The South Pasadena Public Art Commission reviewed a draft public-art policy handbook Sept. 29 and provided detailed edits on community engagement, mural policy, maintenance responsibilities and process clarifications. Commissioners asked staff to return with a revised draft at a special commission meeting on Oct. 27.

Community Development Director Erica Ramirez presented the draft and noted it mixed existing code requirements with ad hoc recommendations; she asked the commission for feedback before producing a final draft for recommendation to city council. Ramirez said the handbook will be used to fill procedural gaps not specified in code, such as artist selection criteria, RFQ/RFP processes and ascension/de‑ascension guidance.

Public comment included Rick Schneider of the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation, who urged quick adoption and offered the foundation’s help to site an artwork at the Flores Adobe: “We are very interested in having a public art display in front of the Adobe Flores,” Schneider told the commission.

Commissioners raised specific edits. Several members asked staff to remove or narrow a proposed requirement that murals be supported by a separate community engagement process, saying the commission’s public meetings already provide public comment and that additional mandatory outreach could introduce delay. One commissioner said, “I suggest we strike that whole section. Community participation and engagement.” Another raised a related point and proposed limiting detailed mural review to art on public property or developments that trigger the public-art requirement; commissioners sought removal of a blanket statement that private-property murals must be approved by this commission unless they are required by a development condition.

On technical points, commissioners said the handbook should distinguish an RFQ (artist qualifications) from an RFP (project-specific proposal), affirm that any private-development art required under code must be tracked and that the commission should receive a standing report at every meeting listing projects that are subject to the public-art requirement. Staff agreed to provide an updated project list and to add language clarifying maintenance responsibility: when art is created or purchased with public-art funds, the city retains maintenance responsibility; when art is privately installed as part of a development condition, the property owner is responsible for upkeep.

Commissioners also discussed utility-box artworks and noted the need to confirm ownership (utility company vs. city) before assigning maintenance responsibility. Vice Chair Velasco and others asked staff to add an attribution requirement — e.g., a plaque or artist acknowledgement for public installations — and to ensure forms and checklists capture building valuations so public-art fees are identified early in the review process.

Mayor and councilmembers contributed a small “seed” allocation to the public-art fund before the meeting: Councilmember Michael Caccietti, Mayor Sheila Rossi and another councilmember pledged discretionary funds totaling $9,500 toward public art. Commissioners asked staff to circulate the draft by Oct. 13 and scheduled a special Oct. 27 meeting at 6 p.m. to consider a final version for recommendation to council.

Staff and commission members also discussed outreach steps: developing an artist roster/email list, publishing a clear project inventory, and coordinating with public works on ideas such as decorative crosswalks. Ramirez said she would incorporate edits and return with a final draft for review at the Oct. 27 meeting.