Alameda County Municipal Code Ch. 2.70 Alameda County Art Commission

The board of supervisors of the county, declares it will serve the best interests of our citizens and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of our county by encouraging the performing arts, artists, architects, landscape architects designers, art patrons and institutions of art, to the end that our county be developed and enriched by the performing arts and by works of art, monuments, fountains, the best in architectural design and physical environment; and to provide at the county level leadership and encouragement to all the cities, local areas and other governmental subdivisions of the county to accomplish said purposes.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.01)

In order to further the said policy of the county, there is in the county an Alameda County art commission, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the commission.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.02)

A. The commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members appointed by members of the board of supervisors and seven ex officio members, as follows: each supervisor shall appoint three members. The ex officio member shall be the following individuals:

1. Director of Alameda County community development agency;

2. Director of Alameda County public works agency;

3. Director of Alameda County general services agency;

4. Dean of Fine Arts of the California State University at Hayward;

5. Director of the Oakland Museum of California;

6. Director of the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive of the University of California at Berkeley;

7. Dean of the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland; or their respective authorized representative.

B. The fifteen (15) appointed members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing supervisor and shall have terms of four years. No member shall serve more than two terms in succession, except the ex officio members who shall serve as long as they hold the office that qualifies them as ex officio members. The appointing member of the board of supervisors shall fill any vacancy on the commission occurring among his or her appointees; the person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of the person he or she succeeds. In addition to the above twenty-two (22) voting members of the commission, the board of supervisors may appoint one of its own members to act as a liaison representative to the commission, without voting power or office on the commission. Each appointed member of the commission shall be a resident of the county of Alameda.

(Ord. 2202-5 § 1 (part): Ord. 95-73 § 1: prior admin. code § 5-36.03)

The commission shall annually select four members to serve as chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer, respectively. Seven commissioners shall constitute a quorum. A motion by any member may be passed by a majority of the members attending a meeting. The commission shall meet at least once every two months in a room accessible to the public in a county building. Additional or special meetings may be called at any time by the chair or by seven or more members of the commission and may be held in any place accessible to the public. The appointment of any member who has been absent from three successive regular or special meetings without the approval of the commission is automatically terminated, and the appointing member of the board of supervisors shall appoint his or her successor, except ex officio members. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business not inconsistent herewith, and any such rules and regulations shall be published and made available to the public.

(Ord. 2002 § 1 (part): prior admin. code § 5-36.04)

The board of supervisors shall furnish the commission with necessary quarters, personnel, equipment and supplies, together with usual and necessary operating expenses in accordance with the established county policy of budget and personnel.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.06)

No member of the commission shall participate in any recommendation affecting any work of art in which he is interested directly or indirectly.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.07)

A. Coordinate and strengthen existing public organizations in the fields of the performing arts and visual art and develop cooperation with city and regional organizations;

B. Encourage the beautification of the appearance of the county;

C. Advise the board of supervisors on all matters affecting the beauty and culture of the county;

D. Render advice and assistance in the fields of the performing arts and visual art, aesthetics and beautification, whenever requested, to city boards, school boards, commissions and other governmental agencies or quasi-governmental agencies;

E. Review and make recommendations upon all works of art to be acquired by the county, either by purchase, gift or otherwise, and their proposed locations;

F. Review and make recommendations to the board of supervisors concerning the preforming arts and upon the design and site development of any building, structure, bridge and its approaches, arch or ornamental fountain, paid for either wholly or in part by county funds, or for which the county is to furnish a site. Any recommendations made by the commission shall, whenever possible, conform to the general plan of the county;

G. Review and make recommendations with reference to the design of any county parks, scenic or historical sites prior to the time of the acquisition, development or alteration thereof by the county;

H. Review and make recommendations with reference to any existing works of art in the possession of the county in connection with the removal, relocation or alteration thereof;

I. Offer advice on architectural and aesthetic considerations of schools, quasi-public buildings, and site development whenever requested;

J. Review and make recommendations to the board of supervisors on county expenditure programs which support the arts and provide administrative support for such programs;

K. Administer the Alameda County State/Local Partnership Program for the Arts on behalf of the board of supervisors;

L. Conduct such art activities as are necessary to support the Alameda County State/Local Partnership Program for the Arts and other related county art programs, including raising funds and hiring consultants as approved by the board of supervisors;

M. Prepare an annual report to the board of supervisors which outlines the status of arts programs in Alameda County and projects future commission activities on a two-year basis.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.08)

"Works of art," as used in this chapter shall include all paintings, mural decorations, inscriptions, stained glass, statues, reliefs or other sculptures, monuments, fountains, arches, or other structures intended for ornament or commemoration.

(Prior admin. code § 5-36.09)