TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jason Yarborough, ICMA-CM, Interim City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the City's Public Art Contribution Program
Recommended Action
Discussion and possible action regarding the City's Public Art Contribution Program.
Background Information
During the Commission Workshop on July 17, 2019, Commission provided direction to review the City's public art contribution requirement, due to escalating construction costs since the Unified Land Development Code computes the public art contribution fee as a factor of construction costs. The City of North Port public art requirements state that all new developments must "contribute an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of one percent (1%) of the first fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) in construction cost for the project for a maximum contribution of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) to the City Public Art Account." Further, the minimum threshold for projects to be subject to these requirements is $250,000.00. The maximum mandated contribution is $250,000.00. It is important to note that while construction costs have increased for development Projects, this escalation would also apply to the purchase and installation of public art.
At the Commission Regular Meeting on January 14, 2020, staff provided a review of sixteen (16) public art Ordinances used by local governments in the State which mandate contributions towards public art for private development projects. Further, staff provided public art calculations using the different methodologies used across the State for a sample project. Commission discussed the following:
1. Methodologies for determining Public Art Fund contributions.
2. The original intent of the Public Art Fund.
3. The possibility of basing the requirements for Public Art Fund contributions on a Public Art Plan.
4. The Art Advisory Board's role in creating this plan.
5. Establishing focal ...
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