Dear PAN,
The City of San José public art program has over the course of the past seven years come under intense scrutiny from the City Auditor. Specifically, the auditor has requested the complete elimination of all Capital Improvement public art
percent funding coming from ratepayers (water utility, storm and sewer). She succeeded with one of her recommendations to eliminate this funding from the Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) last year, which diminished our budget by 40%. There was legality to
that measure as that facility services tributary agencies. Her second measure, to eliminate the remainder of the funding, per our City Attorney does not have the same legality to it, and is not supported by the City Manager. Regardless, she is planning to
move forward with her recommendation.
My questions for public art administrators out there are:
1.)
Does your Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) funding for utility projects come from ratepayer funds?
2.)
Does your Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) funding for utility projects include funding for underground utility projects?
Your help with this research is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Michael Ogilvie
City of San José
Director of Public Art
(408) 793-4338 phone
