Newark council advances public‑art program; asks staff to return with affordability and fee adjustments

The Newark City Council on Oct. 23 moved forward on an update to the city’s public‑art program but asked staff to return with specific fee and exemption adjustments before final adoption.

Staff presented the updated Public Art Master Plan and two ordinances: one to create a five‑member Public Art Committee to guide public art selection and oversight, and a second to establish an “art in public places and private development” requirement that would generally obligate qualifying private development to provide public art equal to 1% of construction valuation or pay an in‑lieu fee.

City staff estimated potential revenue from the program would vary widely depending on whether developers install art on site or pay in‑lieu fees; they proposed exemptions for 100% affordable housing projects and for tenant improvements below $500,000. Staff also described initial projects — such as a utility‑box art program and commissioned sculptures or gateways — and outlined anticipated program administration and maintenance costs.

Council discussion focused on the fee structure and equity considerations for affordable housing. Multiple council members asked staff to draft options that would scale or reduce the fee when projects include partial affordability rather than only exempting projects that are 100% affordable. Councilmember Elmer Jorgens proposed a tiered approach (for example a partial fee reduction tied to the percentage of affordable units). Members also discussed committee composition and outreach to recruit local artists, seniors and student representatives.

After deliberation the council voted to continue the ordinances and return them with the requested changes; staff said they will bring revised ordinance language and council guidelines back for council consideration in November. No final ordinance was adopted at the Oct. 23 meeting.