City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 24, 2025
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Monday, February 24, 2025
4:00 PM
Location: Zoom and City Council Chambers, City Hall
1400 Highland Avenue
A. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Allen called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Zimbalist, Schreiner, Komatinsky, Doran, Vice Chair Windes, Jacobson, Chair Allen
Absent: None
Others present: Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman, Senior Recreation Manager (SRM) Melissa McCollum, Senior Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow, City Engineer Katherine Doherty, PE ENV SP D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 27, 2025
It was moved and seconded (Komatinsky/Windes) to approve the January 27 , 202 5 minutes with one change on page 5, last paragraph before Adjournment, strike “property” (owners) and replace with “community” (owners); motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
E. CEREMONIAL - None
F. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) - None
G. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Projects Update The Commission received a PowerPoint presentation from City Engineer (CE) Katie Doherty, updating the Commission on the FY 2025 – 2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Ms. Doherty summarized 15 projects, including funding and status, for 11 active projects and 4 future programmed projects as well as recently completed CIP projects that are related to the Parks and Recreation Department. Planning for the next 5 -year CIP (2026 – 2030) has started with a public feedback survey (currently active), presentations at Planning and Parking and Public Improvement Commissions in April, and review and approval by City Council May-June.
CE Doherty and Director Leyman received input and responded to Commissioner questions regarding several projects including but not limited to : Scout House
City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 24, 2025
rebuild, Aquatics Facility, Storm Drain Infiltration Project (28 th Street at Bruce’s Beach Park), Mariposa Fitness Station Equipment Replacement, pour -in-place resurfacing (various) and others. Regarding the Mariposa Fitness station, it was suggested that Engineering consider keeping the overall design “old school” to promote use by the older population while also bringing the station into compliance with the ADA. Concerns regarding e-bike parking, especially near the upper schools were raised as a possible new CIP project, as this is a significant issue.
Action items resulting from the discussion include:
Marine Avenue Park Directional signage: concerns were raised regarding a need for directional signage for the skate park and dog run, Director Leyman noted that the city way -finding sign program is still being finalized but will evaluate interim solutions.
Rainbow crosswalk MBB near the pier: Commissioner Windes noted she has submitted a service request via Manhattan Reach regarding needed repairs. CE Doherty will check on this.
2. 24/0226.01 Work Plan Items Discussion
a. Parks Master Plan – Commissioner Schreiner reported that the committee has updated the 2020 Master Plan with current U.S. census data. The committee is done with one part of the Plan, two more remain to be done. Senior Recreation Manager McCollum noted various ways the Parks and Re creation webpage has been updated to inform and engage residents ; she will work with other staff to see if the link can be made more prominent and encouraged the Commission to view the webpage and provide input. Commissioner Komatinsky suggested a small flagged link be placed on the main city page; SRM McCollum will discuss with the city’s communication team.
Commissioner Zimbalist asked whether the Commission could still suggest new projects such as studying e -bike parking. SRM McCollum stated that while it is not too late, the committee is focused getting projects already on the plan completed. Director Leyman and SRM McCollum responded, respectively , that comments on this suggestion can be submitted to staff who could forward them to a city team already looking at e-bike parking (led by City Traffic Engineer Eric Zandlvliet), and this does not preclude the Commission from considering e-bike parking when reviewing specific park facility projects. Commissioner Komatinsky emphasized that regardless as to whether e-bike parking is in the park master plan or not, she feels a community conversation should be started on how to address this issue.
Chair Allen called for public comment; none received.
City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 24, 2025
b. Pay ‘N Play Outreach – Commissioner Windes reiterated the breakdown of the over 900 responses received through the city survey. The next step will be to look at some site maps to get a sense of what facilities wi ll fit in the available space, with a futsal court being a primary survey preference, with consideration for secondary uses (pickleball, playing field, basketball) and keeping a dog run (which may be relocated).
Action item: staff will request to provide the committee a to-scale map/overlay of the area of the existing Pay ‘N Play area including dog park – up to the walkway and basketball area. The Committee will meet and discuss a recommendation for the next meeting.
Chair Allen called for public comment; none received.
c. Polliwog Park Dog Run – Director Leyman updated: the Public Works Department is working on a project timeline that will, when ready, be discussed with the school district. Regarding trees: he has met on site with the city arborist, and existing trees have been determined to be an invasive species and will be removed a nd replaced , funded through the Polliwog tree removal project. In response to a suggestion about having a n early morning community dog walk, Director Leyman noted that this has been looked into in the past, but did not go forward due to liability issues; however, could be considered if an alternate model came forward.
Chair Allen called for public comment; none received.
H. STAFF ITEMS
City Council Recap and Parks and Recreation Department Updates Director Leyman reported
• Last weekend: Little League opening day and 5k at American Martyrs • Spring classes, spring/summer camp registration opens March 3rd for city residents • New Kiln ribbon cutting: March 3, 2:30 p.m.
• Pilot Parks and Recreation registration program (racket sports only): SMA Robb updated: the new system will launch March 10; currently a 24 -hour reservation system is not in place (everything starts at 6 a.m.) but this can be explored for the future. The Kaizen Labs contract runs through end of 2025 • Court resurfacing: SRM McCollum reported: Tennis courts 1 and 2, Live Oak Park have just been resurfaced and 3 -6 are scheduled for this week. At Man hattan Heights: pickleball court lines wil l be added the week of March 3 rd to the second court similar to what was done to the first court as this was a clear preference in an opinion survey wherein responses were received from 900+ persons . Also, a multi-year court resurfacing program has been developed to manage re-surfacing for all city courts, including those at Mira Costa and the middle school . When completed, including modifying for multiple uses , the city will have a total of 17 pickleball courts (compared to only 2 currently) and 18 tennis courts. Since the city
City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 24, 2025
has limited space to develop recreation, multi-use solutions make sense. The City has arranged with Mira Costa to move some of the programming to the high school while city courts are being resurfaced,
I. COMMISSION ITEMS
Older Adult Program Update – Commissioner Schreiner reported on the January Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) m eeting including a report by Council Member Franklin covering several topics (possible amendment of waste contract specific to landfill diversion requirements, low-income housing requirements, utility undergrounding) and various SAC social, educational and fundraising events . The SAC’s showcase “Acting Out ” will be produced in the fall and towards that end the city is working to improve sound equipment at Joslyn.
Student Update – Commissioner Jacobson reported that Mira Costa PTA member parents are partnering with parents of new students from the Palisades fire area and the city student commissioners are forming a networking club.
School District Update: Commissioner Komatinsky noted:
• The district is in the early planning stage for budgeting, including implementing the new school bond measure passed last November. Although that was successful, the district is looking at cutting costs and unfortunately there will be some layoffs (pink slips due by 3/15).
• Manhattan Beach schools have welcomed 182 public school students - mostly high school and a few elementary students displaced by the Palisades fire area and American Martyrs has welcomed 70 who have been displaced by its “sister school” also affected by the Palisades fire.
• The Mira Costa boys basketball team will be competing for the southern section CIF championship.
J. ADJOURNMENT
At 5:31 pm it was moved and seconded (Zimbalist/Windes) to adjourn to the meeting of March 24 at 4:00 pm; motion passed unanimously by voice vote. “