A review of the city’s art purchasing policy can begin after council voted 6-1 Monday evening in favour of looking at the policy.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu was the only council member to vote against the review.

The review will not contemplate changing the requirement that one per cent of the construction costs on a new building go to public art.

Rather, it’s being defined as a “narrow scope review” aimed at providing clarity on a number of questions that have been raised, establishing a regular review period, dealing with housekeeping items and so on.

Coun. Dan Boyd had proposed a review of the policy in July.

He has noted concerns over the approximately $350,000 (one per cent of the construction costs) that would have to be set aside for art at the city’s proposed new operations building.

Boyd has argued the structure will essentially be a large industrial building which most of the public isn’t likely to see, used for city trucks, loaders and other large vehicles.

He also argued the city has never gone through a review of the policy that’s been in place since 2000. Given the current circumstances, Boyd said, it’s the right time to do so.

Council voted to go ahead with a review ahead of the construction tender being released on the new operations building.

City staff subsequently proposed the “narrow scope review,” noting a full review would take about 18 months and cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000.

The narrow review will allow the city to explore the issues that have come up around the policy and hold consultations with stakeholders.

It will not, however, involve a larger consultation with the general public that’s typically part of larger policy reviews.

On the “to-do” list for a narrow scope review are:

• housekeeping items such as updating department and position names;

• providing clear definitions for public facilities and public buildings;

• providing clarity on where art can be placed when it’s funded through the policy (i.e.: if it has to be placed at the building under construction or if the funding set aside can go elsewhere in the city to a site used by more of the general public);

• establishing a regular review period and process for the policy;

• collecting feedback and input from representatives of the arts community; and

• considering establishing a fund for public artwork rather than including it as part of the overall construction project.

Before last night’s vote, Boyd said that while he doesn’t have any problem with the narrower review, it’s more than just a general cleaning-up of language.

“What we’re doing is not minor housekeeping,” he said. He later clarified with city manager Christine Smith that the operations building, which is part of the mammoth building consolidation project, is now estimated to cost $45 million.

If the construction cost comes in at that estimate, $450,000 would have to be designated for art.

The review will define exactly what constitutes a public building and determine if the public artwork from that has to be on the building site or if it can go in a place that’s frequented more by the general public, Boyd said.

Coun. Betty Irwin noted her hope the review will clear up a number of questions that have arisen about the policy, and which need to be answered before the city considers the artwork around the operations building.

Irwin also took note of city staff’s plans to do a larger overall review of the document in the future, stating she’s pleased there will eventually be a major review.

Curteanu, meanwhile, argued it should be a full review for which the city takes the right time and provides the proper resources.

In the meantime, the city can apply “common sense” to the issues that come up around the policy, she said, with council voting on particular matters.

Curteanu also voiced concerns that the arts community may not buy into the consultation planned in a narrower review. If there are any changes to the policy, she said it’s important the arts community has the opportunity to weigh in before the changes go ahead.

Coun. Rob Fendrick also expressed concerns over consultation, questioning what the consultation will entail.

Linda Rapp, the city’s director of community and recreation services, responded by noting there will be consultations with arts organizations around the city.

However, it will not offer the full-scale public input opportunities that would normally happen in a full-scale review through open houses, general surveys and so on.

There will be more input opportunities for the general public when the larger review is done.

Fendrick said the fact the arts community will be consulted is “of some comfort.” He opted to vote in favour of the review in the interest of moving forward.

Coun. Samson Hartland and Mayor Dan Curtis also voiced their support for the narrow scope review with Curtis adding he looks forward to learning the results.