Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 25 Murals

It is the intent of the City Council, for purposes of promoting the local economy, tourism, and for the aesthetics of the City of Ceres, to adopt this chapter regarding murals, their location, and design.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. Downtown Ceres means the area from the south of Whitmore Avenue to the north side of El Camino between the east side of 2nd Street and the west side of 6th Street.

B. Mural means a permanent picture, painting, or other artwork applied to and made integral with an exterior wall surface of a building, structure, fence, or garden wall and which contains no copy, lettering, symbols, or any references directly related to the promotion of any product, business organization, or commercial enterprise.

C. Mural project permit means a permit issued by the City to a private party authorizing the painting of a mural within the City.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

Areas established. Murals shall be located in two areas of Ceres. Area One shall be located within Downtown Ceres only; Area Two shall be located within the remaining area of the City. The intent of the City Council is that murals be located in both Area One and Area Two, but the City Council encourages concentration of murals in the downtown area of Ceres. However, murals should not be denied in Area Two solely because the City Council intends to encourage concentration of murals in Area One.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

A. Anyone wishing to construct a mural must obtain permission from the property owner before a mural project permit will be approved.

B. Mural design approval required—Permit issuance. Prior to the painting, installation and execution of a mural, an application for a mural project permit must be submitted for review and approval by the City Manager or his/her designee

C. Mural design amendment—Approval required. Prior to amending a mural design (whether painted or not yet painted) that has been approved by the City Manager, an application for an amendment of the mural project permit shall first be approved by the Community Development Director or his/ her designee. Upon approval, the mural project permit shall be amended.

D. Murals constructed prior to the effective date of this chapter are not required to submit an application for a mural project permit, but an application for an amendment of a mural project permit must be submitted for review and approval by the Community Development Director or his/her designee prior to amending any existing mural design.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

The City encourages mural subject matter that is of historical significance to the growth and development of the City and its surrounding environs.

The following criteria shall apply to the design of murals submitted for approval:

A. The paint to be used and applied shall be appropriate for use in an outdoor locale and for an artistic rendition and shall be of a permanent, long-lasting variety that is safe to the public.

B. The mural shall be designed and painted by qualified mural artists with sufficient knowledge in the design of such projects and the application of paints for such projects.

C. The mural shall not contain moving structural elements, flashing or sequential lights, lighting elements, or other automated methods resulting in movement.

D. The mural shall not pose a potential traffic hazard.

E. The mural shall not contain any reference to or promotion of products, businesses, or commercial enterprises.

F. The mural shall not contain any obscene content.

The City Council may, from time to time, by resolution, adopt additional criteria and guidelines for the design of murals.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

All applications for mural project permits shall be referred to the City Manager or his/her designee for design review and comment. City staff may offer suggestions and recommendations to the applicant to assist in the decision-making process.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

Application fee and/or permit issuance. Each application for a mural project permit shall be accompanied by a mural project permit fee as established by City Council resolution from time to time.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)

Violations of this chapter shall be enforced consistent with title 19, Code Enforcement, of the Ceres Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2024-1084, § 1, 8-12-2024)