City’s plan to demolish mural put on hold

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- The City Council will go ahead with plans to

demolish and redesign a 625-foot mural in the La Colonia Juarez

neighborhood, but city officials said it is not a project that will

happen in a hurry.

At the Dec. 19 Fountain Valley City Council meeting, the council

decided to construct a new eight-foot wall, as well as replace the

existing sidewalk with a new one that would have landscaping around it.

These changes had been among options residents in the La Colonia Juarez

community opted for in a recent survey.

The mural, depicting the contemporary history of the neighborhood

along with scenes from the Mexican-American War, has been part of a

six-foot-high wall on Calle Zaragosa and Calle Madero for 24 years.

However, a survey of area residents in June showed most of them wanted

the wall demolished and rebuilt, claiming the chipped and faded mural was

an eyesore.

But the city cannot just tear the wall down. A California law gives

the mural’s original artist, Sergio O’Cadiz, the first option to remove

his art, said City Atty. Alan Burns.

“This is a broad law,” said Burns. “At the start of the year, the city

is going to give 90 days notice to the artist, who will have the option

to remove his work.”

Andy Perea, the city’s planning director, said the city will continue

planning the new wall during those three months.

“From here, we will go ahead and begin accepting bids,” Perea said.

“We have a general design, and we’ll be working on specs until the wall

is removed. The entire process should take approximately six months.”

Burns said he has been in contact with O’Cadiz’ attorney alerting him

of the 90-day deadline.

Neither O’Cadiz nor his representatives attended last month’s City

Council meeting, and O’Cadiz could not be reached for comment.