CHAPTER 8
MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION1
SECTION:
2-8-1: Creation Of Municipal Arts Commission
2-8-2: Purpose
2-8-3: Function
2-8-4: Appointments
2-8-5: Members
2-8-6: Term
2-8-7: Works Of Art And Public Facilities
2-8-1 CREATION OF MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION:
There is hereby created a Municipal Arts Commission. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-8-2 PURPOSE:
The City of Renton recognizes and acknowledges the importance of and benefit to the public in providing visual art and performance in its public works and facilities, and encouraging and promoting such art and the work of artists. It shall therefore be the policy of the City, unless otherwise prohibited or limited by law, to direct and further the inclusion of art in its public works. The term “art” shall be liberally construed and includes the conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty and is of aesthetic value. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05; Ord. 5365, 3-24-08)
2-8-3 FUNCTION:
A. The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council in connection with the artistic and cultural development of the City. The Commission shall also act as the conservator of the City’s works of public art.
B. The Commission shall be responsible for reviewing the design, execution and acceptance of works of art funded or otherwise acquired by the City. Procedures for these responsibilities shall be developed by the Commission in writing and a copy thereof shall be filed with the City Clerk of the City and furnished unto the office of the Mayor and City Council. Such procedures shall not be in full force and effect until approved by the City Council.
C. The Commission shall develop a Five-Year Master Plan for Arts and Culture, which shall include the City’s vision and goals for future works of public art, and a strategic plan for implementing these goals.
The Five-Year Master Plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Mayor and City Council on an annual basis. During the Commission’s annual review of all capital improvement projects as set forth in subsection D of this Section, the Mayor shall propose, for Council review and approval, which Master Plan elements should receive funding based on the projected one percent (1%) for art funding guidelines as set forth in RMC 2‑8‑7 or as otherwise determined by the City Council.
D. Prior to August 1st of each year or during the City’s annual budget process, the Commission shall review with the Mayor, or his/her representative, all capital improvement projects anticipated within the following two (2) year period to determine which projects are appropriate for inclusion of works of art and to estimate the amount to be allocated for said purpose. The Mayor, with appropriate budgetary authorization from the City Council, may establish the amount to be provided for the project(s), as guided by RMC 2‑8‑7. If, however, the Mayor decides that there will be no funds expended for art on a municipal construction project, and upon concurrence from the City Council, then the funds allocated therefor shall be expended as set forth in RMC 2-8-7C or as otherwise determined by the City Council. Copies of any proposals prepared by the Commission shall likewise be furnished to the Department of Community and Economic Development of the City.
1. Definition of municipal construction project: Any public building, decorative or commemorative structure, park, street, sidewalk, parking facility, or any portion thereof, within the City limits, which will be constructed, renovated or remodeled, and paid for wholly or in part by the City, and the total project cost of which exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) to construct, renovate or remodel.
2. “Municipal construction project” shall not be defined to include capital projects paid for wholly or in part by the City’s water and sewer utility.
E. Whenever a work of art is to be funded under this Chapter the Commission shall, under its guidelines, select the appropriate work(s) of art and recommend that work(s) of art to the City Council. The City Council shall consider the recommendation of the Commission and either approve or refuse to approve the recommended work(s) of art. Should the Council refuse to approve the work(s) of art, then the Commission shall consider and recommend another work(s) of art to the City Council. Should the City Council approve the work(s) of art, then the administration shall proceed to contract with the appropriate artist or artists to obtain the work(s) of art. The contract with the artist or artists will be administered by the City staff.
F. Maintenance, inspection and rotation of works of art selected and installed under the advice and direction of the Renton Municipal Arts Commission shall be the responsibility of the administration of the City. The Commission may develop a conservation policy from which it may prepare specifications for a maintenance plan for the City’s works of art. The artwork maintenance shall be performed by the City’s Facilities Division. The Commission shall inspect such maintenance work and make recommendations for the guidance of the administration in so maintaining the works of art.
G. The Commission shall seek, whenever appropriate, alternative sources of financing for the visual and/or performing arts.
H. The Commission shall be responsible for disbursing money budgeted to it for support of cultural arts performances, arts-related activities and organizations. Such money shall be used to support specific performances such as choral concerts or play performances, performing arts events such as the River Days Art Show, or special projects of a performing arts group such as coaches and music tutors for the Renton Youth Symphony. Such funds may not be used for capital purchases, facility renovations, maintenance or other non-performance expenditures. Any such funded performance must be held in Renton and primarily benefit Renton residents. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05; Ord. 5365, 3-24-08)
2-8-4 APPOINTMENTS:
The Municipal Arts Commission shall consist of twelve (12) members appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the City Council. Of those twelve (12) members, at least four (4) shall be residents of the City and one member shall be under the age of 21 years. All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation for such service. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-8-5 MEMBERS:
The membership on the Commission shall, whenever possible, include members from a variety of art fields and related professions. The Mayor and City Council may solicit suggested nominations for such appointments from architectural, art, musical, literary, educational and other cultural organizations.
The Commission shall organize and elect a chairman annually. The Commission may organize such subcommittees as it deems necessary. In order to implement such purposes, the Commission may call upon such City departments as will assist the Commission’s function, and appointed City officials and members of the various City departments are encouraged to consult and advise with the Commission from time to time. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-8-6 TERM:
All such appointments to the Commission shall be for three (3) year terms, with one-third (1/3) of the terms expiring each year. All appointments heretofore made by the Mayor and City Council to such Municipal Arts Commission are hereby confirmed. Members of the Municipal Arts Commission may be removed at any time by the appointing authority and vacancies for the remainder of unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-8-7 WORKS OF ART AND PUBLIC FACILITIES:
A. Subject to the consultation requirements of RMC 2-8-3D, all authorizations and/or appropriations for municipal construction projects shall, concurrently, upon budgeting therefor by the City Council and authorization by the Mayor, whenever legally permitted, include an amount equal to not less than one percent (1%) of the actual total project cost, to be used for the selection, acquisition and/or installation of works of art to be placed in, on, or about City public facilities, which are suitable and appropriate therefor. The amount that is transferred to the one percent (1%) for art fund, based on the project’s budget cost that is used for planning purposes, shall be adjusted up or down from that amount, based on the actual total project cost after it has been completed. In the event any law, rule or regulation establishing a source of funds for a particular project, including but not limited to grants, loans, or assistance from Federal, State or other governmental units, prohibits, limits or excludes art and art works as a proper expenditure, then the amount of funds from such source shall be excluded in computing the one percent (1%) amount of the total project cost.
B. All funds authorized and/or appropriated pursuant to this Section shall be maintained in the one percent (1%) for arts fund. The City Council, upon the recommendation and advice of the Commission, shall approve, from time to time, the amount to be allocated for the selection, acquisition and/or installation of individual works of art to be placed either as an integral part of the municipal construction project in connection with which the funds were appropriated or attached thereto, or detached within or outside such project, or to be placed in, on or about other public facilities. All of such expenditures for art shall be approved by the City Council and as otherwise provided by law.
C. Funds authorized and/or appropriated pursuant to this Section for a municipal construction project but not expended on any such project shall be placed and retained in the one percent (1%) for arts reserve fund. If for any reason any transfer to such fund shall be contrary to law or prohibited by any rule or regulation governing such funds, then any such unspent or residual sum authorized and/or appropriated as a part of such construction project may be expended for any like or similar public purpose or purposes relating to the selection, acquisition and/or installation of works of art. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05; Ord. 5365, 3-24-08)
Prior legislation: Ords. 2969, 10-6-75; 3563, 7-27-81; 3678, 11-15-82; 3749, 9-26-83; 4380, 12-7-92 and 4838, 5-8-2000.