GUEST OPINION: A lesson from Carmel's Clint Eastwood GUEST OPINION: A lesson from Carmel's Clint Eastwood (September 22, 2004)

By Erin Braddock Glanville

I am very disappointed in the City Council's surprise vote several weeks ago to repeal the Percent for Art ordinance. I'm disappointed in both why and how it was done.

In the weeks since the vote, I've had an opportunity to read several council members' justifications for their actions. As far as concern about public art being a burden for businesses to develop or maintain: the Art Commission had responded to these concerns by proposing an in lieu fee.

The concern that the art ordinance puts the burden entirely on the backs of a few businesses is incorrect. Because municipal buildings also fall under the ordinance, the entire community is supporting public art through our tax dollars. Furthermore, for those businesses that have public art on their premises, it is the best lure they could have to get me into their establishment. And I'm not unique.

Menlo Park is made up of people who care about the character of their city. Art in public places is, quite frankly, charming, thought-provoking, and creates a place that people are drawn to.

I grew up in Monterey, and long ago the mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood, instituted a number of stringent ordinances that business owners at the time thought were draconian. We're talking about orders of magnitude more costly than what we have here. But today, I don't think anyone would argue that today Carmel is one of the country's most charming areas to shop and visit.

The business community there is thriving, due in large part, to then-Mayor Eastwood's vision. Character is a driving force in establishing a feeling of community. I hope the council has the vision to see what role art plays in that.

Frankly, I hope we also institute some of the things council member Winkler mentioned in her Almanac Guest Opinion -- allowing artists to showcase their work with attribution. But it should be in addition to, not instead of the Percent for Art ordinance.

As far as the how the issue was addressed, I would remind the council that the individuals who staff city commissions volunteer their time, energy and expertise to serve the greater community. In this case, members had spent their volunteer time to research art ordinances for four years. The way in which you surprised them with this vote, to me, is inexcusable and showed a complete lack of respect. The council's actions have demoralized an entire commission to the extent they've all resigned.

I understand the constraints the council is under. It is a difficult task to balance the varying needs of the business community with those of the greater community. But no matter how difficult the job is, there is no excuse for the way this was handled. And if you don't think the council did anything wrong, why has an entire commission resigned? A leader does now allow this to happen.

Now that it has, we'll see the mettle of your leadership.

* What will you do next?

* Will you lead the charge for public art?

* Will you keep the art commission and take up the leadership to staff it?

* Or will you fold it into another commission to further extinguish art as part of the community?

* This is a defining moment. The job is left to you. My friends, neighbors, fellow parishioners, and fellow art lovers will be watching and waiting to see what you do next.

Erin Braddock Glanville lives on Menlo Oaks Drive in Menlo Park.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.