City of Manhattan Beach
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Mayor Joe Franklin
Mayor Pro Tem Amy Howorth
Councilmember David Lesser
Councilmember Steve Napolitano
Councilmember Richard Montgomery
Meeting Minutes - Final
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
6:00 PM
Regular Meeting
City Council Chambers and Zoom
City Council Regular Meeting
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CITY ARCHIVES THE VIDEO RECORDINGS OF ALL
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE VIDEO FOR THIS MEETING IS HEREBY INCORPORATED BY THIS REFERENCE. ALSO IN SUPPORT OF
MORE TRANSPARENCY AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) COMPLIANCE, THE CITY OFFERS CLOSED CAPTIONING FOR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. FOR A COMPLETE RECORD OF THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, GO TO:
www.manhattanbeach.gov/departments/city-clerk/city-council-meetings-agendas-and-minutes CALL MEETING TO ORDERA.
Mayor Franklin called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAGB.
Andrew Atkinson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALLC.
Roll call led by City Clerk Liza Tamura.
Mayor Franklin, Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, Councilmember Lesser, Councilmember Montgomery and Councilmember Napolitano
Present: 5 -
CEREMONIAL CALENDARD.
1. 24-0082Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Photographer Evelyn Schmitt in Recognition of Her “Pier Photo” That She Gifted to the City Council on February 6, 2024.
PRESENT
On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Franklin presented a Certificate of Appreciation to photographer Evelyn Schmitt in recognition of her “Pier Photo,” that she gifted to the City Council at the February 6, 2024, City Council Meeting.
Mayor Franklin requested that any members of the armed services rise and be recognized for their service.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND WAIVER OF FULL READING OF ORDINANCESE.
A motion was made by Councilmember Montgomery, seconded by Councilmember Napolitano, to approve the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Franklin, Howorth, Lesser, Montgomery and Napolitano5 - Nay: 0
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS (1 MINUTE PER PERSON)
F.
Library Manager Josh Murray announced an art activity demonstrating the effect of a solar eclipse on April 3, 2024, from 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM.
Three Mira Costa High School students provided updates regarding recent and upcoming events at the school.
Board Chair of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce Latrice McGlothin announced the State of the City Event at the Shade Hotel on March 21, 2024, at 5:00 PM.
Mayor Franklin recognized Police Chief Rachel Johnson for receiving the Law Enforcement Achievers Award from the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 MINUTES PER PERSON)G.
Mayor Franklin announced that other cities had recently had their meetings disrupted by anti-Semitic or racially based comments through Zoom. Such comments are disruptive, interfere with the people's business and are not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. He instructed the City Clerk's Office to mute any speakers who attempt to disrupt the meeting with anti-Semitic or derogatory comments based upon race, gender, or other protected categories.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Allen Kirschenbaum
John Allen
Wayne Powell
Tarri Everson
Pete Skacan
Lida Sandera
Lucia La Rosa Ames
Peter Somberg
Seeing no further requests to speak, Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final CONSENT CALENDAR (APPROVE)H.
A motion was made by Councilmember Lesser, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Franklin, Howorth, Lesser, Montgomery and Napolitano5 - Nay: 0
2. 24-0110City Council Minutes:
This Item Contains Minutes of the Following City Council Meeting(s):
a) City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting Minutes of March 5, 2024 b) City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 5, 2024 (City Clerk Tamura).
APPROVE
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
3. 24-0124
Financial Reports:
a) Schedule of Demands for February 9, 2024, and February 16, 2024 b) Investment Portfolio for the Month Ending January 31, 2024 c) Financial Month End Report for January 31, 2024
(Finance Director Charelian).
ACCEPT REPORTS AND DEMANDS
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
4. 24-0120
Consideration of a Resolution Amending the Parking and Public Improvements Commission Seat No. 4 from a Business Community Seat to a Member-At-Large Seat (City Clerk Tamura).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-0026
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
5. 24-0115
Consideration of a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP for One Year and One Optional Year in the Amount of $137,780 for Financial Audit Services (Finance Director Charelian).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-0027
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
6. 24-0121Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Five-Year Agreement with Global Payments Direct, Inc. for Credit Card Processing Services for an Estimated Annual Amount of $195,000 (Finance Director Charelian).
A) WAIVE FORMAL BIDDING DUE TO SINGLE-SOURCE
PURCHASING
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-0028
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
7. 24-0113
Consideration of a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with History Associates Incorporated for Expanding Historic Archiving Services and Extending the Agreement Term for One Year (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-0029
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
8. 24-0119
Receive and File the 2023 Sixth Cycle Housing Element Annual Progress Report as Required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (Community Development Director
Mirzakhanian).
RECEIVE AND FILE
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
9. 24-0111
Consideration of a Resolution to Accept Agreements of Easement Deed and Temporary Construction Easement Deed for the Property at 1200 North Sepulveda Boulevard for the Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project (Public Works Director Lee).
A) ACCEPT
B) AUTHORIZE
C) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-0030
The recommendation for this item was approved on the Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDARI.
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGSJ.
None.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
10. 24-0030Consideration of Community Mural Proposed by the Organization, TaskForce, in Partnership with LA vs Hate, a Coalition Led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, and Potential Location and Budget of $65,000 to $80,000 (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman). (Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman introduced Cultural Arts Manager Eilen Stewart who provided the PowerPoint presentation.
Cultural Arts Manager Stewart, City Manager Bruce Moe, and Police Chief Rachel Johnson responded to City Council questions.
At 6:56 PM, the City Council recessed in order to troubleshoot an audio problem in City Council Chambers. At 7:09 PM, the City Council reconvened with all City Councilmembers present.
Cultural Arts Manager Stewart provided a summary of the responses she provided prior to the audio problem and responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Michael Jenkins
City Manager Moe provided that any Zoom users at home should close their browsers and reopen the Zoom session in order to reset the audio.
Public comments continued with the following individual(s):
Heather Kim
Hildy Stern
Heather Kim (rejoined the meeting after audio issues to continue her comments)
Seeing no further requests to speak, Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
A motion was made by Councilmember Montgomery, seconded by Mayor Franklin, to direct staff to return the item to the Ad Hoc Committee and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District to come up with a location for the community mural on school property. It they are unable to find a location for the mural, they should receive buy-in from the students so they will join the project.
Councilmember Montgomery withdrew his motion.
K. GENERAL BUSINESS
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final The City Council directed staff to have TaskForce and LA vs. Hate ask LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s Office if they would pay for and place the community mural on their LA County Lifeguard building.
11. 24-0076Consideration of Location and Cost for the Shark Mural by Artist Eric Snyder and Disbursement of up to $65,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
A) APPROVE LOCATION AND COST
B) ALLOCATE FUNDS ..Body
Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman introduced Cultural Arts Manager Eilen Stewart who provided the PowerPoint presentation.
Cultural Arts Manager Stewart and Public Works Director Erick Lee responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Gary McAulay
Ray Joseph
Heather Kim
Seeing no further requests to speak. Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, seconded by Councilmember Montgomery, to install the Shark mural by Eric Snyder on the Civic Plaza parking lot wall (location 1A from the PowerPoint presentation) and allocate up to $65,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund as part of Phase II of the Mural Project. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Howorth, Montgomery and Napolitano3 -
Nay: Franklin and Lesser2 -
At 8:14 PM, the City Council recessed and reconvened at 8:25 PM with all City Councilmembers present.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
12. 24-0067Consideration of Authorizing Advertisement of the Wayfinding Phase I Vehicle Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvement Project for Construction Bids, and Discussion Revisiting the Street Sign Color within the Signage and Wayfinding Program (Public Works Director Lee). (Estimated Time: 45 Mins.)
A) AUTHORIZE
B) DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Public Works Director Erick Lee introduced City Engineer Katie Doherty who provided the PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Ray Joseph
Heather Kim
Jim Burton
Seeing no further requests to speak, Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
A motion was made by Councilmember Montgomery, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, to authorize the advertisement of the Wayfinding Phase I Vehicle Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvement Project for construction bids.
City Engineer Doherty and City Traffic Engineer Erik Zandvliet responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin inquired if Councilmember Montgomery would consider directing staff to develop mock-ups of the City's existing street sign with the City logo replacing the sun and to include one example with the wave and one without.
The City Council directed staff to utilize the Spartan MB font for the wayfinding signage.
Councilmember Montgomery accepted Mayor Franklin's request.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final A motion was made by Councilmember Montgomery, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, to authorize the advertisement of the Wayfinding Phase I Vehicle Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvement Project for construction bids; and direct staff to develop mock-ups of the City's existing street sign with the City logo replacing the sun and to include one example with the wave and one without. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Franklin, Howorth, Lesser, Montgomery and Napolitano5 - Nay: 0
13. 24-0098
Consideration of Fifteen Sculpture Options Recommended by the Cultural Arts Commission to Lease, Purchase, or Commission (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 1 Hr.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman introduced Cultural Arts Manager Eilen Stewart who provided the PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council questions.
Cultural Arts Manager Stewart responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Ray Joseph
Gary McAulay
Heather Kim
Seeing no further requests to speak. Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
The City Council reviewed the submitted artwork and provided their preferences.
City Attorney Quinn Barrow and Cultural Arts Manager Stewart responded to City Council questions.
The City Council directed staff to bring the item back at a future City Council meeting and return with a list of the 15 sculptures in order of the City Council's expressed interest to provide further direction.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
14. 24-0114Consideration of Library Commission Recommendations, Including Work Plan Updates and Potential Uses of Los Angeles County Library Set Aside Funds (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 30 Min.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman introduced Senior Recreation Manager Melissa McCollum who provided the PowerPoint presentation.
Senior Recreation Manager McCollum and City Manager Bruce Moe responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments.
Seeing no requests to speak, Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comment.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, seconded by Councilmember Montgomery, to accept the Library Commission's recommendations as identified in the staff report with additional direction to think bigger on some of the projects due to the available Library surplus funds. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Franklin, Howorth, Lesser, Montgomery and Napolitano5 - Nay: 0
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final
15. 24-0096Consideration of Recommendations for the Prioritization of Future Underground Utility Assessment Districts and Discussion of the Results from the 2023 Utility Undergrounding Survey (Public Works Director Lee). (Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Councilmember Lesser disclosed that his home is among the homes being considered as a future utility undergrounding district. He reported that after consulting with the City Attorney, it was determined that he can still participate in the discussion.
Public Works Director Erick Lee introduced Senior Civil Engineer Jeff Fijalka who provided the PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council questions.
Mayor Franklin opened the floor to public comments. The following individual(s) spoke:
Ray Joseph
John Allen
Gregory Young
Joe Touch
Seeing no further requests to speak. Mayor Franklin closed the floor to public comments.
A motion was made by Councilmember Montgomery, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Howorth, to receive and file the results of the 2023 UUAD Survey and direct staff to focus new district formation efforts in areas exhibiting the greatest amount of property owner support and allow subsets of potential districts to move forward if the surrounding blocks are not supportive of undergrounding. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Franklin, Howorth, Lesser, Montgomery and Napolitano5 - Nay: 0
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS AND REPORTS INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTSL.
Councilmember Montgomery reported that he attended the National League of Cities Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C., where he brought up municipal airport noise. Councilmember Montgomery also reported that he attended the Civic Planners Association Conference and provided that the State will not be meeting the 2030 deadline for electric cars.
March 19, 2024City Council Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes - Final FUTURE AGENDA ITEMSM.
Mayor Franklin requested to agendize a discussion regarding reservation privileges of no more than six sessions a year for the Sandpipers, as they will be making a $50,000 donation to the Scout House. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the request to have the item return on a future agenda.
City Attorney Quinn Barrow provided that when the item returns, the City Council will have the ability to vote on it rather than going through the three-step process to agendize a discussion.
CITY MANAGER REPORTN.
None.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTO.
None.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMSP.
16. 24-0095Agenda Forecast (City Clerk Tamura).
INFORMATION ITEM ONLY
This item was received and filed by order of the Chair.
17. 24-0123Commission Minutes:
This Item Contains the Library Commission Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2024 (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
INFORMATION ITEM ONLY
This item was received and filed by order of the Chair.
CLOSED SESSIONQ.
None.