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RECOMMENDATION:

That the City Council authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a Goods & Equipment Agreement with Cliff Garten and Associates, Inc. of Venice, California for the site-specific permanent public art located at the City Services Building for a total not-to-exceed agreement amount of $206,000.

THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL GOALS ARE BEING ACHIEVED:
Invest in the Growth and Evolution of the City's Economy
Operate in a Businesslike Manner
Focus Resources in Ontario's Commercial and Residential Neighborhoods

FISCAL IMPACT:

The recommended Goods & Equipment Agreement with Cliff Garten and Associates, Inc. is a total not-to-exceed agreement amount of $206,000. The Fiscal 2026-27 Adopted Budget includes appropriations in the Public Art Fund for the City Services Building Public Art Project.

BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS:

The City is constructing a new City Services Building at 311 N Sultana Avenue in downtown Ontario. The project will include the installation of permanent public art in the exterior plaza of the new civic facility. It will be prominently displayed and is intended to enhance the public experience of the Civic Center Campus. Building construction is underway, with completion anticipated in Fall 2027.

On July 3, 2025, the City issued a Call for Artist Qualifications for the permanent public art project through public art websites, social media, and official City communication channels. The call closed on August 7, 2025, with 33 submissions received.

An Artist Selection Panel reviewed and scored the submissions based on past work, artistic merit, experience with large-scale site-specific projects, and ability to complete projects successfully. The panel consisted of two Public Art Advisory Commissioners, an arts professional, a City Staff member, and an Ontario resident. Based on the evaluation, the panel selected the three highest-ranked artists or artist teams to advance to the presentation phase.

On October 30, 2025, the three finalists presented their work and concepts to the Artist Selection Panel. After reviewing the three presentations, the Artist Selection Panel unanimously selected artist Cliff Garten, who received the highest overall score.

The City entered into a Professional Services Agreement with Cliff Garten on April 4, 2026, to develop the artwork design concept. As part of the design process, the artist met with the construction project team and City Staff and toured the project site and the surrounding downtown area to better understand the site’s context and relationship to the new building.

Community input was also incorporated into the design process. On June 17, 2026, Museum, Arts & Culture Staff and Cliff Garten held two bilingual community workshops at Ontario Senior Center and Ovitt Family Community Library. The artist presented his creative process, previous work, and preliminary design concept, and received feedback from community members, Public Art Advisory Commissioners, and City Staff. The feedback helped inform the final artwork design.

Following the community workshops, the artist, Museum, Arts & Culture Staff, and the construction project team continued to refine the design and materials and coordinate the artwork's integration into the building site.

On August 6, 2026, the City’s Public Art Advisory Commission received a presentation on the final artwork design for public art. The motion carried, 4-0, with all Commissioners present voting in favor and one Commissioner absent to approve the final artwork design, and to recommend that the City Council approve the Goods & Equipment Agreement for fabrication, installation, and related activities.

Based on the artist's successful completion of the City's selection and design approval process, Staff recommends entering into the Goods & Equipment Agreement with Cliff Garten and Associates, Inc. Installation will be coordinated with the construction schedule for the City Services Building and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2027.