Council hears split recommendations on art-in-development policy; directs staff to return with options

The City Council held a study session Oct. 21 to review recommendations from the Arts and Culture Commission to revise Cupertino—ode language and develop an art-in-lieu policy for private development. Commissioners, planning staff and several residents debated whether the city should lower the in-lieu fee, create a separate art fund and expand permissible uses of those funds.

The commission recommendations: Arts and Culture Commission Chair Kiran Rora presented the commission's work after four public meetings in 2024 nd 2025. The commission recommended: (1) eliminate municipal-code language that "discourages" paying an art in-lieu fee, (2) make the in-lieu fee equal to on-site art valuation at 1% (instead of the current 1.25% in-lieu rate), (3) establish and maintain a separate art fund to collect in-lieu payments, and (4) allow the art fund to support both…