Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
March 17, 2025
1 CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
March 17, 2025
Location: Manhattan Beach City Council Chambers
and Teleconference by Commissioner Tokashiki
1400 Highland Avenue. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
and Hybrid (remote/Zoom)
A. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Karger called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Colmey, Patterson, Chair Tokashiki (remote), Torrey, Padnos, Vice Chair Karger
Absent: None
Staff present: Senior Recreation Supervisor (SRS) Eric Brinkman, Senior Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Cultural Arts Supervisor (CAS) Randy Niessen, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 19, 2025
It was moved and seconded (Tokashiki/Patterson) to approve the February 19, 2025 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 remain open until March 31st; so far: 12 youth, 55 adult submission s. At its next meeting, the Commission will review submittals and develop recommendations to city council.
b. Murals. SRS Brinkman updated: only one mural (3D shark at the civic center parking lot) remains to be installed. That work will start in April and complete in May.
c. Sculpture Garden. Project remains paused.
d. New Art Initiatives
i. Public Art Brochure : CAS Nessen distributed a prototype of the brochure that has graphics differentiating between the east and west sides of the city . The Commission thanked staff for the brochure, complimented it and suggested the following: 1 ) add a few small icons as landmarks , without making too visually cluttered (e.g. ocean, pier, MBB, etc.); 2) make street lines thicker and/or
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
March 17, 2025
2 consistent for both east and west ; 3) re-number artwork locations to that 1 -11 becomes 1-29 (west side) and 12-40 becomes 30-40 (east side) – consistent with users opening the brochure like a book, flipping the title page to the left . Chair Tokashiki could announce the brochure at a city council meeting during “community announcements”.
ii. Poet Laureate. (Patterson, Colmey, Padnos) Commissioner Patterson noted the committee added language on page 1 of the Prospectus to reflect the Arts Master Plan. Commissioner Patterson also introduced Deb Henderson, who has been requested by the MB Poetry Circle to serve as the voice of the Poetry Circle for this project.
Vice Chair Karger expressed concern that the scope of the project may be too much for the first 2- year term. She suggested that the adult poet laureate have fewer requirements but more creative freedom, and with commensurately reduced compensation, and to hold off on the student laureate position. Chair Tokashiki and Commissioner Colmey stated their agreement. Commissioner Torrey questioned whether by reducing the scope the city would still be able to attract high quality candidates.
CAS Niessen noted that as currently written with only three beach cities mentioned for eligibility, he feels it will be challenging to get sufficient quality candidates. He believes that casting the net wider than South Bay and having good compensation may be key to finding the right person. He emphasized that this call for artists is about giving an opportunity to someone who is an expert in poetry who can advance the art form in the community ; also questioned the purpose of the requirement for being a resident for a minimum of 3 years.
Commissioner Patterson explained that she kept the student poet laureate position in because she feels it’s very important to involve the youth of the community and feels the requirements for the student will not be too demanding (a couple events and assisting the adult Poet Laureate) and that there is no monetary compensation.
The Commission discussed whether to include a student laureate position at the launch of the first term (either in the first or second year) and how prescriptive the description and responsibilities should be of the adult poet laureate. It was noted that there is a poetry club at Mira Costa.
Commissioner Colmey suggested that for the first two years, to have only a few specific requirements with the goal that the Poet Laureate would create a collaborative pathway with the community.
CAS Niessen believes the Poet Laureate should have some ability to develop a vision for the program because if the city’s description and requirements are too specific this could act as a deterrent for good candidates.
Commissioner Patterson suggested simply changing paragraph “A” so that, instead of requiring four original pieces of work based on 4 out of 5 specified programs, reduce the number to less than 4 with flexibility in the number of events/programs (e.g. suggest 2 out of 5, or 3 out of 5 etc.). She believes the same type of flexibility can be provided the Student Poet Laureate.
The question of the Student Poet Laureate was again discussed; whether to keep for two years or introduce in the second year after a collaborative community pathway is established in the first year.
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
March 17, 2025
3 Commissioner Padnos commented that he could see both sides, i.e. to not include in the first year or first two years, but he also does not see a downside to keeping the student laureate in that he feels that the requirements are low.
Deb Henderson, Manhattan Beach Poetry Circle believes that initially the candidacy should be local, perhaps to the South Bay community which she feels is sufficiently diverse. She suggests in the first year to not have a specified student laureate, but incorporate a youth voice through the Poet Laureate – by working with the student poetry group. She believes the key element is to be able to identify a person who can present work that showcases the community but also reach a diverse group of people.
Commissioner Patterson called for direction on the student laureate.
CAS Niessen noted that in the case of El Segundo, which did not have a student laureate position, the library staff mostly managed the poet laureate program and believes it required a significant commitment of time.
Vice Chair Karger suggested reducing the number of events down to two, with a menu of suggestions, with Juneteenth removed as it outside of the city official events. She also suggests taking out the student laureate position due to the possible significant impact on staff time.
SRS Brinkman suggested that there are two issues: the goals and the scope of work. He feels that the goals should be more clearly defined which will better inform the scope of work.
Chair Tokashiki commented that it is important to not only come up with big picture goals but also address how the program will be managed. Commissioner Patterson feels a main goal is to have a Poet Laureate that is the voice of the entire community, all ages.
The Commission briefly discussed the concepts of broad goals, vs. specific tasks. The Commission came to a consensus that the subcommittee will meet and develop broad goals and bring those back to the full Commission, and from there the scope of work will be decided in the Prospectus.
CAS Niessen will look for the description of the El Segundo Poet Laureate position but emphasized that the broad goals may not be complicated. He advised looking at the highlighted wording in the current prospectus draft for goal language (e.g. “To express and celebrate Manhattan Beach’s unique people, culture and environment.”) e. Memorial for the Fallen - SRS Brinkman updated. The committee walked potential sites to examine their viability including compliance with ADA. The next step will be to engage with the Public Works and Community Development departments to gain more understanding regarding ADA and structural issues, which will, in turn, inform the project budget. After that, the APPC will be formed to obtain community input. The subcommittee has been tasked to develop a project summary to include the artwork goals and project description and then solicit members of the APPC. An update will be presented at the April meeting.
H. STAFF ITEMS
Cultural Arts Division updates: SRS Brinkman reported:
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
March 17, 2025
4 • Staffing: A new senior recreation leader, Michelle Shanahan, has been hired to oversee the ceramics studio operation; there is a recruitment for two part time positions at the Art Center. • Bruce’s Beach artwork: the RFQ is open until April 21st; the APPC will meet on April 23 to review applications; m arketing materials regarding will be emailed to the Commissioners who are encouraged to pass info on to artists.
• Exhibitions: “Ripple Effect’ closes March 30; next exhibit, artist Keith McGruder, specializing in trompe l‘oeil 3D art, opens April 18. The annual community exhibit will follow Keith Magruder starting with application window opening in April.
PATF budget update - SRS Brinkman reported (approximately) • Total trust fund: 1.7 mil (approx.)
• Allocated: $914,000 (approx.)
• Un-allocated: $789,000 (approx.)
City Council updates: SRS Brinkman/SMA Robb reported:
• SMA Robb reported that C ity Council recently reviewed its special event fee waiver policy (previously waivers consistently approved every five years). The council approved the legacy fee waivers for 2 years and directed staff to look at revamping how the waivers are reviewed, with the possibility that the approvals return to a 5-year cycle. A total of $480,000 in fees is waived. • Board and Commission interviews: the council has adopted a speed system where candidates have 2 minutes to interview before the council.
I. COMMISSION ITEMS - None
J. ADJOURNMENT
At 5:31 p.m. it was moved by the Vice Chair; seeing no objection, it was ordered to adjourn the meeting to 4:00 pm, April 21, 2025