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Council approves $20,000 El Potrero Park mural and community workshops; amendment adds donkey
Summary
The Moreno Valley City Council approved $20,000 for a 180-square-foot mural at El Potrero Park, including a two-day children’s workshop and video documentation. The motion passed with an amendment directing the artist to replace a mammoth/elephant motif with a donkey.
The Moreno Valley City Council on Wednesday approved $20,000 to fund a new mural at El Potrero Park and associated community engagement activities, including a two-day weekend workshop for children. Councilmembers unanimously adopted the project with an amendment directing the artist to include a donkey in the design.
Artist Chris Popour presented the proposal to the council, describing a mural that combines sports imagery, native flora and fauna, and local cultural symbols. "This project would be more than just a mural," Popour said, describing plans for an interactive, educational experience with activity books, a video documenting the mural’s creation and outreach to nearby schools. The front face of the proposed mural was presented as approximately 180 square feet.
Popour outlined a proposed $20,000 funding request covering materials, workshop costs and preparation. He said the community component would include two weekend days of activities — suggested as 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday — with stations where children could engage in painting and learn about local plants and animals. Popour said coordinator Karen Weiss, who works with the Police Activities League in the City of Santa Monica, would help connect outreach and run educational activities.
Two public speakers addressed the application. Riley Peak urged additional review of the applicant’s portfolio and said, "86% of this applicant's submission was generated using artificial intelligence," arguing the city should prioritize human-generated public art. Roy Blecker criticized the city's process and questioned prior handling of public-art projects.
Council members discussed equity of project distribution across council districts, the project’s potential to reduce graffiti, and the community engagement plan. Delgado, Gonzales, Barnard and Mayor Pro Tem Baca Santa Cruz all spoke in favor, noting prior murals have reduced graffiti and added community value. Council Member Delgado requested that the design include a donkey; at the request of staff the motion as approved included an amendment to replace the mammoth/elephant motif with a donkey "per council member Delgado's request." Council member Barnard recorded the acceptance of the amendment on the record.
The motion to approve staff’s recommendation — including the $20,000 funding request and the amendment to include a donkey — passed by voice vote. Roll-call confirmations on the record show Council Member Delgado: Yes; Council Member Gonzales: Yes; Council Member Barnard: Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Baca Santa Cruz: Yes.
Staff and the artist will move forward to finalize design details consistent with the amendment and to schedule the community workshops. The application materials referenced outreach to local schools and a plan for activity books and stations; the transcript did not specify a city funding source or an art commission vote outside the council’s action at this meeting. The council asked staff to ensure the project includes visible opportunities for children to participate during weekend hours and to coordinate anti-graffiti measures for the bathroom structure where the mural will be installed.
