BPAC reviews FY26 capital priorities, staff outlines five‑year plan and Centennial work

Jana Weldon, Beautification and Arts & Sciences program staff, reviewed the commission’s FY26 capital budget request and an updated five‑year plan at the Beautification, Public Arts Commission meeting on Jan. 13, 2025, identifying several top priorities for the coming fiscal year and outlining schedule and review steps leading to City Council adoption.

Weldon said the presentation focused on capital (one‑time) projects and that operating requests such as the beautification grants and the lead arts agency contract would be reviewed separately in February. ‘‘Tonight, we're gonna focus on our capital project expenditures,’’ Weldon said, noting the program maintains separate arts-and‑sciences and beautification funds. She summarized the prior retreat prioritization and explained that FY26 inputs were submitted ahead of the city’s budget schedule.

Key priorities and possible additions: Weldon listed the highest‑ranked items for FY26 as the Huntington/Gavian and Ponderosa Verde Route 66 projects, an East Side streetscape consultant planning item, and a park sculpture exhibition. She also reported several projects that could be added or accelerated, including a preservation/refurbishment of the Route 66 Preservation Park (the original Route 66 pavement), a possible community garden common-space design at Timber Sky (Habitat for Humanity), and a mosaic redo at Montalvo Park if a planned STEM building affects the existing wall. The Route 66 site is on existing public-art maps but has limited parking and access, staff said; Discover Flagstaff and city staff are coordinating Centennial signage and events.

Process, schedule and constraints: Weldon outlined the calendar: operating requests and any increases will be reviewed Feb. 10; council presentations on Centennial work are scheduled for Feb. 25; final budget adoption and the commission’s recommendation go to City Council on March 10. Staff emphasized the five‑year plan was preliminary and could change before the March adoption deadline. Weldon also noted some items were being removed from the five‑year list because they were no longer viable or had been completed.

Announcements and related items: Staff reported a sale/disposal is planned for a disassembled holiday decor piece called "ribbon," previously at the mall, which was cited at a price of $18,755 and is temporarily stored at the police yard. Weldon also updated the commission on a previously approved BIA grant application for a documentary film by an applicant named Seneca: the applicant did not receive the anticipated Grand Canyon Fund award and must secure the required funding (Weldon said the commission’s approval remains contingent on the applicant raising the agreed amount; the applicant was expected to seek other funding sources).

Votes at a glance: The only formal vote recorded at the meeting was approval of the December minutes. The motion to approve passed with commissioners voting "aye" (three recorded) and one abstention; mover and seconder were not specified on the record.

Why it matters: The FY26 capital allocations determine which public-art, streetscape and beautification projects move from concept to construction. Several projects noted by staff — notably the Route 66 Preservation Park refurbishment and the Montalvo mosaic — have direct ties to the city’s 2026 Route 66 Centennial activities and may require expedited coordination with Discover Flagstaff and state agencies for signage and visitor access.

Next steps: Staff will return with refined cost estimates and timing; operating requests will be discussed Feb. 10 and the full budget will be presented to City Council on March 10. Weldon said the five‑year plan would be updated and circulated to the commission prior to final submission.