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Home My WebLink AboutLR Installation of a Mural in the Pickleweed Library's New Children's Room at 50 Canal Street____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: November 17, 2025 Disposition: Resolution 15475 Agenda Item No: 4.d Meeting Date: November 17, 2025 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Library and Recreation Prepared by: Craig Veramay and Daniel Avalos, Assistant Library & Recreation Directors City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: INSTALLATION OF A MURAL IN THE PICKLEWEED LIBRARY’S NEW CHILDREN’S ROOM AT 50 CANAL STREET SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ART INSTALLATION PROPOSED BY YOUTH IN ARTS FOR AN ARTISTIC YOUTH MURAL TITLED ‘OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STORY’ IN THE NEW CHILDREN’S ROOM AT THE PICKLEWEED LIBRARY, LOCATED AT 50 CANAL STREET RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommend that the City Council approve the artistic youth mural titled ‘Our Community, Our Story’ for installation at the Pickleweed Library Children’s Room and authorize the City Manager to enter into an Art License Agreement with Youth In Arts. BACKGROUND: The City of San Rafael welcomes proposals for the creation and display of public artworks and exhibitions on property that is owned, occupied, or managed by the City. In 2022, the San Rafael City Council approved the formation of the Public Art Review Board (Board). The Board’s responsibilities include providing recommendations to the City Council regarding long-term (lasting more than one year) public art installations and approving applications for temporary (lasting one year or less) public art exhibitions. The Public Art Review Board is responsible for reviewing proposals in alignment with the City’s Public Art Review Guidelines, which were established as part of the Public Art Review Process. The Public Art Review Board guidelines include: •Project Readiness •Qualifications •Funding SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 •Community Engagement •Maintenance •Design •Diversity If the Public Art Review Board recommends approval of a proposal, it is presented to the City Council for consideration and final approval. ANALYSIS: In January 2025, the City issued a call for applications for organizations to design a mural for the Pickleweed Library Children’s Room (Attachment 1). This mural is intended to be installed as part of the interior renovation of the Pickleweed Branch Library, which is estimated to be complete in Spring/Summer 2026. After reviewing applications, the City entered into an agreement with Youth in Arts (YIA) based on their applications’ alignment with required criteria, and YIA began collaborating with youth from the Canal neighborhood to design a mural for the project through their ‘I AM’ program. For nearly 54 years, Youth in Arts has provided high-quality arts education to students of all backgrounds and abilities. YIA’s mission is to foster creativity and confidence among youth (14-19) in Marin, particularly through their I AM program, which supports emerging artists by providing opportunities to work alongside professional artists and engage in community-based public art projects. The mural was designed by YIA Teaching Artist Ali Vaughan with five teen artists, including four San Rafael High students and former I AM participants. Several have deep ties to the Canal neighborhood, and their experiences shaped a design that truly reflects the community, having grown up visiting the center and the park. The design process reflected their lived experiences and their deep connection to the community, ensuring that the mural would resonate with both local residents and visitors. The mural, titled "Our Community, Our Story” (Attachment 2), has been designed and will be printed on vinyl and installed in the library once renovations are complete. The final artwork is a collage that integrates acrylic paint, watercolor, colored pencil, and pen. Each of the artists who worked on the piece contributed individual statement pieces, such as the birds, people, and play structure, which were then pasted onto the mural to create a unified design. This process allowed each teen artist to express their unique perspective while contributing to a shared community narrative. The Public Art Review Board evaluated the artwork based on the established guidelines, detailed below, and recommended it for approval by the City Council at their meeting on October 15, 2025. Project Readiness and Timeline: If approved by City Council, the mural will be reproduced on vinyl and installed in the Children’s Room at the Pickleweed Library (Attachment 3) following the completion of the library’s renovation, expected in the spring or summer of 2026. Maintenance: No maintenance needs or expenses are anticipated during the installation period. Design: The final mural design was crafted to reflect the culture, values, and lived experiences of the Pickleweed community. It incorporates culturally significant symbols, themes of learning and growth, and locally recognizable features to foster a sense of belonging and connection for visitors. Elements such as California poppies, native birds, and illustrations of nearby landmarks, SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 including Pickleweed Park and the Boro Community Center, ground the mural in its physical and cultural context. Imaginative and symbolic motifs are also woven throughout the design. A quetzal, a bird native to Central America, is included to honor the area's significant Guatemalan population. The mural unfolds from a large storybook, symbolizing the role of storytelling and education in shaping vibrant, resilient communities. The narrative flows from left to right, illustrating children in various stages of development, ultimately culminating in the image of a high school graduate walking confidently toward a bright future, represented by the rising sun. Diversity: The mural "Our Community, Our Story" aligns with the City’s public art review board diversity guidelines by highlighting the unique, multifaceted identities of community members who engage with the Pickleweed Library. Through extensive community engagement, the mural’s design reflects cultural symbols and local traditions, ensuring that diverse voices are represented. By incorporating elements that acknowledge the area’s culture, as well as local landmarks, flora, and fauna, the artwork fosters a sense of belonging and celebrates the community’s cultural richness. This inclusive approach not only honors diversity but also reinforces the value of education and imagination in shaping a brighter future for all. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The mural was developed through an extensive and thoughtful community engagement process. The YIA team conducted interviewed library staff, local designers, and community members to gain a deeper understanding Library’s role in the lives of its users. Conversations with librarians focused on how the space has historically been used and how it is expected to function following the upcoming renovation. To further inform the project, the YIA team spent time at the nearby Pickleweed Park, engaging directly with families and children who frequently visit the library. These interactions provided insight into the community’s values, aspirations, and cultural identity. In addition, the team studied nearby public art installations, including murals at Bahia Vista Elementary School and on the exterior of the Pickleweed Community Center. These references helped inspire the mural’s direction and ensure it aligned with the visual language of the surrounding area. After completing the mural design, YIA attended the Pickleweed Advisory Committee meeting on October 1, 2025, and the Public Art Review Board meeting on October 15, 2025, to share their proposal and receive comments and feedback from the community. October 1, 2025, the Pickleweed Advisory Committee meeting was attended by more than 40 community members, and this proposal was well received by the community and most committee members. Similarly, the proposal was well received by the Public Art Review Board. Both groups approved moving the proposal forward and approving the installation of the mural. FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost for the design, development, production, and installation of the mural is $13,300. Funding for this is available in the Library and Recreation Department’s FY 2025-26 Measure D (Fund 215) budget. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4 1.Approve the installation of the mural. 2.Request modifications or changes to the proposal 3.Do not approve the installation of the mural. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the artistic youth mural titled ‘Our Community, Our Story’ for installation at the Pickleweed Library Children’s Room. ATTACHMENTS: 1.Resolution 2.Call for Proposals 3.YIA Mural Design: ‘Our Community, Our Story’ 4.Pickleweed Library Children’s Room Rendering – Mural Location RESOLUTION NO. 15475 RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ART INSTALLATION BY YOUTH IN ARTS FOR AN ARTISTIC YOUTH MURAL TITLED ‘OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STORY’ IN THE NEW CHILDREN’S ROOM AT THE PICKLEWEED LIBRARY, LOCATED AT 50 CANAL STREET WHEREAS, the City is creating a new Children’s room through an interior renovation of the Pickleweed Branch Library, which is expected to be completed in Spring/Summer 2026; and WHEREAS, the City desires to install a mural in the new Pickleweed Children’s room that celebrates and reflects the community; and WHEREAS, the City issued a call for applications for a mural to be installed in the Children’s Room of the Pickleweed Library as part of the library’s interior renovation project; and WHEREAS, the City selected Youth in Arts (“YIA”) based on their qualifications, project readiness, community engagement approach, and alignment with the City’s Public Art Review Guidelines; and WHEREAS, YIA collaborated with youth artists through its ‘I AM’ program and developed a mural titled “Our Community, Our Story,” incorporating culturally significant symbols, local landmarks, and artistic contributions from teen artists with strong connections to the Canal neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the Pickleweed Advisory Committee and the Public Art Review Board reviewed and recommended approval of the mural installation. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES that the mural titled “Our Community, Our Story,” created by Youth in Arts, is hereby approved for installation in the new Children’s Room at the Pickleweed Library, located at 50 Canal Street. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City on Monday, the 17th day of November 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill Lindsay Lara, City Clerk Attachment 2: Call for Applications Call for Applications Pickleweed Branch Library Children’s Room Mural Application Due Date: February 28, 2025 at 5:00pm Overview The City of San Rafael is seeking applications from qualified organizations to develop youth-led artwork for a mural in the Pickleweed Branch Library Children’s Room. Pickleweed Library is located in the Canal neighborhood, a vibrant and diverse area that has traditionally been marked by socio-economic disparities compared to the rest of San Rafael. Pickleweed Library is 2,000 square feet, co-located with the Albert J. Boro Community Center and within Pickleweed Community Park, and serves a local community of over 12,000 residents. The facility is heavily utilized and is an important resource for a predominantly Spanish-speaking community. Project Description Pickleweed Library is scheduled for renovation starting Summer 2025 through Spring 2026. The renovation will include a complete interior re-design of the space to better meet community needs, improve the patron experience, and maximize space. An important component of the project is creating a dedicated children’s room, that includes space for a community mural. The mural will be on a curved wall that is approximately 5’8½” high and 10’ 9½” wide. The artwork will be installed on printed vinyl so that it could easily be updated and refreshed over time. The exact specifications of the installation will be determined in collaboration with the successful applicant. The goal of the mural is to engage and represent the local community and its youth. The City is seeking an organization to lead a collaborative process with Canal resident youth to create the proposed artwork. While the applicant will be responsible for proposing a process to develop the artwork, the City will prioritize applications that engage greater numbers of Canal resident youth, provide for a range of participation opportunities, and a propose a final product developed by youth artists. Project Budget The City has identified a maximum of $10,000 in total project funding, inclusive of the fabrication and installation of the mural. Project Timeline - January 17, 2025: Call for Applications released - February 12, 2025 at 1:00 pm: Pre-application question and answer session (join using this Teams link) - February 28, 2025 by 5:00 pm: Applications due - March 17, 2025: Selected organization announced - August 29, 2025: Proposed artwork due to the City - October 2025: Proposed artwork presented to the Public Art Review Board - November 2025: Proposed artwork considered by City Council - March 2026: Artwork installed Application Process All interested organizations should complete the application form (Attachment 1) and submit it to publicart@cityofsanrafael.org by February 28, 2025, at 5:00 pm. The applications will be reviewed by Library and Recreation staff and scored based on the following criteria: - Complete and accurate application form (10 points) - Organization qualifications and experience with similar youth-led projects (30 points) - Proposed process and level of engagement with Canal resident youth (45 points) - Proposed project budget (15 points) The City will hold a virtual session to respond to any applicant questions on Wednesday, February 12 at 1:00 pm. To participate, please use this Teams link: Join the meeting now Attachment 3: Youth In Arts Mural Design – ‘Our Community, Our Story’ Attachment 4: Children’s Room Rendering – Mural Location