La Verne OKs $25,000 for Route 66 centennial and America250 banner program

Andrea Blockinger, the meeting presenter, told the City Council the city plans to mark the Route 66 centennial and the national America250 celebrations with a mix of signs, business engagement and contests.

“We're looking to appropriate $25,000 from our public art fund to cover the cost of that program,” Blockinger said, describing a banner contest with separate categories for youth, community and professional artists, a Route 66 passport program for participating businesses and essay and photo contests for students and residents.

Blockinger said staff favors low-cost sign overlays to brand Foothill Boulevard as Route 66, is coordinating with local partners (the Chamber, the La Verne Historical Society and the VFW) and expects most staff time to be absorbed in existing budgets. The recommended appropriation — $25,000 from the city’s public art fund — would pay for banners, prizes and limited signage; Blockinger also identified about $1,000 for updated Route 66 signage and $1,000 for contest prizes.

Councilmember Crosby confirmed the appropriation would come from the existing public art fund rather than new general-fund money. The council asked staff to post an artist call and seek community partnerships to maximize local business involvement in the passport program.

The council approved a motion to receive and file the report, provide direction on programming and appropriate $25,000 from the public art fund to the banner program, 5-0.

The city will also pursue a standardized public-art fund policy and return to council with the policy language and any required agreements or program details.