Jacksonville Beach CRA advances public-art projects, approves art-advisory bylaw change and clears calls for large pier gateway sculpture

The Jacksonville Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on Aug. 25 advanced multiple public-art initiatives: staff received board consensus to proceed with two new restroom murals, the CRA approved an amendment to the Public Art Advisory Committee bylaws to reduce membership from seven to five and require Jacksonville Beach residency, and the agency signaled it will publish a call for a large pier-entry gateway sculpture with a planning budget around $175,000.

Staff presentation and artist selections Taylor, the CRA staff member presenting the item, said the art committee selected two local artists for public restrooms: Grace Seymour (Atlantic Beach) for the Oceanfront Park restroom and Sean Bono (a Jacksonville Beach resident) for the Second Avenue restrooms. The Oceanfront Park restroom installation is budgeted at $12,000; Taylor noted the amount is based on the program’s square-foot formula and that existing FY2025 art budget capacity covers the work. "We have got funding still left in this year's budget," Taylor said.

The board provided consensus — not a formal roll-call approval — for staff to contact the artists and proceed with scheduling and site-specific mock-ups. Taylor said staff will ask the artists to superimpose their designs on the actual restroom structures and return to the board with timelines.

Public Art Advisory Committee bylaws The agency voted to amend the Public Art Advisory Committee bylaws (Resolution 2022-03) to change membership from seven to five members and to require members be Jacksonville Beach residents. The motion to amend the bylaws passed by roll call: Thad Mosley — yes; Kevin Myers — yes; Ron Whittington — yes; Megan Edwards — yes; Gerard Patel — yes.

Pier entry/gateway sculpture call for artists Board members and staff discussed a larger gateway or entry sculpture for the Jacksonville Beach Pier. Staff recommended a target budget in the $150,000–$175,000 range based on national and state examples and said the call would be all-inclusive (artist fee, fabrication, materials, travel, installation and required engineering). Taylor said the call would include guardrails for emergency vehicle access and other site requirements. Several board members emphasized site placement, emergency-access clearances (the lane nearest buildings must remain clear, with roughly 10–12 feet of right-of-way reserved), and the need for structural plans and permitting for taller works.

Taylor described the gateway piece as intended to be visible from A1A and to serve as a prominent entry statement: "We're going to encourage lighting because why have a massive structure and not have anything on it to show that high this massive structure is right here." Board members indicated general consensus to proceed to issue the call and to coordinate review of submissions with the Art Committee and public-safety staff.

Sea Life in the City — turtle sculpture series Staff updated the board on the Sea Life in the City public-sculpture initiative. The CRA plans an initial fiberglass sea turtle at the Beach Boulevard boardwalk/lifeguard station area, budgeted at $45,000 and to be mounted on a substantial concrete base to discourage climbing and to increase storm resilience. The local sculpture team Havoc Studios (Ginny Hager and Lance Vickery) is listed as the artist team for the first turtle. Taylor said the project is the first in a proposed series of 5–7 sea-life sculptures that could be sponsored by local businesses.

Distinguishing decisions from direction - Formal vote: bylaws amendment (Resolution 2022-03) — approved by roll call. - Direction/consensus: staff authorized to contact selected restroom mural artists (Grace Seymour and Sean Bono), to request site-specific mock-ups and timelines, and to publish a call for the pier-entry gateway sculpture (budget target ~$175,000). - No final design approvals or contract awards were made; staff will return with artist timelines, final designs and permitting details for board review.

What’s next: Staff will contact the muralists, obtain renderings placed on the actual restroom facades, confirm installation timelines and, for the pier-entry call, prepare and circulate the all-inclusive solicitation. The CRA’s FY2025 art budget was cited as $300,000; staff said current items fit within that year’s budget or will be carried forward if necessary.