During the Council meeting on April 11, the City Council voted unanimously for an amendment to the current Art in Public Places ordinance during its introduction and first reading. The amendment, if approved at second reading on April 25, will increase the percentage of art funds that may be used for educational programs from 10% of the balance in the fund to 30%, calculated annually.
The Art in Public Places fund does not come from taxes. When commercial or industrial development occurs in the City, the developer pays a fee equal to 1% of the value of the project. Residential development does not pay the Art in Public Places fee. The developer also has the option of placing a piece of art in the City of a value equivalent to what the fee would have been, subject to the approval of the Arts Commission. Historically, most developers have chosen to pay the fee, instead of purchasing an art piece themselves, and that is where the money in the fund has come from.
Some examples of educational programs provided to the community by the Arts Commission include the following:
• The DATA Photo and Video Competition for Cathedral City High School students
• The Mary Pickford Theatre Film Series – Youth Film Program
• The Cathedral City High School Stardust Arts Expo
• The Sioux Wars Indian Photo Exhibit in the Community Art Gallery at City Hall
• The Latino Cultural Arts Show in the Community Art Gallery at City Hall
• The Chalk Arts Festival – Youth Art Program
• The Coachella Valley Repertory drama class for CCHS students
• The Tour Buddy art app, which allows the public to locate and learn about the entire City art collection
• Dia de Los Muertos - Youth Art Program
You can see that most of the programs were developed for the youth in the community. Additionally, the two exhibits at the art gallery were open to the entire community and the art app is free for everyone.
The increase from 10% to 30% will not increase the amount of the fee paid by developers, nor will it increase the amount of funds available to the Arts Commission. Instead, it will allow more of the funds to be used for education programming. There will still be adequate funds available to properly maintain the art collection already on display throughout the community and acquire new pieces. There is no requirement that the full 30% be spent on arts education each year. Unspent funds remain in the Art Fund.
Finally, Council will be considering a companion policy resolution, most likely on May 9, which will memorialize a list of allowable uses for the fund, formalize existing policy that Council approve all program expenditures of greater than $2,500, require the development of an annual budget for the educational funds and require periodic reporting to Council of all uses of the funds.
Arts programs add to the exciting mix of quality of life choices available in the community and reflect the commitment of the City Council and Arts Commission to programs for youth in our City.
