Subject
title
Chapter 4 Arts and Cultural Affairs Ordinance Revisions
end
Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Discussion
At the November 3, 2025, work session with the Mayor and Council, staff proposed administrative revisions to Chapter 4 Arts and Cultural Affairs Ordinance. The direction given by the Mayor and Council to staff was to collect the Cultural Arts Commission’s (CAC) comments on the suggested administrative revisions. On February 11, 2026, the CAC approved its comments (Attachment 1: CAC Chapter 4 Ordinance Revision Comments). A summary of the comments is:
Preamble: The CAC agrees on including a Preamble; disagrees on differentiating the Arts and Culture Program from Recreation and Parks.
Article II: The CAC does not see process, budget, or project management responsibilities in the Article.
Article III: The CAC mostly agrees; wants the entire CAC recognized; comments on community engagement, approval of projects, and continuing funding of AIPP and AIPA.
Article IV: Comments about administrative processes, definitions, and locations of artworks.
Additional comments: Recommended comparing jurisdictions for the AIPD recommendations, and general administrative recommendations.
It should be noted that the CAC’s comments about the proposed Public Art Committee indicate the committee does not exist. The CAC created a Public Art Committee in FY26.
Having reviewed the CAC’s comments, staff requests feedback from the Mayor and Council on the following:
Does the Mayor and Council support:
1. Merging Incorporating Works of Art in Public Architecture and Art in Public Places Articles into one Public Art Program Article?
2. The recommendations for the Publicly Accessible Art in Private Development Article?
a. Redefine acceptable art forms.
b. Clearly define "publicly accessible.“
c. Define roles in program administration.
d. Eliminate the option to remove artwork.
e. Change formula to determine required contributions.
f. Modify the options for how contributions can be applied.
3. Enhanced community engagement in public art program delivery?
a. Modify administrative processes to consistently meet standards and expectations.
Resources:
• November 3, 2025, work session on Chapter 4 Arts and Cultural Affairs Ordinance: <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1287326&GUID=4293DEC0-7C08-47B9-96AD-6E6884ABCD6F&Options=info|&Search=>
• Chapter 4 Arts and Cultural Affairs Ordinance:
<https://library.municode.com/md/rockville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH4ARCUAF>
• 2019 Arts and Culture Study: <https://www.rockvillemd.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2019-Arts-and-Culture-Study.pdf>
• Public Art in Private Development Database: https://explore.publicartarchive.org/papd-database/#browsedb <https://explore.publicartarchive.org/papd-database/>
Boards and Commissions Review
The CAC has reviewed the administrative revisions recommended in the first work session, and their comments are attached (Attachment 1: CAC Chapter 4 Ordinance Revision Comments).
Next Steps
Staff will draft a revised ordinance based upon the Mayor and Council’s feedback, present the revised ordinance to the CAC, and present the draft to the Mayor and Council for approval.