Council backs youth tile mural at Freedom Plaza, allocates $15,000 from public‑arts fund

The Twentynine Palms City Council on Feb. 24 expressed support for a community tile mural at Freedom Plaza and approved allocating $15,000 from the city’s public-arts fund to the project.

Rhonda Coleman, director of Groundwork Arts, said the project would involve hundreds of participants — students, veterans and residents — and would be a permanent ceramic mural developed through community engagement. Coleman noted recent changes in California requirements for public-art installation that typically require licensed contractors and prevailing‑wage compliance for tile installation on public facilities. She estimated a combined rate for tile-layer and tile-finisher labor of about $131 per hour and provided example installation costs (approximate worst-case $6,000 for ~100 sq ft, best case $4,000).

Coleman outlined the project budget as: $15,000 from Project Phoenix/public-arts funds, an $18,500 California Impact Grant, a $21,500 Arts & Youth Grant and $49,000 in Groundwork Arts fundraising. Council members and community members discussed possible locations (stage back wall, visitor-center wall) and durability concerns; Coleman said the materials and firing process make tile durable for outdoor desert conditions.

Councilmember Ramirez moved to allocate the $15,000 in the public-arts fund to the Groundwork project; the motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded as 4‑0 with one recusal/excused member. Staff said they would confirm noticing requirements and, if needed, place the appropriation on a future consent calendar item.

What’s next: staff and Groundwork Arts will continue community engagement and return with final design and any required contract documents and noticing.