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Finance committee gives favorable recommendation to Art and Public Places Commission ordinance after staff clarifies role of liaison and agenda process
Summary
The Finance Standing Committee voted to favorably recommend O11/25 after staff said the director will vet applications and the commission must make written findings; sponsors and staff discussed clarifying the liaison role and whether application-placement rules belong in code or internal procedures.
The Finance Standing Committee gave a favorable recommendation to ordinance O11/25, which restructures certain duties of the Art and Public Places Commission, after staff said the director will vet and bring complete applications to the commission.
The committee’s discussion centered on two issues: the role of a planning-and-zoning liaison to the commission and whether the code should require staff to ensure complete applications are placed on the commission agenda. Alderman O'Neil, a sponsor of the ordinance, said sponsors had “spent a significant amount of time talking with both the mayor's office, and Chris DuBoisak's office about the the different roles of, the liaison that's going to be from planning and zoning onto the commission.”
Chris Jakubiak, who identified himself as the staff member best positioned to address implementation, told the committee he was not aware of new draft amendments but outlined how the ordinance is written to work in practice: “the commission shall consider recommendations by the director, before making any determinations on funding decisions or selection of projects.” Jakubiak said staff will evaluate applications, provide staff reports and ask the commission to review those recommendations.
Committee members debated whether to put a statutory requirement into code directing staff to place complete applications on the agenda. One member said that requirement felt like an internal staffing responsibility and “I wouldn't include that in code,” adding it is something to monitor and manage administratively. Jakubiak and another planning director said staff reviews and completeness criteria already in code provide the mechanism to ensure eligible applications are heard; Jakubiak also noted the commission will be required to establish findings of fact to support each decision.
Members also discussed optional governance changes proposed informally, including term limits for the commission chair and a request that some meetings be held in person. Planning staff and the director recommended keeping meeting-frequency and in-person rules in boards’ own rules of procedure rather than in code; they said occasional in-person meetings and training had been valuable for the commission and that in-person meetings can aid deliberation on major funding decisions.
After discussion the committee moved and seconded a favorable recommendation for O11/25. The motion passed by voice vote.
