Johns Creek staff proposes voluntary '1% for Art' program; council leans to staff-led start

City staff proposed a voluntary "1% for Art" program to increase public art in Johns Creek and asked the council for direction on governance and implementation. Olivia Gosta, who led the presentation, said staff recommends developing program criteria drawing on models used in Suwanee and Peachtree Corners and suggested several governance options: use the Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Committee as the authoritative body; have ACE recommend while an internal staff review committee screens proposals; or create a new public art board.

"Drawing from other cities' experiences... staff proposes moving forward with a 1% for art," Gosta said, describing the program as voluntary with a required submission and review process. She said staff envisions mandatory submission of a proposal or presentation as part of the permitting flow even if a developer chooses not to fund art, reasoning that the requirement helps raise awareness.

Councilors discussed whether the program should be mandatory or voluntary, how to seed a public art fund, and whether partnering with a nonprofit would affect grant eligibility. Staff told the council that partnering with a 501(c)(3) could aid grant access but would transfer some control; keeping the fund within city oversight was recommended during infancy to maintain flexibility. Council members noted an existing $50,000 allocation in tourism product development as a potential seed and suggested a staff-led start with ACE serving in a recommending role.

Council members also raised implementation details: eligibility (initially commercial developments only), whether to allow private-property installations, liability and code compliance, and incentive structures such as reduced permitting fees or developer resources to encourage participation. Staff said Suwanee’s experience indicates that most participants install art on private property rather than contribute to a public fund, and that smaller installations and developer-facing resources make the program more accessible.

Several councilors stressed keeping the program voluntary and cautious about adding permanent staff or delegating control too quickly to an external nonprofit. Council feedback favored option 2 (staff review with ACE recommendation) for the initial rollout and asked staff to return with proposed criteria, implementation logistics and draft language for Council consideration.