The Camarillo City Council approved staff recommendations to commission an interpretive art display at Dizdar Park, authorizing the city manager to execute agreements for artist design, metal fabrication and installation within a $100,000 budget.

Senior management analyst Lizette Torres and Peter Tais, executive director of Studio Channel Islands, presented the project. Studio Channel Islands led a competitive call that yielded three final proposals; the Economic Development and Land Use Committee recommended selecting artist Alisa Torres based on research and community engagement plans. The artwork will consist of four machine‑etched metal panels (approximately 4 feet by 2 feet each) with plaques describing distinct chapters in the park’s history, including the Camarillo family gift of land, the Dizdar family, early firehouse history and the park’s transformation.

The project team reported technical changes to the fabrication approach that move the panels onto a backing wall to allow thinner metal sheets with higher engraving detail and lower cost; the change also permits use of an Oxnard fabrication company. The plan includes historical research with the Ventura County Museum, collaboration with California State University Channel Islands and work with the Pleasant Valley Historical Society and Camarillo Ranch House to collect photographs and narratives. Studio Channel Islands said the artist discovered previously undeveloped photographic negatives in the museum archives that will be shown on the project website and that the panels will be based on, but not exact reproductions of, those images.

Councilmember questions addressed historical details (including identification of individuals in archival images and whether the images depict volunteer firefighters) and site elements such as lighting (the art will not be lit at night) and accessibility (text panels are angled for wheelchair and standing viewers). Councilmembers expressed support for the engagement component, especially youth involvement through Rancho Campana High School and a planned printmaking and community art program.

A motion to approve staff recommendations passed on roll call: Councilmember Martinez Bravo — yes; Councilmember Santangelo — yes; Councilmember Tremblay — yes; Vice Mayor Tennyson — yes; Mayor Kevin Kildee — yes. Fabrication and installation were described as occurring locally with a target timeline of fabrication beginning in July and installation in November–December.