Arts Commission

CITY OF OREGON CITY ARTS COMMISSION AGENDA City Hall Mt. Hood Room, 625 Center St., Oregon City, OR 97045 Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM Ways to participate in this public meeting: • Attend in person, location listed above. Please see the public comment guidelines below. • Attend the livestream of the meeting on the City's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofOregonCity • Register to provide electronic testimony (email agriffin@orcity.org or call 503-974-5517 (1588) by 3:00 PM on the day of the meeting to register) • Email agriffin@orcity.org (deadline to submit written testimony via email is 3:00 PM on the day of the meeting) • Mail to City of Oregon City, Attn: City Recorder, P.O. Box 3040, Oregon City, OR 97045 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL (6:30-6:32) a. Adoption of the Agenda 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (6:32-6:35) a. Approve the Minutes from June 18, 2026 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Citizens are allowed up to 3 minutes to present information relevant to the City but not listed as an item on the agenda. Prior to speaking, citizens shall complete a comment form and deliver it to the City Recorder. The Arts Commission does not generally engage in dialog with those making comments but may refer the issue to the City Manager. Complaints shall first be addressed at the department level prior to addressing the Arts Commission. 4. PUBLIC HEARING (6:40-7:00) a. Presentation Public Art Mural Application - 615 High Street b. Application Review and Approval 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Strengthen the OCAC Structural Foundation (7:00-7:35) i) Approval of OCAC ByLaw Updates ii) Financial Support Initiatives iii) Art Management Procedures b. Forge Community Partnerships through Art i. Creative Action Lab Date Selection (7:35-7:40) c. Focus on Projects that Support City Placemaking Efforts (7:40-8:10) i) OCAC Mural RFQ/RFP Update d. Enhance Regional Awareness and Brand (8:10-8:20) i) Proposed Updates to Vision Statement 6. COMMUNICATIONS 7. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 25 Arts Commission Agenda July 16, 2026 PUBLIC COMMENT GUIDELINES Complete a Comment Card prior to the meeting and submit it to the clerk. When the Chair calls your name, proceed to the speaker table, and state your name and city of residence. Each speaker is given 3 minutes to speak. As a general practice, the committee does not engage in discussion with those making comments. Complaints shall be addressed at the department level prior to addressing the committee. ADA NOTICE The location is ADA accessible. Hearing devices may be requested from the City Recorder prior to the meeting. Individuals requiring other assistance must make their request known 48 hours preceding the meeting by contacting the City Recorder’s Office at 503-657-0891. Agenda Posted at City Hall, Pioneer Community Center, Library, City Website. Video Streaming & Broadcasts: The meeting is streamed live on the Oregon City’s website and available on demand following the meeting. The meeting can be viewed on Willamette Falls Television channel 28 for Oregon City area residents as a rebroadcast. Please contact WFMC at 503-650-0275 for a programming schedule. Page 2 of 25 Oregon City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes June 18, 2026 1. Call to Order – Roll Call The meeting of the Oregon City Arts Commission was called to order on June 18, 2026. Roll call was conducted with the following members were present: o Alexis Ingram o Amy Wilson o Kristin Iseri o Kelly Hart, Director Community o Joyce La Master Development o Josh Planton o Ann Griffin, liaison o Rebecca Sira 2. Adoption of the Agenda The agenda was approved without any changes. 3. Approval of Minutes Joyce MOTIONED to approve the minutes as posted from May 21, 2026. Amy seconded. There was no further discussion, nor objections or abstentions. The motion was APPROVED. 4. Public Comment There were no public comments. 5. Discussion Items a. Interviews for vacant position Mayor McGriff was not in favor of interviewing the three applicants who applied, we are extending the application period and re-opening the application online. b. Approval of Strategy Document The only changes are the addition of an Executive Summary and a few formatting adjustments. Kristin MOTIONED to approve the Strategy document; Alexis seconded. Motion was APPROVED unanimously. c. Railroad Ave Mural Application Update The City’s legal staff drafted a Covenant to replace the Easement form usually required for mural applications, allowing the City to properly file with the County. Since applicants intend to begin work on July 6th, OCAC has the option of approving the mural conditionally. Josh drafted a letter to the Enhancement Grant committee requesting final payment be withheld until all required paperwork is received by OCAC within 45 days. Ann mentioned the City received a bid from a contractor to produce the legal description attached to the Covenant for $1,500-$2,000. Ann requested that OCAC consider contributing funds towards this expense as the applicant had previously been told the City would cover this expense. Commissioners were reluctant to do this. Kristin recommended creating a budgeting template to identify auxiliary costs for future mural applicants. Page 3 of 25 Oregon City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes June 18, 2026 Amy made a MOTION to approve the application for the Railroad Ave. mural contingent upon OCAC receiving the required paperwork within 45 days from this date. If not, the recommendation is for the Enhancement Committee to withhold final payment. Joyce seconded. Motion was APPROVED unanimously. d. OCAC Bylaw Updates Josh reviewed changes to our Bylaws. Commissioners are requested to get suggested changes to Josh and Ann. e. OCAC Mural RFQ Update Alexis reviewed the latest version of the RFQ/RFP for the proposed north end of the Railroad Ave. wall. The recommendation was to either reduce the square footage or increase the budget. Josh favors increasing the budget. Amy pointed out that if we take the top end of the going hourly rate for a muralist ($50/hr) for 262 sq. ft., this would come to $13,100, which would leave $6,900 for additional expenses (roughly 35%). Ann will research costs for road closure and Alexis will pull information from the Soulflags application to create an updated RFQ to discuss in July. f. Art for Every Heart discussion Joyce prosed AFEH be a contest where artists participate in popup events organized around one particular discipline with voting from the public. A great deal of discussion ensued considering many other concepts/approaches. Rebecca suggested letting it rest for now and work on getting clear about what we are as an Arts Commission. The rest of us agreed. 6. Communications a. Enhancement Grant Application Status The Arts Commission Enhancement grant application was denied. Feedback was that the project was perceived as being too early and that we should have more conversations with other Native organizations. b. Creative Action Lab Date Selection Josh will send out a request for choosing a date on a week night in early November. c. City Commission Update Recap Josh reviewed his presentation to the City Commission from the previous evening. It went well although commissioners again reminded him they continue to expect to see more art. There was brief discussion about continuing to engage with the Lee Kelly family on a potential donation. The meeting adjourned at 8:41 pm. Page 4 of 25 Page 5 of 25 Page 6 of 25 Page 7 of 25 Page 8 of 25 Page 9 of 25 Page 10 of 25 Page 11 of 25 Page 12 of 25 Page 13 of 25 Page 14 of 25 Page 15 of 25 Page 16 of 25 Page 17 of 25 After recording return to: Public Art Mural Program City of Oregon City 625 Center Street Oregon City, OR 97045 ART EASEMENT THIS ART EASEMENT, effective of 5/15/2026 (month/day/year), is between Ben James (“Grantor”), and the City of Oregon City, an Oregon municipal corporation (“City”). RECITALS A. The City has adopted a Tourism Strategic Plan which recognizes the integral part that murals can play in increasing community identity, beautifying the City, serving as a tourist attraction and as an avenue for involving youth and others in artistic expression. The Economic Development Department administers the City’s mural program. B. Grantor owns the real property located at 615 High St. #100, Oregon City, OR 97045 “(Property”), which is legally described in Exhibit A (attached and incorporated herein) and is willing to make Property available to the City for the placement of an outdoor mural as specified in the City’s Public Art Mural Program Guidelines (hereinafter, “Artwork”). The Artwork is described in Exhibit B, attached and incorporated herein. IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and performances set forth below, the parties incorporate the Recitals above and agree as follows: 1. Grant of Easement. Grantor conveys, grants and warrants to the City, its successors and assigns, an easement for the purpose of installing, maintaining, operating and exhibiting the Artwork at Property. The location of the installation of the Artwork at the Property shall be as approved by the Oregon City Arts Commission or the City Commission. 2. Term of Easement. This easement shall be for a period of no less than five years from the date of execution (“Initial Term”) which can be extended through a subsequent written Easement Agreement, unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 3. 3. Termination. a) During the Initial Term (or at any time thereafter), the easement may be terminated by Grantor with the City’s consent in writing upon Grantor’s showing that: i) the Property is to be sold; or ii) the Property is to be substantially remodeled or altered in a way that precludes continued maintenance of the Artwork. The City shall not unreasonably withhold consent to termination upon Grantor’s satisfactory demonstration of any of the foregoing conditions of termination. b) The City may terminate the easement at any time at its sole discretion upon 30- days written notice to Grantor if Grantor fails to substantially perform Grantor’s obligations under Section 4. Page 18 of 25  c) Grantor expressly agrees and warrants that upon effective termination under Section 3, the Artwork shall be removed by Grantor no later than 30-days from the effective date of termination and the Property restored to its prior condition. Time for removal may be extended in writing by the City. 4. Maintenance and Repair. Grantor shall be solely responsible for maintaining and if necessary, repairing the Artwork described in Exhibit B during the term of the easement. If in the sole judgment of the City, the Artwork is being excessively damaged and Grantor fails or refuses to maintain or repair the Artwork after 30 days’ written notice from the City, the City Economic Department staff will contact the artist to make the necessary repairs. Murals that are not properly repaired or maintained may be subject to removal and/or penalties pursuant to the enforcement procedures of Oregon City Municipal Code Chapters 1.16, 1.20 and 1.24. 5. Limitations of the Medium: Grantor acknowledges the rights of attribution and integrity generally conferred by Section 106A(a) of Title 17 of the U.S. Code, (The Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, “VARA”), and any other rights of the same nature granted by other federal, state, or foreign laws. However, the artwork is a mural located on the exterior wall of a building that is susceptible to damage or destruction either by weather or for other reasons and that such damage may require removal from the building. In no event shall the City, or anyone duly authorized by the City, be deemed liable for any such damage, destruction or removal that might be necessary as a result of damage to the mural, or the building by virtue of the existence of the mural. 6. Right of Entry. The City shall have the right to access any portions of the Property at or near where the Artwork is located during normal business hours, and at all other times with advance approval of the Grantor, for any and all of the purposes described in this easement including but not limited to installation, inspection, or removal. 7. Binding Effect. This easement shall run with the land and be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantor and the City, and their respective successors or assigns, and any person or entity acquiring any right, title, or interest in the Property. 8. Independent Status. Neither party is the agent or legal representative of the other for any purpose whatsoever. The parties are not granted any express or implied right or authority to assume or create any obligation or responsibility on behalf of the other or to bind the other in any manner whatsoever. 9. Notice. Notice shall be made to the following addresses, unless otherwise provided for in writing: City of Oregon City Grantor (name and mailing address) Economic Development Dept Ben James Public Art Mural Program City of Oregon City 615 High St. #100 625 Center Street Oregon City, OR 97045 Oregon City, OR 97045 10. Non-Assignment; Amendment. The parties’ obligations under this easement may not be assigned without the written mutual consent. The easement may be modified by written mutual agreement executed by authorized representatives of the parties. 11. Remedies. The parties acknowledge that breaches of the covenants in this easement will Page 19 of 25  affect substantial harm to the public interest which harm is difficult or impossible to prove as actual damages in an action hereunder. The parties agree that the prevailing party in an action for the breach shall be entitled to a) liquidated damages in an amount of $2,500 per material breach; b) specific performance of the covenants of this easement, and each of them; c) reasonable attorney’s fees; and d) any other remedies available at law or in equity. The remedies under this Section are cumulative. The failure to exercise on any occasion any right shall not operate to forfeit the right on another occasion. The use of one remedy shall not be taken to exclude or waive the right to use another. 12. Invalidity of Particular Provisions. In the event any term, provision, condition or other portion of this easement or the application thereof be held to be inoperative, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this easement or the application of the term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. 13. No Waiver. No waiver of full performance by any party shall be construed, or operate, as a waiver of any subsequent default or breach of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this easement. 14. Indemnification. To the extent permitted by Oregon Law and subject to the limits of the Oregon Tort Claims Act, ORS 30.260 to 30.300, the City shall indemnify and defend Grantor against all claims, demands, actions and suits arising from tortious conduct by Grantee. Grantor shall indemnify and defend the City against all claims, demands, actions and suits arising from tortious conduct by Grantor. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties/persons have caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized representative(s). GRANTOR By: NAME OF GRANTOR REPRESENTATIVE Ben James (print name of grantor representative) STATE OF OR ) ) ss. NOTORIZED VERISION TO BE PRESENTED ON 71626 County of Clackamas ) This instrument was acknowledged before me on this day of , 202 by , as of the Grantor. Notary Public for My commission expires: Page 20 of 25 GRANTEE: City of Oregon City, Oregon By: Page 21 of 25  Exhibit A Legal Description of the Property The property location is 615 High St. #100. The wall’s location in the relation to the property is NNW facing along the walking path that leads to the elevator near Elevate Plaza. Wall is approx. 9 ft tall by 12 ft wide. A legal description of the property is given below. The mural is located on an exterior wall on the north/northwest facing façade of the property. Part of Lots 2 and 3, Block 34, Oregon City, in the City of Oregon City, County of Clackamas and State of Oregon, described as follows: Beginning at a point on the Southeasterly line of said Block 34, which is North 35º30' East 88.56 feet from the most Southerly corner of said Block 34 being on the Northwesterly right-of-way line of High Street; thence North 54º27' West 108.99 feet to the Southeasterly line of a tract owned by Oregon City, a municipal corporation described in Book 189, page 276, Deed Records; thence Northeasterly along the Southeasterly line of said Oregon City Tract to the most Westerly corner of a tract described in Deed to Margaret R. Patterson recorded December 8, 1950 in Book 439, page 267, Deed Records; thence Southeasterly along the Southwesterly line of said Patterson Tract 63.21 feet to the Southeasterly line of Block 34, Oregon City; thence South 35º30' West along said Southeasterly line to the point of beginning. Page 22 of 25  Exhibit B Description of the Artwork The mural will include a scenic image of Willamette Falls featuring a central meadowlark, the Oregon City Municipal Elevator on one side and a coyote on the other. Text on the mural will read: “Elevate yourself in Oregon City.” The wings of the meadowlark will be made of sheet metal and will be attached to the wall. The mural will measure approximately 9x12 feet, fitting the wall. An illustration of the proposed mural is included in the Oregon City Arts Commission Agenda Packet for July 16, 2026. Page 23 of 25 Oregon City Arts Commission Bienium Budget (July 2025-June 2027) Resources Notes: 2025-27 Arts Comission Unspent Funds $ 50,000.00 Approved by Budget Committee - 2025 2023-25 Rollover Amount (TBC) $ 20,088.11 Confirmed by Finance Department at January 2026 OCAC Meeting Total Resources $ 70,088.11 Expenditures/Financial Commitments Actuals 2025 Art Show Carryover $ 88.11 DC Latourette Park Mural Unveiling $ 65.77 Public Art Assessment Update - 2025 $ 1,650.00 Approved Quote at September 18, 2025 OCAC Meeting Resource Fair - Oregon City $ 554.30 $1,000 Budget Approved February 18, 2026 Total Actual Expenditures $ 2,358.18 Projected Ongoing website Maitenance $ 390.00 Per contract with web developer - due March 11, 2027 Printing Budget (Promtion and CAL) $ 500.00 Approved at March 19, 2026 OCAC Meeting Add Search Functionality on Website $ 535.00 Approved at March 19, 2026 OCAC Meeting Art Commissioner Plaques (x3) $ 60.00 Approved at April 16, 2026 OCAC Meeting Railroad Ave Mural $ 20,000.00 Discussed, Not Approved Yet Enhancement Grant App - Lamprey Statue $ 15,000.00 Approved at May meeting - Did not receive grant funding Total Projected Expenditures $ 36,485.00 Net Difference (with Rollover) $ 31,244.93 Includes projected costs. 45% Percentage of 2025-2027 not allocated (actuals and projected) Page 24 of 25 Vision The Oregon City Arts Commission acknowledges the past, fosters the present and envisions a future where the arts are celebrated as a vital force that brings joy and builds community. We strive for a thriving, culturally enriched, sustainable arts ecosystem that creates connection to place and economic prosperity, and centers on diversity, equity and inclusion. The Oregon City Arts Commission acknowledges the past, fosters the present and envisions a future where the arts are celebrated as a vital force that brings joy and builds community. We strive for a thriving, culturally enriched, sustainable arts ecosystem that creates connection to place and economic prosperity, and centers on diversity, equity and inclusion. Page 25 of 25