Civic Arts Committee

Thumb-UPDATED DESIGN - PEDERSTRIAN MALL PUBLIC ART MURAL_Page_1

Check out the 
Racial Equity Art Project
page for the exciting project in Downtown San Mateo!

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In 2005, in order to "promote the general welfare through balancing the community’s physical growth and revitalization and its cultural and artistic resources", the San Mateo City Council passed an ordinance establishing the Art in Public Places Program. San Mateo’s ordinance requires the program allocation shall be established by City Council resolution and based upon total building valuation, excluding land acquisition and off-site improvement costs. Current fee (for project applications as of 1/15/2022) calls for 1.19% total building valuation. The fee applies to all commercial development projects and multi-family projects with a total building valuation greater than $3 million. That fee shall be computed using the latest building valuation data as set forth by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) unless, in the opinion of the Building Official, a different valuation measure should be used. 

Developers may apply the obligated fee amount to commission and install their own art in publicly accessible places within projects. Alternatively, if developers do not wish to install art, the City requires the in-lieu fee that is then reserved for the City's public art program. Projects may also do both; if installed art is less than the required obligation, they may pay the balance in-lieu. The Art in Public Places funds are restricted to art-related activities that include, but are not limited to, the acquisition, installation, maintenance, and administration of the City's public art program.  

The Civic Arts Committee (CAC) was established in 2008 as an advisory board to the City Council to implement the Art in Public Places program. Below are documents that establish and implement the program.

Meeting Information:

Date: On the Second Monday of every other month
Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Location: San Mateo City Hall, Conference Room C, 330 West 20th Avenue

City Civic Arts Committee utilizes the City’s Public Meeting Portal. You can search by date and committee name for prior meetings information.

Regular Meetings in 2023

  • January 9, 2023
  • March 13, 2023
  • May 8, 2023
  • July 10, 2023
  • September 11, 2023
  • November 6, 2023

Special Meetings in 2023

  • Monday, February 13, 2023
  • Wednesday, April 19, 2023
  • Wednesday, May 31, 2023
  • Monday, August 14, 2023

Regular Meetings in 2024

  • January 8, 2024
  • March 11, 2024
  • May 13, 2024
  • July 8, 2024
  • September 9, 2024
  • Tue., November 12, 2024 in honor of Veteran's Day

Current members are:

  • Chair, Stephen Tabler - Chamber of Commerce Representative
  • Vice Chair, Robert Gooyer - AIA Architect Representative
  • Ginger Slonaker - Professional Artist Representative
  • Seema Patel - Planning Commission Representative
  • Dianne Whitaker - City Arts of San Mateo Representative

Civic Arts Committee members are reappointed with the bi-annual renewal of the Civic Arts Committee by the City Council. Committee officers' terms are concurrent with the 2-year term of the Committee.

Contact Information:

If you have questions about the Civic Arts Committee or are having trouble viewing the meeting agendas or materials, please email the Civic Arts Committee.