TO:
Honorable Planning Commission Chair and Commissioners
THROUGH:
Masa Alkire, Community Development Director
FROM:
Adam Finestone, Planning Manager
Ted Faturos, Senior Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of A Zone Text Amendment to Expand the Types of Public Art That May Be Funded by the City's Art in Public Places Program
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission conduct a public hearing on the proposed zone text amendment to Section 10.90.060 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) related to the use of public art funds. The amendment would specify that such funds may be spent on the costs associated with a wide range of public art, visual arts and performing arts, including but not limited to paintings, murals, sculpture, literature, architecture, theater, film, music, and emerging art forms; and adopt the associated resolution recommending approval of said amendments to the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
Chapter 10.90 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) establishes regulations related to fees applied to certain developments to fund art in public places. The "art in public places" fee and associated regulations were added to the Municipal Code in 2002 with the City Council's adoption of Ordinance No. 2040. The fee is imposed "on every residential development of four or more units, and every commercial and industrial building project with a building valuation exceeding five hundred thousand ($500,000) dollars as determined by the Building Official." The fee is calculated as one percent of the project's total building valuation. The City collected $111,821 in these fees in calendar year 2025.
DISCUSSION:
Section 10.90.060 of the MBMC identifies the types of public art projects that can be funded by the "art in public places" fees, specifically stating that the fee can fund "works of art placed in public places or incorporated into public buildings, art educati...
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