City of Gainesville - File #: 140514.

• File #: 140514.
• Version: 3
• Name: Art in Crosswalks
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: Pending In Committee
• File created: 11/18/2014
• In control: Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee
• On agenda: 4/9/2015
• Final action: 11/19/2015
• Title: Painted Intersections and Crosswalks (B) This item is a referral from the City Commission.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/9/2015	3	Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee	Discussed
2/12/2015	2	Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee	Discussed
11/6/2014	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

Title
Painted Intersections and Crosswalks (B)

This item is a referral from the City Commission.

Explanation
The City Commission referred the Students for New Urbanism (SFNU) proposal to uniquely paint pedestrian crosswalks on select City streets. The SFNU worked with the Public Works Department in fall 2014 to identify a location for SFNU to paint a crosswalk with chalk spray paint as a pilot project. SFNU believes a solution to provide crosswalks in locations where there are currently none located would be to allow citizens to submit design ideas and roll out painted artwork into intersections and crosswalks.

Following the February 12, 2015 discussion of this item the Committee requested the Public Works staff to work with the City Attorney’s office to review peer city programs, determine feasibility of this program in Gainesville, and bring a report back to the Committee.

The City Attorney’s office reviewed the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances for possible references to the painting of crosswalks. Sec. 30-318(i): Murals and other works of art, as defined in Chapter 5.5, shall not require a sign permit provided that they meet any applicable regulations in section 30-320 and have no electrical parts or usage unless ULI listed, and contain no commercial message. Any part of a mural or work of art that contains a commercial message shall require a sign permit and shall be included within the applicable calculation of maximum allowable sign area. A second reference is to the definition of “obscene” (as defined in 30-23) signs, including art/murals, are prohibited by Sec. 30-317(14).

Madison, Wisconsin has a Decorative Pavement Painting Ordinance which states that the program is not intended to create a forum for speech; allow only decorative designs and patterns and not text, symbols, overt messages, or images designed to convey a message. The Ordinance further states that the decision whether to approve a proposed intersection/design is a local...