Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
November 18, 2024
1 CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
November 18, 2024
Location: Manhattan Beach City Council Chambers
1400 Highland Avenue. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
and Hybrid (remote) format: by teleconference (Zoom)
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Tokashiki called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Patterson, Vice Chair Karger, Colmey, Chair Tokashiki, Dohner, Padnos
Absent: None
Staff present: Senior Recreation Supervisor (SRS) Eric Brinkman, Senior Management Analyst Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 21, 2024
It was moved and seconded (Dohner/Patterson) to approve the October minutes as submitted; motion passed by voice vote: 6-0
E. CEREMONIAL - None
F. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) - None
G. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Work Plan Item Discussion
a. Utility Box Beautification (Phase III). SRS Brinkman updated: the RFP will be issued 11/25, remaining open until 1/27/25; after staff vetting, candidates will be presented to CAC in February, with recommendation to Council in March.
Commissioners Tokashiki and Dohner, respectively reported graffiti on two existing cabinets: 1) butterfly cabinet, Marine Avenue at Redondo and 2) “Billings cabinet” on Artesia, across from Lazy Acres. SRS Brinkman will report these two, but advised in the future, a service request can be submitted online (with a photo) via the “Reach Manhattan Beach” app, accessed on the City’s website landing page (click on “Make a Request” link).
b. Murals Update. SRS Brinkman updated: Pelicans In Flight, at pier comfort station expected to be completed in about 2 weeks; 3-D shark at civic center parking structure entrance is still awaiting finalization of agreement with LA County.
c. Sculpture Garden. SRS Brinkman updated: project remains paused; to be added to next work plan.
d. New Art Initiatives
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
November 18, 2024
2 i. Public Art Brochure (Tokashiki, Karger, Dohner) Chair Tokashiki updated that the committee has met and conferred with staff. The city map and listing of public art locations is being updated by the GIS staff. The committee anticipates a 6-panel brochure with a keyed map and listing of artworks and may include city memorials and monuments separately. The committee needs to figure out how to transfer and format all information online which will involve conversations with the City’s webmaster.
SRS Brinkman updated that the GIS staff just today released updated “Art in Public Places” maps. Showing the updated work to the Commission, public art works are now on two separate maps – public art portfolio and the utility box beautification program. He encouraged the committee to review the new maps. Chair Tokashiki commented that the goal is to have both a printed and online brochure that will enable self-guided tours. Printed brochures may have a QR code to link to the onsite portal and will be able to be placed in civic buildings.
Cultural arts staff will clean up the Cultural Arts webpage to provide links as soon as the new maps are approved and ready to go live. The brochure will also be posted on the webpage.
ii. Poet Laureate (Patterson, Colmey, Padnos) Commissioner Patterson reviewed with the Commission an updated description of the program, noting that she tried to simplify wording and make more flexible, to encourage creativity. The following topics were discussed:
• Outreach to be to all of south bay cities exclude El Segundo due to their existing Poet Laureate program.
• Stipend ($8,000 covering a two year term, plus $5,000 maximum for materials (refreshments, printing, etc.) but no compensation for student laureate). The details as to how materials budget is managed to be discussed later.
• Term: Poet Laureate: two years, but there was discussion a s to possibly keeping open to allow for a laureate if mutually agreeable, to continue on to a new term. Student Poet Laureate; one year, implied. This possibly should be discussed with city legal counsel. • Scope/Products/Events: It was discussed that the scope, honorarium and materials budget are interrelated. It was determined that there be 4 poetry pieces per year (8 total) , and the word “should” be changed to “will” i.e. “they will also plan and carry out” …. For the next meeting, the committee will develop a list of events that may be considered for the four events (Veteran’s Day, Juneteenth, Salute to Troops etc.) , acknowledging that some events (e.g. Veteran’s Day) require quite a bit advance planning while others do not . The Student Poet Laureate will work with the P oet Laurate regarding programming. It was suggested that one event could be in collaboration with the library to celebrate Poetry Month or Poetry Day (April/October).
SRS Brinkman commented that good progress has been made and going forward the committee needs to fully define the full scope of this program as a recommendation ready for city council sign-off.
e. Memorial for the Fallen (Tokashiki, Colmey, Patterson) – Chair Tokashiki provided a report with slides of memorials in other cities, and summarized types of memorials: a plain obelisk, a pedestal with a symbol atop (La Brea); a wall with “sitting stones” (Torrance); or a sculpture or statue. She feels that the two grassy areas at the Civic Center Plaza that have been suggested are limited in space and may only be able to accommodate something with a smaller footprint (e.g. pedestal or sculpture) but perhaps other ideas can be scaled down.
The existing Veteran’s monument in the Veterans Parkway was discussed. The Chair suggested tying the
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
November 18, 2024
3 City Hall Fallen memorial with that site by matching its dark stone material. SRS Brinkman will explore whether and why the Veteran’s Parkway memorial is not to be considered for the Fallen memorial.
Commissioner Patterson feels the civic center locations are preferred by Mr. McAulay as this area epresents the “heart” of the city.
Things to be considered include how to add names ; it was discussed that the obelisk type gives a lot of opportunity for name display. Another consideration may be to find an artist who is also a veteran.
Commissioner Colmey suggested, if there was an interest, in addition to the permanent memorial, large flags one for each of the 21 fallen, be displayed in some way on Veteran’s Day.
As next steps, SRS Brinkman directed that the committee meet again with Gary McAulay at the civic center plaza sites and share this material and thoughts, with the goal to further define very clearly what the “ask” of Council is. Specific things that should be narrowed down are: what style (monument or art piece, or a combination?), how to recruit an artist and how to display the names. Mr. Brinkman noted that while council has not specified a location; he believes that the areas picked by Mr. McAulay were chosen in that they would provide a more intimate place for contemplation . SRS Brinkman noted another factor to be considered is that, because the monument will have wording to be read by the general public, the site needs to be compliant with ADA requirements for disabled access.
It was discussed that the form of the memorial (whether traditional obelisk/wall or a unique artwork) may define whether the PATF can be used. Staff will review and report to the committee the criteria that applies to PATF funding eligibility. It was noted that the fact that the council referred this to the Cultural Arts Commission may mean that the council would like a more artistic memorial. It was suggested that in providing a recommendation to council, the budget implication as to PATF funding eligibility should be pointed out.
Commissioner Dohner recalled, as an example of something both functional and artistic, a proposal by local artist Alex Weinstein that incorporated a wave motif into a strand bench.
After meeting with Mr. McAulay, the committee will refine the project parameters and bring a report back to the Commission.
H. STAFF ITEMS
Cultural Arts Division updates: SRS Brinkman reported:
• MBAC “Back to the Roots” exhibit reception held October 25th was very successful - 179 attendees, with a live performance.
• New MBAC gallery tour program on Wednesdays/Thursdays through December – book through Event Brite.
• New kiln and complex – Live Oak Park: complex is almost completed, expect kiln installed soon and ribbon cutting in first week in January.
• All Historical Society materials (newspapers, paper ephemera, photography collection). have been digitized and returned to the city. A discussion has been initiated with the La County Library about the library possibly including these materials in its digital collection which can then be searched by the general public.
PATF budget update - SRS Brinkman reported:
• Expiring end of 2024: $74,047.80 (will go to art conservation); $720,183.58 left in fund. • Expiring end of 2025: $46,000 (approx.)
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
November 18, 2024
4 City Council updates: SRS Brinkman reported:
• December 3rd - City Council will consider Commission’s recommendation for artwork conservation and will be allocating additional funding (consent agenda item) for the Civic Center 3-D shark mural.
• Lot 3 update: demolition recently completed - hopefully in next 4-6 weeks debris will be cleared and asphalt lot paved. The farmers’ market has been temporarily relocated to the upper civic center parking lot.
• Election: Front runners for 3 council seats: Joe Franklin, Nina Tarnay, Steve Charelian. The sales tax measure was passed.
I. COMMISSION ITEMS
Commissioner Patterson commented 1) how popular the art openings are, creating much awareness of the city’s cultural arts program; 2) appreciates getting minutes timely.
Commissioner Karger inquired about the next Work Plan adoption process: SRS Brinkman noted that staff will pull together all materials discussed in the last year about potential work plan items; this will be brought to the January Commission meeting for discussion/recommendation for the 2025 Work Plan; similar to last year, the Commission will not be interacting with the Council regarding the work plan.
SRS Brinkman reminded that December will be dark for all city commissions, the next meeting will be January 20. .
Chair Tokashiki announced that Commissioner Dohner will be leaving the Commission to be sworn in on December 18th as a member of the MB Unified School District Board. She expressed both regret in losing a valuable Commissioner and congratulations on her new position. Commissioner Dohner expressed her gratitude in working with the Commission and the Commission joined the Chair in congratulations.
J. ADJOURNMENT
At 5:27 p.m. it was moved and seconded ( Karger/Dohner) and passed 6-0 by voice vote, to adjourn the meeting to 4:00 pm, January 20th.