Administrative
Report
P.1., File # 24-0810 Meeting Date: 5/21/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ELIZABETH HAUSE, INTERIM COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING OPTIONS TO CELEBRATE JUNE 2024 AS
PRIDE MONTH
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A referral was made at the April 16, 2024 City Council meeting requesting a discussion item to address raising the Pride flag in front of City Hall as well as other options for the City to celebrate Pride Month 2024.
BACKGROUND
Pride Month is a month-long observance in celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and more (LGBTQIA+) people and the history, culture, and contributions of these people and their communities. The practice of celebrating Pride began after the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of gay liberation protests that took place in New York City.
At the January 3, 2023 City Council meeting, Council requested staff prepare an item to discuss the possible adoption of a resolution declaring June as Pride Month. The Resolution was then drafted, discussed, and adopted at the March 14, 2023 City Council meeting. As part of the discussion, the City Council directed that a Pride Flag be raised at the City’s Civic Center during the month of June.
At the April 4, 2023 City Council meeting, Council requested staff prepare an item to discuss the possible implementation of a local competition to design a Pride Flag specific for Redondo Beach.
This was discussed at the April 18, 2023 meeting in which Council directed staff to raise the Progress Flag for Pride Month.
At the April 16, 2024 Council meeting, a referral was made to staff to return to Council with an item discussing raising the Progress Flag at the Civic Center, as well as the presenting other options available for celebrating Pride Month in 2024. Below are some options that staff hive discovered that are available to Council:
1. Raise the Progress Flag at the City Civic Center for the month of June. There are no costs associated with this activity as the City already has already procured the Progress Flag.
Council may choose to raise the flag prior to a City Council meeting and invite the community to attend; this will require staff time for preparation.
2. The South Bay LGBTQ Center will host a South Bay Pride Paddle at the King Harbor Yacht
P.1., File # 24-0810 Meeting Date: 5/21/2024
2. The South Bay LGBTQ Center will host a South Bay Pride Paddle at the King Harbor Yacht Club on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The event is not held during Pride Month (June), but this is not uncommon in recent years. The Center has taken cues from other cities that hold Pride events in other months (e.g., Long Beach and Palm Springs) to ultimately demonstrate that Pride is all year long. The Center shared the event expenses below, and welcomes any subsidy or sponsorship the City is willing to offer in support of the event and in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Council may consider partnering with the LGBTQ Center and subsidize some, or all, of the following expenses:
Item Cost Notes
Facilities Rental $800
Drag Performers $400
Paddleboard Rentals $1,320 (60 people at $22)
Lunch $1,250 (50 people at $25)
Supplies and Misc. $230
Total $4,000 .
3. The City Council has previously expressed interest in modifying existing Pier lighting to display rainbow colors to commemorate Pride month. Over the last year, the Public Works Department has researched lighting options that would allow for the easy variation in Pier light colors. Initially, a lighting system was considered that would allow for the changing of light colors via Bluetooth technology, however, this option has recently fallen out of favor with distributors as there were connectivity issues with the system. Staff has been informed of forthcoming lighting systems that function and communicate over a mesh network to allow for more streamlined and easy-to-use lighting management. This type of system would provide Council the option of changing Pier light colors for a variety of holidays, celebrations, or special events.
In lieu of this more advanced lighting system, should the Council wish to change the Pier lights this year for the month of June, the Public Works Department can manually place colored mylar covers around the Pier bulbs in a rainbow pattern. This entails planning for the covers to all be installed on May 31st, with all the covers scheduled to be removed on July 1st. This would also require the use of 3 lifts which requires 2 employees per lift, with one employee placing covers on the bulbs and the other monitoring use of the lift as a safety precaution.
There are 75 total bulbs along the Pier. Below are the estimated costs to complete both installation and removal of the mylar covers, which would take approximately 125 hours for the 6 employees working the 3 rented lifts:
Item Cost
Materials $1,000.00
Lift Rental (3 units) $6,000.00
Total $7,000.00
Staff is seeking direction on which activities the City Council would like to pursue to celebrate Pride
P.1., File # 24-0810 Meeting Date: 5/21/2024
Month 2024.
Update on Permanent LGBTQIA+ Art Piece
In 2023, Council directed staff to begin exploring locations for the installation of a permanent art piece commemorating the LGBTQIA+ community in Redondo Beach. The Public Art Commission has discussed this effort, and is considering including the art installation as part of the ARTesia Project. The Commission also formed the LGBTQIA+ Permanent Art Piece subcommittee to conduct outreach and establish partnerships with community groups interested in participating in the procurement of this commemorative art installation.
COORDINATION
The Community Services Department coordinated with the City Manager’s Office and the Public Works Department to prepare this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost associated with raising the Progress flag at the City’s Civic Center. The cost for supporting the South Bay Pride Paddle is up to $4,000, and the cost to modify Pier lights to display a rainbow pattern is $7,000. There is currently no dedicated funding for these costs in the City’s Operating Budget.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager