Agenda Item C.1
CPMS DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
Meeting Date: November 4, 2025
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Jaime A. Valdez, Assistant City Manager
PREPARED BY: Blake Markum, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: First Reading of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the City of Goleta Municipal Code RECOMMENDATION:
Introduce and conduct first reading (by title only) and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 25-__, entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.”
BACKGROUND:
On October 7, 2025, t he City Council adopted the City of Goleta Public Art Policy as amended. At that meeting, s taff indicated that staff would return to the Council with a revised ordinance adding the Council’s desired public art advisory body to the Goleta Municipal Code.
DISCUSSION:
The Public Art Policy establishes that two members of the City’s Design Review Board and three art advisory members will review public art projects. Because this body is made up of less than a quorum of Design Review Board members, it is considered a new advisory body.
Staff have drafted an ordinance adding the purpose, qualifications, and responsibilities for the newly formed Public Art Review Body to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code. The recommended ordinance is included in this report as Attachment 1.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The City Public Art Policy establishes new requirements for the review of Public Art Projects by the Planning and Environmental Review Department, the Public Art Review 1 Meeting Date: November 4, 2025
Board, and City Council. Additional staff time will be required to prepare staff reports for review by these bodies and to coordinate with artists, property owners, and other stakeholders. Actual staff time will be depende nt on the public art activity levels. At the August 19, 2025, City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to establish a fee waiver for City -funded/City-owned public art projects. As such, the cost of reviewing these projects will need to be absorbed by the City. Art projects on private development are subject to the normal permitting and design review process and are not subject to a fee waiver. It is estimated that the user fee for an Art Review Board Hearing will be similar to the current Design Review Board Hearing fee of $1,791.00. Staff will incorporate a user fee for design review of public art projects on private developments during the annual user fee update process.
In addition, per the proposed ordinance, the City Council may establish the compensation to be paid to the members of the Board by resolution. Most City Board and Commission members are currently compensated $75 per meeting attended. Staff will return with a resolution establishing the compensation rate for Public Art Review Board members upon the second reading of this proposed ordinance.
Staff does not anticipate a large number of public art projects coming forward . Annual costs for compensating the Board members are anticipated not to exceed $1,500 – enough to compensate the fi ve Board members for four meetings . For the current fiscal year, staff propose funding compensation for the Public Art Review Board members from the Economic Development line item under the City Manager Office’s budget. The future compensation shall be added as a separate line item to the City Manager’s Office budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council is under no obligation to adopt the proposed ordinance at this time.
Choosing not to adopt the ordinance will cause delays in implementation of the Public Art Policy including recruitment of the advisory body members.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Isaac Rosen, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 25 -__, entitled “ An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act”
2 ATTACHMENT 1
Ordinance No. 25-__, entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act”
3 65266.01006\44310171.3
ORDINANCE NO. 25-__
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF GOLETA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING
CHAPTER 2.20 ENTITLED “ PUBLIC ART REVIEW
BOARD” TO TITLE 2 OF THE GOLETA MUNICIPAL
CODE AND FINDING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, on October 7 , 2025, the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, adopted Resolution No. 25-44 entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Adopting a City Public Art Policy”; and
WHEREAS, the adopted policy , as amended and consistent with Council direction, establishes the Public Art Review Board as the advisory body for review of public art projects; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that public art contributes significantly to the City’s identity, enhances quality of life for residents and visitors, enriches the character of the community, and promotes a unique sense of place; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the selection, placement, and design of public art projects require careful consideration and specialized expertise to ensure their artistic quality, appropriateness, long -term durability, and safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a formal, transparent, and consistent process for reviewing proposed public art projects that incorporates public input and expert guidance; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a Public Art Review Board, composed of individuals with demonstrated expertise in the visual arts, architecture, urban design, art history, or related fields, will provide the City Council with valuable, informed, and advisory recommendations on public art matters; and
WHEREAS, all prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GOLETA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
4 Ordinance No. 25 -__ - Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “ Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code
SECTION 1. Establishment of Public Art Review Board.
Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code, “Administration and Personnel,” is amended to add Chapter 2.20 entitled “Public Art Review Board,” to read in its entirety:
CHAPTER 2.20 PUBLIC ART REVIEW BOARD
§ 2.20.010. Purpose.
The purpose of the Public Art Review Board is to act as an advisory body to the City Council and the staff on public art as described in the City of Goleta Public Art Policy.
§ 2.20.020. Created.
A Public Art Review Board for the City is created.
§ 2.20.030. Members.
The Public Art Review Board shall consist of five members.
§ 2.20.040. Appointment.
Board Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council according to the process established in Chapter 2.15.
§ 2.20.050. Qualifications of Members.
A. Applicants and members must demonstrate respect for the diversity of the Goleta community and be committed to ensuring equity, inclusion, and access for all residents and visitors in the provision of government services.
B. The Public Art Review Board shall be composed of three art advisory members and two members of the Design Review Board. The art advisory members shall be City residents with training, knowledge, or experience in the arts. The two Design Review Board members shall be any two member s selected for service on the Public Art Review Board at the discretion of the Design Review Board and need not be City residents.
C. No member of the Public Art Review Board may be an employee or officer of the City.
§ 2.20.060. Meetings.
A. The Public Art Review Board shall have no regular meetings and shall meet as required to review projects.
5 Ordinance No. 25 -__ - Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “ Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code
B. Three members shall constitute a quorum, but a quorum must contain a minimum of two City residents.
§ 2.20.070. Responsibilities.
The Public Art Review Board shall advise the City Council and staff on public art according to the procedures and criteria established in the City of Goleta Public Art Policy, on file with the City Clerk. § 2.20.080. Terms of Office.
A. The art advisory members of the Public Art Review Board shall be appointed for a term of three years. There shall be no limit to the number of terms to which the art advisory members may be appointed.
B. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council pursuant to Chapter 2.15 of this code.
C. The Design Review Board members selected to serve on the Public Art Review Board shall be appointed for a term of one year to the Public Art Review Board . There shall be no limit to the number of term s to which Design Review Board members may be appointed to serve on the Public Art Review Board.
§ 2.20.090. Compensation.
City Council may establish by resolution the compensation to be paid to the members of the Board.
SECTION 2. No Conflict with Federal or State Law.
Nothing in this Chapter is intended to create any requirement, power, or duty that is in conflict with any federal or state law.
SECTION 3. Certification of City Clerk.
The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and, within 15 days after its adoption, shall cause it to be published in accord with California Law.
SECTION 4. CEQA
Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.3 and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guide lines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5), the proposed Ordinance does not qualify as a "project" for the purposes of CEQA because the Ordinance does not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The Ordinance proposed does not, by itself, have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment. 6 Ordinance No. 25 -__ - Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “ Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code
SECTION 5. Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Effective Date.
This ordinance shall take effect on the 31 st day following adoption by the City Council.
INTRODUCED ON the ___ day of ________, 2025.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this ________day of ______ 2025. _________________________
PAULA PEROTTE
MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________ _________________________
DEBORAH S. LOPEZ ISAAC ROSEN
CITY CLERK CITY ATTORNEY
7 Ordinance No. 25 -__ - Adding Chapter 2.20 entitled “ Public Art Review Board” to Title 2 of the Goleta Municipal Code
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss.
CITY OF GOLETA )
I, DEBORAH S. LOPEZ , City Clerk of the City of Goleta, California, do hereby certify that the for egoing Ordinance No. 25-__ was introduced on _______, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, held on the _______, by the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
(SEAL)
_________________________
DEBORAH S. LOPEZ
CITY CLERK
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