The Santa Maria City Council will vote on the Santa Maria Arts Master Plan and a public art funding ordinance on Oct. 3, and the Santa Maria Arts Council is asking for the public to show up and share their opinions.
“We ask you to step forward and speak on behalf of this ordinance that will provide an opportunity for Santa Maria to begin a plan to implement public art in a meaningful way,” the organization said in an email announcement. “The City Council needs to hear that you support this plan. Don’t let this opportunity to beautify our community slip by.
The City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would determine how much developers should contribute to the fund for public art. The Public Art Master Plan was drafted after local residents expressed a desire for more public art such as beautified utility boxes (pictured), murals, and even painted fire hydrants. The Santa Maria Arts Council, which represents more than 20 art agencies in the region, helped create the plan. On April 6, the Planning Commission reviewed the plan, with some members disputing a 1 percent fee on new development that would fund public art.
The meeting is set to take place at Santa Maria City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. For more information, visit cityofsantamaria.org.
