City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission May 29, 2025
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, May 29, 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 4:01 pm.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present (4): Commissioners Schreiner, Zimbalist, Vice Chair Windes, Chair Allen, Jacobson (left 4:05 pm)
Absent (2): Komatinsky, Doran
Others present: Senior Recreation Manager (SRM) Melissa McCollum, Senior Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 28, 2025
Moved and seconded (Windes/Zimbalist) to approve as submitted; motion passed 4-0-3 by voice vote. (Komatinsky, Doran, Jacobson absent)
E. CEREMONIAL – Chair Allen deferred to Commissioner Windes who invited student Commissioner Jacobson to the dais and thanked and commended her for her service, providing a valuable youth voice on the Parks and Rec Commission. Following audience participation, Commissioner Jacobson left the meeting.
F. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) –
Commissioner Windes thanked resident Lee Barr for his contribution to the Polliwog Park dog run project ; recounted how she and Commissioner Schr einer recently visited the Public Works yard office in early am to thank employees for their superb work done on the dog run project; the commissioners l earned a lot about projects, were inspired and impressed seeing women in public works leadership positions.
G. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. 25/0529.01 Parks Master Plan – Commissioner Schreiner advised that tonight the Commission should not c losely edit but rather focus on broad issues , and, with consensus, the draft document can go forward for council action on June 17th.
SRM Melissa McCollum thanked sub -committee members Schreiner, Windes, and Komatinsky for their hard work and presented an overview of the Parks Master Plan with a PowerPoint. She clarified that the June 17 council date is pending confirmation internally by the Community Development Department that state environmental (CEQA) requirements have been met. She reviewed, touching on: the 2020 Plan project, including various categories of projects ( completed, removed and added). An Appendix (Section
City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission May 29, 2025
5) has been included that shows why projects have been removed as well as “snapshots” of projects between the two Master Plans.
The Commission discussed and provided input:
• City description (page 7): strike “laid back” and replace with “active” (Schreiner) • Beach volleyball courts (page 17): confirm total number of 107 (Windes) Chair Allen opened the floor for public comment.
Lee Barr inquired as to whether in the new projects category, one project (C.5 access to court 6 LOP) listed as “mid-range” category should be a “quick win” and able to be done for much less cost ? Commissioner Windes explained that this is a safety issue; SRM McCollum updated that the project is now believed to be able to be accomplished for less than $60k and will confirm this and adjust as needed.
There being no other persons wishing to speak Chair Allen closed the floor for input.
Commissioners commented: Windes, that she is gratified to see all city facilities mapped; Zimbalist noted that he is impressed with the project lists and happy to see that the LoveMB nonprofit is included as a source of possible project funding and Schriener commended SRM McCollum in leading and managing the plan update.
It was moved and seconded ( Zimbalist/Windes) that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Council approve and adopt the Parks Master Plan Update as discussed. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-3); ayes (4): Windes, Allen, Zimbalist, Schreiner; Absent (3): Komatinsky, Doran, Jacobson.
2. 25/0324.02 Work Plan Items Discussion
a. Pay N Play
Committee Chair Windes provided a brief background; no new information to report.
H. STAFF ITEMS
SRM McCollum congratulated Commissioners Allen and Windes for their reappointments to the Parks and Rec Commission and Commissioner Jacobson on her service; and to rising senior Ishaan Aggarwal who has been appointed as the new student commissioner.
A second student commissioner may be added as an alternate, to be determined at the June 3rd council meeting.
City Council Recap and Parks and Recreation Department Updates • FY 2025-2026 budget; 5-Yr CIP: City Council to consider June 3. • LoveMB: City Council approved MOU on May 2 0 and exploration of four fundraising projects (MBPD security camera trailer; benches for Polliwog dog run; playground resurfacing, upper Polliwog Park and Marine Avenue Park play areas; and Veterans Parkway Mariposa fitness stations); appointed a Councilmember (Franklin) and alternate (Tarnay) to serve on board of directors.
City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission May 29, 2025
• June 3 City Council will be considering adding student voting members to some commissions (e.g. Parks and Rec, Library, Cultural Arts) She will keep the commission posted.
• Begg pool kickoff party: June 14, 10 a.m.
• Juneteenth activities: June 19, 10 am ceremony, Bruce’s Beach and June 22 (Sun) celebration and concert 2-7 pm, Polliwog Park
• Concerts in the Park: begins June 29, 5-7 pm, Salute to the Troops/Satin Dolz • First large venue Library Speaker Series event: Roy Choi, held in May, over 800 attending; congratulations to Library Commission, LA County Public Library. • 29th annual (2-day) family campout, Manhattan Heights Park: > 70 families. • Staffing: 1) shout-outs: Kari Bell lead for Library Speaker Series and Jesus Sandoval and David Ibarra for Family Campout; Kelsey Ransom and registration team for great job in handling summer class registrations (over $3 60k revenue already – reflecting a 9% increase compared to the same timeframe last year); 2) all staff training June 7 for summer events and classes. • Keith Magruder amazing watercolor trompe l’oeil exhibit at MBAC continues through June 29th.
I. COMMISSION ITEMS
Older Adult Program Update – Commissioner Schreiner reported on the last SAC meeting including report by Councilmember Franklin.
School District Update: No report (Commissioner Komatinsky).
Student Update – Commissioner Windes reported on activities, with school closing soon and particularly seniors with graduation approaching. SMA Robb described the senior strand traditional walk.
Commissioner Zimbalist announced an upcoming MB Education Foundation Wine Auction to be held next Saturday.
J. ADJOURNMENT
At 5:00 pm it was moved and seconded (Windes/Zimbalist) to adjourn to the meeting of June 23, 2025 at 4:00 pm; motion passed unanimously by voice vote.