In Napa, public art isn't just a good idea: It's the law.

The city's "Public Art Ordinance" was passed in the summer of 2010 after a nearly 5-year-long survey and evaluation of like-minded regulations throughout the state of California. A whopping 87 cities with public art ordinances were reviewed in the process of designing one for the city of Napa.

The new ordinance is designed both to preserve the public art already on display in town, which previously had no funding for maintenance or repair, and to develop new, community-relevant public art projects. These projects and artworks will be chosen by a panel of community members, and arts professionals and real-estate developers.

Why developers? Because the funding for Napa's public art will not come from taxing local residents -- unless they are developing a commercial project inside the city limits that will cost $250,000 or more.

From now on, any developer creating such a project will be required to pay a 1 percent public art fee, and will incorporate an art piece into the plans for the building. Residential properties and retrofits aren't included, but still, I think that's pretty darn cool! Every time you see new commercial construction in town, you'll soon be seeing art to go alongside it.

The ordinance's definition of "public art" goes far beyond outdoor sculpture. It could be an interior stylization, a small park, a fountain, or even a light fixture. If a Napa developer throws his hands up in dismay at incorporating some kind of art into his building plan, he can place his 1 percent fee into the "general fund" that will be reserved for large-scale community art projects.

For townspeople worried that ill-fitting art will pop up throughout town because of the ordinance: There is a Public Art Steering Committee put into place for every proposed art installation in town, and the committee is to include a resident of the neighborhood in question. The first Public Art project covered by the ordinance will be installed near the site for the new Transit Center--more "concrete" details to come on that in future months.

Though the Napa ARTwalk is not funded by the Public Art Ordinance, its ten original sculptures dotted through downtown are giving tourists and locals a lot to look at already.

Kristie Sheppard, Executive Director of Napa County Historical Society says the artworks -- there's one just outside the society's front door on First Street -- "give tourists something else to see besides empty storefronts." Sheppard supports the addition of new art projects throughout the city, because of her first-hand observations: "Every single day I see people stop by the Goodman Library and look at [the ARTwalk sculpture mosaic by Ann Shelby Valentine]," says Sheppard. "They come inside and tell me they've never even seen the building before-- it was the art that drew them to it. It makes a big impact."

Some locals are concerned that a few creative missteps (a.k.a. Clock Towers) will arise from the passed ordinance. Kristina Young, Executive Director of Arts Council Napa Valley, reassures those critics: "It's not just about making the space more beautiful; it's giving people a chance to have conversation, and activate the space," she explains.

I, for one, would love to see our often-deserted downtown streets become "activated" -- and see no reason why art can't do the job.