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Public Art committee urges council to let fund pay for master-planning consultant
Summary
Public Art Committee chair asked council to waive restrictions so the committee can use its fund to hire a consultant to write a new master plan; council debated whether private developers should be required to pay a percent-for-art fee and raised procurement and legal risk questions.
Jane Lane, chair of the Public Art Committee, told council the committee is "trying to save the public art program" and asked permission to retain Mary Davis Wallace, a professional public art consultant, using the committee's funds to create a new master plan. Lane said the committee voted unanimously to authorize up to $50,000 to secure the consultant's services and requested that council allow a waiver or clarification so the fund can be used for consultant services required to reengage the program.
Council members debated ordinance language that currently "encourages" private contributions but mandates a 1% fee for qualifying city vertical projects (capped at $250,000). City legal staff warned of potential legal risks to mandating private-sector fees (clawback/exaction concerns) and recommended caution; several council members asked staff to return with scope, deliverables and a procurement path. "We intend to follow [procurement]," Lane said, adding that certain artistic services are exempt and that staff can pursue a level-1 procurement for consulting services up to $50,000.
