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Paso Robles council introduces ordinance to reestablish public‑art program, creates arts board
Summary
Council voted unanimously to introduce a first‑reading ordinance reinstating the Visual Art in Public Places program, creating a five‑member Arts & Culture Board and proposing a funding benchmark equal to 0.5% of Transient Occupancy Tax (as a general fund appropriation benchmark).
The Paso Robles City Council on Feb. 17 introduced by title only an ordinance to reinstate and amend Chapter 3.21 of the municipal code to reestablish an Arts & Culture Board and a dedicated public‑art fund.
Wyatt Lund, recreation program coordinator, told the council the city’s public‑art fund balance had dwindled to about $700 and that the proposed amendment would create a five‑member advisory Arts & Culture Board to review and recommend public art installations. Under the proposal, high‑profile pieces (generally defined as those sited in prominent public locations or valued over $50,000) would be reserved for full council approval. Funding was proposed as an annual appropriation set at a benchmark equal to 0.5% of unrestricted Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT); staff clarified this would be a general‑fund appropriation using TOT as a benchmark rather than a separate tax increase.
Travel Paso and several local artists urged the council to adopt the program, citing the economic and marketing value of public art and examples such as Sensorio. Councilmembers debated whether to set an initial seed and re‑examine funding during the budget process; some suggested community donations or a Friends‑of‑Art group as complementary sources.
Pro Tem Gregory moved to introduce the ordinance; Councilmember Beal seconded. The council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance by title only and directed staff to return with program details as part of the annual review process.
Next steps include drafting final ordinance language, recruiting board members through an application process and returning to council for subsequent readings and adoption.
