Port Moody adopts new public art policy, ending brief spending moratorium

Port Moody has forged ahead with a new public art policy that allows it more discretion in how it collects and uses developer-contributed art dollars, despite some reservations on council.

While some councillors indicated they were in favour of delaying adoption until new provincial rules around amenity contributions are in place, Mayor Meghan Lahti said she was not willing to keep the art spending in “limbo.”

“I don’t want to postpone this for a year,” Lahti said. “Overall, I’m generally supportive of the direction that staff is asking us to go in.”

The new policy, which passed by a 6-1 vote on Nov. 19, ends the spending freeze placed on developer funds in the city’s art reserves, which came into effect less than two months ago.

The new direction effectively broadens what art reserves can be used for beyond physical art pieces, including creative placemaking, performances, arts programming, community art projects, and art facilities.

Devin Jain, manager of cultural services, said the new policy is intended to “balance the approach” taken by the City of the Arts.

“While public art still plays a role, there’s so many other ways to animate and introduce the arts into the community,” he said.

The city previously had three art reserves, but has created a fourth related to arts facilities, which can be used for new renovations, expansions or construction projects.

Jain said this could, for example, help contribute to the completion of the amphitheatre behind the Inlet Theatre, the purchase and renovation of an art warehouse or artist studios without impacting other capital projects.

The policy also changes how contributions are collected from developers, depending on the size of their applications.

Developers are currently encouraged to include public artwork in the applications calculated at 0.5 percent of their total construction budget, or contribute an equivalent amount to Port Moody’s art reserves.

The new policy ups that figure by 0.1 percent, but also funnels money to the city reserves if more than $400,000 would be spent on an art project.

If a developer’s art contribution ranges between $400,000 and $2.5 million, 40 percent of all monies above $400,000 would be sent to reserves.

For contributions greater than $2.5 million, 40 percent of monies above $2.5 million would be allocated towards either art endowments funds, grants, or the new arts facility reserve.

Developers can still request to use 100 percent of their contributions towards a single art project, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Jain pointed out that a $1 million art endowment could be used in perpetuity to provide a $40,000 grant to local artists every year.

He added that developers could be honoured with plaques and endowments for significant contributions.

Another change to the policy relates to the reserves’ funding structure. Instead of skimming small amounts off the city’s capital and operating projects, $75,000 will be allocated annually.

Jain said this simplifies the funding model, allowing for consistency and more accurate financial forecasting.

Half of all these reserve transfers will go to the arts reserve, a “catch all” reserve which can be used for a variety of initiatives and new ideas as they arise; another 20 percent will be allocated towards the public art reserve, 10 percent towards public art maintenance, while 20 percent will go towards the arts facility reserve.

The policy also adds mechanisms related to artist selection and community engagement.

Jain said staff want to increase the diversity of artists and artworks in the city, and allow for greater community input when selecting future pieces.

Furthermore, the policy requests developers hold open calls, rather than closed invites, regarding public art pieces associated with their applications.

The reaction from council was mixed, with several councillors describing the policy as “overcomplicated.” 

Coun. Kyla Knowles, who had originally introduced the motion for a spending moratorium and policy review, was the harshest critic and sole vote against adoption.

She said she thought the policy would give council less flexibility, and questioned why a separate reserve was being created rather than amalgamating the existing reserves.

“This is kind of the opposite of what I was hoping to achieve,” Knowles said. “I’m not comfortable at all with moving this forward.”

Coun. Callan Morrison also expressed frustration over how restrictive reserves can be, stating it could impede or complicate future projects.

Although Jain acknowledged the city could logistically pool all the reserves, he recommended keeping them separate to ensure funds are used for their correct purpose.

“It’s like in your personal bank, you might have a separate account for your vacation fund, your rainy day fund,” he said. “You’re not accidentally spending it before you need it.”

Council Diana Dilworth raised a concern around a new incoming provincial financing tool, amenity cost charges (ACC), which may conflict with the new policy.

Several other councillors agreed, suggesting council delay adoption until more information about ACCs becomes available.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki, on the other hand, said she would not support keeping the moratorium in place as the city needs some mechanism to collect art contributions if developments continue to be approved.

“It seems complicated . . . but if you have to zoom out and look at it, it makes perfect sense in terms of what we’re trying to achieve right now,” she said. 

Kate Zannon, general manager of community development, added staff still did not have a timeline for when the ACC bylaw would be adopted, and won’t have an update until the end of 2025’s first quarter.

Mayor Lahti said that was too long to wait, advocating for council to try the new policy for a year, before staff report back with a review.

She pointed out that Port Moody’s art reserves are fairly flexible, and don’t have the same statutory restrictions as other reserves. 

“We set the parameters around them,” Lahti said. “So if we want to add something in there, if we want to tweak it or change how we can utilize those reserves, we are free to do that at any time.”

Coun. Callan Morrison introduced an amendment, which passed unanimously, asking for the review to take place once the new ACC rules become clear.