Administrative
Report
N.2., File # 23-7365 Meeting Date: 2/13/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: CAMERON HARDING, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ENTRYWAY SIGNAGE AT CITY POINTS OF
INTEREST
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City’s strategic plan includes an initiative to collaborate with the Public Art Commission (Commission) to develop concepts for large horizontal signage at key City entry points and present a report to the City Council. The Public Art Commission discussed using funding from the John Parsons Public Art Fund to commission professional artists to design new signage at its November 29, 2023 and January 24, 2024 meetings. Neither meeting yielded recommendations for large-scale gateway signage, with the general opinion being that the commercially-produced monument signs currently in use are nice and effective. At the January 24, 2024 meeting, two commissioners offered specific suggestions for locations for entryway signage. Those suggestions are described in the background section below. In past years, the Commission has also considered the use of John Parsons Public Art Funds for public art murals that could function as entryway signage on three BNSF-owned overpasses and/or their supporting structures. Currently, there is no funding appropriated for the procurement and installation of new entryway signage.
BACKGROUND
The City Council created the Public Art Commission in 2009 with a number of mandated responsibilities, including making recommendations for public art projects to be considered as part of the City’s strategic planning and annual capital project processes. While the 2016 Public Art Master Plan did not include specific reference to locations for entryway signage, it did include an inventory of the City's public art collection to date and recommended locations for potential Public Art installations.
The Public Art Commission discussed entryway signage at its November 29, 2023 and January 24, 2024 meetings, but no recommendations were developed to present to Council. The general opinion was that the commercial, monument-style signs currently in use, and shown below, are nice, but do not qualify as eligible public art projects under the Public Art Master Plan.
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At the January 24, 2024 meeting two commissioners offered suggestions for locations for additional entryway signage. Commissioner Sharma made the following suggestions for District #5:
The main District 5 intersections are:
· Aviation Blvd and Marine Ave
· Aviation Blvd and Manhattan Beach Blvd
· Aviation Blvd and Artesia Blvd
· Marine Ave and Inglewood Ave
· Manhattan Beach Blvd and Inglewood Ave
Northrop Grumman and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center occupy Aviation Blvd between Marine and Manhattan Beach Blvd, with the Performing Arts Center sign carrying the City’s name.
The City currently has a sign on Artesia Blvd (on the median paralleling Chick-fil-A and the School of Rock). This leaves the following locations as potential locations for additional signage:
1. Marine and Inglewood Ave.
2. Inglewood Ave and Manhattan Beach Blvd intersection.
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3. Areas exiting and entering the 405 Freeway from Inglewood Ave.
Commissioner Lapin made the following suggestions for District 1:
1. Camino Real at Knob Hill
a. Existing monument sign
b. In front of Wilderness Park, there are two utility boxes which could have artwork installed on them, and they could be a nice complement to that monument sign if it was refreshed.
2. Torrance Boulevard heading west into Redondo Beach
a. Opportunities for signage on poles as you're heading west on Torrance, which is a main artery going towards the Pier.
3. Prospect and Torrance Boulevard
a. Heading west there could be entryway signage and/or artwork b. Heading east there's a Torrance sign, maybe the City of Redondo Beach could get permission from the City of Torrance to do something there. There are many opportunities along the Corridor.
4. Pacific Coast Highway heading west into Redondo approaching the Riviera Village area, there are multiple median spaces that could accommodate entryway signs or pieces of art.
5. Another option would be to enter into agreements with business owners that have walls in entryway locations. For example, on the northwest corner of Aviation Blvd and Artesia Blvd, the City of Manhattan Beach has a very simple sign on the business’ retaining wall. The City of Redondo Beach has many walls along 190th St, Artesia Blvd, and other corridors that might Page 3 of 7 N.2., File # 23-7365 Meeting Date: 2/13/2024
of Redondo Beach has many walls along 190th St, Artesia Blvd, and other corridors that might work well for this type of signage.
Train Overpasses
Over the past year, the Public Art Commission has frequently discussed its desire to commission works of public art on Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train overpasses and their supporting structures. While these locations are not under City control, staff is in active negotiations with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to facilitate graffiti abatement, fresh paint, and, potentially, public art installations. The negotiations are ongoing and could be complete in the next several months.
There are three local locations along the train line with overpasses. Each is approximately 1 block east of Inglewood Ave., with only the Grant Ave. overpass located in the City limits:
· Artesia Blvd
· Grant Ave
· 190th St
Artesia Blvd. looking west (heading toward Redondo Beach) Artesia Blvd. looking east (heading away from Redondo Beach)
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Grant Ave. looking west (heading toward Redondo Beach)
Grant Ave. looking east (heading away from Redondo Beach)
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190th St. looking southwest on Hawthorne Blvd.
190th St. looking northeast on Hawthorne Blvd.
At this time, staff is seeking Council direction on its desire to establish additional entryway signage at City points of interest. If Council wants to proceed with monument-style signs, Public Works personnel will return as funds permit with future capital projects. If it is Council’s intent to utilize public art for entryway signage, the project would need to be held until a sufficient balance is available in the John Parsons Public Art Fund.
COORDINATION
The Community Services Department prepared this report with input from the Public Art Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this discussion item. It should be noted that there is no funding currently allocated for new entryway signage. Should Council choose to move forward with new entryway signage, or entryway public art projects, funding would need to be identified.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
N.2., File # 23-7365 Meeting Date: 2/13/2024
ATTACHMENTS
· Examples of Entryway Signage