City to review public art law City to review public art law (January 21, 2004)

After a request by Menlo Park Mayor Lee Duboc, the City Council will be taking up the city's public art law for review and possible revision.

The law, which has been in effect since September 2002, requires developers of certain non-residential projects to pay 1 percent of construction costs to install a work of art. Some say it will make the city look more distinctive, while others say its costs are unfair to businesses.

At the council's January 14 meeting, Ms. Duboc said it's important to review all new laws, but Councilman Chuck Kinney urged his colleagues to refine the law, not "torpedo" it. He later said he was worried the law might be gutted.

City staff will next prepare a report on the status of art projects under the law, and include information on what other cities are doing about public art. A council hearing date has not been set.

The first Menlo Park project under the law, an ornamental bench at a 7-Eleven, has been approved but not yet installed.

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