Commission approves initial stencil order and discusses urban scavenger hunt prototypes

At the Sept. 8 meeting commissioners authorized staff to order an initial batch of sidewalk stencils — including a giraffe, hopscotch and several emoji designs — to get the city’s stencil program in place before the rainy season and the school year. Commissioners and staff said earlier plans to design and fabricate die‑cast bird sculptures for a citywide scavenger hunt proved cost‑prohibitive (vendor estimates were around $20,000). Staff proposed piloting a lower‑cost etched‑metal panel and sticker option that could be fabricated in‑house. The commission agreed to purchase a small test set first and expand if the concept proved popular. Meeting participants also discussed the possibility of adding a hidden QR‑code “Easter egg” stencil as a surprise prize and whether QR resolution would register on the chosen stencil materials; staff noted the technical limitations would need testing before committing to a QR design. Commissioners agreed staff should proceed with ordering stencils and return with a pilot report and installation plan. The motion to proceed with ordering was seconded and passed; staff will coordinate logistics for placement and volunteer workshops to deploy the stencils in the community.