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Public Art Board seeks CRA funding for murals and sculptures; legal opinion clears a proposed development fee
Summary
Board plans to ask the CRA to fund murals, a sculpture site and reuse of a defunct digital board; staff reported a legal opinion that a proposed mandatory public art contribution would be a development fee, not an impact fee, and next step is a council work session.
The City of Oviedo Public Art Board discussed proposals to use Community Redevelopment Agency funds for at least two public-art projects — a mural at Central Lake Park and a sculpture at a semicircular planting area off Central Lake Lane — and to turn an unused digital display at Oviedo On The Park into a call-to-artists installation.
Board members were advised that the CRA has roughly $70,000 available in the current fiscal year for public art projects, separate from prior commitments (the Wings of Joy had $57,400 previously assigned). Board members said the CRA’s eligible area is the downtown/Central corridor, including Central Lake Park and the nearby boathouse area where a small wall could host a second mural. Another potential site discussed was a semicircular knee wall near the end of Central Lake Lane that could host a small sculpture.
Separately, the board discussed repurposing the nonworking digital sign at Oviedo On The Park as an artist commission or kinetic installation. Board members described the structure as an opportunity for a call to artists and suggested reaching regional public-art networks and statewide calls on arts websites to spread the solicitation.
Legal and policy discussion
Board members and the city attorney reviewed a proposed mandatory public-art contribution tied to development permits. City staff reported a legal opinion from the city attorney’s office concluding the charge could be characterized as a development fee rather than a statutory impact fee, and therefore would not require the extensive impact-fee study that statutes require.
City Attorney David Hall (City Attorney) explained that impact fees must be tied to measurable impacts on public facilities (utilities, police, fire, parks) and require a formal study; public art does not create those impacts and so the fee would be planned and presented as a development fee for council consideration. Staff said the next procedural step is a council work session to present the proposal and seek council direction; a timeline was not set but the work session is expected after the current February agenda cycle.
Next steps
Board members asked that staff prepare concrete proposals (themes, site photos, cost estimates) so the CRA can consider the mural and sculpture as items on its upcoming agenda. The board discussed using state and public-art networks to advertise calls to artists and noted the CRA’s meeting scheduled for Feb. 17 as an opportunity to place the items on the CRA agenda.
No CRA funding vote was taken at this board meeting; board members agreed to seek CRA approval and to return with more detailed scopes and budgets for review.
