Subject:
Title
Funding Agreement with Creative Pinellas for a Graffiti Abatement Art Program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Funding Agreement with Creative Pinellas for a Graffiti Abatement Art Program (GAAP).
• Program intended to reduced graffiti, enhance appearance of public rights-of-way, and support the County as an arts destination.
• County has power to reject any artwork or location.
• Agreement is for five (5) years from execution.
• County will provide $36,000.00 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
• Funding for this agreement is included in the FY26 budget for Public Works in the County Transportation Trust Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
Agreement is for a five-year period; Anticipated Annual Budget allocation of $36,000.00; FY 2026 allocation is budgeted.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
The five-year Agreement approves continued funding and authorization for Creative Pinellas to manage and operate the County’s GAAP. The action is necessary to maintain a program meant to reduce graffiti, enhance the appearance of public rights-of-way, and support the County’s role as an arts destination.
The GAAP is responsible for artist solicitation and selection, funding artwork and materials, coordinating and overseeing installation, and maintaining public art on County-identified infrastructure. The County will provide program funding, identifies and grants access to eligible infrastructure locations, ensures locations are safe and in good condition prior to installation, and provides operational support.
Background/Explanation:
The County has partnered with Creative Pinellas since 2019 to implement art-based graffiti abatement programs on public infrastructure. Through Memorandums of Understanding approved in 2019 and 2022, Creative Pinellas was authorized to manage murals on select state tunnels and county retaining walls, as well as artistic vinyl wraps on county traffic signal cabinets.
Creative Pinellas is the County’s designated Local Arts Agency under County Code and Florida Statute, and the proposed agreement continues this established partnership by providing funding for Creative Pinellas to lead and operate the Graffiti Abatement Art Program, subject to annual Board-approved funding.
Fiscal Impact:
The County is responsible for providing program funding to Creative Pinellas over the five-year Agreement term annually. The FY 2026 Annual Budget allocation of $36,000.00 is approved and will be disbursed within 90 days of executing the Agreement. Creative Pinellas is permitted to carry forward unspent funds to future fiscal years.
Funding for this agreement is included in the FY26 budget for Public Works in the County Transportation Trust Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under (Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Public Works Director
Partners:
Creative Pinellas
Attachments:
Funding Agreement