Fire district seeks feedback on hydrant art program
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District is seeking the community’s input on a proposed new initiative.
At the August meeting of the district’s fire commission, staff presented a Sanibel Adopt-A-Hydrant Art Program, which would create an application process for island property owners, businesses and organizations to adopt and paint fire hydrants on Sanibel. The commissioners postponed a vote wanting more feedback and thoughts from the public before making a decision.
Fire Chief Kevin Barbot explained that the district was recently approached by the Periwinkle Place Shops and island artist Rachel Pierce about possibly painting the hydrant in front of Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream. He noted all of the visitors and bicyclists that travel on Periwinkle Way.
“We thought it would be a great talking point,” Barbot said.
“To bring a smile to people and bring more art to the island,” he added.
After it was painted, the district paused and went to the city, acknowledging that it may have approved the request prematurely. City staff discussed it, as well as presented it to the city council for input.
“They also thought it was a great idea,” he said.
After a second hydrant at the shopping center was painted, the district paused again because it realized that guidelines and standards would be needed — based on the community’s unexpected response.
“As far as other people wanting to do the same thing,” Barbot said of the new requests.
So staff created a proposed Sanibel Adopt-A-Hydrant Art Program for the commission to consider.
“We’re not inventing the wheel,” he said.
Barbot explained that if approved, Sanibel would not be the first community to allow artwork by the public on its hydrants. Renton, Washington, and Franklin, Massachusetts, have similar programs.
For the island program, basic eligibility would entail:
– Applicants and all painting participants must be at least 18 years old.
– Eligible applicants include Sanibel residents, Sanibel property owners, Sanibel-based businesses and eligible organizations. A nonlocal artist may participate only as the designated artist for an eligible applicant.
– Temporary visitors are not eligible to independently adopt a hydrant.
– An applicant may have only one active hydrant application at a time, unless the district authorizes additional applications.
The application checklist would include:
– Completed application and signed participant agreement.
– A $75 application, processing and inspection fee.
– Current photograph of the requested hydrant and surrounding area.
– Full-color front and rear design renderings.
– List of proposed colors and exterior metal paint products.
– Adjacent property owner or occupant acknowledgement, unless waived by the district.
“We want to make sure that we have some sort of oversight when they’re submitting an application,” Barbot said. “They’re going to have to submit a rendering with their application.”
He noted that they cannot deviate from the rendering; the hydrant must look like the rendering.
“We don’t want anything derogatory, anything that is going to be insulting,” Barbot added. “We don’t want anything that does not reflect the values of the island.”
While they may be painted, fire hydrants are fire protection devices.
“What gets put on this device, we are not responsible for,” he said, explaining that any damage during use in an emergency or fading over time will be the responsibility of the applicant to fix or touch up.
Any hydrants not maintained will be addressed.
“We will just come back and paint it back to our standard color,” Barbot said.
“We have the right to do so,” he added.
Barbot pointed out that the monitoring and upkeep of the hydrants is already a responsibility of the district, so outside of reviewing and approving an application, there would be no major changes.
“It is not taking time away from our priorities or mission,” he said.
As for community feedback to date, the district has heard from a handful of people who shared their support for the proposed program. A resident at the commission meeting voiced opposition to it.
“We would love for anybody who has any input or comments to contact the district,” Barbot said.
Staff will collect all the comments, as well as answer any questions.
“So we can report back to the board,” he said.
To provide input or for questions, contact Assistant Administrator Greta Fulkerson at 239-472-5525. People can also fill out the contact form on the website at https://www.sanibelfire.com/contact-us.