an online source would not be included as part of the mural but rather on a separate posted sign or monument apart from the mural. All portions of the mural are to be original artwork. The mural will be prepared in a studio on a mural canvas fabric, then applied to the wall, painted, and sealed with a UV protectant and anti-graffiti coating.
In reviewing the mural’s placement upon the wall, City staff has identified some separation between the concrete pad atop the wall and the wall itself. The applicant and City staff have been in ongoing discussion regarding the necessary measures for professionally mounting the individual mural panels in a manner that does not cause any further damage to the wall while the City leads a project to repair the wall.
Work on the mural is expected to begin upon receiving approval from the City Council. The applicant has stated that the Visalia Rawhide has agreed to oversee maintenance of the mural. Since the City owns the property, the terms of the mural’s application and maintenance are delineated in the mural agreement (see Attachment 5), as further discussed below.
Mural Panel Review
In accordance with the City’s mural guidelines and procedures (see Attachment 6), the Mural Panel consisting of a representative from the Arts Consortium (Ampelio Mejia Perez), Arts Visalia (Alison Schlick Miniaci), and a mayoral appointment (Walter Deissler) convened to review the application. The purpose of the Mural Panel is to assure compliance with local ordinances and the mural guidelines, and to determine whether the artist can produce a quality piece of art. All members of the Mural Panel together with members of Leadership Visalia and the artist team met on February 15, 2023, to discuss the mural.
The Mural Panel was provided with the application materials, the rendering included in Attachment 2, and access to the artist’s websites (listed in the application, Attachment 1) that provide a profile and samples. The Mural Panel was favorable to the artwork and had no concerns with the artist’s ability to prepare a quality mural. With respect to the mural’s objective to raise awareness toward mental awareness utilizing baseball as the backdrop, the Panel felt that the images did not depict an outright depiction of promoting a “brand, organization, service, [or] cause” that is restricted under the City’s general mural guidelines.
The mural is proposing to contain two phrases - one being a quote by Maya Angelou, and the other being a statement that more directly speaks toward the condition of mental illness. At the suggestion of the Panel, and the agreement of the applicant based on concern regarding dated language and the origin of the statement, the latter quote was agreed to be removed from the mural.
Additional discussion centered around the depiction of baseball and compliance with the mural guidelines. While members of the panel considered that the mural’s message was overtly related to baseball, the panel concluded that the mural did not explicitly promote the Rawhide brand, and noted the site’s historic and long-standing use as a baseball stadium that has hosted many professional leagues including the current home team of the Visalia Rawhide. While there is no wording or logo depicting Rawhide, one of the butterflies is depicted in a cowhide pattern.
One public comment was given during the mural panel meeting, wherein there was concern of the baseball backdrop and symbology within the butterfly wings undercutting the mental health message that is intended to be the focus of the mural.
Parks & Recreation Review
In accordance with the City’s mural guidelines and procedures, murals installed on a community center or park must also be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to submission to the City Council. The Commission held a Special meeting on March 1, 2023, to review the mural. The Commission made and approved a motion (3-0 vote) to approve the mural without the inclusion of the quote shown on the right-hand side of the mural, as also recommended by the Mural Panel and concurred by the applicant team. The Commission noted that they were in full support of the mural concept as well as location at the ballpark and near the high school.
Mural Agreement
The City’s mural guidelines requires that the project’s proponents enter into an agreement that identifies the terms and conditions under which the mural will be applied and maintained. A draft of the mural agreement is attached to this report as Attachment 5, should the City Council elect to approve the mural application. The draft agreement has been prepared with input from City staff and from the City Attorney, being that the City is the owner of the ballpark facility and leases the facility to Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club (“Lessee”). Under the draft agreement, the Lessee will work together with the artist to provide maintenance as needed, no less than once every five years.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact to the City, although the City owns the stadium on which the mural will be placed. The stadium is being leased to Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club who has agreed to maintain the mural as defined in the mural agreement. The artist is responsible for the installation of the mural and the lessee is responsible for providing all materials necessary to install the mural. In the event that landscaping on the property must be removed to install the mural, the artists will be responsible for replacing the landscaping.
Prior Council Action:
No prior Council action related to mural proposals on the site.
Other: None.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the mural application for a mural on the south façade of the stadium located at 300 North Giddings Street as shown in Attachment 2, without placement of the text depicted on the right-hand side of the mural.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
The mural is considered Categorically Exempt under Section 15311 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as amended, due to the project being a placement of minor structure accessory to existing facilities including but not limited to signs.
CEQA Review:
The mural is considered Categorically Exempt under Section 15311 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as amended, due to the project being a placement of minor structure accessory to existing facilities including but not limited to signs.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Application.
Attachment 2: Proposed Rendering.
Attachment 3: Elevation of wall with mural.
Attachment 4: Elevation of existing wall with street in foreground.
Attachment 5: Draft Mural Agreement.
Attachment 6: Mural Guidelines.