Beverly Hills : Vote on Art Contributions

The City Council has tentatively decided to increase the amount major commercial developers are required to contribute toward the creation of public art.

The City Council on Tuesday amended an ordinance to allow for annual adjustments to its cap on contributions from developers who have commercial structures with construction costs of more than $1 million.

The 1982 ordinance placed a cap of $50,000, but the amendment calls for yearly adjustments based on the consumer price index. The first adjustment, based on index increases since 1982, would put the cap at $61,000.

The amendment, which would take effect 30 days after a second council reading on Jan. 19, would not affect commercial structures valued at less than $1 million. Those developers would continue to pay .5% of the value of the project.