Monterey County staff presented preliminary findings on creating an Arts Master Plan for the county’s unincorporated areas and recommended next steps to the Board of Supervisors.

Richard Vaughn, the county’s economic development manager, said an arts master plan would guide curation, placement and preservation of public art and typically involves two years of outreach and stakeholder engagement. Citing examples from other counties, Vaughn said contracting costs to produce a plan commonly range from about $150,000 to $250,000 and ongoing program budgets elsewhere fall in the $250,000–$500,000 range, though scope varies by jurisdiction.

Vaughn recommended considering a public‑arts policy before undertaking a full master plan. He noted potential funding sources including portions of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)/DSA, development set‑aside funds and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, but said no single funding source was yet identified and CDBG carries project‑specific restrictions.

Supervisor Alejo and Jackie Atchison of the Arts Council for Monterey County said the Arts Council would be willing to lead much of the community outreach and help limit county staff burden. Supervisors raised questions about ensuring countywide and culturally specific representation, protecting small‑community voices and identifying funding and deliverables. During public comment Eloise Shim opposed a master plan on the grounds it could divert existing arts funding and said the Arts Council already existed.

The Board directed staff to return with a more detailed cost estimate, to outline what a public‑arts policy would cover versus a full master plan, and to present a recommended path forward at a future meeting.