Burbank Asks Builders for Artistic Touch : Public art: The council supports law requiring developers to spend 1% of their project’s cost on sculpture, murals or mosaics.

Works of art may soon adorn the courtyards, parkways and walls of new Burbank buildings, adding a touch of pizazz to the elusive “Beautiful Downtown Burbank.”

The City Council on Tuesday endorsed a program that will require developers to devote 1% of the cost of a project to artwork that is accessible to the public. Council members ordered the staff to draft an ordinance that outlines the art program and are expected to approve the law next month.

Similar to programs in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Brea in Orange County, Burbank’s Art in Public Places plan is designed to make the city more attractive and to increase the accessibility of art.

“The environment has a tremendous impact on everyone daily, not just economically, but emotionally and spiritually,” said Kate Higgins, chairman of the Cultural Arts Task Force.

The ordinance would require developers of projects costing more than $500,000 to spend at least 1% of the total cost for art on the site. Low- and moderate-income housing, senior housing and nonprofit projects would be exempt. The work would be owned and maintained by the developer.

For example, the developer of a $2-million building would be required to place a $20,000 piece of art--most likely a sculpture, mural or mosaic--in public view.

The developer would select the form of artwork. A board would review each work mainly for structural problems and safety hazards, not artistic merit, said Richard R. Inga, parks and recreation director.

However the three-member review panel--two city board members and a council appointee--would be required to reject works that are “expressions of obvious bad taste or profanity, which would likely be offensive to the general public,” according to a memo outlining the program.

Artists and officials in cities with public art programs said Wednesday that it is rare for a review panel to reject an artist’s designs on artistic grounds.

Harold Pastorius, a Laguna Beach sculptor who has designed dozens of pieces for cities around the country, said creating art according to specific guidelines encourages creativity.

“It’s actually more of a challenge and shows greater creativity to work within the limitations,” he said.

More than 50 people attended Tuesday’s meeting to support the ordinance, which is similar to a 1986 proposal abandoned largely because it required developers to give money for arts programs directly to the city.

Only Councilman Robert Bowne voted against the program, saying that the cost of public art should be carried by the city as well as developers. “I think everyone should help pay for it,” he said.

In addition, the president of the Burbank Board of Realtors said he opposed it because the costs of the art would eventually be passed on to consumers. Allen G. Cottriel said art should be sponsored by donations, not mandated by law.

In Brea, where developers have been required to place artwork on project sites since 1975, the program has become a source of civic pride and the city offers monthly bus tours of the 95-piece collection.