Contra Costa County Header
File #: 24-4150    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Consent Item Status: Passed
File created: 11/5/2024 In control: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
On agenda: 12/3/2024 Final action: 12/3/2024
Title: CONSIDER approving the revised proposed Contra Costa County Public Art Policy and providing direction on the development and implementation of a Public Art Program for Contra Costa County. (Lara DeLaney, Senior Deputy County Administrator)(Continued from November 5, 2024)
Attachments: 1. Attachment A: CCC PUBLIC ART POLICY Proposed - 11-18-24 Rev, 2. Attachment B: Utility Box Art Information

To:                                          Board of Supervisors

From:                                          Internal Operations Committee

Report Title:                     Proposed Contra Costa County Public Art Policy

Recommendation of the County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.                     ADOPT the revised proposed Contra Costa County Public Art Policy. (Attachment A)

 

2.                     PROVIDE direction on the development and implementation of a Public Art Program for Contra Costa County.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact from the adoption of a Public Art Policy.  However, the development of a public art program for the County would have a fiscal impact should the Board decide to allocate County funds to support program implementation activities.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5) was established in 1994 to advise the Board of Supervisors in matters and issues relevant to Arts and Culture; to advance the arts in a way that promoted communication, education, appreciation and collaboration throughout Contra Costa County; to preserve, celebrate, and share the arts and culture of the many diverse ethnic groups who live in Contra Costa County; to create partnerships with business and government; and to increase communications and understanding between all citizens through art.

 

At their meeting of March 29, 2022, the Board of Supervisors voted to dissolve the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa and further directed the establishment of a public-private partnership arts council for Contra Costa County, serving as the County’s State-Local Partner with the California Arts Council.

 

After an extensive planning and procurement process, the Board of Supervisors awarded a 5-year contract to Independent Arts and Media, as the fiscal sponsor of ARTSCCC, on December 12, 2023 for the provision of arts council services for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028. This contract is funded through the County’s Measure X allocation dedicated to arts and culture ($268,800 for FY 24-25)

 

An Arts and Culture Vision was identified in the Board’s adopted 2023 Arts & Culture Master

Plan for Contra Costa County as articulated below.

 

 

 

“Contra Costa County will be a place where:

                     arts and culture are integrated deeply into daily community life of all 19 of its cities

and unincorporated communities

                     arts and culture reflect and celebrate the diversity of the County’s people, including

those that have been historically underrepresented

                     arts and culture are accessible equitably to all, regardless of socio-economic status

                     arts and culture contribute positively to the health and well-being of all

                     arts participation is robust

                     arts education is fundamental and is well-supported financially

                     artists can live fulfilling and prosperous lives

                     public art can be seen everywhere

                     arts and culture build bridges between generations

                     arts and culture create civic cohesion.”

 

With regard to its own public art, County departments periodically receive inquiries about the placement of murals or the addition of public art works on County retaining walls (or other locations that may be within the public right of way), or on County land or buildings.  While Departments can provide advice on such requests for possible encroachment permits or long-term maintenance discussions, departments have been unable to advise upon the merit of, or content included, in any specific piece of art for these facilities and have been uncertain about their role in the public art approval and authorization process.

 

On February 6, 2024, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) the development and recommendation of policy and procedures governing placement of art on County property and in public rights-of-way. On March 11, 2024, Senior Deputy Lara DeLaney of the County Administrator’s Office provided a proposed scope of work, timeline, and estimated costs for the policy development process and requested input and direction from IOC.

 

After receiving IOC direction in March, the County Administrator’s Office conducted a procurement process and retained a public art policy consultant, Arts Orange County, led by CEO Richard Stein and Patricia Gomez.  A small working group was then established, composed of representatives from the Health Services, Employment and Human Services, Public Works, Conservation and Development, and Library departments, as well as from the CAO, County Counsel, and the Arts Council of Contra Costa County (ARTSCCC), to prepare a draft policy and procedures document.

 

Attached, for the Board’s consideration and discussion, is the revised proposed Contra Costa County Public Art Policy (PAP) prepared by Arts Orange County based on the input and contributions from the Board of Supervisors at its November 5 meeting, the Internal Operations Committee, the working group, the staff and consultant review of local public art policies, and Arts Orange County’s experience with development and implementation of policies in other jurisdictions throughout California. (See Attachment A.)

 

The proposed Public Art Policy addresses the considerations identified in the March 11 staff report and distinguishes between permanent and temporary art installations, public art donations, as well as defining the policy scope and definition of terms for better clarity and understanding. The Policy is intended to be flexible, providing a framework and process should the County receive donated art, community-funded art, or decide to sponsor or allocate County funds toward public art.

 

At their September 9, 2024 meeting, the Internal Operations Committee requested additional information related to the impact of public art on graffiti abatement and vandalism. The IOC had several questions related to Utility Box Art, including the benefits and costs of painting versus vinyl wrapping of utility boxes. IOC also requested data from Public Works about the number of County-owned utility boxes within each unincorporated community and the estimated staff and budgetary resources to implement a utility box art program.  IOC also requested information about funding allocated by other jurisdictions for their utility box art programs. (See Attachment B and Appendix B.)

 

With regard to implementation of the proposed Public Art Policy, the IOC recommended that policy questions be provided to the Board of Supervisors for input. The Board of Supervisors continued this item from its Nov. 5, 2024 meeting. 

 

Policy Questions for Board of Supervisors’ Direction

 

1.                     Budget Allocation for a County Public Art Program

 

To provide artist and panelist stipends/awards and cover ancillary costs (e.g. administration, installation, inspection, maintenance) of a Public Art Program, a budget allocation is required.

 

No additional funds are being recommended at this time due to the current arts council contract being in place for less than one year. The current amount allocated from Measure X is $268,800 (per year) for the 5-year arts council contract. This amount can be revisited by the Board during budget development. This does not preclude district or donated funds being used for art projects or programs.

 

2.                     Implementation

 

What element of a County Public Art Program does the Board want to pursue and what is the timeline?

 

i.                     Utility Box Art Program

1.                     Is there a Board preference for art painted directly on box surfaces or art transferred to vinyl wrapping?  (See Attachment B for pros and cons of each method.)

 

Staff recommends a program that provides the greatest flexibility for program implementation.

 

Administration

ii.                     Once a 36 month evaluation of the existing arts council contract is completed, staff will return to the Board with recommendations. Areas to consider at that time will include the role of ARTSCCC in administration. ARTSCCC has expressed a desire to provide additional services.

 

3.                     Public Art in County Construction

 

County staff will work with design professionals as part of the building construction process to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on a project-by-project basis.

 

 

Bay Area Counties - Public Art Programs

 

Alameda

Through Alameda County’s “2% for Art” Ordinance, the Public Art Program provides for public art elements connected to capital improvement projects undertaken by Alameda County. The unique artworks are created by professional artists and are integrated into the design of the structure or landscaping, or are in proximity to the project, in any number of treatments and media. Artwork is purchased or commissioned through an open competitive process. A separate call for artists is issued for each project. The Arts Commission administers the Public Art Program with guidance from the Public Art Advisory Committee, a body of nine citizens appointed by the Arts Commission.

 

San Francisco (City and County)

Art Enrichment Ordinance (the 2%-for-art program) ensures that two percent of the gross construction cost of civic buildings, transportation improvement projects, new parks, and other above-ground structures such as bridges, be allocated for public art.

 

San Francisco also has a “1%-for-art program” that requires that large projects in the Downtown and nearby neighborhoods provide public art that equals at least 1% of the total construction cost. This program was established by the 1985 Downtown Plan and is governed by Section 429 of the Planning Code and is overseen by the San Francisco Planning Department. Since May 2012, some projects may choose to dedicate a portion of their 1% art requirement to the City’s Public Art Trust, which can be used for a variety of purposes including restoration of artworks in the Civic Art Collection, nonprofit capital projects and temporary public art programming.

 

San Mateo County

Public art policy adopted in 2022. Two mural projects in 2024 ($30,000 and $25,000 artist fees.)

 

 

 

Santa Clara County

At minimum, one percent (1%) of the budget for each new County capital construction project shall be allocated for works of art that are accessible by the public. Where funding restrictions partially preclude the allocation to artwork, the allocation for art shall be made from the portion of the funds unrestricted for this purpose, if any, and shall constitute at least one percent (1%) of the unrestricted portion. For new County capital construction projects that total less than $1 million, County art funding required by this Policy may be aggregated for public art at other publicly accessible County facilities. Any public art funds that remain unexpended from an applicable County capital construction project will be aggregated for use on public art at other publicly accessible County facilities.

 

Sonoma County

Public Art Plan currently in development.

 

 

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County will not have an adopted policy for public art and staff will not have direction on implementation of the policy.