When: Lancaster City Council meeting, Aug. 26. Council members Ahmed Ahmed and Faith Craig, and Mayor Danene Sorace were absent.

What happened: The Water Street project portion of the 2026-30 Capital Improvement Plan contains no funding for public art, but the city hopes to raise local funds or find a grant for a small art component, Public Works Director Stephen Campbell told council.

Background: The Water Street project budgets approximately $3.6 million for stormwater and sewer infrastructure and nearly $11 million for water and sewer infrastructure and public right of way and is expected to take six years or more to complete, Campbell said. A question about its art component was the only public comment on the five-year plan submitted to the City of Lancaster website, said Tina Campbell, city administrative services director.

Fundraising: The art component for the Water Street project will cost between roughly $12,000 and $40,000, Stephen Campbell said. Potential federal funds for an art component have dried up, he said.

Quote: “We’re hoping that the work we can do for arts may actually be tied to the schools,” Stephen Campbell said.

Next: City administration will present an ordinance for first reading at the Sept. 9 council meeting, for its five-year, $299.11 million Capital Improvement Plan, Tina Campbell said.

Also: Council President Amanda Bakay said she expects installation of a new audio-visual system to begin in the next week, but she said it was uncertain when the work will be completed.

It’s paid for: Responding to a question from council member Janet Diaz, Tina Campbell noted the AV equipment is being funded by a grant, so the city will not bear any cost.

Next meeting: Council will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.

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