1 CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
April 18, 2022
Meeting by teleconference (Zoom) – in accordance with procedures on agenda 1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
A. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Rubino called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Manna, Spackman, Tokashiki, Vice Chair Rubino
Absent: Chair Marcy
Staff present: Eilen Stewart, Cultural Arts Manager (CAM), Linda Wood, Melissa McCollum, Senior Recreation Manager.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 21, 2021
It was moved and seconded (Tokashiki/Manna) to approve with one change: Page 1 meeting roll call, add Vice Chair Rubino as being present. The motion carried 4-1 (Chair Marcy absent) by roll call vote.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Manna, Spackman, Tokashiki, Vice Chair Rubino
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Marcy
ABSTAIN: None
D. CEREMONIAL – None
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) – Melissa McCollum, new Senior Recreation Manager, introduced herself; the Commission welcomed her and congratulated her on her new position.
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Discussion of 2022 Work Plan items
a. Rainbow Crosswalk: CAM Stewart reported progress: staff has done outreach on the Polliwog Park location and tomorrow - April 19th - staff will present the Polliwog location topic to the City Council which will both decide on a park rainbow treatment and allocate funding ($13k). The requested funding is based on the assumption that the treatment will be installed by community volunteers coordinated by staff.
At the same time, Council will be asked to increase the funding for the MBB/Strand rainbow crosswalk.
Commissioner Tokashiki inquired as to whe ther a crosswalk application at Highland at Poncho’s restaurant, which need s repair, is representative of the type of installation for the downtown rainbow crosswalk; CAM Stewart noted that all types of applications that are placed on the pavement will have a certain shelf-life and at some time require repair; she believes the one at Poncho’s has been in place for about 10 years and therefore repair is not unexpected at this time. Although in the past installations like the Poncho’s crosswalk did not have a planned maintenance schedule when originally approved, staff is recognizing that there may be a need to develop such for future installations.
b. MBAC Revamp Project: Staff’s focus has been on assisting Leadership Manhattan in its mural project at the rear wall , the first phase scheduled to occur on April 30 th. There will be a ceremony
2 commemorating the project launch. The city has power washed the wall in advance which will help make the paint adhere to the surface. All Commissioners are invited to attend and participate. c. Art Grant – Utility Beautification: CAM Stewart reported that a contract to reinstall artwork on three downtown locations has been approved (as well as the artwork). d. Art Grant – Murals: CAM Stewart noted that, while the template is undergoing legal review, the Committee can still work on what content is to be put into it. e. Art Grant – Digital Wall Art: staff is working with Public Works to determine what refurbishment is needed on the wall.
f. Art Grant – Performing Arts: Vice Chair Rubino noted that no significant progress has been made – a draft is ready for legal review and discussion with CAM Stewart. g. Art Grant – Sculpture Garden (temporary works): no new information. h. Art Grant – Permanent Sculpture: no new information
i. Art Grant – School Education: no change (on work plan, but not a priority at this time).
G. STAFF ITEMS
CAM Stewart reported:
• The Rainbow Crosswalk project, as noted, will be on the City Council agenda on April 19 and much effort has been made to see this project through to installation in a timely fashion. • MBAC exhibits: opening of ceramics showcase “Out of the Mold” is scheduled for May 13th. An exciting aspect is that the new “Glaze Lab” will make its debut at the opening and all attendees will be able to participate in the lab.
• Other City Council items: 1) on April 19, the City Council will be also considering the request by the MB Education Foundation to install a donor recognition mosaic on a wall in the Metlox plaza just south of the City Hall. This will include a request to allocate some funds from the Public Art Trust Fund. Commissioners can provide input as interested citizens but not as a Commission representative. CAM Stewart clarified that the process b eing followed by the MBEF is the same as that followed for the Leadership Manhattan mural project; 2) May 17 th a report of the historic archiving project will be presented to City Council.
• Public Arts Trust Fund: No significant change: total $2.2 million; of which 1.2 is unallocated; no expiration until December 2023. CAM Stewart emphasized that to prevent expiration, the funds will need to be allocated by City Council by this date, not spen t. In order to get to a point of allocation, work plan items must be sufficiently developed. A brief discussion followed in which the Commission expressed some concern that this is something that they perhaps should start thinking about. Commissioner Manna inquired as to the status of the Burton written inquiry regarding whether the PATF can be used to repair the pier roundhouse. CAM Stewart responded that a letter was written to Mr. Burton by Chair Marcy and that all Commissioners were copied; In researching, staff found that because this is not something that is on the Work Plan, it cannot be set as an agenda item for discussion. Commissioner Spackman noted that he feels it is not clear why this is the case as there was no action requested, except to discuss how to respond to the inquiry and he asked if this could be further clarified. CAM Stewart noted that the copy of the letter was distributed to the Commissioners on a “list serve” through the city email system. CAM Stewart will be happy to forward the letter if the Commissioners cannot find it in their city email.
H. COMMISSION ITEMS
• Vice Chair Rubino invited all to attend the Leadership Manhattan wall mural event on April 30th.
3 • Commissioner Tokashiki noted that she received the letter to Mr. Burton from the Chair and wondered whether a follow-up letter might be needed as to the determination of whether the roundhouse can be repaired with PATF funding.
I. ADJOURNMENT
At 6:49 P.M, with no objection, Vice Chair Rubino adjourned the meeting to May 16, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.