BIA Bay Area has urged the Palo Alto City Council at its next meeting to eliminate a noisome fee for public art on new residential development because the fee raises development costs and impairs project feasibility. The Council will consider a two year suspension of its “1% for public art” development fee on private development during the October 6, 2020 meeting. The 1% for public art on private development has been implemented by many cities over the last few years. Palo Alto’s fee, adopted in 2013, requires the project to either provide public art onsite equals to at least 1% of the construction value, or to pay an equivalent in lieu fee. With the City is facing a severe budget crisis in the coming months several discretionary programs are now under review for suspension or elimination to curb expenditures, including the percent for public art program on public and private development. To read the Staff Report, click here. To read the BIA letter click here. To attend the meeting virtually, go here.