Newport councilman wants to cut city funds for Civic Center art, but bunnies are ‘pardoned’

Newport Beach City Councilman Scott Peotter is expected to take a proposal to a council meeting this month that would limit city funding for sculptures in Civic Center Park.

In the months leading to last fall’s election, in which Peotter won his council seat, concrete rabbit statues installed last year at the park became symbols to Peotter and his three running mates — known collectively as “Team Newport” — of wasteful spending by city officials.

The city paid $221,000 for a circle of 14 rabbits measuring 4 feet tall, plus a pair of 8-foot bunnies, one of which is near the library, while the other is closer to the Civic Center.

However, the bunnies, which are classified as playground equipment, are no longer a major concern for Peotter. “They’ve been pardoned,” he said.

Now he is taking issue with the cost of displaying other sculptures at Civic Center Park, between Avocado Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.

While Peotter said he’s not opposed to art being showcased in the area, he’s against taxpayers footing the bill for rented artwork that they may not enjoy.

Peotter is proposing that instead of asking the council to provide funding for future pieces, the city Arts Commission should seek private funding from residents or business owners.

“Art is really in the eye of the beholder,” Peotter said. “The park was designed to display art. Obviously there are going to be some base standards, but if it’s done privately, then who cares?”

The Arts Commission oversaw the installation in the past year of 10 modern art sculptures in the park, to the chagrin of some residents.

One of the pieces, an 11-foot statue made of multicolored recycled steel, stands on a hill overlooking the council chamber. Artist David Buckingham dubbed the work “Pretty Boy,” but Peotter said it looks more like a pagan god.

“I specifically object to that one,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s very nice.”

“Pretty Boy” and the other sculptures are scheduled to be around another year, and the commission is seeking entries in an attempt to add 10 more.

The city has spent $135,000 on both phases of the project, Mayor Ed Selich said.

Arts Commissioner Robert Smith said he has approached businesses to seek funding for city art projects but was not welcomed with overwhelming support.

“There’s certainly some role that the corporate and individual givers can play, but they expect the city to have skin in the game,” Smith said. “If we were to cut out all the funding and expect that Daddy Warbucks would step in and fund it, I think we would find ourselves in a very difficult situation.”

The city’s general fund budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year was about $154 million, about $40,000 of which was for arts and culture, according to city documents.

“We’re spending $2.80 per person on all the art in the city,” Smith said. “If you were looking on a dollar basis compared to other cities around the country, our budget is minuscule.”

Selich said there are economic and social benefits to having artwork on display in Newport Beach.

“It adds a lot to our Civic Center and our park,” Selich said. “It’s been proven in many cities across the country that sculptures and exhibits are economically beneficial. People like to come and visit art.”

Selich said he does not favor reducing funds for Phase 2 of the Civic Center art project.

“It’s important for local government to sponsor arts and culture to its fullest,” he said.