HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 112-05
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TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
ATTN: FINANCE COMMITTEE
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE: JANUARY 19, 2005 CMR: 112:05
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN
ART IN CITY PROJECTS POLICY
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the Public Art Commission recommend that Council adopt an “art in City projects”
policy, that includes a “one percent for art program,” and direct staff to implement the attached
Policy and Procedure.
BACKGROUND
At its Nove mber 8, 1999 meeting, Council approved the policy statement, “All significant City
capital construction/renovation projects should include an art element,” and directed staff to
develop a plan to provide art in all City capital projects, to be integrated as part of the project
proposal. The policy was not to be a “percent for art” proposal, but an effort to incorporate art
into appropriate City projects via Council policy.
DISCUSSION
As developers come forward with projects, it has become commonplace for the Architectural
Review Board or the Planning and Transportation Commission to impose a requirement that
developers include art to mitigate the impacts projects may have on the aesthetic environment.
Although the City of Palo Alto has had a Visual Arts in Public Places Fund since 1975, which is
funded annually through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), current CIP projects do not
always address the impact that City projects may have on the surrounding environment. The
purpose of this proposed policy is to correct the imbalance between what is required of some
developers and what is imposed on City projects.
The proposed policy (Attachment A) intends that artists be included in projects that have a visual
impact on the surrounding environment by altering a site through new construction or
reconstruction, at the initial stages of design, thereby ensuring that art elements become an
integral part of the overall design. As a policy the City will budget one percent of its
construction costs, excluding design and contingency, to include public art in City capital
improvement projects. The proposed policy will not apply to CIP projects that have minor or no
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visual impact. Appropriate City staff will make such determination in cooperation with the
Division of Arts and Culture. Past CIP projects that have included an art component are two
downtown parking structures, at 445 Bryant and 544 High. Projects that receive government
grants (state and federal) are excluded.
Implementation will require coordination between the Public Art Commission, the Division of
Arts and Culture, the Infrastructure Management Committee and appropriate departments. Staff
feels that including a “one percent for art” will clarify project budgeting and formalize the
current practi ce of adding an art component to a City project.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Over a six-year period from 2001 – 2007 the total citywide cost of implementing this policy
would have been approximately $41,932, a $6,989 annual average. This new policy would have
an imp act on the Infrastructure Management Plan budget and the Infrastructure Reserve. The
costs related to approving this policy would change along with relevant project construction
costs such as those associated with a library reconstruction or a new public safety building.
Necessary maintenance costs will be funded from the one percent and added to the annual
operating budget as one -time items.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation is consistent with and in response to Council direction.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Policy and Procedures, Art in City Capital Improvement Projects
Attachment B: Art in Capital Projects 10 year, 2001-2001 Qualifying Amounts
PREPARED BY: _____________________________________________________________
LINDA CRAIGHEAD
Director, Palo Alto Art Center and staff liaison to the
Public Art Commission
REVIEWED BY: _____________________________________________________________
RICHARD JAMES
Director, Community Services
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:________________________________________________
EMILY HARRISON
Assistant City Manager