Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Selection of Utility Box Wrap Photographs
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Submitted By: Bethany Grubbs, AICP, Senior Planner/Public Art Program
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal to enjoy culture, nature and fun activities.
Executive Summary (General Business): Due to the depletion of available images, a new call to artists was issued to replenish the collection and support upcoming utility box wrap installations as well as refresh existing ones. Submissions have been received and compiled for review by the Public Art Advisory Board.
Presentation Information: Staff will provide a presentation.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Board recommend that the Board approve the utility box wrap submissions that receive a simple majority of affirmative votes by the Public Art Advisory Board, without assigning order or priority.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Board amend the recommendation and approve submissions by simple majority vote but limit the total number of designs approved in this round to a defined number (e.g., 10 artworks).
2. Move that the Board reject the current batch of utility box wrap submissions, provide staff direction, and reopen the call to artists with revised guidelines.
Background: Background: Public art promotes pride, strengthens neighborhood identity, and brings creativity into everyday spaces. The City Council's vision is to place art in unexpected places, and this project gives local photographers a chance to contribute to enhancing the city’s visual appeal. New utility boxes will be installed and existing wraps will be refreshed with new photographic designs.
A call to artists was issued between August 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026. This call is exclusively for photography. Only original photographs may be submitted. Paintings, illustrations, digital art, and AI-generated images will not be accepted for this call.
Submitted photographs should highlight and celebrate Port St. Lucie’s natural beauty. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• We are seeking photographs that represent Port St. Lucie’s local wildlife, native vegetation, and authentic Port. St. Lucie landscapes.
We encourage work that authentically reflects the character, biodiversity, and scenic qualities of Port St. Lucie.
Issues/Analysis: To facilitate the selection of new utility box wrap designs by the Public Art Advisory Board through a streamlined, majority-vote approval process.
• Each submission will be considered individually.
• Board members will vote Yes, No, or Maybe for each design.
• Submissions receiving a majority of Yes votes will be approved for inclusion in the
program.
• Approved designs will be added to a pool of eligible artworks for installation, with final placement and scheduling determined separately based on need and site appropriateness.
Financial Information: Artists are not compensated for their submissions; however, selected works may include the artist's signature as a form of public recognition.
Special Consideration: Installation timing, locations, or rotation order will be determined later by staff, not by the board’s voting outcome.
Location of Project: City-wide
Attachments:
1. Presentation: Photograph Submissions
2. Call to Artists
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: N/A