REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Public Art for Lakewood Park Renovation
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Arts Commission considered this item on September 16, 2026.
The Arts Commission reviewed five conceptual design proposals and individually ranked the proposals from first through fifth. Following the ranking process, the Arts Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the City Council approve the first-ranked proposal, James Shen and Jennifer Tran’s Where We Meet, as the conceptual design for public art for the Lakewood Park project.
The Arts Commission ranked the five proposals as follows:
1. James Shen and Jennifer Tran, Where We Meet
2. Tie between Pete Beeman’s Untitled and James Peterson’s Apricot
3. Sijia Chen Studio’s Untitled
4. UrbanRock Design’s Untitled
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Arts Commission recommendation to select James Shen and Jennifer Tran’s Where We Meet for the public art for the Lakewood Park Renovation.
2. Do not accept the Arts Commission Recommendation and select a different artist and design.
3. Take other action as directed by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation.
JUSTIFICATION
Pursuant to the Art in Public Places procedures, staff does not participate in the selection of the artwork; however, staff can confirm that all five art proposals submitted are appropriate for this project and will work within the defined parameters of the Lakewood Park renovation project. The Arts Commission ranked the proposals and made a recommendation on the design and artist to City Council for consideration and final approval.
The selected conceptual design will be further developed with oversight from staff to meet the Art in Public Places guidelines and to remain within the allocated budget of $140,690 ($1,000 artist stipends for each semi-finalist, $7,690 contingency/plaques, and $128,000 selected artist commission). Yearly maintenance and repair costs are anticipated to be $1,000-$5,000 annually, depending on which design is selected. Maintenance costs will be paid for through the Public Art Maintenance Fund (#890180).
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
_X_ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Kristin Dance, Recreation Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Jesus Raygoza, Deputy Director of Recreation Services
Reviewed by: Michelle Perera, Director of Library and Recreation Services
Reviewed by: Matt Paulin, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Aaron Bert, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Arts Commission 26-0362, September 16, 2026 (without attachments)
2. Call for Artists
3. Selected Location and Photographs of Current Site
4. Pete Beeman Resume, Past Work, and Design Proposal
5. Sijia Chen Studio Resume, Past Work, and Design Proposal
6. James Peterson Resume, Past Work, and Design Proposal
7. James Shen and Jennifer Tran Resume, Past Work and Design Proposal
8. Urban Rock Design Resume, Past Work, and Design Proposal
9. Presentation to the Arts Commission
Additional Attachments for Report to Council:
10. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of Arts Commission Meeting of September 16, 2026