COUNCIL CONSIDERS ARTWORK CITY WANTS TO BEAUTIFY CHANDLER BIKEWAY.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - The City Council tonight will consider whether to spend $50,000 for sculptures, statues and other artwork to beautify the new two-mile Chandler Bikeway.

The $2.6 million bikeway, which opened Aug. 20, extends from Mariposa Street to Clybourne Avenue on the North Hollywood border.

The bikeway will eventually extend to the Red Line Station in North Hollywood, but the city of Los Angeles doesn't expect to complete the mile-long segment between the depot and the Burbank boundary until the end of the year. Landscaping for the Los Angeles segment is expected to be finished next spring.

Meanwhile, Burbank officials are considering possible art for their section of the bikeway, including statues and metal sculptures.

``I just think it makes it warmer, more interesting as you're biking or walking down. Art really enhances the community ... I think it could enhance the bikeway,'' said Councilwoman Stacey Murphy.

Possible projects include a statue of children playing with a bicycle, which Councilman Jef Vander Borght saw during a trip to an art show in Loveland, Colo.

Vander Borght came back from the August trip - accompanied by Murphy and other city officials - with photos of pieces that could be used in the project.

The two-day trip was sponsored by the Burbank Department of Water and Power, which is in the market for a $300,000 art project at one of its power plants. Vander Borght said the trip will help city officials choose public art pieces, rather than contracting the work to high-paid consultants.

``(Tonight) we'll have the opportunity to create a more streamlined method to acquire art, rather than have to go through the process that we've had up until now,'' Vander Borght said.

Currently, the city must use a consultant and a special committee for beautification projects. The council could change those requirements tonight.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

The Burbank City Council will meet at 6:30 tonight at City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.

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