Title
Consideration of Citizen Petition Submitted by Elizabeth Mann Related to the Chinese Cultural Center
Description
This report provides the City Council with information in response to a citizen petition submitted by Ms. Elizabeth Mann at the Oct. 17, 2018 Formal City Council meeting regarding the Chinese Cultural Center and public art (Attachment A).
Report
Summary
The petition requests confirmation that the Chinese Cultural Center is a "City Public Art program" and that the city preserve its "Public Art program."
Though the artwork and architectural enhancements at the Chinese Cultural Center are visible to the public, they are not part of the City of Phoenix Public Art Program, and are what is known as art in private development. The stipulation mentioned in the petition refers to art that was a condition of the original zoning approval in 1988. The art elements were paid for with private funds to enhance private property, and belong to and are maintained by the owner of the property. Though there are records of the City using a set of informal guidelines for adding art requirements to private property rezoning requests in the 1980s and 90s, and developers of private parcels sometimes are required to include art in their projects, the City Council never adopted any guidelines and the Zoning Ordinance does not contain provisions that require art. There are provisions for instances when art is provided and how it may be used for bonuses, but no outright requirement for art in private development is contained in the Zoning Ordinance.
Though the petition uses the term "public art" to describe art elements at the Chinese Cultural Center, the City of Phoenix Public Art Program invests funds from the City's Capital Improvement Program solely to enhance the design of City property. These Public Art Program funds cannot be spent on private property. Thus the art referenced in the petition falls outside of the jurisdiction of the City's Public Art Program and the legal parameters within which that art is created, maintained and controlled by the public.
Location
Northwest corner of 44th Street and Fillmore Street
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Mario Paniagua and Karen Peters, the Office of Arts and Culture and the Planning and Development Department.