Title
Rio Salado Transformation Site Mural Agreement - Request for Award (Ordinance S-53226) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to enter into a contract with Thomas Marcus to provide mural design and installation services for the Office of Arts and Culture at the Rio Salado Transformation Site. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The total value of the contract will not exceed $135,000.
Report
Summary
This contract will provide design and installation of an outdoor mural reflecting the cultural significance of the Rio Salado and honors the ancestral histories of the O'Odham and Piipaash (Hohokam) communities. The artwork will cover approximately 5,000 square feet of underpass surfaces at the Rio Salado pedestrian and bicycle underpass, which connects the Transformation Site to the broader Rio Salado trail system. This installation will establish a strong sense of place for visitors and serve as a prominent visual landmark for conference attendees during their scheduled site visit.
Procurement Information
In accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10, standard competition was waived as a result of an approved Determination Memo citing the unusual nature of the procurement. Artist Thomas Marcus is the only muralist in Arizona whose work combines extensive ancestral knowledge of the Rio Salado with a proven educational outreach component. His expertise and established record of successful municipal projects make him uniquely qualified to deliver this project within the required compressed timeline at a fair, reasonable and market-aligned rate for outdoor murals.
Contract Term
The contract will begin on or about October 7, 2026, for a one-year term with no options to extend.
Financial Impact
The total value of the contract will not exceed $135,000.
Funding is available in the Office of Arts and Culture's Capital Improvement Program budget using percent-for-art funds.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Arts and Culture Commission approved the design and installation contract, not to exceed $135,000, on September 15, 2026, by a vote of 8-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Frank McCune and the Office of Arts and Culture.