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Public Arts Advisory Board seeks $14,000 pilot to wrap downtown utility boxes
Summary
The board recommended a pilot to wrap four downtown utility/traffic boxes with local-artist designs, funded from the public arts trust fund; commissioners gave consensus to proceed and asked staff to coordinate with Palm Beach County and utilities about ownership and rules.
The Delray Beach Public Arts Advisory Board asked the city commission to authorize a $14,000 pilot to wrap four visible downtown utility and electrical boxes with artwork designed by local artists.
Bob Costello of the Public Arts Advisory Board presented photos of target boxes on Atlantic Avenue and nearby public spaces and said the board had checked neighboring cities’ programs. He said the $14,000 estimate covered four boxes at roughly $3,000–$3,500 each and that the public-arts trust fund has about $23,000 available (less an outstanding contract). Costello noted that some boxes are owned by Florida Power & Light (FPL), which enforces strict standards and can paint or wrap boxes for a fee; the board proposed to avoid FPL-owned boxes in the pilot to preserve local artistic control.
Commissioners and staff discussed vandalism risk and ownership. An FPL representative earlier told the board that wrapped boxes attract less graffiti, Costello said; the board also suggested ordering a spare wrap to replace a damaged one. Public Works and the parks staff had been consulted and raised no objections. Commissioner Long characterized the proposal as consistent with Delray’s downtown branding; commissioners endorsed a proof-of-concept pilot and asked the city manager’s office to proceed with implementation and a call to local artists.
Ending: The commission gave consensus to proceed; staff will coordinate procurement, ownership checks, and a call for artists and use public arts trust fund dollars to cover the pilot.
