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Phoenix officials weigh citywide art-and-private-development policy, request spring stakeholder plan
Summary
City staff presented how Phoenix and peer cities use developer-funded public art; advocates urged a citywide ordinance and council directed staff to pursue stakeholder outreach and return in spring with options addressing maintenance and equity.
Phoenix—s Economic Development and Arts Subcommittee on Oct. 14 heard a presentation on art-and-private-development (AIPD) policies and local incentives, followed by public testimony urging the city to pursue a citywide ordinance.
Mitch Menchaca, Phoenix—s Arts and Culture Director, told the committee that Phoenix funds public art through an ordinance that allocates 1% of the city—s annual capital improvement (CIP) budget to public art projects and described site-specific works and examples of developer partnerships. "Public art is a way to engage the community," Menchaca said, and it can "enhance the aesthetic appeal of public spaces" while contributing to economic development.
Deputy Arts & Culture Director Carrie Brown summarized how peer cities structure AIPD rules: Scottsdale—s 1985 ordinance applies a 1% building-valuation approach in downtown; Tempe—s 1991 ordinance applies to developments over 50,000 square feet and uses a per-square-foot budget (reported during the presentation as $0.58 per square foot); and San Diego—s 2004 ordinance applies citywide to projects over $5 million and allows an option to retain open cultural space on site. Brown noted that "the city of Phoenix does not have an art and private development ordinance," but that incentives exist in the downtown code to encourage art as a community benefit.
Speakers from community groups urged broader action. Katrina Koehler, president and CEO of Art Link Inc., told the subcommittee: "I really strongly urge the city to look at this as an ordinance." Patrick McDaniel, advocacy director for Phoenix Community Alliance, said art helps "attract people to downtown" and recommended continued partnership with developers.
Councilmembers expressed broad support for exploring a citywide approach while flagging practical concerns. Councilwoman Stark said the 2024 downtown-code updates were a constructive step and supported exploring a citywide ordinance. Councilman Pastor and others warned that public art is subjective and emphasized that any policy should address long-term maintenance. "If anything that needs to happen is really maintenance of the artwork," Pastor said, suggesting the city consider funding for upkeep.
Chair O—Brien directed staff to pursue stakeholder meetings with arts and development communities and asked staff to return with options in the spring. Staff said they could bring initial discussions back in the springtime for further dialogue.
The subcommittee did not take a formal vote on an ordinance at the meeting; the action directed staff to pursue outreach and to return with options.
The next procedural step is a staff return in spring with stakeholder-informed options for how a city ordinance or program might be structured, including potential maintenance provisions and equity considerations.
