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West Covina planning commissioners review Arts in Public Places annual report, discuss spending priorities
Summary
The West Covina Planning Commission received the Arts in Public Places 2024–25 annual report, heard staff explain the in-lieu fee rules and eligible uses, and debated how the roughly $742,780 fund balance should be spent and governed.
The West Covina Planning Commission on June 10 reviewed the Arts in Public Places program annual report for the 2024–25 fiscal year, heard staff describe how the program is funded, and discussed options for spending and governance, including whether to re-establish an arts subcommittee and how the city should prioritize public art installations.
Joanne delivered the staff presentation, explaining that the municipal code requires an annual Arts in Public Places report and that the program is funded by in-lieu fees tied to new development. Under the code, new nonresidential projects with valuations of $500,000 or more and capital improvement projects meeting that threshold must contribute 1% of project valuation; residential projects pay 0.5% of valuation. Funds may be used for commissioning public art, maintenance and restoration of artwork, education programs and events, plaques and signage, staff training, and administration.
Commissioners debated how to spend the current fund balance, which Joanne said totaled $742,780. Staff recommended allocating $200,000 in the proposed 2025–26 budget toward repainting and exterior renovation work at City Hall, which staff characterized as qualifying as artwork under the municipal code when done as an architectural or artistic treatment. Commissioners discussed alternative uses for the money, including larger, more memorable installations in parks, a proposal to run a community contest for artwork ideas, and nontraditional public-art concepts such as “musical road” features, botanical/arts gardens, or performance-oriented installations.
Several commissioners said existing pieces placed by individual developers sometimes feel “awkward” and suggested the city explore projects with stronger civic connections and longer-lasting impact. Commissioners also discussed material choices and vandalism/theft risks—citing past incidents of stolen copper or damaged pieces—and urged consideration of lower-maintenance, lower-theft options. Commissioners and staff noted that where developers elect to install artwork on-site rather than pay the in-lieu fee, those projects do not add to the city fund balance.
Staff said the Arts in Public Places subcommittee was previously formed as a small panel (a council member, a community and senior services commissioner, a planning commissioner and a staff liaison) to review concepts and artist renderings but had not completed projects such as a mural at Orangewood Park after discovering the park’s condition required renovation. Staff recommended that the planning commission provide ideas and consider recommending that the city council re-initiate a subcommittee or other public-engagement measures. Commissioners suggested broader public outreach and contests to solicit ideas from residents and stressed making any subcommittee meetings accessible and well publicized.
No formal amendment to the municipal code or vote to reallocate funds was taken at the meeting. Joanne said the staff would compile the commissioners’ recommendations in a report to the city council.
The commission moved on to other items after the Arts in Public Places discussion; staff indicated the recommended next step is that planning commission comments be forwarded to the city council for action on any code amendments or funding reallocations.
