Commerce City Council pauses new mural approvals, orders process review after heated debate

The Commerce City Council on Tuesday paused approval of several proposed public murals and directed staff to return with a formal process and consultant recommendations after a heated, hour-long discussion about procurement, community outreach and project oversight.

The debate centered on a proposed mural by Paul Botello at 5650 Julson Street — a high-visibility brick wall across from the senior center and library — with a total proposed cost discussed in the meeting at roughly $77,400–$81,700. The council also heard presentations from artists Andre Miropolsky and an artist identified as Nerve, and discussed multiple other sites on Washington Boulevard and at the Mixmaster.

Council members who urged pause said the program needs a public request-for-proposals, clearer written agreements with property owners and staff review so the city can guarantee community access, durable installation and vendor accountability. Mayor Ivan Altamirano and other supporters argued the city should move faster to spark private investment on Washington Boulevard and cited local business owners who volunteered walls.

“Why wait?” Mayor Ivan Altamirano said during the discussion, urging immediate approvals for pieces he described as catalysts for neighborhood revivals. “I’ve been waiting 13 years. The time is now.”

Opponents urged caution. One council member said the city’s prior RFPs for public art produced no outcomes and recommended a repeatable, transparent process to distribute opportunities equitably and ensure proper warranties and written commitments from building owners. “I want to make sure as a city, using public dollars, we’re ironclad with our process,” a council member said.

During the meeting, the following actions occurred: a motion to approve the Botello mural was made and seconded, then rescinded by the maker; council voted to continue items 3–6 on the art-in-public-places agenda to allow time for the outside consultant the mayor has sought to review the program and to permit formal meetings between council members, staff and the artists/property owners. The mayor said he will return the items to the council once the consultant’s process framework is available.

Artists who presented their proposals described designs that reference local history and community members. Paul Botello presented a multi-panel concept that would incorporate Tongva imagery, local workers, military motifs and a tree-of-life motif; he said the mural would include community apprenticeships and a multi-year warranty with anti-graffiti clearcoats. Botello said his firm’s proposal itemized items such as scaffolding, clear coats and liability coverage and that the quoted price reflected those inclusions.

Artist Andre Miropolsky and artist Nerve (presentation name) also described proposals for other Washington Boulevard or downtown-facing walls. The council asked staff to obtain final written owner approvals for each proposed wall and to provide an itemized cost breakdown before returning the items for formal action.

The council directed staff to: (1) coordinate with the consultant expected to present in about two weeks, (2) circulate proposed artist agreements and property-owner façade agreements for legal review, and (3) return with a recommended process (including RFP mechanics and community selection criteria) so council can consider how to scale murals across multiple sites. The mayor said he will continue to recruit property owners and artists in the meantime.

The council did not approve any mural contracts at the meeting. The items were continued for consideration at a future meeting after the consultant and staff produce a recommended public-art procurement process.

This pause leaves several high-profile proposals — including the Botello wall across from the library and four murals proposed at the Mixmaster site — pending while the city formalizes the selection and approval pathway.

The council’s continuation will give staff and the consultant time to assemble written owner approvals, finalize cost breakdowns and present a process the council can vote on in a subsequent meeting.