Title
Recommendation to Consider and Provide Feedback on Proposed Amendments to the Public Art Ordinance
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
BACKGROUND
Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98 Public Art in New Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Municipal Construction (Ordinance) requires that major development projects dedicate 1% of development costs to on-site public art. The Ordinance also allows an applicant to pay an equivalent amount in lieu of providing the art on-site. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Public Art Fund (Fund). The Fund can then only be used by the City to provide or support public art.
In 2017, City Council approved an amendment to the Ordinance, which included the removal of:
* the $150,000 cap on the maximum public art allocation,
* the requirement for public art to focus on Alameda's historic and maritime traditions, and
* the removal of staff administrative and maintenance costs as an allowable use for the Public Art Fund, among other changes.
In April of 2019, the Public Art Commission (PAC) identified increasing the balance of the Fund as one of its top priorities, with the goal of increasing funding opportunities for public art in Alameda.
DISCUSSION
Based on input from the PAC, staff review of the Ordinance, and a review of public art ordinances in other East Bay cities (Exhibit 1), staff is putting forth the following changes to the Ordinance for consideration (also reflected as line edits to the Ordinance in Exhibit 2). Please note that additional or alternative changes may be suggested by the PAC as part of tonight's discussion:
1. Remove the requirement that cultural arts grants can only go to non-profit organizations.
2. Reduce the required in-lieu fund contribution from 1% to .8% of development costs. Currently, developers have the option of contributing 1% of building development costs to the acquisition and installation of on-site artwork, or of depos...
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