Public Art Presentation 7.21.26

City of Apache Junction
July 21, 2026
City Council 
Public Art Update

PUBLIC ART|BACKGROUND
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CREATION: City Council approved the creation of the Public Art Commission and other governing 
documents on September 17, 2019 (Ordinance No. 1477; Ordinance No. 1478; Reso No. 19-24).
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PUBLIC SENTIMENT: City Council and community members wanted public art within the city and to create 
a funding source for public art.
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A FEW PAC DUTIES:
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Determine appropriate placement of art commissioned or purchased under the Public Art program.
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Oversee maintenance of art in program collection.
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Serve as a recommending body to Council on design approval.
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Encourage public art on private development.
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PAC PURPOSE:
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Create a sense of place by infusing art, culture, and creativity through community-engaged design to 
enhance the built environment and highlight the city’s distinctive attributes.
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Collaborate and create partnerships with arts groups, artists, and the community.
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Create city and neighborhood landmarks.

PUBLIC ART|FUNDING SOURCE
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INTENT:
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Art in Public Places Fund (“APPF”) is funded by fees from qualified new commercial, multi-family, and 
mixed-use developments, public construction projects, and renovations. The APPF pays for the art 
program.
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No taxpayer funds are used for public art projects.
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Fee is based on a percentage of the building permit fee.
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Requires private development to pay the public art fee when the permit is issued or provide 
approved public art before receiving their Certificate of Occupancy. 
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Current APPF budget is nearly $640,000.
PUBLIC ART FEES
UP TO A MAX OF 
$100,000
Commercial projects under 5,000 sf
.25% of permit fee
Commercial projects 5,000 - 10,000 sf
.5% of permit fee
Commercial projects over 10,000 sf
1% of permit fee
Multi-Family developments 10 units or more
1% of permit fee
Renovation of mixed-use or nonresidential buildings exceeding 50% of gross floor 
area
1% of permit fee

PREVIOUS PROJECTS|
LIBRARY BANNERS
VERGE MURAL

PREVIOUS PROJECTS|
DUTCHMAN DOG PARK 
SCULPTURES
MGC WINDOW VINYL

PREVIOUS PROJECTS| VINYL CABINET WRAPS
PHELPS & 
APACHE TRAIL
IRONWOOD & 
APACHE TRAIL
WALMART
WINCHESTER & 
OWH 
AJHS 
IRONWOOD & SOUTHERN

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER|EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

ARTIST ROSTER| EXAMPLES

VINYL CULTURE PART II | CABINET STATUS

VINYL CULTURE PART II | NEC IDAHO RD & 
SUPERSTITION BLVD (VETERAN’S MEMORIAL)
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ARTIST SELECTION: Staffed facilitated input from local veterans’ 
groups to chose one artist and two alternates on May 8th
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WHAT & WHERE: Traffic cabinet wrap on the NEC of Idaho Rd & 
Superstition Blvd to be designed with a veteran’s theme. 
Cabinet will be replaced this fiscal year.
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ARTIST: Paige Reesor; New cabinet measurements provided.
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COST: 
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Artist design cost: $ 2,000
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Fabrication & Installation by AZ Banners: $1,500 typical
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WHEN: 
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Timeline TBD

VINYL CULTURE PART II |4 NEW CABINETS
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ARTIST SELECTION PANEL: a three-person artist selection panel chose four artists and four alternates on 
June 24th 
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WHAT & WHERE: Traffic cabinet wraps at proposed locations: 
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NEC Ironwood Dr & Baseline Ave
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E Ironwood Dr & Radiance Ave
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NEC Ironwood Dr & Ray Ave
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NWC Delaware Dr & Superstition Blvd cabinet will be replaced this fiscal year; Staff will choose an 
alternate location
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ARTIST: Artists have been notified; We have two confirmations currently.
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COST: 
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Artist design cost: $ 2,000
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Fabrication & Installation by AZ Banners: $1,500 typical
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WHEN: Timeline TBD

LIBRARY| Library Garden Sandblasted Art
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ARTIST SELECTION PANEL: A three-person artist selection 
panel chose one artist and two alternates on June 4th
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WHAT & WHERE: Library garden sandblasted concrete art in 
the rear of the Apache Junction Library
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ARTIST: Fausto Fernandez has verbally agreed; Artist 
agreement draft under review.
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COST: 
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Artist design cost: $ 8,000
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Installation by Progressive Hardscapes estimated at 
$100 per/sf
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Depending on size of design, may be upwards of 
$24,000
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WHEN: 
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Timeline TBD

LIBRARY| Library Garden Sandblasted Art
Library Staff Chosen Quote: 
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” 
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Philosopher

RFQ| SR 88 ROUNDABOUT
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ARTIST SELECTION PANEL: a five-person panel chose one artist and two alternates on May 7, 2026, out of 
113 applicants
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WHAT & WHERE: Sculpture(s) located within the roundabout at the intersection of State Route 88 and 
Superstition Blvd
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OPENED: March 31, 2026
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CLOSED: April 30, 2026
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ARTIST: Karen Yank has verbally agreed; artist agreement being negotiated
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ARTIST BUDGET: $250,000
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HOW & WHEN: 
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Coordinating with ADOT
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Likely to receive initial design in September 2026
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Installation expected Fall of 2027

SR 88 ROUNDABOUT
NORTHWEST VIEW
SOUTHEAST VIEW

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Staff is working with Legal to create a Professional Services Agreement that can be used for 
present and future traffic cabinet wraps to streamline the process after an artist is chosen.
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The public art program now has a dedicated email address for public art inquiries, inquiries 
about applications and submissions, and inquiries by the public about the public art program. 
Email: PublicArt@apachejunctionaz.gov

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| DOWNTOWN ART
BELA VIDA – TPG TAX ON APACHE TRL

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| DOWNTOWN ART
THE KACHINA – OWH & APACHE TRL MEDIAN

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| DOWNTOWN ART
IDAHO RD AND APACHE TRL

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| DOWNTOWN ART
BROADWAY AVE & PHELPS DR

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| HIGH VISIBILITY AREAS
SR 88 & MCKELLIPS BLVD ALIGNMENT

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| HIGH VISIBILITY AREAS
APACHE TRL & MERIDIAN AVE

DISCUSSION: COUNCIL IDEAS| HIGH VISIBILITY AREAS
OLD WEST HIGHWAY & GOLDFIELD RD

STAFF CONTACT
Community Vision: Apache Junction is a 
diverse Community of natural beauty and 
heritage that offers prosperity, compassion, 
and forward thinking to its residents, 
businesses and visitors.
Community Mission: We will focus on and 
invest in quality of life and planned 
improvements for serving residents, 
businesses, and visitors.
Erika Hernandez | Planner
ehernandez@apachejunctionaz.gov
(480) 474-5491

RFQs & ARTIST SELECTION PANELS
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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (“RFQ”): Requires a resume, letter of interest, at least three references, 6-10 
work samples, and an image description sheet.
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APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications accepted online only at CaFE: Call for Entry by Creative West, a U.S. 
regional arts organization at www.callforentry.org ; the RFQ is also advertised at least twice in the news 
paper, added to the city’s homepage and on the city’s public art webpage, email blasted to thousands 
of artists located in qualifying areas by CaFE, and added on other organization’s websites for 
opportunities.
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ARTIST SELECTION PANEL: Once the application closes, dates are scheduled with the panel members, 
typically including three or more of the following: an Apache Junction Public Art Commission member, an 
art commission member from another city, artists, public art managers, public art administrators, staff, 
and/or the Apache Junction PAC Consultant.
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PROCESS: the Panel reviews the applicants ahead of the panel meeting to choose their top 10 artists (or 
less), and the panel will review all the top artists from each member of the panel during the panel meeting 
(either zoom or in person) and narrow down the artists to the required number and potential alternates.

RFQ|PRE-QUALIFIED ARTIST ROSTER
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WHAT: RFQ for a Pre-Qualified Artist Roster for smaller and midsized projects available to staff, developers, 
and citizens. 
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OPENED: December 9, 2025
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CLOSED: January 15, 2026
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ARTIST SELECTION PANEL: A three-person panel met on February 19th and chose thirty-three artists out of 
thirty-nine qualified artists.
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MEDIUMS: Large- and small-scale murals; small- and medium-scale installations (i.e., sculptures, wall art, 
celling art, etc.); sandblasting art (concrete); terrazzo floor art; ceramic/glass mosaic tile art; stained glass; 
visual art; multi-media art; fine art; digital art; illustration; photography; oil, acrylic, watercolor, and 
gouache paintings