CM-2026-042 - 1/30/2026 AGREEMENT FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF ARTWORK
This Agreement for Commissioning of Artwork ("Agreement") is made by and between
the City of Round Rock (hereinafter referred to as the "City") and Chris Carlson (hereinafter
referred to as the "Artist") to be effective as of the last date of due execution by all parties (the
"Effective Date"). The City and the Artist may each be referred to as "party" or"parties" as the
context may require.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,the City desires to commission the creation of two(2)murals from the Artist,
each measuring 9 feet tall by 40 feet long on the interior walls of the tunnel at Old Settlers
(collectively the "Art") and the Artist desires to create said murals; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth in writing their
respective duties and obligations hereunder;
NOW THEREFORE,WITNESSETH:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is
mutually agreed by and between the parties as follows:
ARTICLE I
TERM
1.1 The term of this Agreement shall be from the Effective Date until the full and satisfactory
completion of the work as specified in Article III, estimated to be no longer than three (3)
months, and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
RETENTION OF ARTIST
2.1 Retention. The City does hereby retain the Artist to perform the work and services
described herein.
2.2 Independent Contractor. The Artist is an independent contractor and will furnish all
supervision,labor,materials,supplies,equipment,costs and all other incidentals,except as
specifically provided in this Agreement. This Agreement does not create a partnership,
employer-employee, or joint venture relationship between the parties.
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2.3 Nonassignability. The Artist may not assign any rights, benefits, or claims arising under
the Agreement without the prior written consent of the City.
ARTICLE III
ARTIST'S OBLIGATIONS
3.1 General. The Artist will create the two (2) murals within the term of this Agreement in a
competent and professional manner. The Artist will pay all costs associated with the
creation of the Art, including but not limited to labor, materials, travel expenses and other
incidentals.
3.2 The Art. The work performed under this Agreement shall consist of creation of the Art as
described in Exhibit "A," attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all
purposes.
3.3 Artist's Warranties. The Artist warrants and represents the following:
(A) Ownership. The Artist is the sole owner creator of the two (2)murals and has full
power and authority to make this Agreement. The designs of the two(2)murals do
not infringe any copyright, violate any property rights, or contain any scandalous,
libelous, or unlawful matter.
(B) Title. Immediately upon completion of the two (2)murals and receipt of payment
in full by the Artist,the City shall acquire good title to the murals and they shall be
free from any and all claims, liens, and charges by any person or entity, including
but not limited to, any employee, supplier, or subcontractor of the Artist.
(C) Defects. The two (2) murals shall be constructed in a workmanlike manner and
shall be free from any and all defective materials or workmanship. Upon request
from the City, the Artist shall remedy, or pay to remedy, any loss or damage
resulting from defective materials or workmanship.
3.4 Indemnification. The Artist shall defend,indemnify,and hold harmless the City and their
licensees, agents, and employees against all claims, suits, costs, damages, and expenses
that the City or its licensees, agents and employees may sustain by reason of any
scandalous,libelous,or unlawful matter contained or alleged to be contained in the two(2)
murals or any infringement or violation by the murals of any copyright or property right.
If any such claim shall arise during the term of this Agreement,the City may withhold any
sums due to the Artist under this Agreement until such claim or suit has been settled or
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withdrawn. The Artist further agrees to defend, indemnify,and hold harmless the City and
its licensees, agents and employees against all claims, suits, costs, damages, and expenses
that the City or its licensees, agents or employees may sustain by reason of any negligent
action of the Artist.
ARTICLE IV
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
4.1 Payments. The City agrees to pay Artist$36,500.00 for the creation of the two(2)murals.
Fifty percent ($18,250.00) shall be due upon execution of this Agreement and remaining
fifty percent($18,250.00) shall be due upon successful completion of both murals.
ARTICLE V
COPYRIGHT AND REPRODUCTION RIGHTS
5.1 Copyrights. The Artist reserves the common-law copyright to all works commissioned
by the City that are created by the Artist, including all reproduction rights and the right to
claim statutory copyright. No work may be reproduced by anyone without the prior
approval of the Artist, with the exception of graphic reproductions as set forth in Section
5.2. The City is not responsible for any third-party infringement of the Artist's copyright
and is not responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of the Artist. The Artist
expressly acknowledges and agrees that the two (2) murals may be photographed by the
public and media.
5.2 Graphic Reproductions. The Artist grants the City and its assigns an irrevocable license
to make and use graphic reproductions of the murals, for any and all purposes, including
but not limited to brochures, media publicity, fundraising media and all other graphic
media, digital or otherwise. The rights granted under this paragraph are royalty-free,
unrestricted and permanent. All reproductions by the City will contain a credit line that
includes the Artist's name and the title of the murals depicted.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
6.1 Termination for Cause. If the City determines that the Artist has failed to comply with
the terms of this Agreement, the City may suspend or terminate this Agreement. Prior to
suspension or termination, the City shall notify the Artist of the need to take corrective
action. If the corrective action is not taken within thirty(30)days of the date of the notice,
the City may terminate or suspend the Agreement. The City reserves the right to withhold
further payments and prohibit the Artist from incurring additional obligations of funds
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during the investigation of the alleged compliance breach and pending corrective action by
the Artist or a decision by the City to terminate the Agreement. If the Agreement is
terminated under this paragraph, the Artist shall provide an accounting of all expenses
incurred by the Artist under this Agreement prior to the date of termination. Within ten
(10) days of approval of the accounting by the City, the Artist shall remit to the City all
funds paid to the Artist under this Agreement in excess of the expenses incurred. The rights
and remedies provided in this paragraph are not exclusive and are in addition to any other
rights and remedies provided by law or under this Agreement.
6.2 Death or Incapacity. If the Artist becomes unable to comply with the terms of this
Agreement due to death or incapacitation, such death or incapacity shall not be deemed a
breach of this Agreement. However, nothing in this Section obligates the City to accept
the murals. If the Artist dies or becomes incapacitated during the term of this Agreement,
the Agreement shall continue or terminate as follows:
(A) In the event of incapacity,the City may assign the Artist's obligations and services
under this Agreement to another artist in its sole discretion. Alternatively,the City
may elect to terminate this Agreement.
(B) In the event of the death of the Artist, this Agreement shall terminate effective as
the date of death. The executor, administrator, or heirs of the Artist's estate shall
all the Work completed by the Artist under this Agreement in whatever form it may
be in at the time of death. The City shall not be obligated to make any additional
payments under this Agreement following the death of the Artist. The City may
not represent the two (2) murals to be the completed work of the Artist unless
agreed upon by the Artist's executor, administrator or heirs.
6.3 Right of Refusal. The City has the right to refuse the murals. Such refusal shall be made
in writing and signed by the City. If the City refuses the murals, the Artist shall retain all
funds paid prior to the refusal. After the date of the refusal under this paragraph, the City
shall not be obligated to pay any additional funds to the Artist.
6.4 Termination by Artist. The Artist may terminate this Agreement only due to breach of
this Agreement by the City. Before the Artist may terminate this Agreement under this
paragraph, the Artist must provide written notice of alleged breach by City and request
adequate assurance of the City's intent to remedy the alleged breach. The City shall have
thirty (30) days to remedy the breach or to provide assurance acceptable to the Artist that
the alleged breach will be remedied. If the City fails to remedy the alleged breach, or to
provide assurance acceptable to the Artist that the breach will be remedied,the Artist may
terminate this Agreement under this Section.
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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL
7.1 Notices. All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement must
be in writing and shall be considered given as follows:
(A) When delivered personally to recipient's address as stated in this Agreement; or
(B) Three (3) days after being deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, to
the recipient's address stated in this Agreement; or
(C) Immediately upon delivery via electronic mail.
(D) The parties' addresses are as follows:
City of Round Rock:
City Manager
City of Round Rock
221 East Main
Round Rock, Texas 78664
Artist:
Chris Carlson
carlsocd@,gmail.com
(E) Nothing contained herein restricts the transmission of routine communications
between the parties.
7.2 Applicable Law; Enforcement and Venue. This Agreement is performable and
enforceable in the City of Round Rock, Williamson County, Texas. If legal action is
necessary by any party with respect to the enforcement of any or all of the terms of
conditions of this Agreement, exclusive venue for same lies in the courts of Williamson
County,Texas. This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
and court decisions of the State of Texas. The parties expressly agree that no claims or
disputes between the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be submitted
to or decided by any arbitration proceeding, including without limitation, any proceeding
under the Federal Arbitration Act(9 USC Section 1-14).
7.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
No representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, or condition not expressed in this
Agreement will be binding upon the parties hereto or will affect or be effective to interpret,
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change or restriction the provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement may only be
amended or supplemented by a written agreement executed by all parties.
7.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be
convenient or required. It is not necessary that the signature of all persons required to bind
any party appear on each counterpart. All counterparts will collectively constitute a single
instrument.
7.5 Force majeure. None of the parties shall be deemed in violation of this Agreement if a
party is prevented from performing any of its obligations hereunder by reasons of force
majeure. For purposes of this Agreement, `force majeure" means an act of terror
committed within the United States of America that materially impairs business operations;
a prolonged and unforeseen strike, riot, or occurrence of civil disobedience that materially
impairs business operations; a prolonged and unforeseen shortage of fuel, labor, or
material; delay related to or caused by a severe weather event, such as a tornado, a
hurricane, or flooding; interruption of utilities; fire or other casualty; or any other act of
God beyond a party's reasonable control, which could not be avoided by the exercise of
due care.
7.6 Time is of the Essence. The parties agree that time is of the essence of this Agreement
and that any failure by a party to fulfill its obligations within the timeframes in this
Agreement will constitute a material breach of this Agreement.
7.7 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any term or provision is
illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the
validity of the remainder of the Agreement.
[Signatures on the following page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,the City and the Artist have executed this Agreement on the dates
indicated below.
CITY OF ROUND ROCK,TEXAS ARTIST
By: �/l 77— By: CA/1/6.6 60(7111-.471
Brooks Bennett, City Manager Chris Carlson, Artist
Date: I I ?j0/ZC�Z(o Date: 2/2/2026
ATTEST:
By: f
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Ann Franklin, City Clerk
FOR CITY,APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie L. Sandre, City Attorney
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Exhibit"A"
DESCRIPTION OF ART
Two (2) murals, each measuring approximately 9 feet tall by 40 feet tall on the interior walls of
the tunnel of Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas. One mural shall measure approximately 10
feet wide by 10 feet long on the ceiling of the tunnel. The murals will be created using permanent
acrylic paint and sealed with "Vandal Guard" anti-graffiti coating. The murals will be painted
between March 1st and March 16th, 2026.
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