Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
July 21, 2025
1 CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
July 21, 2025
Location: Manhattan Beach City Council Chambers
1400 Highland Avenue. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Hybrid (in-person/Zoom)
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Karger called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Dickey, Rosenberg, Tokashiki, Colmey, Torrey, Vice Chair Patterson, Chair Karger.
Absent: None
Staff present: Senior Recreation Supervisor (SRS) Eric Brinkman, Senior Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Cultural Arts Commission regular Meeting Minutes: June 16, 2025
It was moved (Colmey) and seconded (Rosenberg) to approve the June 16, 2025 minutes, with changes:
1) Page 1, Call to Order: strike “Tokashiki”, replace with “Karger” 2) Page 1, General Business, 1.a.: Utility Box Beautification, second line: strike “May”, replace with “August”
3) Page 2, c. Sculp ture Garden, third paragraph, second line: strike second “Patterson”, and “and Colmey”, ending the sentence with Torrey.
Motion passed unanimously by voice vote: 7-0.
E. CEREMONIAL - None
F. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3-Minute Limit) – None
G. GENERAL BUSINESS
2. Cultural Arts Commission Work Plan for 2025/2026
Sculpture Garden. (Torrey, Patterson) Commissioner Torrey updated, with input from SRS Brinkman regarding the Sand Dune Park Artistic fence:
The city’s art engineer can set pole structure locations and ap plicants would submit a proposed in compliance with engineer approved locations. If handled like the utility box wrappings, artists could
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
July 21, 2025
2 submit a fence design that could be scanned and installed as metal fencing segments between poles.
Commissioner Torrey is looking into use of a flatbed scanner process – the benefit is that more artists would be attracted who also would have more flexibility in types of materials, vs. looking for a company that specifically provides an artistic fence (i.e. the Swedish company).
The commissioners are encouraged to get a sense of cost, when speaking to fabricators.
The committee ’s primary task is to narrow down the requirements for artists when submitting. The subcommittee is going in the right direction ; SRS Brinkman will continue to work with city staff and develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Commissioner Patterson and Chair Karger believe a Request for Proposal process is appropriate; staff will determine process.
Other options and examples of public artistic fencing were briefly discussed: Seattle Center monorail, and a method that produces a pixelated effect by applying 3D printed prefab plastic pieces onto a standard chain link fence.
This project could serve as a model wherein cultural arts and public works staff might work together at an early stage seamlessly to integrate public art into a capital improvement project. If Manhattan Beach wants to (like some other c ities) require all capital improvement projects to have some artistic art element, this would require amendment of the current PATF ordinance.
Next steps: the sub-committee will walk the park soon to consider more detailed fence locations such whether the fence should be in more visible spots, e.g. at entrance and children’s playground.
SRS Brinkman clarified that the overall Sculpture Garden program—comprised of artworks throughout the city—is currently on hold but may be revitalized after the Public Art Master Plan is revised.
New Art Initiative (a): Public Art Brochure (Karger, Tokashiki, Dickey):
Commissioner Dickey updated:
The sub-committee suggests a 2-prong approach: 1) Implement a bus tour (e.g. using Dial-a-Ride, an in- person tour (2-days? twice/year?). Former commissioner Fred Manna has been contacted and invited to join the subcommittee; 2) Disseminate the pamphlet through various channels (e,g , Young at Art events, city CA classes, school events, and a walking tour possibly led by Commissioner Dickey).
The Commission brainstormed ideas such as: disseminate/announce at city art events, end tour at Light Gate on January 17 and/or November 14th (unique sunset viewing dates), include in public school packets for teachers, expand places where pamphlet is available ( City Hall , Chamber of Commerce, Joslyn Center, etc.) with some kind of signage to draw attention to pamphlets.
The sub-committee is encouraged to reach out to Older Adults program supervisor Kari Bell to discuss possible use of the Dial-a-Ride busses for an art tour.
New Art Initiative (b): Poet Laureate (Patterson, Colmey) SRS Brinkman updated and the commission discussed the possibility of this potential program being transferred from Cultural Arts to the city’s Library Commission. Discussion included:
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
July 21, 2025
3 The role of the Library Commission is to support library programming and events that are done by Los Angeles County Public Library (LACOPL), as the Manhattan Beach library is a branch of that system.
As such, this initiative program cannot be directly moved to the Library Commission.
Options for structuring the program include:
1) LACOPL to adopt PL program : requires LACOPL to 100% “ own” and operate the program, but funded by PATF. However, there is a leadership change at the library and a new director will soon be in place; SRS Brinkman will need to gauge County interest in this option with the new director; 2) City to contract PL program out to an artist, paid through PATF; 3) Move and inaugurate PL program as proposed, under city’s older adult program, as the city’s poetry circle is mainly comprised of older adults; strong community support is needed for such. 4) Enhance existing Poetry Circle program, with city support and possibly the aid of a contractor (e.g. pages bookstore?). It was suggested that, to test out interest in the community by both older and younger persons, that the Poetry Circle could have a one-time poetry reading event at the Art Center, with coffee house atmosphere. The sub-committee will discuss this option further including the issue as to the role of the MB Poetry Circle (poet champion vs. laureate?) and the possible use of the Art Center.
Memorial for the Fallen . SRS Brinkman recapped noting three potential locations along a pathway adjacent to the Public Safety (police/fire) Facility. A midpoint location where the Asher Kelman boat sculpture formerly was displayed is preferred. All three locations have been vetted and approved by Public Works and will be presented to council as options.
Next steps: the APPC will meet on Wednesday to review and edit as needed a draft RFQ, with the goal of taking to city council September 16. It is also hoped that the application form will be vetted and ready for the sub-committee and Commission to review. Staff will be working on the budget for the program which needs to be ready when the recommendation goes to council.
Public Art Master Plan Revision . (Colmey, Rosenberg) SRS Brinkman updated: meeting scheduled with the sub-committee which has been doing research and he has met with the city consultant, Susan Gray and a roadmap is being developed.
Next steps: the consultant and sub -committee hopefully will meet early August, after which the city manager will be consulted. The Department of Community Development will be represented at that meeting which will be for the purpose of reviewing and consolidating the path forward for the overall work plan item. To prepare, SRS Brinkman encouraged the Ad Hoc committee to start reviewing other existing public art ordinances e.g. City of Ontario, LA Metro, LA County, and City of West Hollywood.
A change in policy, i.e. modifying the Public Art Trust Fund ordinance, as suggested by the Commission (to establish early on opportunities for incorporation of art into a building plan) would be a significant project and the council’s appetite and political will have to be gauged. An APPC committee would need to be formed which would include the CAC sub-committee as well as representatives from Public Works and Community Development.
Chair Karger opened the floor for public comment; no input was received. .
H. STAFF ITEMS
Cultural Arts Division updates: SRS Brinkman reported the following:
Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission
July 21, 2025
4 • Annual Community Exhibition (ACE): 115 community artworks, opens this Friday, 5 to 8 pm.
Manhattan Beach Art Center.
• Concerts in Park: 5- 7 pm, every Sunday till end of August; recently the Tom Petty tribute band was fabulous, largest crowd so far (trying to strike balance in attendance targets) this Sunday is Savor, Carlos Santana tribute band.
• Shakespeare By the Sea, Polliwog Park, July 17, 18th As You Like it/Julius Caesar, well attended. • Bruce's Beach : short list now of 6 finalists; Mid -August staff will meet artists; proposals due September 26 ; artist presentations to A PPC c ommittee are scheduled on October 2, and to be determined as to whether in person or remote/Zoom. Meet is not bound by the Brown Act but is a public meeting, any interested person may attend. IN addition, there will be a community open house October 3rd. The open house will provide an opportunity for the community to offer feedback to the artist.
City Council updates: None
PATF budget update: approximately $1.6 million balance; $862k approximately allocated, $809k approximately unallocated
I. COMMISSION ITEMS
Chair Karger reported her conversations with Jill Lampert (MB Chamber of Commerce), requesting minimally that one unsightly utility box in North MB be added to the wrapping program and Kelly Stroman, Downtown MB Business Association. Jill and Kelly will get back to the Chair with specific box locations. SRS Brinkman advised that a next phase list can be started and there may be an opportunity to have an Olympic theme for the next round. If Olympic themed the boxes would be not only in the North End but also scattered around the city; some existing boxes that need refreshing might be part of that group. If an Olympic theme is desired, the project needs to move forward quickly. A dditional discussion suggested that the mural program could also have an Olympic theme ; f urther research is needed. The city art tour and pamphlet might be updated to include Olympic themed new artworks.
Commissioner Colmey is researching 2028 Olympics opportunities for cities, and Commissioner Dickey pointing out that this is the first time an Olympic surfing competition will be held in California. Olympic items could be distributed at city cultural arts program (e.g. a photography exhibit of former Manhattan Beach Olympic athletes). She will reach out to LA Olympic Committee; SRS Brinkman has been asked by the city manager to investigate possible exhibitions related to the Olympics.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Karger confirmed that the commission will receive a 30-minute training in using the city council chamber voting system prior to the September meeting. At 5:04 p.m. Chair Karger announced that the August meeting has been canceled; and with no further business, it was moved and seconded (Colmey/Torrey) to adjourn to the next regularly scheduled meeting on September 15. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).