Chapter 19.51 — PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

Sections:

• 19.51.010 Purpose. 19.51.020 Definitions.

• 19.51.030 Funding.

• 19.51.040 Cultural and fine arts commission responsibilities.

• 19.51.050 Application.

The purpose of the public art ordinance is to authorize, fund, and establish procedures for artworks in the public realm within the city of Sonoma. It seeks to guarantee the development of public artwork as a whole in the city, ensuring a closer relationship between the landscape, buildings, community, and art. The chapter establishes a

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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process for the community to work with artists, city officials, and other stakeholders to make Sonoma an even more interesting, memorable, and beautiful place to live, work, visit, and engage with art.

The public art program seeks to:

• A. Contribute to the city’s civic pride and sense of identity, and enhance its physical and aesthetic environment;

B. Augment Sonoma’s reputation as a city that celebrates the arts, supporting the integration of art into public spaces as part of urban beautification and cultural enrichment;

C. Enrich the lives of Sonoma residents and visitors by incorporating both permanent and temporary visual arts into public spaces, expanding the public’s understanding of art and encouraging site-specific works that engage the surrounding environment;

D. Encourage collaboration between artists, landscape architects, urban planners, architects, engineers, and other designers to foster creative, multidisciplinary approaches to public art;

E. Integrate the work and thinking of artists into the planning, design, and construction of city facilities, buildings, and public spaces, ensuring that public art contributes to the overall aesthetics and functional design of these spaces;

F. Engage the residents of Sonoma in creative partnerships with artists, fostering community involvement in public art initiatives;

G. Provide curatorial expertise and project management for the acquisition, installation, and ongoing maintenance of public artworks in Sonoma;

H. Foster the growth of both temporary and permanent public artworks, ensuring that temporary installations contribute to the city’s cultural vibrancy and create opportunities for artists;

I. Support Sonoma’s vision of becoming an art destination by promoting public art that reflects the city’s history, cultural diversity, and creative spirit, and in the future, potentially aligning with the goals and guidelines that may be outlined in a public art master plan, if developed. (Ord. 02-2025 § 1, 2025; Ord. 04-2009 § 1, 2009).

“Permanent installation” means artwork or art placed at a site, intended to remain at that site for at least 20 years.

“Public art fund” means a fund within the city of Sonoma budget into which all monetary contributions for public artwork shall be deposited.

“Public art master plan” means a strategic document developed by a city, municipality, or organization to guide the vision, planning, implementation, and management of public art within a community.

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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“Public art policy and guidelines” means the regulations adopted by the cultural and fine arts commission and approved by the city council which establish procedures to carry out the purpose of this chapter. The public art policy and guidelines shall include but not be limited to criteria for the selection of artists and artwork, procedures for the maintenance of a file of interested artists, procedures for artistic competitions, and requirements for the maintenance of works of art. The cultural and fine arts commission may amend the guidelines from time to time with the approval of the city council.

“Public artwork” involves visual artists working through the public art process creating original works in public spaces that include, but are not limited to, paintings, murals, stained glass, fiber work, statues, reliefs or other sculptures, monuments, fountains, arches, or other structures intended for ornament or commemoration, carving, frescos, mosaics, mobiles, photographs, drawings, collages, prints, crafts or other decorative and utilitarian works in clay, fiber, wood, metal, plastics, and other materials. Public artwork includes media works such as film, video, photo projections, and computer-generated artworks. Works of art may be temporary as well as permanent. Public artwork projects also include artists serving on design and development teams to identify opportunities to incorporate art in the public space.

“Public development project” shall include, but is not limited to, the construction or remodel of any city-owned building, structure, park, utility, street, sidewalk, or parking facility, or any portion thereof, within the limits of the city of Sonoma.

“Public space” means any place or property within the city limits which is open to the general public for its use, or which is in public view, or is generally accessible and visible to the public.

“Temporary installation” means artwork or art placed at a site for a limited time period, typically less than twenty (20) years, after which it is removed, replaced, or allowed to degrade, according to an agreed-upon schedule. (Ord. 02-2025 § 1, 2025; Ord. 04-2009 § 1, 2009).

A. Establish a Public Art Fund. The city shall establish a special revenue fund designated as the “public art fund” for the deposit of gifts, bequests to the city for public artwork, and other funds for works of art in accordance with the public art program. The public art fund is used exclusively as a means of isolating and identifying all monetary transactions pertaining to the city public art program. Appropriation of funds to support the public art program shall be made to the public art fund, consistent with the city’s budget cycle, capital improvement plan, and major capital projects identified by the city council.

B. Public Development Projects. All public, city-owned development projects with total building permit valuation costs in excess of $250,000 shall devote an amount equal to one percent of such costs for the acquisition of works of art for placement in the city. For public projects with federal and/or state match requirements or grant-funded projects, the one percent shall only apply to the city’s portion of the project funding.

C. Annual City Allocation. An amount equal to one-quarter-of-one percent of the city of Sonoma’s budgeted general fund expenditures shall be appropriated annually to the city’s public art fund, provided that said

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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appropriation shall be capped at $25,000 per fiscal year. The city council reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive or reduce the annual allocation if the city’s financial situation does not allow for the funding to be set aside. The city council shall adopt such a waiver or reduction by adopting a resolution setting forth the findings for the waiver. (Ord. 02-2025 § 1, 2025; Ord. 04-2009 § 1, 2009).

The Sonoma cultural and fine arts commission shall:

• A. Oversee the city of Sonoma’s public art program and provide recommendations for strategies for implementing the public art program and expenditure of public art funds to the city council.

• B. Advise the city council on establishing, shaping and refining public art policy and guidelines for the city.

• C. Recommend to the city council the acceptance or rejection of gifts or loans of public artworks.

• D. Review and make recommendations on public art proposals and the selection of artists for public art projects to the city council.

• E. Collaborate with city staff on the development and implementation of the overall public art strategy.

• F. Review and make recommendations to the city council on the design, execution, placement, and maintenance of public art installations, including but not limited to the identification of sites for exterior public artwork.

• G. Advise on financial assistance, external funding sources, and support for public art initiatives.

• H. Review project budgets to ensure financial accountability and sustainability for public art projects.

• I. Provide reports to the city council on the accomplishments, needs, and impact of the public art program annually or at such other intervals as deemed necessary by the city council.

J. Perform other duties as assigned by the city council and/or city manager. (Ord. 02-2025 § 1, 2025; Ord. 04-2009 § 1, 2009).

This chapter shall apply to any public development project and public art installation, including both permanent and temporary artworks, as of the date the ordinance codified in this chapter takes effect. (Ord. 02-2025 § 1, 2025; Ord. 04-2009 § 2, 2009).

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code