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Ogden Council approves Olympic-themed mural, citing arts funding and community input
Summary
The Ogden City Council approved ordinance 2025-33 and resolution 2025-20 to fund a $210,000 Olympic-themed mural on the west face of a downtown parking garage. Council and staff said the project follows the standard public-art RFQ and is partially funded by Weber County, MarketStar, Visit Ogden and others; residents urged attention to sidewalk and pedestrian safety.
The Ogden City Council voted unanimously Oct. 21 to approve spending for an Olympic-themed mural on the west face of the Kiesel Avenue parking garage, adopting ordinance 2025-33 and resolution 2025-20. Planning staff described the project as a $210,000 collaboration funded by public art dollars and pledged donations.
Lori Buckley and planning staff told the council the project budget includes $110,000 from the city's public art fund and roughly $87,500 net if all outside donations materialize. Buckley named secured and pledged partners: Weber County (secured amount noted in presentation), MarketStar (in-kind site access and an easement for lighting), MarketStar Foundation ($2,500), Visit Ogden ($10,000) and Snowbasin ($10,000). "We are following the standard public-art process," Buckley said, adding the city will issue an RFQ for an artist and that ventilation openings in the parking structure will remain unpainted for safety and light.
During public comment, residents raised safety and design concerns. Laura Lewis told the council the site "seems like a safety hazard" if no sidewalk is added and warned that visitors taking photos might stand in the travel lane. Heath Sotto asked whether the project was routed through the usual arts-advisory committee process; staff confirmed the standard review had occurred and said an RFQ would be released.
Council discussion focused on balancing public-art goals with pedestrian safety. Council members asked whether the open ventilation panels would remain, how MarketStar's in-kind support would work, and whether sidewalk or "selfie" areas should be considered. Planning staff said the large concrete panels are the primary mural surface and that MarketStar will allow power access for lighting and accept a small annual fee to offset power costs.
Vice chair Hyer moved to adopt ordinance 2025-33 and resolution 2025-20; roll-call votes were recorded and the measures passed. Council members said they expected staff to continue assessing pedestrian access and safety near the mural and to report back with implementation details.
The council directed staff to proceed with the public-art procurement and to consider safety-related design elements; the measures passed without amendment. The project will next move to the RFQ and artist-selection phase as outlined in the presentation.
