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Surplus funds from revitalization to go towards public art

Penticton city council decided to devote a portion of any potential surplus funds from revitalization project to creating public art.
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Penticton city council decided to devote a portion of any potential surplus funds from the downtown revitalization project to creating public art, but it took some convincing on the part of supporters.

“The Arts, Creative & Cultural Innovations Committee believes that the right place to spend any potential surplus from the downtown project would be in the downtown,” said Coun. Campbell Watt. “Public art is the ultimate way to do that.”

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit was concerned the request didn’t include a specific dollar amount or goal.

“This is quite vague, and our bids came under budget already, so if there is this large surplus then we have this huge art project,” said Jakubeit.

Mitch Moroziuk, director of operations, said the Downtown Revitalization Committee had addressed the issue of public art, in terms of the street furniture.

“They asked that there be two art bike racks put in to replace two standard,” said Mitch Moroziuk, adding that the request also included four or five benches.

“Then, any remaining money be used for public art,” said Moroziuk. “There is no money for public art budget at all in the downtown project. There is no money for public art of any sort.”

Coun. Max Picton agreed the motion was vague, but said that was intentional.

“The intent here was to be sure that if there is a surplus—and we all have our fingers crossed—that at least some of it be allocated for public art,” said Picton.

Moroziuk said the city’s engineering department estimates there might be a $50,000 surplus, but that wouldn’t be confirmed until the end of the year. Normally, a surplus would be returned to the city’s general revenue stream.

Coun. Helena Konanz agreed with the concept of public art, but was concerned that the city had already given the committee a budget of $25,000 to work with.

“I think there has already been enough money put towards that,” said Konanz, pointing out that due to not getting expected grants, the downtown revitalization was already drawing on next year’s funds.

“We had to use monies that we don’t even have yet,” she said.

Coun. Judy Sentes said Penticton needs to put more effort into its public art, noting that other cities, like Castlegar, are already moving in that direction.

“If we don’t start being strategic about this concept, it is never going to happen,” said Sentes. “I would hope that we would support the concept, because now is the time.”

A motion by Coun. Andre Martin to receive the request and defer any discussion to when the project is complete only received support from Konanz. A followup motion to endorse the committee’s proposal passed 4-2, with Martin and Konanz in opposition.