Puyallup Arts & Culture Commission Meeting – October 27, 2025

The Puyallup Arts & Culture Commission met in person in the Council Chambers at Puyallup City Hall (333 S. Meridian, 5th Floor) and via Zoom on Monday, October 27, 2025. Chair Brad Pugh called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.; it adjourned at 4:41 p.m. Members present were Chair Brad Pugh, Vice-Chair Amora Bussey, and Commissioners Patience Chege, Paige Rooney, and Ashley Veal. Staff present included Administrative Clerk Yessenia Abarca, Public Works Director Ken Davies, Streets Supervisor Scott Hill, and Parks & Recreation Director Cody Geddes. The commission approved the agenda and prior minutes, heard a UW thesis presentation, selected signal cabinet wrap locations and artwork placements, received updates on public art projects, and rescheduled its December meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved the agenda 5-0 after agreeing to move item 5a (Signal Cabinet Wrap Locations) before item 4b (Veterans Park Wood Sculpture).
• The commission approved the August 25, 2025 meeting minutes 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• UW Student Thesis – Performing Arts Center: Commissioner Rooney introduced Noah Scanlon, a University of Washington master of architecture student. Scanlon presented his thesis concept, "Community and Concert," which would reimagine traditional concert halls as flexible community centers, with a preferred Puyallup site south of the public library and west of the Farmers Market Pavilion. He noted concert halls typically operate about nine months per year and can feel exclusive; his design would make the space usable for community classes, pop-up events, art installations, and other activities. Chair Pugh said Puyallup lacks a local performance venue, and Vice-Chair Bussey, who runs a South Hill conservatory serving over 300 students with 7–15 performances per year, strongly supported the concept. Scanlon said he would welcome future commission input.
• Signal Cabinet Wrap Locations: Public Works Director Ken Davies presented four preferred intersections for signal cabinet wraps: West Stewart and 7th Street NW, West Main and 5th Street NW, Shaw Road and East Pioneer, and Shaw Road and 23rd Street. Davies noted the original map had shown a Safeway entrance instead of Shaw Road/23rd, which they recommended deferring to the next year. The commission approved the four locations 5-0. The commission then assigned the selected artworks: Student Submission #39 (berries) to Shaw Road and East Pioneer, Student Submission #42 (abstract bees) to West Stewart and 7th Street NW, Student Submission #17 (trees and birds) to Shaw Road and 23rd, and Adult Entry #13 to West Main and 5th Street NW. Streets Supervisor Scott Hill explained how artwork would be applied over three cabinets and adapted to dimensions; the city will seek high-resolution images from artists and may include cabinet photos in future calls for artists.
• Veterans Park Wood Sculpture: Parks & Recreation Director Cody Geddes reported that the "Nature's Medley" wood sculpture at Veterans Park is deteriorating, with insect damage and other issues. After consultation with the original artist, Washington State University experts, and an arborist, staff believe the sculpture will likely fail within the next year or two. Removing it and landscaping the existing location is planned, with potential replacement sites elsewhere in Veterans Park. The commission agreed to table formal action, with members visiting the site, and Vice-Chair Bussey asked that any future call for artists include an assessment of which medium would best suit site conditions.
• Art Proposal at Van Lierop Park: Geddes presented a proposal by the wife of Dr. Timothy Grace, a local podiatrist, to install bicycle-themed artwork at Van Lierop Park near the Foothills Trail. The family would fund the project and add a commemorative plaque. The commission expressed unanimous support for the concept; the family will develop more detailed mockups to bring back.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the meeting agenda 5-0.
• Approved the August 25, 2025 minutes 5-0.
• Approved the four signal cabinet wrap locations 5-0.
• Agreed on placement of the four selected wrap artworks at those intersections.
• Tabled formal action on the Veterans Park sculpture replacement to allow site visits and preparation of a draft call for artists for a future meeting.
• Supported the Van Lierop Park bicycle sculpture concept, with renderings to return for review.
• Approved moving the December meeting to Monday, November 24, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., as the commission's final meeting of 2025, with a 5-0 vote.