City arts staff and commissioners on Sept. 8 reported several completed and planned public‑art projects, scheduled community paint days, and approved routine steps to procure stencils and release calls for artists.

Staff announced that a mural at First on Virginia is finished and invited residents to two community paint opportunities: 15‑minute sign‑up slots Sept. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. and a community paint day on Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The staff member said the artist had completed the main work and the community paint days would add handprints and touch‑ups.

The commission agreed to move forward ordering stencils that are ready to deliver (standard block letters and emoji designs) and to defer custom stencil designs until the staff member who spearheads that work returns. A staff member reported ordering two rain‑work stencils for evaluation and said the full set could be ordered later.

Commissioners and staff also discussed a proposed citywide “bird” scavenger project originally envisioned as die‑cast metal pieces. Staff reported that fabrication and design quotes for die‑cast birds were in the range of $20,000 and up, exceeding available funds; staff said they had sourced a lower‑cost retail/etching alternative from Etsy for about $8 per piece and that a staff metal‑fabrication resource might produce an affordable etched option that could include a QR code on each panel.

The commission approved releasing a call for artists for two site projects: a Visitor Center riser mural (working title Flowers of the Valley) to be painted on the stair risers and a Night Sky mural on the Big Rock snack‑shack. Staff noted practical constraints: many mural artists prefer dry summer weather and the stair riser painting will likely occur in a warm season window.

Staff gave a brief retrospective on summer events: the commission’s summer stage concerts drew large crowds, with one evening reported at more than 1,600 attendees. Commissioners said those events tested activation strategies and informed planning for future programs.

The commission also discussed an upcoming community activation schedule: a Family Game Night on Sept. 24 with outdoor lighting, and a New Year’s Eve celebration planned for Devo Park on Dec. 31 (proposed budget $1,000, 7–9 p.m.), with s'mores, hot chocolate, a DJ, a short performance and a projected countdown.

What was decided: staff will proceed to order available stencils; staff will issue the standard call for artists for the Visitor Center and Night Sky murals; and staff will continue planning the listed community events. No capital budget for large fabrication projects was approved at the meeting.