Chapter 2.26 — ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION

Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 714-08 and 716-08.

It is the purpose of the Union City Arts & Culture Commission to review and advise the City Council, City staff and project sponsors on proposed public art installation sites in Union City, encourage and promote art programs and activities within the City, and perform other duties as outlined in this chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

• A. Artist—Any individual, or group of individual artists, whose body of work and activities demonstrates serious ongoing commitment to the fine arts.

• B. Public art—Includes, but is not limited to, paintings, drawings, mosaics, murals in any media, stained glass, statues or other sculptures, environmental artworks or public places designed by artists, monuments, fountains, arches or other structures of a permanent or temporary character intended for ornament or commemoration, integrated and functional architectural elements designed by the artist, video, photography, graphic arts and other media based works.

Ineligible installations include, but are not limited to, landscape architecture and landscape gardening, reproductions of original works of art, playground equipment, and directional elements such as signage.

• C. Public art installation—Any installation of public art on public property, within the public right-of-way, or as required as a condition of development on private property, in plain view of the public.

• (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019)

In order to further the public policy of the City, there is created and established an Arts & Culture Commission for the City of Union City, California consisting of five members plus two alternates, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Members of the Arts & Culture Commission shall either be a resident citizen at large or an artist.

The Commission shall elect one of its members to serve as Chair of the Commission, and another member as Vice Chair; officers shall be elected in December of each calendar year and shall serve one-year terms. On annual organization or upon vacancy of a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, the Arts & Culture Commission shall elect a Chairperson and/or a ViceChairperson to serve at the pleasure of the Arts & Culture Commission. The duties of the Chair shall be to set meeting dates, times and locations for Commission meetings, conduct Commission meetings, and represent the Commission before the City Council and the general public. The duties of the Vice Chair shall be to assume the duties of Chair in the absence of the Chair.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019; Ord. 895-22 § 3, 2022)

The term of office of the members of the Arts & Culture Commission shall be four years and members may be reappointed. At the expiration of the term so provided for, a successor shall be appointed by the Mayor with the concurrence of the City Council. Each Arts & Culture Commission member so appointed shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy among the appointed members shall be filled through appointment and qualified. Any vacancy among the appointed members shall be filled through appointment by the Mayor with the concurrence of the City Council for the unexpired portion of the term. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019)

Members of the Arts & Culture Commission shall be paid in an amount as specified by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019; Ord. 905-22 § 3, 2022)

The Arts & Culture Commission shall meet quarterly and as otherwise required to review and advise City staff and the City Council on proposed public art installations and to perform the duties specified under this chapter. The specific date, time and location of each Arts & Culture Commission meeting shall be determined by the Chair of the Commission, in consultation with City staff and the remaining Commission members. All meetings shall be open to the public. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019)

The Arts & Culture Commission shall be advisory only and shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

• A. Periodically reviewing and recommending changes in the City's public art guidelines and policies to the City Council;

• B. In accordance with City Council-approved guidelines, reviewing proposed public art installation sites and advising City staff and the City Council on public art installations proposed by project sponsors;

• C. In accordance with City Council-approved guidelines, conducting public art proposal processes (such as requests for proposals) for City-sponsored projects requiring public art installations;

• D. Encouraging and promoting art programs and activities within the City;

• E. Making recommendations to the City Council regarding local visual and performing art needs, activities and programs;

• F. Receiving and gathering input from the community on issues relevant to art policies;

• G. Enhancing community awareness of art resources;

• H. Performing such other functions and render such other reports and recommendations as may be directed by the City Council;

• I. Exercising only the powers herein above enumerated. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 856-19 § 3, 2019)