September 22, 2026 · Civic Arts Commission
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From: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead (Attachment 1) Recommendation: To approve the Selection Panel and the Public Art Subcommittee’s recommendation of Adrien Segal’s proposal, Murmur Nest, for the Santa Fe Right-of- Way Public Art Project.
Council (15 minutes) From: Carianna Arredondo, Assistant to the City Manager (Attachment 2) Recommendation: Recommend that the City Council adopt the Berkeley Arts and Culture Sector Resiliency Plan as an addendum to the City’s Arts and Culture Plan and finalize a Commission report or memo, reflecting the recommendations approved by the Civic Arts Commission.
From: Carianna Arredondo, Assistant to the City Manager Recommendation: Identify and appoint Civic Arts Commission members to serve on the Artist Affordable Housing Work Group Subcommittee. Presentations and Discussion Items
From: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead (Attachment 3)
From: Carianna Arredondo, Assistant to the City Manager (Attachment 4)
From: Commissioner Eduardo Pineda, Public Art Subcommittee Chair Information Items and Updates
From: City Staff a) Grants Program Updates, Hilary Amnah b) Public Art Program Updates, Mark Salinas c) Civic Arts Program Updates, Carianna Arredondo Committee Updates
From: Civic Arts Subcommittees a) Grants • Dana Blecher, Chair • Lisa Bullwinkel • Cameron Woo • Audrey Truc-Dao Kramer b) Public Art • Eduardo Pineda, Chair • Jonathan Bachrach • Devi Dutta-Choudhury c) Policy Subcommittee • Lisa Bullwinkel, Chair • Dana Blecher • Cameron Woo • Audrey Truc-Dao Kramer d) Representative on Design Review Committee • Devi Dutta-Choudhury Items for Future Agendas These items are not scheduled for discussion or action at this meeting. The Commission may schedule these items to the Action Calendar of a future Commission meeting. • Requests by Commission members to add items to the next agenda Minutes for Approval Draft minutes for the Commissions consideration and approval.
From: Commission Secretary (Attachment 5) Recommendation: Approve the draft minutes of the August 26, 2026, Regular Civic Arts Commission Meeting Commissioner Announcements Adjournment Notices Notice of Public Record Communications to Berkeley boards, commissions or committees are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: E-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required but, if included in any communication to a City board, commission, or committee, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the secretary of the relevant board, commission, or committee. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the secretary to the relevant board, commission, or committee for further information. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the City Manager’s Office located at 2180 Milvia Street, 5th floor, Berkeley, CA 94704 Communication Access Information This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location. To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at ada@berkeleyca.gov, (510) 981-6418 (V), or (510) 981-6347 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date. Attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various scents, whether natural or manufactured, in products and materials. Please help the City respect these needs. Video and audio recordings of the Civic Arts Commission meetings are available upon request. Please contact the Commission Secretary at carredondo@berkeleyca.gov cc: civicarts@berkeleyca.gov or 510-981-7007 to obtain a recording. Certification of public posting I hereby certify that the agenda for this meeting of the Berkeley City Commission was posted at the display case located near the walkway in front of the Maudelle Shirek Building, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as on the City’s website, on September 16, 2026. Carianna Arredondo, Secretary PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 MURMUR NEST SCULPTURE AS HABITAT Inspired by the motion and flight of birds and insects as they skillfully navigate the sky, these visually striking 9’ tall 3D printed wood adobe sculptures serve as bold visual landmarks at each end of the park. Integrating layered textures, swooping curvature, and micro-alcoves, they offer cavity nesting habitat and sheltered perches for birds and non-stinging insects as they seek rest and shelter on their pollination and migratory journey. Created using a process reflective of the way birds and insects build their nests - by gathering natural materials and weaving, blending, and layering to build shelter, with subtle variation in color and tone with different types of wood. Made from locally sourced non-toxic materials, the artworks seamlessly integrate into the part setting and serve as a monument to natural building methods that highlight environmentally sensitive ways of living immersed in nature. Featuring a variety of cavity sizes, the artwork will provide cavity nesting space for both birds and insects, as well as high perches and ledges for safety and rest during their pollination journey. Murmur refers to the soft rustling sounds made by thousands of birds’ wings flapping as they swoop and dive in unison. PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 CONCEPT INSPIRATION MATERIAL / PROCESS / NATURAL BUILDING COAST LIVE OAK ACORN / ADOBE PIGEON TOWER MURMURATION / MOTION / FLIGHT PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 MATERIAL / Wood Adobe Fabrication Partner Alex Schofield WOOD ADOBE is a durable, natural bio-composite formulated from a mixture of wood fiber, water, clay, and a cellulose binder. It has thermally insulating properties and contains no petroleum based or toxic ingredients that would deter insects or birds from inhabiting the sculpture. The primary ingredient would be salvaged redwood which has increased rot resistance. Selected parts of the sculptures would be printed in ceramic and fired or carved from solid wood for increased durability where the presence of debris and moisture is more common. MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS - Durable and rot resistant - Lightweight - Insulating for temperature - Low maintenance ^ 3D printed Wood Adobe made from redwood fiber - Locally + sustainably sourced INGREDIENTS FABRICATION PROCESS My fabrication partner, Alex Schofield, has several clay printers at our shared workshop in Alameda where parts will be 3D printed, dried, fired, ^ Wood Adobe material samples being 3D sealed, and assembled. We will mix the wood adobe by hand in small printed with an extruder at Alex’s studio. batches, load it into the extruder and printed layer by layer into individual parts designed with built-in nesting cavities. Ceramic parts will be Wood Fiber fabricated using the same process. They are then dried or fired, assembled, and mounted to an internal steel rod structure. Additional hand sculpted wood adobe will be used as mortar to fill in and detail the surface of the assembled sculptures. INSTALLATION - October 2027 The sculptures will either be fully assembled at my workshop and delivered to the site for installation complete, or parts will be brought to the site and it will be assembled in-situ. The internal steel structure will Kaolin Clay be anchored into the concrete foundation with bolts with acorn caps. MAINTENANCE + REPAIR The sculptures will need to be inspected and maintained every 6 months. Debris should be removed and surface should be brushed off and cleaned with water and a gentle cloth or brush. Wood adobe is naturally water resistant and will be sealed with shellac for extra durability. In the CMC Binder case of vandalism, it can be cleaned or sanded and resealed, and (carboxylmethyl cellulose) - ^ Detail of surface texture and showing color ^ 3D printed ceramic texture samples fabricated individual parts could be reprinted and replaced as needed. thickener, binder, stabilizer variation from different colors of wood fiber. for Emerging Objects by Alex Schofield. PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 SITE 1 CONCEPT / Dynamics of Wing Motion Inspired by the motion of flight of birds and insects as they skillfully navigate the sky, the sculpture designed as a visually striking landmark for the community garden at Site 1 captures the dynamic movement of a single flap of wings during flight. Larger The swooping curves become ledges and perches cavities for bird nesting for rest, while the alcoves are embedded with around the small openings and perforations for cavity nesting. top of the sculpture Protected overhangs and sheltered perches for birds to rest Smaller cavities (1/8”-3/8” openings) provide < Physical representation of the dynamics habitat for of wing motion during bird flight insects and non-stinging pollinators LOCATION : Site 1 - Community Garden Solid base for structural stability and increased durability DETAIL VIEW PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 SITE 4 CONCEPT / Acorn Cap Nest Cap would Reflecting on the natural and cultural history of the coast be fired ceramic for live oak acorn in the East Bay, the landmark sculpture added integrated into the educational garden at Site 4 was durability designed using the acorn cap as the central building component . Additionally, Arab pigeon towers seen across Northern Egypt, made from ceramic and adobe Various construction, and are still used as human-made bird size nest openings to nesting habitat, contributed to the sculptural aesthetic. attract both small birds and cavity nesting insects 3D printed nesting DETAIL VIEW cavities could be replaceable Gradation in ^ Coast live oak acorns ^ Adobe and fired ceramic pigeon tower construction color tone from using different types of wood LOCATION: Site 4 - Educational Garden Base near the ground would be printed in ceramic and fired for added durability. PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 STRUCTURE + SCALE - All dimensions approximate pending structural engineering. Transitions Transitions to fired to fired ceramic ceramic at top at top and areas of the central column PLAN VIEW Section - Plan View 9’-0” 9’-0” Printed in 12” 12” segments Internal steel rod structure Internal Steel Rod Structure Printed in ~12” segments Steel Base Plate Section View Solid fired of Sculpture ceramic at the ground Anchors Concrete Foundation ELEVATION VIEW ~1’-4” ~1’-4” PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL Santa Fe Trackbed Park PROJECT TITLE Murmur Nest ARTIST Adrien Segal DATE 8.31.2026 IN-SITU SCALE RENDERING Project Timeline Nov 2026 Artist Under Contract Dec 2026 - Feb 2027 Review of Design Development and Construction Documents, Engineering, Permitting Feb - Sep 2027 Artwork Fabrication October 2027 Installation Complete Project Partners (Tentative) Fabrication Partner - Alex Schofield Engineering - Rbhu, LLC. or Artwork Delivery and Installation - Paul Troutman, Site 1 - Community Garden Site 4 - Educational Garden ESTIMATED PROJECT BUDGET Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversion Public Art Total Budget per RFQ: $150,000.00 ARTIST/TEAM NAME: Adrien Segal ARTWORK TITLE: INSTRUCTIONS: Provide item description and amount, adding lines if needed. Item Description Budgeted Amount 1-2 year commitment to oversee artwork from conception to production through a successful permanent installation Artist Fee with professionalism and thoroughness. 30,000 Design Development for CAD modeling, creating technical drawings for engineering and permitting, printing materials samples, testing finish samples, producing build Design plans, file prep for printed parts. 10,000 Estimated fee for stamped engineering drawings for Engineering permiting. 3000 Labor and overhead for mixing materials, prepping equipment, printing, drying and firing parts, subcontracting steel structure, sculpture assembly, Fabrication detailing, sealing, finishing, and preparation for delivery. 46,000 Tools + Equipment Replacement parts, drying kiln, mixing equipment. 4,000 Materials Biomaterial ingredients, finishes, consumables. 10,000 Packing, truck rental, additional insurance, unloading, Delivery additional help. 2500 Estimate for engaging labor and materials required for contractor to anchor sculptures into concrete foundation Installation (provided by the city). 12,000 Administration Communication, research, coordination, budgeting, and scheduling, and timliness in working with engineers, city staff, community representatives, stakeholders, subcontractors, photographers, engineers, contractors, installation. Managing orders of materials and supplies, payments, invoicing, accounting. Submitting a maintenance plan. Applying for licenses and permits, and Project Management coordinating inspections if needed. 13,000 Photography and/or video of design process and Documentation completed artwork after installation. 1000 Insurance General Liability 1000 Legal Contract Negotiation 1500 Permits 500 Business License Registering with the City of Berkeley 500 Contingency Unexpected overages 15,000 TOTAL 150000 C U LT U R A L PLANNING GROUP Building Creative Society C I T Y O F B E R K E L E Y Arts and Culture Sector Resiliency Plan A Framework for Sustaining Berkeley’s Creative Ecosystem Prepared for the City of Berkeley Civic Arts Program September 2026 Cover: La Peña Cultural Center mural Photo courtesy City of Berkeley City of Berkeley · Arts and Culture Sector Resiliency Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction and Background 7 Resiliency Plan for Berkeley’s Arts and Culture Sector 13 Strategy Tables 19 Near Term Summary Table (1–2 Years) 19 Mid Term Summary Table (3–5 Years) 24 Long Term Summary Table (5+ Years) 29 Veterans Memorial Building 33 Summary Review of City Arts Policies and Programs 37 Financial Health Assessment 41 Findings from Stakeholder Engagement 46 Comparative Analysis 52 Conclusion and Next Steps 57 Cultural Planning Group · City of Berkeley Civic Arts Program Page 2 City of Berkeley · Arts and Culture Sector Resiliency Plan E XECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary 01 Berkeley has an opportunity to be a national leader in arts resiliency policy. The strategies in this plan, implemented with sustained commitment and adequate resources, can preserve and strengthen one of Berkeley’s most distinctive and valuable community assets, and demonstrate to other cities what intentional, holistic support for the arts can achieve. Berkeley's arts and culture sector is at an inflection point. A distinctive and internationally recognized ecosystem of nonprofit organizations and individual artists is showing significant signs of structural financial stress, even as it continues to generate outsized value for the community. This Resiliency Plan gives the City of Berkeley and its arts community a shared framework for responding grounded in financial analysis, extensive stakeholder engagement, and lessons drawn from peer cities, rather than the case-by-case emergency response that has characterized the City's approach to date. Why This Plan, Why Now Berkeley's vibrant arts and culture ecosystem is sustained not only by its nonprofit organizations but by individual artists and artist collectives working throughout the city. This Plan's scope — nonprofit organizational financial health, funding mechanisms, and implementation strategy — reflects the availability of comparable data (primarily IRS Form 990 filings) rather than a judgment about relative contribution or importance. Supporting individual practitioners remains a parallel priority for the City's broader cultural strategy. This plan grew out of a pattern of emergency requests for financial help from Berkeley arts and culture organizations, and a City Council with no consistent framework for responding. A May 2024 Council referral for Aurora Theatre Company was prompted by an acute financial crisis, and a January 2025 referral by Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani1 documented $8.8 million allocated to community organizations outside a competitive process. Together, these cases underscored the need for a more systematic and transparent approach. Former Councilmember Susan Wengraf2 proposed the study that led to this plan, which draws on financial analysis of IRS Form 990 data for nonprofit organizations, comparative benchmarking with six peer cities, and extensive engagement with Berkeley's arts community and City leadership. The plan arrives at a challenging moment: the City faces a structural General Fund deficit for FY27 of approximately $29 million, which has already reduced Civic Arts Program grant funds by approximately 10%. At the same time, the