Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission 1
January 30, 2023
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
January 30, 2023
Hybrid format: by teleconference (Zoom) and in person in accordance with procedures on agenda 1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Rubino called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Karger, Marcy, Tokashiki, Attam (remote - arrival 4:22 pm) Vice Chair Spackman, Chair Rubino
Absent: None
Staff present: Eilen Stewart, Cultural Arts Manager, Eric Brinkman, Ceramics Supervisor, Linda Robb, Senior Management Analyst, Rosemary Lackow, Recording Secretary.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 21, 2022 and December 19, 2022
November 21, 2022:
It was moved and seconded (Karger/Tokashiki ) to approve the minutes of November 21 , 2022 as submitted.
Roll Call:
AYES: Karger, Marcy, Tokashiki, Chair Rubino
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Attam
December 19, 2022:
Commissioner Tokashiki expressed concern regarding the accuracy of statements on page 5. However, after discussion and input from other commissioners, it was decided that the December 19 minutes would be postponed to the next meeting, allowing staff a chance to review and revise as needed.
D. CEREMONIAL – None
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) – None
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Velzy plaque Proposal
The Commission received a presentation from Tom Horton, President of the South Bay Board Riders Club and Jacquelyne May, summarizing a request from Ms. May, Bing Copeland, and Matt Velzy to install a commemorative plaque in the public sidewalk adjacent to 117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
The plaque will recognize the adjacent site as the putative first surf shop and while they prefer option one, their original request: “…world’s first retail surf shop”, an alternative wording “the world’s first known retail surf shop” is acceptable.
After a series or questions and answers, and brief discussion, the Commission came to a consensus to recommend approval of option two for the plaque wording.
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Chair Rubino called for public comment and seeing none, called for a motion.
It was moved and seconded (Spackman/Rubino) to recommend approval of the request, with wording as presented in “option two”. It was confirmed that no public funding is being requested and the lead contact for the requestors is Tom Horton, South Bay Boardriders Club.
Roll Call:
AYES: Marcy, Karger, Tokashiki, Spackman, Attam, Chair Rubino NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
It was announced that the motion passed unanimously 6-0. This recommendation will be placed on a future City Council agenda with the Commission’s recommendation as stated.
2. Bruce’s Beach Artwork Request for Proposals
CAM Stewart introduced Policy and Management Analyst (PMA) Alexandria Latragna, who gave an overview of the project including prior city council actions . Ms. Latragna explained that an inaccurate plaque had been on the site; it has been removed and the council directed that a public artwork commemorating the accurate history of the site be installed. Today the Commission’s task is to review and make a recommendation for a proposed request for proposals (RFP).
SMA Stewart asked and it was confirmed that all the Commissioners have read the RFP.
Chair Rubino opened the floor to public comment; seeing none, she opened the floor to commission questions, and discussion.
Staff clarified in response: 1) The artwork will be sculptural and the entire site is open for locating the piece but an important factor will be compliance with American Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. 2) ADA compliance is triggered when, in order to be experienced, the artwork requires being viewed up close; 3) Staff believes that the most straightforward and least costly location, in complying with the ADA, is the flat upper area adjacent to Highland; 4) the draft RFP calls for not obstructing the “serene view of the ocean”; 5) the selection process calls for as much public input as is reasonable and the numbers of applications are based on past experience and a recommendation by the APCC (Art in public places committee); 6) staff recommends having no moving parts and no water incorp orated into the design in order to minimize liability and to be longer lasting and to be “waterwise” during times of drought.
Chair Rubino suggested that equity and inclusion, if very important, could be emphasized by being added into the project goals.
Chair Rubino opened the floor to public input, seeing none, invited Commission discussion and a motion.
CAM Stewart clarified that while the public can weigh in ultimately the City Council selects an artist.
Prior to selection, the process calls for a townhall meeting with mockups presented, and then 5 final candidates’ proposals will be presented to the APCC, then Cultural Arts Commission, who will make a recommendation to city council which will make the final selection.
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It was moved and seconded (Tokashiki/Marcy) that the commission accept the RFP as presented, and recommend its adoption and approval by the City Council.
Roll Call:
AYES: Marcy, Karger, Tokashiki, Spackman, Attam, Chair Rubino NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
It was announced that the motion passed unanimously 6-0.
3. Work Plan Item Discussion
Director Leyman gave a brief overview, instructing that for each item, working in subcommittees, a scope of work and timeline for implementing is to be determined for: 1) Murals, 2) Sculpture garden, 3) Utility box beautification, 4) Digital art at city hall, 5) MBAC upgrades, and 6) Explore new opportunities for art such as musical instruments installed in parks.
The floor was opened for Commission questions with staff.
Director Leyman clarified: 1) staff does not always have time to share information with the entire commission but will be happy to work closely with each committee and there definitely should be discussion between staff and committee prior to formulating a final draft for council consideration on March 7th; 2) keeping tabs on all work plan items often is very labor intensive and while this is good for both the Commission and public, there’s no one best/easy way to do this but the more transparent, the better; 3) in developing a timeline, some projects will have some lag time (e.g. city hall digital art) and that should be taken into consideration in developing a n overall timeline; 4) th e W ork Plan should reflect th e Commission’s priorities while keeping in mind council direction broadly to bring more art into the public space (emphasizing murals, sculpture such and utility boxes); and 5) maintenance plans as needed, will be developed by staff separately and is not part of the committees’ tasks.
Commissioner Marcy commented that he felt that the Commission should sharpen its focus and simplify the work plan and realistically, 6 is too many projects and within each, perhaps fewer sites, e.g. maybe there should be 3 murals, not 10. For MBAC he suggests that the signs (those that are on an approved city template of types) be turned over to Public works. Commissioner Tokashiki agreed and Commissioner Spackman added that more budget or financial information be entere d into the discussion. Chair Rubino stated her disagreement and feels 6 projects is not too much – this is less than prior year(s) and there is time to flesh out details for the February meeting.
Director Leyman and CAM Stewart advised that two approaches are valid. One is to reduce the number of projects to the three that council prioritized: Murals, Sculpture Gardena and Utility box beautification.
Another option is to take a larger/longer view, to focus on the top three while the remaining three could be on the docket, ready to go after the first three are completed.
Director Leyman stated he is confident that the plan that will be reviewed by council in March will have full agreement between the commission and staff. Director Leyman and CAM Stewart affirmed that staff will have the resources needed for all six work plan items and the exact number of items within each category can be fleshed out later.
Director Leyman also clarified the division of labor for signs at the MBAC: that if a desired sign at the art
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center meets the template already for approved signs, then the entry signs as well as monument sign can become a staff level item that could be added to the public works list, but it should be acknowledged that there may be a significant lead times, perhaps 4 years.
The Commission discussed each item as to whether to be included on the March list of work plan items as follows.
1, Utility boxes: unanimous to be a high priority: bring back actual numbers and location (map available from staff).
2. Murals: unanimous to be high priority – to include any murals city -wide, potentially to include MBAC
3. Digital art at city hall: could be a quarter 4 item keep on plan for now and revisit if and when LCD projector is installed.
4. Sculpture Garden (temporary/rotating): less expensive, manageable has been done in the past – unanimous to keep on work plan, potentially could include MBAC.
5. MBAC upgrades: unanimous agreement that this will be taken off the plan since sculptures and mural(s) will go into murals and sculpture garden categories and wayfinding signs would become a staff level item for implementation by Public Works. The monument sign identifying the center on the MBB frontage, would also become a staff level item, to be one of several park and facility maintenance deficiencies that has been funded from the general fund. Director Leyman noted that once staff works out the new or refurbished sign, he will inform the CAC.
6. Investigate opportunities to add new art (such as but not limited to music instruments in the park):
keep on work plan, with qualifiers: installation by outside vendor/contractor and may possibly be a Leadership Manhattan project (scope to be kept broad).
Chair Rubino summarized that there are now 5 work plan items (numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 above as discussed).
Chair Rubino reported that the sculpture ‘Dragon Tales” is now installed at the MBAC – this was originally a Sculpture Garden (Temporary) artwork. Thank you to Public Works.
CAM Stewart requested by February 8th all information for the March 7th City Council review should be submitted to her. Commissioner Marcy has some presentation material that he will share. It was determined that the next meeting will be on February 8th at 5:00 pm and all remaining issues can be fleshed out at that meeting in time for the March city council meeting. Committees were affirmed:
1. Utility boxes – Marcy, Tokashiki, Spackman
2. Murals – Rubino
3. Digital art – Marcy, Spackman
4. Sculpture Garden – Attam, Rubino, Tokashiki
5. Explore new art opportunities – all commissioners at this point
CAM Stewart will send to committee the background info on the Sculpture Garden.
G. STAFF ITEMS
Eric Brinkman, Ceramics Supervisor, reported/updated:
MBAC exhibit: next will feature five local artists
Winter classes started last week (ceramics and children classes expanded)
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Glaze lab going strong and will be a summer camp
Staffing: one new part time employee on board
Cultural Arts Manager Stewart reported:
History Associates Inc. now in Phase 2 of art assessment, and phases 3, 4 will go for council review later; staff is currently reviewing a proposed guiding document and will report to council on 3/7/23 as to rehousing and inventorying assets.
Public art:
1. Dragon Tales sculpture : permanently installed at the MBAC and Egrets is at the Polliwog botanical garden;
2. Beau Bridges mural at City Hall: the artist will be giving staff a timeline after receiving permit to install;
3. Manhattan Education Foundation donor wall: expected to be installed in May/June;
4. North MB BID surfboard sculpture: working with artist;
5. Velzy plaque: staff working with requestors;
6. MBAC frieze repair: contract with RLA to assess condition and propose repair and then will work on a second contract for a maintenance plan.
Concerts in the Park: staff is working on stage planning and looking at bands. PATF update: $2.1 million total in fund; $1 million allocated; $1.1 million unallocated; Expiring funds: $123 thousand in December, 2023 and $499 thousand in 2024, and $46 thousand in 2025.
CAM Stewart will double check how the expiring amounts are affected by the expenditures on crosswalk repairs.
Council updates:
1. Council approved re-installing decorative crosswalks in north end ($326,000 allocated)
2. Council approved $25,000 purchase of C.J. Rench sculpture (red O, Polliwog Park) Artist to create a new permanent piece that will be rust and graffiti resistant
H. COMMISSION ITEMS - None
I. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:10 p.m. with no objection, Chair Rubino adjourned the meeting to February 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (time to be confirmed).