Chapter 2.26
ARTS COMMISSION

Sections:

2.26.010    Definitions.

2.26.020    Normandy Park arts commission.

2.26.030    Artists’ involvement in public art programs.

2.26.040    Selecting artists.

2.26.050    Budget.

2.26.060    Authority to accept donations.

2.26.070    Annual plan.

2.26.080    Cooperation with other commissions.

2.26.010 Definitions.

(1) “City” means the city of Normandy Park.

(2) “Commission” means the Normandy Park arts commission.

(3) “Commissioner” means an individual appointed to serve on the arts commission.

(4) “Council” means the Normandy Park city council.

(5) “Mayor” means the Normandy Park mayor.

(6) “Arts commission fund” means the fund that is allocated by the council to implement the programs and policies described in this chapter. (Ord. 807 § 2, 2007).

2.26.020 Normandy Park arts commission.

There is hereby created an arts commission.

(1) Commission Structure – Membership. The commission is an advisory body with seven appointed commissioners. At least six of the commission members shall reside within the city of Normandy Park at the time of appointment and throughout their terms of office. Up to one member may be a nonresident who works at a business, owns a business, or resides within one mile of the Normandy Park city limits at the time of appointment and throughout their term of office. The commission shall elect commission officers, which shall include a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary who shall serve for at least one year.

(2) Appointment. The mayor shall appoint seven commissioners, whose appointments shall be subject to confirmation by the council. Commissioners shall be conversant with art and be experienced with community issues and concerns. Prior to appointing members, public notice of available positions shall be provided at least two weeks in advance of appointment.

(3) Commission Terms. Initially, all commissioners will be reappointed to existing terms in effect prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. All subsequent appointments made at the termination of the initial terms as provided in this section shall be for a period of three years. Any vacancies occurring in the commission other than by the expiration of terms shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members shall serve without salary or other compensation.

(4) Commission Responsibilities. The commission shall be responsible for advising and making recommendations to the mayor and city council or other commissions or boards of the city on matters including but not limited to those set forth in this section.

(a) The commission shall be entrusted to represent the city’s interest in arts matters, developing policies for the acquisition, display and presentation of public art, identifying projects that can benefit from artists’ involvement, selecting and commissioning artists, providing oversight for the maintenance of the artwork after the work is in place, and the development of the annual program plan.

(b) The commission shall make a report to the council at least annually and shall keep the mayor and council informed on all such related matters.

(c) The commission shall act as a central body to whom arts organizations, artists, and anyone interested in cultural advancement of the community may come for information or assistance, shall encourage and aid programs for cultural enrichment of Normandy Park citizens, and shall coordinate and strengthen existing organizations in the field of art.

(d) The commission will seek to develop cooperation with arts schools and regional and national arts organizations and will explore and obtain private, local, state, and federal funds to promote art projects within the community.

(e) The commission shall also review and make recommendations on works of art acquired by the city, and render any other services in the field of art, aesthetics, or beautification of the city when requested.

(5) Meetings. All commission meetings shall be open to the public, and notice of the meetings shall comply with the Washington Open Public Meetings Act and documents will be deemed subject to Chapter 42.17 RCW. The commission shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly. The commission shall keep minutes of its regular public meetings, and records of all official actions shall be made available to the public upon approval of the minutes by the commission. A majority of all the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at a regular or special meeting of the commission.

(6) Staff Services. The city manager will appoint staff to provide administrative support to the commission.

(7) Procedures. The commission shall establish its own procedures and rules for the transaction of its business. The procedures shall address the receipt and processing of citizen proposals and requests. The rules of the commission shall provide that the commission may appoint subcommittees in order to meet those functions and responsibilities of the commission. Any subcommittee appointed by the commission shall be advisory to the commission only.

(8) Removal from the Commission. The city council may remove any member of the commission from office, after public hearing, for incompetence, incompatibility or dereliction of duty, or malfeasance in office, or other good cause. The mayor shall appoint a new member subject to confirmation by the council to complete the remainder of the term of the removed member. Any member who is absent, and not excused, from three consecutive duly called meetings shall be considered to have resigned from the commission. (Ord. 862 § 1, 2010; Ord. 807 § 3, 2007).

2.26.030 Artists’ involvement in public art programs.

The commission will involve artists at the earliest appropriate project stage. The commission will establish the artist selection process and define the scope of the work on a case-by-case basis to be included within the annual public art program. (Ord. 807 § 4, 2007).

2.26.040 Selecting artists.

Artists shall be selected to participate in the city’s public art program through one of the following ways:

(1) Open Competition. The commission or a designated art selection panel may solicit through public advertisement requests for artists’ slides, resumes, and letters of interest. The commission or designee will review submittals and recommend an artist that meets the commission’s requirements.

(2) Invitational or Limited Competition. The commission or designated art selection panel may invite a limited number of artists to submit applications or prepare proposals. From this limited pool, the commission or designee may recommend artists based upon established criteria. (Ord. 807 § 5, 2007).

2.26.050 Budget.

A separate fund named the “arts commission fund” has been created to support the commission and the public art program. The commission programs and operating expenses shall be funded from this fund. The city manager shall be responsible for submitting the biennial operating budget to the city council. (Ord. 807 § 6, 2007).

2.26.060 Authority to accept donations.

The city may receive offers or donations of artwork or funds for public art. Potential donors will be referred to the commission to discuss the nature of the gift and for review and approval. After review, the commission will recommend consideration or rejection of the offer and make a site recommendation if applicable. All financial gifts, bequests, and donations accepted by the commission are subject to the approval by council.

Donated funds will be accounted for individually and may be administered by the city manager or designee, without further appropriation, consistent with the donor’s restrictions and direction from the commission. (Ord. 807 § 7, 2007).

2.26.070 Annual plan.

The commission, working in partnership with the city departments and citizens, shall develop an arts program plan describing the projects to be initiated from the arts commission fund, the budget recommended for each art project, and any special projects categories to allow for program flexibility and responsiveness by July 31st of even-numbered years. The plan shall be transmitted to the city manager who shall present the plan to the council as part of the biennial budget. (Ord. 807 § 8, 2007).

2.26.080 Cooperation with other commissions.

In carrying out the commission functions and responsibilities, the commission may cooperate with other municipal or county arts/cultural commissions. However, in no event shall any appropriation be made from the arts commission fund nor shall any work effort be made by the commission towards arts projects which are not consistent with the purpose and responsibility of the arts commission. (Ord. 807 § 9, 2007).