Council defers decision on Sunshine City Mosaic completion timeline; artists ask for longer installation window

City Council on May 15 deferred consideration of a contract amendment with Artonomy LLC to extend completion and installation dates for the Sunshine City Mosaic at Sunset Park (7400 Central Avenue).

Celeste Davis, director of Arts, Culture and Tourism, told the council the Public Arts Commission selected Artonomy to design, fabricate and install the 172-foot mosaic under a $50,000 agreement the council approved April 12. Davis said Artonomy had previously received a 90-day extension and later amendments; the company requested additional time because final pieces must be cut and fit on site.

Artists Laura Spencer, Alex Kaufman and George Redkesch said the project comprises roughly 800 square feet and 15,000 tiles. They told the council fabrication relies on a specialty water-jet cutter at MGA Sculpture Studios; mechanical downtime and two hurricanes interrupted cutting access and slowed progress. The artists said they expect assembly and installation to begin June 1 if granted time and described a plan to install most sections and cut “a handful of pieces” on site to match as-built sidewalk dimensions.

Council members asked for certainty in the contract language. James Corbett, city development administrator, said city staff must align the written agreement with what will actually be fabricated off-site and what will be cut after the mosaic is laid in place. Assistant City Attorney Isabella Sobel and other staff advised the council that, because the project’s prior agreement term has already expired, any reinstatement and amendment must clearly reflect the parties’ ongoing performance and the revised deadlines.

Councilmember Gina Driscoll, whose district contains the site, said she supported the artists and wanted the city to avoid repeated amendments. Several council members expressed frustration at multiple prior extensions and urged stronger timeline certainty. Artists and staff agreed that July 31 would be a practicable final completion date, with installation taking roughly three to five weeks if weather cooperates.

Councilmember Driscoll moved to defer the item to the June 5 city council meeting to allow administration to prepare revised contract language that explicitly exempts a small number of on-site cuts from the May 31 fabrication deadline and to present a final amendment with the July 31 completion date. The motion passed unanimously; the clerk announced the deferral passed with Councilmember Gabbard absent.

The mosaic team said they have received $40,000 of the $50,000 contract (two payments of $20,000) and that $10,000 remains outstanding to be paid on completion. City staff said future amendments will be structured to avoid returning to council again, if possible.

The council’s June 5 meeting will include the administration’s revised amendment for council review, the artists said.