BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 4, 2026
H.7 APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH SAN PEDRO SIGN COMPANY FOR
THE KING HARBOR GATEWAY SIGN REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $158,786 AND THE TERM AUGUST 4, 2026 TO AUGUST 3, 2027
CONTACT: JANE CHUNG, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
• Public Communications
From: Bryan Stone
To: CityClerk
Cc: James Light; Paige Kaluderovic; Brad Waller; Chadwick B. Castle; Zein Obagi; Scott Behrendt Subject: Agenda Item H.7 – Request to Fund King Harbor Gateway Sign from Public Art Budget / Redirect $275,000 Sculpture Funds
Date: Monday, August 3, 2026 3:58:21 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Dear Mayor Light and Members of the City Council:
I am writing as a Redondo Beach resident regarding the King Harbor Gateway Sign replacement project (budgeted in the range of approximately $134,000–$159,000) and the use of public art funds.
The City funds public art primarily through the John Parsons Public Art Fund, established under Title 10, Chapter 6 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code. This fund is supported by the one-percent public art contribution required on qualifying private development projects (and eligible City capital improvement projects) with a building valuation of $250,000 or more. The fund is intended for the acquisition, placement, installation, and maintenance of public artworks on publicly owned property or rights-of-way, consistent with the Public Art Master Plan.
The King Harbor Gateway Sign is a highly visible civic landmark at a major entrance to our waterfront. A thoughtfully designed update that incorporates artistic elements, the City’s branding, and high-quality craftsmanship should reasonably qualify as a public art project under the ordinance. I urge the Council to allocate or reallocate funds from the public art budget, specifically any amounts appropriated in connection with art at Bill Brand Gateway Park / Gateway Parkette, to support the sign replacement and treat it as an eligible public art expenditure.
Doing so would make efficient use of limited public resources, stretch taxpayer dollars further, and deliver a practical improvement that serves the broadest number of residents and visitors every day. Concentrating a large sum on a single specialized sculpture while a prominent community gateway remains in need of updating does not maximize shared public benefit.
Redirecting resources toward a widely visible, functional landmark better advances the goal of enhancing the city’s character for everyone who lives here or travels through it.
If the Council determines the sign cannot be funded as public art, I request that the $275,000 authorized for the “Gateway” (Gate Wave) sculpture at the Gateway Parkette be redirected.
That single artwork represents a disproportionately large commitment relative to the overall scale of the City’s public art program. Those funds should instead return to the general fund or be used to support multiple smaller, more widely distributed public art projects across different neighborhoods. Spreading limited resources more evenly produces greater overall community value, avoids concentrating expense on one high-cost item, and ensures public money delivers broader, more equitable results.
Thank you for considering this practical approach to prioritizing visible, cost-effective civic improvements that serve the community as a whole.
Sincerely,
Bryan Stone
22511 Fisk Lane
Redondo Beach
From: Eleanor Manzano
To: Emily Bodkin; Khatirah Nazif
Subject: FW: Consent Calendar 8/4/26 Item H7- Gateway Sign Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 1:19:04 PM
Blue folder...H7
-----Original Message-----
From: jim mcleod <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 1:03 PM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Subject: Consent Calendar 8/4/26 Item H7- Gateway Sign
[You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
As a former two-term Preservation Commissioner, I urge the City to refurbish the existing Gateway Arch “as is” to maintain its historical significance to the City. This archway and center image has been a beloved icon in our City for over 55 years. The current and generic “logo” has no place on our gateway arch and diminishes its significance.
James McLeod
Redondo Beach resident - 50 years
Sent from my iPhone
From: Khatirah Nazif
To: Emily Bodkin
Subject: FW: Gateway Signage - BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Date: Monday, August 3, 2026 11:34:37 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy McLeod <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2026 12:57 PM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Subject: Gateway Signage - BLUE FOLDER ITEM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Greetings. As our Gateway arch signage has historical significance in our City, we urge the Mayor and City Council to support SPESCO’s option to refurbish the existing, highly-recognized and beloved imagery at no additional cost to the City.
Thank you.
Kathleen & Jim McLeod
50-year resident Redondo Beach
Sent from my iPhone
From: jacob tedesco
To: CityClerk
Subject: Public Comment for 8/4/26 Agenda Item H.7 — King Harbor Gateway Sign Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 10:28:15 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Dear Mayor Light and Councilmembers,
I'm writing regarding Item H.7 on your August 4th agenda, approving the SPESCO contract for the King Harbor Gateway Sign.
On January 18, 2026, our group submitted a Historic Landmark Nomination for this sign under CEQA Guidelines §15064.5, requesting evaluation of its historic status before any alteration of its original artwork and typography. That nomination has never been acknowledged.
I'd note that your own staff report for Item H.7 states SPESCO can refresh the sign's existing graphic at no additional cost. This means the City can fully fund the needed repairs — new panels, repainting, structural work — without altering the sign's historic artwork, at no added expense to taxpayers.
We respectfully request that the Council:
1. Pull Item H.7 from the consent calendar for separate discussion and vote;
2. Direct staff to acknowledge and respond to the pending historic nomination; and
3. Select the no-cost alternative of retaining the sign's existing artwork within the SPESCO contract.
This preserves the sign, funds the necessary repairs, and avoids any question of CEQA compliance — at no cost difference to the City.
Respectfully,
Jake Tedesco
Redondo Beach Preservation Group
Dear City Clerk,
Please accept this letter as transmittal of a Historic Landmark Nomination and supporting materials concerning the King Harbor Gateway Sign located at the intersection of Catalina Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
This submission is provided to assist the City in meeting its procedural obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It presents substantial evidence that the King Harbor Gateway Sign may qualify as a historic resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15064.5 and requests that the City evaluate the potential historic status of the resource and the impacts of proposed design changes prior to approval. The submission does not request immediate landmark designation or policy action; rather, it seeks staff evaluation and appropriate environmental review to ensure CEQA compliance before any alteration of character-defining features is authorized.
HISTORIC LANDMARK NOMINATION
King Harbor Gateway Sign
City of Redondo Beach
Resource Name
King Harbor Gateway Sign
Location
Intersection of Catalina Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, California 90277
Ownership
City of Redondo Beach (Public Property)
Resource Type
Structure / Object (Civic Gateway Sign)
Description of the Resource
The King Harbor Gateway Sign is a permanent freestanding civic sign structure located at the intersection of Catalina Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, California. Installed circa 1969, the sign functions as a gateway marker identifying the King Harbor district.
The sign is characterized by its original artwork, lettering style, typography, graphic layout, and overall visual composition. These character-defining features have remained substantially unchanged since installation and continue to convey the sign’s historic appearance, function, and identity.
Statement of Local Historic Significance
The King Harbor Gateway Sign is significant at the local level as an intact example of late-1960s civic gateway graphic design. The sign embodies the distinctive visual characteristics of its period through its artwork, typography, and composition, reflecting broader coastal civic design practices in Southern California during the late twentieth century.
For more than five decades, the sign has served continuously as a visual identifier and symbolic gateway for the King Harbor district. Its long-standing presence and consistent design have made it a recognizable element of community identity and sense of place. - 1 -
- 2 -
Integrity
The King Harbor Gateway Sign retains integrity of location, design, feeling, and association. The original artwork, lettering, typography, and graphic composition are essential character-defining features that convey the sign’s historical significance.
Alteration of these features, including deviation from the original artwork or typeface, would materially diminish the integrity of the resource.
CEQA Statement
This nomination provides substantial evidence that the King Harbor Gateway Sign qualifies as a potential historic resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15064.5. Any proposed alteration to the sign’s character-defining features, including artwork or typography, may constitute an adverse change to a historic resource and therefore requires environmental review prior to approval.
Requested City Action
The undersigned respectfully request that the City Council:
• Acknowledge receipt of this Historic Landmark Nomination; and • Direct staff to evaluate the historic status of the King Harbor Gateway Sign; and • Evaluate any proposed design changes for potential impacts pursuant to CEQA prior to approval.
Attachments
• Current photographs of the sign
• Location map
• DPR-523 Historic Resource Evaluation Forms (for reference) Submitted by
Roni Serrato
Redondo Beach Preservation Group
[email protected]
1.18.26 King Harbor Gateway Sign - Photo Of Curent SIgn - 3 -
King Harbor Gateway Sign -Location Map - 33.853987, -118.390370 - 4 -
Feature Existing Condition Proposed Redesign CEQA Impact Typeface Original Serifed lettering
used since 1969 Modern San Serif lettering Loss of design integrity Artwork Original artistic
composition Modern Logo
Adverse change to
character defining
features
Visual Identity Long-standing
community symbol Contemporary redesign Loss of historic feeling and association Integrity Retains design, feeling,
and assocation Compromised Significant impact under§15064.5 Conclusion
The proposed redesign materially alters character-defining features and constitutes a potential significant impact to a historic resource under CEQA.
King Harbor Gateway Sign - CEQA Design Impact Comparison SIDE - BY - SIDE CEQA IMPACT - Existing vs Proposed
SPORTFISHING • RESTAURANTS •PORTOFINO •MARINAS • FISHERMANS WHARF SPORTFISHING • RESTAURANTS •PORTOFINO •MARINAS • FISHERMANS WHARF Existing Design Proposed Redesign
- 5 -
King Harbor Gateway Sign - Past to Present Photos
Constructon - 1969 Replacement - 2003
2013 Present Day - 2025
- 6 -
For more than five decades, the sign has served continuously as a visual identifier and symbolic gateway for the King Harbor district. Its long-standing presence and consistent design have made it a recognizable element of community identity and sense of place. It’s character-defining features have remained substantially unchanged since installation and continue to convey the sign’s historic appearance, function, and identity.