To: CITY COUNCIL
From: DANA VINKE, LIBRARY DIRECTOR
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PUBLIC AMENITIES COMMISSION RECOMMENDED STRATEGIC PLAN
CONSIDERATIONS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the March 11, 2026 Public Amenities Commission meeting, Commissioners discussed recommending Strategic Plan initiatives for consideration by the City Council.
Staff provided the Public Amenities Commission with some background by presenting the City’s June 2025 – March 2026 Strategic Plan. The intent of the discussion was to provide Commissioners with an opportunity to provide input to City Council for their consideration when deliberating on the next list of Strategic Plan items.
The Public Amenities Commission did not coalesce in support of individual recommendations and made no motion to capture majority support of any items. Instead, Commissioners elected to submit individual recommendations through the Commission’s Liaison.
Attached to this report is the individual input received from Commissioners Galassi and Lang.
Summarized below are the Commissioner’s proposed initiatives for the City Council’s consideration:
Submitted by Commissioner Galassi
• Evaluate location opportunity for full court lighted basketball court • Conduct an analysis of current racquet sports reservation system now that pickleball has been added to ensure usage revenue data are being accurately captured. Evaluate a way to increase efficiencies in the reservation system to require less staff time for ex: membership and court reservations to be paid online.
Submitted by Commissioner Lang and supported by Commissioner Galassi • Increase funding for citywide tree canopy and parkway forestry • Development of a City climate action plan
• Permanent field and park lighting at Alta Vista Park
• Feasibility Study: Recreational space under Southern California Edison power lines
• Community garden expansion in North Redondo Beach
ATTACHMENTS
Strategic Plan Input - Public Amenities Commission - Commissioner Galassi.pdf Strategic Plan Input - Public Amenities Commission - Commissioner Lang.pdf Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Input-Public Amenities Commission March 12, 2026
Dear Director Vinke,
In response to Commissioner Lang’s report for inclusion in FY 2026-2027 budget I concur with Item 1, 4 and 7 to be recommended for inclusion in FY26-27 budget. • Also, to address student and public need, I recommend expanding lighting hours at Perry Park to maximize basketball play.
• Request a budget response for adding lighting at Anderson Park basketball court. • Extend chain link fence to completely separate tennis court and pickleball court. (it’s possible that funds for this may be already available as pickleball project only utilized part of an available grant. Kelly Orta should advise)
• Provide a budget for Preservation outreach and education events and activities.
Preservation subcommittee can recommend a number after our next meeting.
In Commissioner Lang’s report, I recommend moving items 2, 3, 5 and 6 to Strategic Plan for consideration.
Also, for strategic plan consideration:
• Evaluate location opportunity for full court lighted basketball court. • Conduct an analysis of current racquet sports reservation system now that pickleball has been added to ensure usage are revenue data are being accurately captured. Evaluate a way to increase efficiencies in the reservation system to require less staff time for ex:
membership and court reservations to be paid online.
Sincerely, Desirée Galassi
Public Amenities Commission
Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Input-Public Amenities Commission Submitted by
Commissioner Lang
1. Replacement of Alta Vista Park Snack Shack and Restroom Facility Request:
Allocate funding to replace the existing snack shack and restroom facility at Alta Vista Park.
Rationale:
• The current building, constructed in the 1960s, is functionally outdated and no longer meets the needs of the community.
• The facility serves as the primary snack shack and restroom for youth sports leagues and community events. AYSO alone serves nearly 3,000 participants, while spring baseball serves approximately 900 families, not including additional park visitors utilizing the playground, tennis courts, community garden, and other park amenities.
• The building experiences extremely heavy use, particularly on weekends when park activity is at its peak.
• Despite previous renovations, the restrooms continue to experience persistent sanitation and maintenance issues and frequently smell strongly of urine, creating an unpleasant experience for park users.
• The polygonal layout of the building creates awkward and cramped restroom stalls that are difficult for children and individuals with mobility needs to navigate.
Recommendation:
• Given the level of use and current condition of the facility, replacement of the structure should be prioritized within the City’s capital improvement planning. • If full replacement cannot occur immediately, the project should be added to the Public Works capital improvement agenda for planning and future funding.
2. Increase Funding for Citywide Tree Canopy and Parkway Forestry Request:
Significantly increase funding dedicated to tree planting and maintenance along city parkways.
Rationale:
• Current tree planting efforts are insufficient to keep pace with trees that are declining, dying, or being removed.
• Expanding the city’s tree canopy provides important environmental and community benefits, Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Input-Public Amenities Commission including shade, heat mitigation, stormwater management, and improved neighborhood aesthetics.
• Increasing tree canopy also supports climate resilience and enhances walkability throughout the city.
Recommendations:
• Prioritize replacement of trees removed due to disease, damage, or development. • Increase funding for routine tree maintenance to protect the health of existing trees. • Encourage partnerships with community organizations such as South Bay Parkland Conservancy and Citizens for Redondo Trees to help identify planting locations and leverage volunteer support.
• Allocate staff time to explore ways to incorporate required tree planting during building permits and remodel reviews when properties are already undergoing city review.
3. Development of a City Climate Action Plan
Request:
Invest in the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the City of Redondo Beach.
Rationale:
• Many cities throughout California have adopted Climate Action Plans to guide policies related to sustainability, urban forestry, transportation, energy efficiency, and environmental resilience. • A Climate Action Plan would provide a strategic framework to guide future investments and policy decisions.
• Developing such a plan would help position Redondo Beach to compete for state and federal funding related to environmental initiatives and infrastructure improvements.
4. Permanent Field and Park Lighting at Alta Vista Park Request:
Allocate funding for permanent field and park lighting at Alta Vista Park with a centralized city operated control system.
Rationale:
• Alta Vista Park serves as a major hub for youth sports and recreational programming. • Seasonal daylight limitations can restrict practice times and field usage, particularly during fall and winter months. Lighting solutions and burdens are place on leagues which are run by Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Input-Public Amenities Commission volunteers.
• Permanent lighting would allow for more efficient scheduling of practices and games and help reduce congestion and scheduling conflicts across city fields and make sure lights are turned off at key times with less neighborhood complaints.
• A centralized city-operated lighting system would allow staff to manage schedules and ensure responsible use.
5. Feasibility Study: Recreational Space Under Southern California Edison Power Lines Request:
Fund a feasibility study exploring recreational use of land beneath Southern California Edison (SCE) transmission lines.
Scope:
• Evaluate opportunities for multi-use recreational facilities, including courts for basketball, tennis, or pickleball and flexible fields capable of accommodating baseball, softball, soccer, and other community sports.
• Study the potential for a connected bike and pedestrian trail corridor linking inland communities to the coast, creating safe and accessible routes to the beach.
Strategic Rationale:
• For when transmission lines are eventually removed, the City should be prepared with a clear, community-supported vision for how this land should be used. • Conducting a feasibility study now would allow Redondo Beach to proactively communicate to state agencies, regional leaders, regulatory bodies, and the Coastal Commission that the community’s priority for this land is public recreation space and improved coastal access . • A shovel-ready plan would position the City to advocate effectively for recreational uses rather than reacting to future development proposals.
• Redondo Beach has long hosted significant regional infrastructure, including transmission lines and the power plant. Planning for recreational use of these corridors represents an opportunity to restore urban balance by expanding public open space in a city that has already accommodated substantial housing and development.
6. Community Garden Expansion in North Redondo Beach
Request:
Allocate funding and staff resources to explore development of a second community garden in North Redondo Beach.
Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget Input-Public Amenities Commission Rationale:
• The existing community garden has proven extremely successful and operates at full capacity. • There is strong community demand for additional gardening space. • North Redondo Beach currently lacks accessible community-driven green space opportunities of this type.
Opportunities:
• Potential locations could include areas beneath power lines, which have successfully accommodated recreational uses in other parts of the city. • The project would likely attract strong volunteer participation and community engagement.
Follow-Up Question:
Clarify whether Dale Page Park is currently leased from Southern California Edison and evaluate whether similar arrangements could support additional community garden space.
Although Dale Page Park was “grandfathered in,” it provides a successful example of recreation occurring under the lines.
7. Wilderness Park Improvements
Request:
Develop and install an updated park map at Wilderness Park.
Opportunity:
• The map could be developed in collaboration with South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) to improve visitor navigation and provide educational information about native habitat restoration and environmental stewardship within the park.
Thank you for considering these priorities as part of the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget process.