June 1, 2001 305-294-4406

At its May 16 meeting in Key Largo, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners passed an historic ordinance providing for funding of art in new public construction and major renovations projects.

The ordinance states that one percent of the construction costs for county construction (except for sewage treatment) will be set aside for the acquisition, commission, installation, and maintenance of works of art in public buildings. This appropriation applies to new construction exceeding $500,000 or renovations exceeding $100,000 in cost.

The BOCC will establish an Art in Public Places Committee to review proposals for art to be acquired and installed in public projects. Each commissioner will appoint one voting member who lives in that commissioner’s district. One voting member will be a board or staff member of the Monroe Council of the Arts. The remaining voting members will represent the art, architecture, and design communities and the general public.

The county administrator will appoint two nonvoting members on a project-by-project basis, to include the architect, building or project supervisor, or similar personnel.

For more information call Hal Howland, 852-1469 ext. 4369, 743-0079 ext. 4369, or 294-4406.