LOCAL LAWs of NEW YORK - No.46 of 2015
(Cultural PLan § 2506)

Summary of points can be found here: NYC Cultural Plan Summary

Introduced by Council Members Levin, Van Bramer, Chin, Cumbo, Johnson, Mendez, Reynoso, Torres, Rodriguez, Wills, Deutsch, Richards, Dickens, Vallone, Cohen, Rose, Barron, Maisel, Eugene, Treyger, Espinal, Lancman, King, Lander, Williams, Levine, Ferreras, Kallos, Miller, Constantinides, Cabrera, Gentile, Crowley, Dromm, Arroyo, Koo, Menchaca, Greenfield and Ulrich:

A LOCAL LAW

To amend the New York city charter, in relation to a comprehensive cultural plan.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 67 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 2506 to read as follows:

1. § 2506. Cultural plan. 1. On or before July 1, 2017, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council and post on the department's website a comprehensive cultural plan. The department shall be the primary agency responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the cultural plan.
2. The cultural affairs advisory commission shall advise the department with respect to the cultural plan in accordance with section twenty-five hundred five of this charter.
3. The department shall establish a citizens’ advisory committee to advise the department with respect to the development of the cultural plan, gathering community input for such plan, and how to implement such plan. The commissioner shall determine the size and composition of such committee consistent with the provisions set forth in paragraph a of this subdivision.
   1. The citizens’ advisory committee shall consist of a minimum of twelve members. Each borough president shall appoint one member, the speaker of the council shall appoint at least three members, and the mayor shall appoint at least three members, provided that the speaker and mayor shall have an equal number of appointments, exclusive of the chair of such committee who shall be appointed by the commissioner. Such committee shall consist of members whose backgrounds and experiences are relevant to the plan and who collectively represent a variety of interests relevant to the plan. The members appointed by the speaker of the council shall include at least one representative of a cultural institution that is a member of the Cultural Institutions Group and at least two members meeting the following description: a representative of a community-based organization whose principal purpose is the promotion or support of cultural activities; an individual with background and experience in business; an individual with background and experience in real estate; a representative of a charitable organization; an individual with background and experience in public housing; or a representative of a borough arts council. All committee members shall serve without compensation.
   2. Appointments to the citizens’ advisory committee shall occur not more than ninety days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy in membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
   3. Prior to the submission of the cultural plan, the citizens’ advisory committee shall meet as often as needed, as determined by the committee in consultation with the department, but not less than quarterly. Following the submission of the cultural plan, and subject to the provisions of paragraph d of this subdivision, the citizens’ advisory committee shall meet as needed, but not more than semiannually, to review the biannual reports required pursuant to subdivision nine of this section.
   4. The citizens’ advisory committee shall cease to exist following its submission to the commissioner of any recommendations it may make following its review of the second biannual report required pursuant to subdivision nine of this section, or five years following the submission of the cultural plan, whichever is shorter.
4. The cultural plan shall address, but not be limited to:
   1. the availability and distribution of cultural activities throughout the city;
   2. the relationship between cultural activities and social and economic health and welfare in the city;
   3. the role of the community outreach process in the development of the plan;
   4. feedback from a robust community outreach process;
   5. the needs of artists with respect to affordable housing and affordable long-term and temporary studio, office, and rehearsal space;
   6. increasing arts education and cultural activities in the schools of the city school district;
   7. how cultural activities can be incorporated into community development, economic development and land use planning processes and policies;
   8. the needs of artists and communities with respect to the creation of public art in public settings; and
   9. a plan of how city agencies will coordinate with respect to cultural activities, as consistent with the law.
5. The cultural plan may refer to data sets relevant to the plan.
6. The cultural plan shall, where feasible, utilize technology to enhance outreach and communication of the planning process.
7. All recommendations, initiatives, and priorities included in the cultural plan shall be designated, if known, as short-, medium-, or long-term.
8. The department and other relevant agencies shall consider the conclusions and recommendations in the cultural plan and may act upon such recommendations as appropriate.
9. Beginning two years following the submission of the cultural plan and every two years thereafter, the department shall submit to the mayor and the speaker a report detailing progress made on the recommendations, initiatives and priorities that result from such plan. The cultural affairs advisory commission and the citizens’ advisory committee, during such committee’s existence, shall review such biannual report and may make recommendations to the commissioner. The commissioner shall consider any recommendations received from the cultural affairs advisory commission and the citizens’ advisory committee.
10. The cultural plan may be revised as appropriate every ten years.

§ 2. This local law shall take effect immediately upon enactment into law.

The City of New York, Office of the City Clerk, s.s.:

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a local law of The City of New York, passed by the Council on April 28, 2015 and approved by the Mayor on May 18, 2015.
MICHAEL M. McSWEENEY, City Clerk, Clerk of the Council.

Certification Corporation Counsel

I hereby certify that the form of the enclosed local law (Local Law No. 46 of 2015, Council Int. No. 419-A of 2014) to be filed with the Secretary of State contains the correct text of the local law passed by the New York City Council and approved by the Mayor.
JEFFREY D. FRIEDLANDER, Acting Corporation Counsel.