TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Kim Summers, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Doninique Samario, Public Information Officer
SUBJECT: Murrieta Public Art Policy Workshop
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Hold a workshop to discuss options for a City of Murrieta municipal arts policy.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
None.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Foster and promote an engaged, connected and caring community.
Aggressively pursue economic development.
BACKGROUND
The presence of public art has been an increasingly popular strategy for communities to improve their quality of life. Over the years, a variety of groups, businesses, and residents have desired to install art in public and private places in the City of (City).
The ’City of Murrietas General Plan 2035 <https://www.murrietaca.gov/303/General-Plan-2035> implementation plan includes a call to consider adoption of a public art ordinance (Action HC-A8) that 1) offers incentives for businesses to provide public art, and 2) establishes a fee for commercial and industrial projects that do not wish to install public art. This item is under the jurisdiction of the City Manager and is categorized as a long-term action.
As highlighted in many research articles, urban development strategies, such as designated cultural districts and tourist-targeted cultural investments, can help shape communities and governments. Arts and culture programs reflect group interests and values, forming community identity.
In the winter and spring of 2023, a group of three Master of Public Administration (MPA) students from the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy worked with City staff to explore options for a City municipal arts policy. This project was overseen by a professor from the USC School of Public Policy as part of the students’ capstone project in order to graduate from their MPA program. These MPA students worked in conjunction with and at the direction of City staff to perform interviews of community stakeholders, gather data regarding public art policy best practices in other jurisdictions, and provide analysis related to possible next steps if the City pursued a municipal arts policy.
The goal of this workshop is to present the findings and analysis of this capstone project, provide options for next steps, and receive input on the preparation of a public art policy for the City by the City Council, if desired.
The comprehensive report prepared by the students includes a variety of findings that highlight the following:
• The presence of public art and culture has been an increasingly popular strategy for local and urban development to improve quality of life;
• The City does not have an arts and culture department or policy to link interdepartmental resources such as development services, parks and recreation, and economic development;
• Collaboration among departments and stakeholders is needed to increase civic pride in arts and culture and avoid government and market failure;
• As a result of data collection, the research team found broad support for a public art policy among stakeholders;
• Research indicates that a fee associated with capital improvement projects is one of the most effective methods for funding an eventual public art policy; and
• The presence of a public art commission, as well as criteria for approval of public art pieces that are either acquired or donated, are the most prevalent components of public art policies implemented throughout the country.
Based on the MPA team’s findings and input from City staff, the following two points may serve as a framework for a discussion on the next steps if a municipal arts policy for the City of Murrieta is desired:
1. Establish a working group to develop a public art policy for the City of Murrieta; and
2. Initiate a pilot program for art in public spaces within the Downtown Specific Plan, Innovation Zone, and City-owned parks and public spaces. A draft of the pilot program would be brought back before the City Council prior to initiating pilot projects.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts beyond staff time to consider a public arts policy. If the City Council is interested in having staff develop a public art policy and consider a funding mechanism, there would be fiscal impacts to the City. Possible methods of funding a public arts policy will be brought back for consideration at that time. However, a decision could be made to pursue an arts policy without a funding mechanism.
ATTACHMENTS
1) University of Southern California Murrieta Public Art Policy Report