Agenda #5d
memorandum
to: Mayor and Town Council
from: Ralph D. Karpinos, Town Attorney
subject: Response to Public Arts Commission Petition
date: February 13, 2006
The purpose of this report is to respond to the recent petition of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission regarding consultation with the Town Attorney.
On January 23, 2006, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission submitted a petition (copy attached) proposing that the Council allow the Commission to consult with the Town Attorney as it continues working on the Civic and Public Art Contextual Plan. On February 3, 2006, Kathryn Spatz, Town staff liaison to the Commission, and I met with Kate Flory and Janet Kagan from the Commission to discuss the petition.
Based on our meeting with Ms. Flory and Ms. Kagan, I believe the Commission does not intend to ask for legal advice or legal services for the Commission but rather to ask that the Attorney’s office provide input, along with input they receive from other Town Departments and advisory boards, as they continue to work with the Council, Town advisory boards, and Town staff on the development of the proposed Contextual Plan. With this understanding, we expect to be able to be involved, along with other Town departments, in the consideration of the issues related to development of the Contextual Plan.