More art could soon be seen around Turlock as the City Council will consider adopting a new Public Art Policy and Guidelines at a special meeting on Tuesday.
The Turlock Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission has been working on a new public art policy for quite some time and a draft version of the guidelines was reviewed by both the PARC and the City Council during a joint meeting in September.
Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Manager Erik Schulze said the intent of the Public Art Policy and Guidelines is to place a variety of public art pieces throughout the City, making it accessible to the entire community. The Public Art Program is designed to offer a wide range of artistic styles, themes and media, all of outstanding quality that showcase the City of Turlock and reflect the community’s values and traditions.
Under the policy, all projects would be directly sponsored, managed and controlled by the City of Turlock, with the City having sole discretion to select those messages it wants to promote.
As detailed in the proposal, any group or individual that wishes to display public art must first complete a Public Artwork Permit application, which will be reviewed by City staff and the PARC to ensure conformance with all criteria and applicable land use regulations before appearing before City Council.
Following suggestions from the joint meeting, the Public Art Policy and Guidelines were changed to define if art work would be temporary or permanent and require a biography from the artist that includes their experience and background that pertains to the proposed work.
City commission vacancies
The Deputy City Clerk will give a report to the City Council on Tuesday on the upcoming vacancies on the Turlock Planning Commission and Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission.
The Turlock Planning Commission is comprised of seven regular members, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, which meet on the first Thursday of each month. Each member serves four year terms with term limits established at 12 years.
Current Planning Commissioners Soraya Fregosi and Jeanine Bean will be terming out as of Dec. 31.
The Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission is comprised of seven members, appointed by the Mayor with approval from the City Council, which meet on the second Wednesday of each month.
The Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission's mission is to encourage, stimulate, promote and foster programs for the enrichment of the City and hereby contribute to the quality of life in Turlock and develop an awareness in the business community, in local government and in the general public of the value and benefits of the constructive use of leisure time in Turlock.
The Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission can initiate, sponsor or conduct, alone or in cooperation with other public or private agencies and/or individuals, programs to further the development and public awareness of, and interest in, recreation, neighborhoods, community policing, youth master planning and senior master planning.
Current Parks and Arts Commissioners Larry Yeakel and Lakneshia Diaz's terms will be up come Dec. 31.
The Community Development Block Grant Community Grant Selection Committee also has vacancies. This committee does not have a set number of members.
The City of Turlock is a CDBG entitlement jurisdiction funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. All CDBG funds must benefit low to moderate income persons in Turlock.
Each year, around the beginning of the calendar year, a Notice of Funding Availability is published for the following city fiscal year (July through June). Non-profits may apply for funding to assist individual proposed Public Service activities in Turlock. A variety of activities are assisted with funds from HPS. CDBG funds have assisted activities such as: teen mother services, free food for the low income, cold weather shelter homeless services, gang prevention services at the local elementary schools and high school.
Turlock citizens interested in being considered for one of the commissions must fill out an application, available at the City Hall Administration desk, and return it to the City Clerk no later than Nov. 30.
Questions regarding serving on any of the boards or commissions can be directed to Jennifer Land, deputy city clerk, at 668-5540 ext. 1102 or jland@turlock.ca.us.
The Turlock City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
