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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO EXECUTE ENCROACHMENT PERMITS, MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, AND OTHER PAPERWORK FOR A PUBLIC MURAL IN THE I-91 UNDERPASS AT THE INTERSECTION OF STATE STREET AND BRADLEY STREET, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 2019 DOT PUBLIC ART POLICY.
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WHEREAS, public murals and artwork benefit the public by beautifying public spaces, encouraging pedestrian activity, building community, and celebrating local artists; and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Transportation released “Guidelines for Aesthetic Objects and Treatments within CTDOT ROW” in late 2019 to streamline the process for permitting public art on underpasses and other infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Transportation released a revised agreement template in 2020 to streamline the process for permitting public art on CT DOT underpasses and other CT DOT infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the I-91 underpass at State Street and Bradley Street is a barrier to the walk appeal of State Street, separating two neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, a mural design has been developed that would improve the experience of the underpass and celebrate the historic buildings in the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the mural design has been supported by the Community Management Team and at other public events; and
WHEREAS, the mural design was selected for a matching grant from the Could Be Fund of the Elm City Innovation Collaborative, a recipient of the CTNext Innovation Places grant; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Upper State Street Merchants Association, neighbors and neighboring businesses raised the matching amount for the cost of the mural; and
WHEREAS, the mural has a proposed maintenance fund managed by Arts for Learning Connecticut to support the ongoing care and correction of these murals when defaced, without cost to the City, meeting the DOT’s requirements for maintenance and care; and
WHEREAS, in the case that these funds are exhausted and not replenished by fundraising, the DOT maintenance agreement’s obligation is only to return the wall to a flat color, at incidental cost to the City; and
WHEREAS, continued support for this mural on DOT infrastructure would be a positive benefit for the residents of New Haven.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven that the Mayor of the City of New Haven is hereby authorized to execute and deliver such Encroachment Permits, Multi-Year Maintenance Agreements and other such documentation as may be required by the State and/or the DOT and/or any other interested agency of the State (collectively, the “State Agencies”) for the purposes of the Bradley Street Mural Project or as otherwise may be deemed necessary or desirable in order to effect the purposes of this Order (the “Bradley Street Mural Project Documentation”) which the Bradley Street Mural Project Documentation may contain indemnifications by the City of the State or State Agencies involved.