H5. 2020 KALICO traffic signal projectCity of Kalispell
CITY OF 201 1" Ave E. P.O. Box 1997
ALISPELL Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
(406) 758-7000 Fax (406)7757
REPORT TO: Mayor Johnson and Kalispell City Council
FROM: Doug Russell, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval for KALICO to proceed with a proposed art installation project
on traffic signal boxes in Downtown Kalispell
MEETING DATE: December 7, 2020
BACKGROUND: KALICO has recently approached the city requesting approval for a
project that would allow them to engage the art community in an effort similar to the tunnel art
project where artists and renderings are selected to produce images that would be used to wrap
the traffic signals in downtown Kalispell with a vinyl wrap. Attached is a grant that KALICO has
submitted for funding for this project.
The Kalispell Downtown Plan that has been previously adopted supports efforts of this nature
with the following goals:
5. Create a unique and identifiable image for Downtown Kalispell:
e) Encourage public/private partnerships to fund the creation and display of
public art.
6. Become the epicenter for arts, culture and historic preservation within the Flathead
Valley:
f) Encourage public/private partnerships to fund the creation and display of
art.
Should Council move to allow KALICO to proceed, a maintenance and use agreement will need
to be developed and entered into, similar to the tunnel art project. This would also include final
review and approval of images by the Council prior to installation. KALICO may also need to
get approval from the Montana Department of Transportation
FISCAL IMPACTS: This project would not have direct fiscal impact as it would be funded
through KALICO and their respective arrangements as identified in the grant.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution 6006,
a resolution approving the Kalico Art Center to proceed with a proposed art installation project
on traffic signal boxes in downtown Kalispell.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution 6006
KALICO's tourism grant application
Map of the locations of downtown traffic signal boxes
RESOLUTION NO.6006
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE KALICO ART CENTER TO PROCEED WITH A
PROPOSED ART INSTALLATION PROJECT ON TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES IN
DOWNTOWN KALISPELL.
WHEREAS, the KALICO Art Center has requested City approval to pursue a potential project
that would engage the local art community to produce art on vinal wrap to be
displayed on the traffic signal boxes in downtown Kalispell; and
WHEREAS, the art project proposed by the KALICO Art Center is consistent with the goals of
the Kalispell Downtown Plan to create a unique and identifiable image for
Downtown Kalispell and to become the epicenter for arts, culture and historic
preservation within the Flathead Valley through public/private partnerships that
fund the creation and display of art; and
WHEREAS, the KALICO Art Center will be seeking grant funding from the Montana State
Tourism Grant Program which requires the assent of the governing body with the
authority over such art projects in public places; and
WHEREAS, Discover Kalispell and the Kalispell Downtown Association have agreed to support
the art project; and
WHEREAS, upon a successful bid for the grant funding and approval by the Montana
Department of Transportation, the City staff will work with the KALICO Art
Center to develop a maintenance and use agreement for consideration by the City
Council for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council gives its assent to the KALICO Art Center to proceed
with a proposed art installation project on traffic signal boxes within the
boundaries of the Kalispell Downtown Plan upon the conditions described
above.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 7TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2020.
Mark Johnson
Mayor
ATTEST:
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Project Title:
Beautify Kalispell Box Project
Project Description: (300 words)
The purpose of this project is to honor our local artists, emphasize all that western Montana has
to offer, beautify the city, and attract both locals and tourists to downtown Kalispell. KALICO
Art Center sees an opportunity to utilize the Traffic Signal Boxes (TSB) as "canvases" to
enhance the visual experience in downtown Kalispell.
Research shows that the arts drive decision making when it comes to choosing a destination. In a
study titled, A Position Paper on Cultural & Heritage Tourism (U.S. Department of Congress,
2005), 35.3 million adults said that an art or cultural heritage related event influenced their
choice of destination for their travels. Another study broadens the scope of the matter by sharing
that arts are the 4th largest driver of decisions made when planning a trip (BR. Howard, 2019).
These facts are driving the City of Kalispell's efforts to invest in the arts.
KALICO seeks the approval and funds from the Tourism Grant Program for the TSBs to be
wrapped with vinyl decals printed with local artist's work. To launch this project KALICO will
facilitate an open call to artists living within the Flathead Valley. Applicants will be invited to
submit a work of art that emphasizes all that western Montana has to offer. A committee will
select the local artist's work based on the overall aesthetic, artistic, and technical merit. Chance
Reiman of the Hive Wrap, will then take the winning artworks and turn them into digital files
that will be used to create the vinyl stickers. Hive Wrap will install all of the stickers and
KALICO will produce a map that guides visitors from box to box and shares the artist's
biographies. These maps will be printed for distribution around Kalispell and be shared on the
KALICO, Discover Kalispell, and KDA websites.
Project Promotion: (100 words)
Discover Kalispell will support this project by featuring the project on their web site. They will
also provide social media coverage by highlighting the project in Monthly Enews to local
tourism partners.
The Kalispell Downtown Association will support this project by featuring it on their webpage,
as well as, including the project in a Bandwango Passport that will feature all of the
beautification projects in downtown Kalispell.
KALICO will promote this project by creating promotional materials that explain the project.
These will be shared with supporting organizations. KALICO will also promote on their website
and all of their social media platforms.
Health and Safety: (200 words)
The beauty of this project is it is located outdoors and naturally lends itself to social distancing.
Visitors will be able to access the map of the project at local businesses or online. In addition,
The Discover Kalispell, a major sponsor of this project, has a page on their website titled, Ways
to Travel Responsibly and Safely in Montana.
Project Measurement of Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes: (200words)
The goal of this project is to beautify downtown Kalispell in order to increase visitors. KALICO
will track the outcome of this project using three measurements. The first measurement will use
the Statewide Nonresident Travel Survey created by the University of Montana. KALICO will
review the survey results six months and one year after the vinyl stickers have been installed
onto the TSB to see if non-residents are mentioning their experience with the Beautify Kalispell
Box Project. The second form of measurement will be in tracking of the hardcopy maps that will
be distributed throughout downtown businesses and local hotels. KALICO will track how many
maps are distributed and then how many are taken from each location inorder to collect data on
whether or not non-residents are taking the maps from each location. The third measurement will
come from website analytics and digital traffic. Six months and one year after the project is
complete KALICO will measure their own website and digital traffic. They will also request a
report from Discover Kalispell and the KDA. These reports will collect data on how many times
people are viewing the Beautify Kalispell Box Project information page, as well as the digital
map.
Community & Tourism Partnership: (100 words)
Wrap Hive is supporting this project by agreeing to turn all of the artworks accepted for the
project into digital files that will then be turned into vinyl stickers. Wrap Hive will install and
maintain all of the stickers on the TSBs.
Discover Kalispell has agreed to support this project through a variety of marketing tools equal
to a value of $1,250.
Kalispell Downtown Association has agreed to support this project through a variety of
marketing tools equal to a value of $1,000.
Project Budget:
Tourism Grant Ask
physical cost
Supporting Match
in -kind from Kalico
in -kind from Beehive
in -kind from Discover Kalispell
in -kind from KDA
vinyl sticker and installation
12 boxes @ $400
4800
artist award and payment for copyright
12 artists @ $200
2400
Grant Total
7200
volunteer jury hours
4 people @ $151hour for 6 total hours
360
call to artist
8 hours @ $151hour
120
managing call
8 hours @ $151hour
120
annoucing the winners and confirming contracts
8 hours @ $151hour
120
producing a map
6 hours @ $151hour
90
image file preparation
3 hourslbox @ $15lhour
540
Feature on www.dscoverkalisgell.com
$500 value
500
Social Media Coverage
$500 value
500
Highlight in Monthly Enews
$250 value
250
media promotions
1000
Match Total
3600
Project Total
10800
Project Budget Narrative: (100 words)
KALICO is asking the Tourism Grant Program for a total of $7200 to cover the stickers and
artist reward.
KALICO's in -kind contribution is a total of $810 and will cover the cost of managing and
promoting the project.
Hive Wrap's in -kind contribution is a total of $540 and will cover the cost of turning the artist's
work into digital files used to create the vinyl stickers.
Discover Kalispell's in -kind contribution is a total of $1250. Kalispell Downtown Association's
in -kind contribution is a total of $1000. Both will be used to promote the project and share the
map once completed.
Tourism/Recreational Plan (100 words)
Kalispell is undergoing a beautiful reimagining of herself as the cultural hub of our valley and
we see this project as a way to support this effort while also enhancing tourism. Similar TSB
projects have been successful in cities like Missoula, Bozeman, and all across the United States
and we believe this would be a great way of creating more vibrancy in our downtown for locals
and visitors alike. Additional efforts to invest in the arts and beautify the downtown include
Tunnel Vision, Rails to Trails, and KAOS (a bike rack project).
Permit Process: (100 words)
KALICO has shared this project with the City Manager, Doug Russell. Russell was in support of
the project and has offered to add this project onto the upcoming City Board Meeting on
December 7, 2020 for board approval.
Potential of Partial Funding: (50 words)
If only partial funding is received KALICO would decrease the number of boxes from 12 to a
number that aligns with the funding received.
Season of Operation: (50 words)
KALICO is open year round. Their current hours of operation are as follows:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - By Appointment Only
Wednesday - 11:OOam-5:OOpm
Thursday - 11:OOam-5:pm
Friday - 11:00am-7:OOpm
Saturday - 11:OOam-7:OOpm
Sunday - Closed