To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Revisions to Contra Costa County Public Art Policy
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT the revised Contra Costa County Public Art Policy (Attachment B) to allow revisions to the selection process for art on County-owned utility boxes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of this revised Public Art Policy.
BACKGROUND:
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.
After receiving IOC direction, 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.
On November 5, 2024, the Board of Supervisors considered the draft Contra Costa County Public Art Policy prepared by Arts Orange County based on input and contributions from the IOC and the working group. The item was continued to the December 3, 2024, Board of Supervisors Meeting, and the Contra Costa County Public Art Policy was adopted at the meeting.
The Art Policy allows the County Administrator’s Office in tandem with the Public Works Department to develop a program for art on utility boxes. The current Art Policy directs art on utility box proposals to be selected by a Public Art Selection Committee with final approval of designs by the Public Art Advisory Committee.
In June 2025, draft Guidelines for Public Art on County-Owned Utility Boxes were considered by the IOC. Feedback from the IOC directed staff to consider alternatives to the approval process for utility box art, so that utility box art within each district is reviewed and recommended by supervisorial district groups within that specific district. This process is an attempt to engage the local community more within the decisions impacting that district.
Accordingly, staff recommend revisions to Sections IV and X of the current Public Art Policy. Specifically, Utility Box Art Program will not be subject to the art selection and implementation process outlined in the Public Art Policy. The Policy will be revised to incorporate that “[d]esigns for the Utility Box Program will be submitted to the District Supervisor, thereafter forwarded to a Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) or if no MAC exists within the area of the proposed art, then the District Supervisor’s Office will seek input from community members during a public meeting, with final approval of the proposed artwork from the respective District Supervisor.”
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not have a revised public art policy that allows for district specific advisory councils to recommend art on County owned utility boxes within their districts.