The city of Santa Maria’s Community Development Department Director Lawrence Appel visited the Santa Maria Arts Council meeting on Aug. 19 to announce to the group of local art advocates that recent calls for more public art at two recent Downtown Specific Plan meetings was appreciated and acknowledged. Appel announced his renewed pursuit of a draft mural ordinance to be presented to the Planning Commission and ultimately the City Council.
The ordinance is expected to “dovetail” with the Downtown Specific Plan, Appel told the Sun via email. Appel and Community Development Department Planner Neda Zayer spoke about the possibility of voting for art pieces, murals, and suggestions from the community. Councilmembers and visitors offered up ideas, and the Arts Council offered support through its Public Art Committee.
More information is available at cityofsantamaria.org.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 3, 2015.