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Rules Committee advances Arts Commission fee changes for civic design review and traveling exhibits
Summary
The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee voted to send two ordinances to the full board: one would replace a deposit/time-and-materials civic design review charge with a $12,800 flat fee per project; the other would authorize the Arts Commission to charge fees for organizing traveling exhibitions, with staff saying fees recover staff time and program costs.
Supervisor Asha Safai, chair of the Rules Committee, moved the item forward after the clerk read two related ordinances affecting Arts Commission fees. The first ordinance would amend the administrative code to change the civic design review charge from a deposit plus time-and-materials to a flat $12,800 fee, establish an annual cost-of-living adjustment process, set payment timelines, define fee calculations for multi-structure developments, and identify circumstances for waivers or reductions. The clerk described the second ordinance as authorizing the Arts Commission to charge for organizing traveling exhibits.
Rebecca Krell, deputy director and CFO of Cultural Affairs, told the committee the civic design review is a charter-mandated responsibility staffed by volunteers and two part-time staff (about 1 FTE), and the proposed fee update is intended to ensure cost recovery for staff time and administrative support. On the traveling-exhibits proposal, Krell said the program is new: the department does not currently send exhibitions out of city; fees would be charged to external hosts that request San Francisco’s galleries program to bring exhibits to other cities, states or international venues.
During questioning, supervisors asked for clarification that item 1 was strictly cost recovery, and whether the traveling-exhibit fee would be paid by outside venues. Krell confirmed the changes were meant to recoup staff time and program expenses and that traveling exhibitions would be arranged for outside hosts. One public commenter criticized the Arts Commission and raised broader concerns about gentrification, but no other public speakers opposed the ordinances.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin moved to pass both items out of committee with a positive recommendation to the full board. The committee carried the motion "without objection," forwarding both ordinances for further consideration by the full Board of Supervisors.
The measures will next appear on the supervisors' agenda and receive further review and potential debate before final adoption.
