LAGUNA BUILDERS MUST PROVIDE ART

The Laguna Beach City Council has approved an ordinance that requires developers of large commercial or residential projects to provide or pay for public artworks.

The 5-0 action Tuesday night was expected after the council three months ago endorsed the concept as recommended by the city Arts Commission.

According to Councilwoman Bobbie Minkin, a major backer of the ordinance, the Laguna Beach plan is similar to those in effect in Brea and San Juan Capistrano.

“We see this as a move to reaffirm that Laguna Beach is still a leading arts community. This is something that we have been working toward for a long time,” Minkin said Wednesday.

The ordinance affects construction of residential projects of four or more units and commercial projects costing more than $225,000. The developer has two options: to provide an artwork in the project itself, or be assessed a fee equal to 1% of the project’s assessed valuation. The money from the special fee will be used for public artworks to be designated by the city.

Both Minkin and Leah Vasquez, chairwoman of the Arts Commission, said it was too early to estimate the amount of money to be raised. “There isn’t too much new construction going on in our city, so much of (the fee revenue) will come from existing projects,” Minkin said.

Vasquez said the public artworks under consideration include murals and fountains as well as sculptures that would be installed at various sites.