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Independence adopts formal mural code, council assigns ordinance 1616
Summary
The Independence City Council adopted a new mural code (LA2024‑02) after a staff presentation and public testimony; the ordinance adds mural standards, sets review roles for planning and historic commissions, and creates a mural agreement addressing maintenance and duration.
The Independence City Council voted to adopt new mural regulations Tuesday, approving LA2024‑02 and passing ordinance number 1616 to add a mural‑standards subchapter to the Independence Development Code.
City planner Fred (last name not spelled consistently in the record) told council staff and the planning commission had drafted the code after receiving several mural requests. "We looked at a whole bunch of different codes, and what we did is sort of put them in a blender and come up with this draft that's before you," he said, describing definitions of permitted and prohibited locations and a review process that routes historic‑district murals to the Historic Preservation Commission and general murals to the Planning Commission.
The ordinance establishes basic review criteria, where murals may be allowed or barred (for example, historic surfaces and certain window obstructions are excluded), and requires a mural agreement between the city, property owner and applicant to set maintenance, duration and removal expectations. The staff report also includes a waiver addressing Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) concerns to make clear that mural placement does not create an ongoing property‑ownership claim over the wall.
Evert Sures, a planning commission member, urged council to approve the code and framed it as an opportunity to "encourage our local artists to help us share the story of Independence," noting the draft is designed to protect First Amendment rights while providing clear city standards.
Councilor Shailene moved to recommend approval; the motion carried on a voice vote and council then conducted required readings of Council Bill 2024‑05 and adopted the ordinance. The clerk announced the bill will be assigned Ordinance No. 1616.
The council and staff emphasized the new code is prospective: it does not include retroactive enforcement of existing murals, but the mural agreement mechanism is intended to address maintenance concerns going forward. The ordinance text in the council packet declares an effective date and implementation details; the specific effective date was not read into the record during the meeting.
