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Palo Alto Municipal Code
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Chapter 2.04 COUNCIL ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE*
Chapter 2.06 OFFICIAL CITY SEAL AND LOGO
Chapter 2.07 POST-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS
Chapter 2.08 OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS*
Chapter 2.09 CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE FOR DESIGNATED POSITIONS
Chapter 2.10 CABLE TELEVISION AND OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS - AWARD OF FRANCHISES BY THE CITY COUNCIL*
Chapter 2.11 VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS - APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS
Chapter 2.12 EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
Chapter 2.16 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GENERALLY
Chapter 2.18 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.20 PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.21 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
Chapter 2.22 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Chapter 2.23 UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
Chapter 2.24 LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.25 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Chapter 2.26 VISUAL ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Chapter 2.27 HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD
Chapter 2.28 FISCAL PROCEDURES*
Chapter 2.30 CONTRACTS AND PURCHASING PROCEDURES*
Chapter 2.31 PROPERTY CONTROL
Chapter 2.32 SALES AND USE TAX
Chapter 2.33 TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
Chapter 2.34 REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
Chapter 2.35 UTILITY USERS TAX
Chapter 2.36 PERSONNEL PROCEDURES
Chapter 2.37 BUSINESS TAX
Chapter 2.40 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Chapter 2.44 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
Chapter 2.48 SOLAR TAX CREDIT
Chapter 2.49 ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
Title 8 TREES AND VEGETATION
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY*
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC*
Title 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
Title 12 PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Title 13 IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE*
Title 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Title 22 PARKS*
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
Chapter 2.26
VISUAL ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Sections:
   2.26.010   Definitions.
   2.26.020   Visual art in public places funds.
   2.26.030   Duties of the public art commission.
   2.26.040   Standards for review.
   2.26.050   General rules for art in public places.
   2.26.060   City council review of artistic matters in the visual art in public places program.
   2.26.070   Public art for municipal projects.
2.26.010   Definitions.
   (a)   For the purpose of this chapter, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, certain terms as used in this chapter are defined as follows:
   (1)   "Art in public places" means any visual work of art displayed for two weeks or more in an open city-owned area, on the exterior of any city-owned facility, within any city-owned facility in areas designated as public area, lobbies, or public assembly areas, or on non-city property if the work of art is installed or financed, either wholly or in part, with city funds or grants procured by the city.
   (2)   "Work of art" means and includes, but is not limited to, a sculpture, monument, mural, fresco, relief, painting, fountain, banner, mosaic, ceramic, weaving, carving, and stained glass. "Work of art" normally would not include landscaping, paving, architectural ornamentation, or signs as defined in Chapter 16.20 of this code.
   (3)   "Permanent installation" means a work of art in a public place intended to remain or remaining for one year or more.
   (4)   "Temporary installation" means a work of art in a public place intended to remain for less than one year.
(Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
2.26.020   Visual art in public places funds.
   (a)   Special Reserve Account. The city manager shall establish in the capital improvement fund a special reserve account designated as the "visual art in public places reserve account." Said reserve account shall be credited annually with such funds as determined by the city council and with all funds received by the city for visual art in public places, whether contributed, earned, secured through grants, or otherwise obtained.
   (b)   Use of Funds. It is intended that funds in the visual art in public places reserve account may be appropriated in the annual budget to obtain and install visual art in public places, to maintain and refurbish visual art in public places when the cost of such maintenance exceeds funds currently available for the maintenance of public property in general, to obtain professional consultants to assist the city and the public art commission in selecting artists and visual art in public places, to preserve meritorious works of art in public places and on private property in public view, and to defray such other capital expenses which are, or may become, an integral part of the visual art in public places program.
   (c)   Review of Disbursements. Each proposed appropriation for the visual art in public places program and each disbursement from the visual art in public places reserve account shall receive the prior review and advice of the public arts commission.
   (d)   Additional Funding. The director of arts and culture shall explore on a continuing basis the availability of funds for the visual art in public places program from such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Commission, and other public and private agencies.
(Ord. 3930 § 25, 1990: Ord. 3888 §§ 2, 3, 1989: Ord. 3514 § 9, 1984: Ord. 3507 § 9, 1984: Ord. 3219 § 1, 1980: Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
2.26.030   Duties of the public art commission.
   (a)   The duties of the public art commission with respect to the art in public places program shall be as follows:
   (1)   To advise the city in matters pertaining to the quality, quantity, scope, and style of art in public places;
   (2)   To periodically review, at least once a year, the capital improvement program with the director of arts and culture and such other members of the city staff as may be appropriate for inclusion of works of art in various projects;
   (3)   To devise methods of selecting and commissioning artists with respect to the design, execution, and placement of art in public places and, pursuant to such methods, to advise the director of arts and culture on the selection and commissioning of artists for such purposes;
   (4)   To advise the city regarding the amounts to be expended on art in public places;
   (5)   To advise and assist the director of arts and culture in obtaining financial assistance for art in public places from private, corporate, and governmental sources;
   (6)   To review plans for the installation of art in public places;
   (7)   To review the inventory of art in public places and to advise the city in matters pertaining to the maintenance, placement, alteration, sale, transfer, ownership, and acceptance or refusal of donations of, and other mailers pertaining to, art in public places;
   (8)   To recommend the retention of consultants, consistent with the city's consultant selection procedures, to assist the city in making decisions concerning the art in public places program;
   (9)   To advise the city on such other matters pertaining to the art in public places program as may be appropriate;
   (10)   To advise and assist private property owners who desire such advice and assistance regarding the selection and installation of works of art to be located on their property in the public view;
   (11)   To act as a liaison between local artists and private property owners desiring to install works of art on their private property in public view;
   (12)   To give recognition to, and to maintain, an inventory of meritorious works of art in the public view;
   (13)   To endeavor to preserve works of art in the public view deemed to be meritorious by the public art commission through agreements with the property owner and/or the artist.
(Ord. 3930 § 26, 1990: Ord. 3888 § 4, 1989: Ord. 3219 § 2, 1980: Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
2.26.040   Standards for review.
   (a)   In performing its duties with respect to the art in public places program, the public art commission shall give special attention to the following manners:
   (1)   Conceptual compatibility of the design with the immediate environment of the site;
   (2)   Appropriateness of the design to the function of the site;
   (3)   Compatibility of the design and location within a unified design character or historical character of the site;
   (4)   Creation of an internal sense of order and a desirable environment for the general community by the design and location of the work of art;
   (5)   Preservation and integration of natural features with the project;
   (6)   Appropriateness of the materials, textures, colors, and design to the expression of the design concept;
   (7)   Representation of a broad variety of tastes within the community and the provision of a balanced inventory of art in public places to insure a variety of style, design, and media throughout the community that will be representative of the eclectic tastes of the community.
(Ord. 3888 § 5, 1989: Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
2.26.050   General rules for art in public places.
   (a)   Review of Permanent and Temporary Installations. Permanent installations shall receive the prior review and advice of the public art commission. Temporary installations shall receive the prior review and advice of the director of arts. Extensions of time for temporary installations to remain for one year or more may be granted by the director of arts in consultation with the public art commission. Permanent installations shall not be removed, altered, or changed without the prior review and advice of the public art commission.
   (b)   Private Sites for Art In Public Places. No work of art financed or installed either wholly or in part with city funds or with grants procured by the city shall be permanently installed on privately owned property without a written agreement between the city and the owner specifying the proprietary interests in the work of art, binding the owner to the general rules for art in public places, and specifying other provisions deemed necessary or desirable by the city attorney. Additionally, such written agreements, except those for murals which shall be exempt from the requirements imposed by this sentence, shall specify that the private property owner shall assure:
   (1)   That the installation of the work of art will be done in a manner which will protect the work of art and the public;
   (2)   That the work of art will be maintained in good condition; and
   (3)   That the insurance and indemnification will be provided as is appropriate.
   (c)   Consultation with the Artist. Installation, maintenance, alteration, refinishing, and moving of art in public places shall be done in consultation with the artist whenever feasible.
   (d)   Inventory of Art in Public Places. The director of art and culture shall maintain a detailed record of all art in public places, including site drawings, photographs, designs, names of artists, and names of architects whenever feasible. The director of arts and culture shall attempt to give appropriate recognition to the artists in publicity and promotion regarding art in public places.
(Ord. 3930 § 27, 1990: Ord. 3888 § 6, 1989: Ord. 3118 § 1, 1979: Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
2.26.060   City council review of artistic matters in the visual art in public places program.
   (a)   Recognizing that professional expertise is necessary and desirable in artistic matters, such as the selection of artists for a project, the selection of particular works of art, and the approval of designs and plans for works of art under the visual art in public places program, it is a policy that:
   (1)   Decisions on artistic matters will be made by city staff and the public art commission;
   (2)   The city council will not exercise its independent judgment on artistic matters unless the city council requests that the matter be agendized for its review;
   (3)   Unless the city council determines to exercise its independent judgment as provided above, sketches, designs, photographs, precise plans, art examples, and similar items on artistic matters will not be transmitted to the city council as a matter of course in conjunction with projects before the city council;
   (4)   The city council will refer questions, suggestions, requests, complaints, and similar items pertaining to the visual art in public places program to city staff and the public art commission for their review and response.
(Ord. 3888 § 7, 1989: Ord. 2892 § 2 (part), 1975)
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