[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6260573,"mediaKeyId","3130480-b18298ae4a51fbc61e8d4414f197bed6","parentId",3130480,"title","Commission reviews public-art funding rules, bond approvals and project opportunities downtown","audioSeconds",688,"startMs",692000,"endMs",1380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130480-b18298ae4a51fbc61e8d4414f197bed6&start=692&end=1380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130480-b18298ae4a51fbc61e8d4414f197bed6/thumbnail_692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260573/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Commission-reviews-public-art-funding-rules-bond-approvals-and-project-opportunities-downtown","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260573-2a61d32ed7b28decf2f72f37ea177672/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506350&Signature=gD9a~e5idkLi4d5oSTbzmSu4mMKgkbofJCrdU63Sj85irrcVwXS8Jc5DXA~D9sGHurZ8ZQb5SvGviTVa9aGqufNTGWU1xmWbb6RxpL2KNvwIJQuCY~wofCyXr3Mpr0Zvc3T5~Vwr1PUXaStYLlogb4~tyLMtNbIm5flZVWpEKHwDLibsiA6VXfw0UCYW0OClp3~5qF3ed7mtOSzwpGzbmgJdY0nHV7aHPlekXk7Ms6ioTAfz3qeo~SOv3tV5xcHiMmYUPy~-LSx9J53n1FH3erlo25vnkx5trRq2Em~CeVuPRu~XA7tcX4brdDc8KbYGuWumXqVKt~H8lo5Apfo-lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-04-26T08:17:53.967Z","article","Commissioners reviewed how the city’s capital-financing practice supplies public-art funding and identified downtown projects where the funds could be applied.

Members and staff said the city allocates 2% of certificates of obligation and other bond-funded, brick-and-mortar projects to public art. Staff emphasized that funds tied to specific certificates can have legal limits and that any proposed public-art contract must be cleared by bond counsel before the commission or departments commit funds.

A staff member said the recommended spending window for those allocations is three years; interest earned on bond proceeds may not revert to the commission if not spent, and rules vary by bond. Finance Director Frank Mata was named and commissioners agreed to invite him to a future meeting to explain account access and the distribution of prior-year allocations.

Commissioners identified several near-term opportunities where public art could be added: the Hamilton Hotel project (noted as a candidate for applying a 2% set-aside if the bond funds are approved), a planned Southwest Walkway between Convent, Flores and Saragossa leading toward Bridge No. 1 (engineering is preparing site photos and design constraints, including tree canopy and storefronts), and a riverfront Binational Park project that staff said recently received funding.

Engineering staff member Aaron Gonzales was named as the contact who will supply photos and location details for the Southwest Walkway and the commission discussed possible forms of work there—artist-designed arches, pavement painting or lighting—subject to contract and bond constraints.

Commissioners also discussed maintenance and conservation: long-lasting works will require upkeep and the commission may need to reserve part of 2% allocations for future conservation costs. Members noted that prior mural-selection efforts had produced candidate projects that were not completed and said the new manager and formal SOPs should help move projects to implementation.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with clarified financial figures and project site materials; Finance Director Frank Mata is expected to visit a future meeting to provide an account briefing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FINE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION 042425","oneSentenceSummary","Laredo commissioners discussed the city’s 2% public-art set-aside on bond-funded brick-and-mortar projects, the requirement for bond-counsel review, a recommended three-year spending window and several downtown project opportunities including a Southwest Walkway scheme.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6260578,"Laredo names Vanessa Filazola public arts manager; commission advances SOP, outreach and intake process",3167,169000,3336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130480-b18298ae4a51fbc61e8d4414f197bed6&start=169&end=3336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130480-b18298ae4a51fbc61e8d4414f197bed6/thumbnail_169000.jpg","/articles/6260578/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-names-Vanessa-Filazola-public-arts-manager-commission-advances-SOP-outreach-and-intake-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260578-86512f4b2416d4f66e179574cbc1f8a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506350&Signature=WH~P~qq7WySpgqjRzewlgntpy-RY45OgfQi3QgDAEMjViVOdQCeOdY7H3L-QjklTR54SiCGHrD-4bTECF5TP2FOBS33p~ywkervuXpuU8xY3dtuJxeUtsaYC6lAvgYwe9ow~Rz1QTtYC0DnTkG0SK5Pe4CPrA4JaeMZlB4VMzpZGgSiQJiXKq1b3htu1ALrRbgCW1B89N0kDsezkTa3ufY5cXccDlou9O-57Eft6e6iAnc6x6aGf5tGL~Yvg90fFoEV63QyizVbaPn-fNaHL6opQwZ~3KJDtaB7Rfk8CxBU6r6Tei6Attg81IjKaVyyUGyHJgfFyVOpJMQQgMCw1KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vanessa Filazola, the city’s new public arts manager, was introduced at a meeting of the Laredo Fine Arts and Culture Commission and will serve as the commission’s primary liaison with city staff.

Filazola told commissioners she is “excited to contribute to Lorraine's public art, and I look forward to collaborating and working with you guys,” and outlined that her background includes multimedia work—woodworking, painting and sculpture—and a focus on incorporating multiple art forms into city projects.

Commissioners spent the meeting reviewing the commission’s draft standard operating procedures (SOP) for public park projects and an intake process for community art proposals. Staff said the SOP is a “living document” that still contains blanks left by an earlier consultant; Filazola and commission members described filling those gaps with project-specific objectives, monitoring steps and a feedback mechanism for applicants.

The commission agreed the SOP and a public intake form should be made accessible to the public, including as a downloadable form on the city or library website. Filazola said she will collect documentation and send draft materials and mapping of existing public art to commissioners for review. Commissioners discussed offering workshops and an online survey to gather ideas from districts and partner groups such as Keep Laredo Beautiful, local colleges and arts organizations.

Members also discussed timing for a workshop on the Laredo Arts Master Plan (referred to in the meeting as LAMP). Commissioners agreed to delay a bigger community-facing master-plan workshop until current vacancies on the commission are filled so the body can present a more complete roster of appointees. Filazola and staff plan to present SOP highlights to city council in mid-May and to propose a schedule for community outreach thereafter.

Filazola and commissioners emphasized accessibility: simplifying the intake form, providing examples of project types and creating a public map of existing murals, sculptures and other works with artist names and installation dates. The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) was discussed as a distribution partner; staff said CVB could include a QR code on its visitor materials to link to the commission’s public-art map.

The meeting closed with routine procedural items. Commissioners set the next regular meeting for May 22 at 5:30 p.m. and agreed to invite Finance Director Frank Mata to attend an upcoming session to explain funding details and account access.

Ending: Filazola said she would send commissioners a follow-up email with recommended next steps and a draft outreach plan. Commissioners requested that staff circulate the SOP draft and intake form and that Filazola coordinate with engineering and CVB on site photos and promotional materials.","The Laredo Fine Arts and Culture Commission welcomed newly hired Public Arts Manager Vanessa Filazola and discussed progress on standard operating procedures, an intake form for community projects and plans for outreach and an arts master-plan workshop.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission reviews public-art funding rules, bond approvals and project opportunities downtown

Laredo names Vanessa Filazola public arts manager; commission advances SOP, outreach and intake process