City Passes Visual Impact Fee

LIVERMORE, CA-One percent of the total construction cost of publicly-funded projects here must be set aside for public art, according to the regulation passed here last week. Although Livermore’s new regulations are a first for the Tri-Valley area, other nearby cities including Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon already have provisions that encourage public art. One example is software firm PeopleSoft’s “arch” that stretches across a large strip near Downtown Pleasanton.

Livermore art committee chairman Herman Leider says public art is key to the city–a place being rapidly built up with office parks and numerous new housing tracts. Companies and home-seekers alike are flocking to Livermore, drawn by lower costs and a greater amount of space. Livermore’s Public Art Committee has identified several areas in need of public art. Those areas include Robertson and Max Baer Parks, the Springtown duck pond and the Airway Boulevard entrance to the Livermore Municipal Airport.