A proposal is currently being considered by City Council, which would require one percent of the total cost of new developments in the area to be set aside for public art.
The private sector component of the ordinance would require private developments costing $500,000 or more to pay an equivalent of one percent of the total cost of the development, which would be no more than $25,000.
The city would also set aside one percent of the general fund to be used for public art.
East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett said other cities across the country have similar ordinances and having an art fee would help bring more art, adding vibrancy to the city.
“It would integrate public art into our planning process and provide a sustainable funding source of public art into the future,” Triplett said.
Downtown Development Authority commission member Brad Ballein said the idea has merit, but he is unsure if it is a positive right now.
“The last thing we want to do is prevent development,” Ballein said. “It will be interesting to see what the final proposal will be.”
Triplett said the ordinance would give developers a lot of flexibility because of the choices given to meet the ordinance requirements.
Future projects could pay the fee, donate art to East Lansing, incorporate art into the new development or a combination of those choices.
Communications manager at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Jake Pechtel said he personally supports the fee because East Lansing is the "City of the Arts" and it should budget accordingly.
“Strong arts and culture adds tremendous value to any community, which only strengthen those new developments contributing to the fund,” Pechtel said.
Pechtel said the museum is part of the university, but is also a member of the East Lansing community and is always looking for ways to work with the city on public art initiatives.
“It's exciting for us as an institution to have a partner like the City of East Lansing that really extends the possibility of the museum,” Pechtel said.
Triplett said the ordinance would help create a unique identity for East Lansing while encouraging community discussion.
“The idea is to create a sustainable and substantial public arts fund,” Triplett said. “There could be a diversity of different mediums ... supported by this fund.”
Triplett said money could be put towards visual art, performing art or festivals such as the East Lansing Art Festival.
The proposal is in the early stages and Triplett said a decision may not be made until late September or early October.
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