TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Title
Consideration of Revisions to the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan and Wayfinding Phase I Vehicle, Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvement Project and Determination that this Activity is Not a “Project” as Defined Under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Public Works Director Lee).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Consider revisions to the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan (Master Plan) and Wayfinding Phase I Vehicle, Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvement Project (Wayfinding Phase I Project); and
2. Determination that this activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no fiscal implication associated with the recommended action at this time. Subsequent to the completion of structural analysis and design, staff anticipates returning to the City Council in Fall 2023 with updated estimates for the Wayfinding Phase I Project and for approval to proceed with bidding and construction. The current budget for the Phase I Project is $474,778 in the Parking Fund.
BACKGROUND:
In late 2014, staff received direction to evaluate Manhattan Beach sign styles and types, and to develop a cohesive signage program that would better establish a Citywide identity. Such signage and wayfinding includes directional, parking and pedestrian signage, monument signs and banners, street signs, murals, and related identity branding.
In April 2015, Selbert Perkins Design (SPD) was retained to assess the City’s current information and wayfinding signage, propose and implement a Public Outreach Plan, recommend design standards for wayfinding elements that are reflective of the City’s identity, provide three Signage Program themed options, and develop a master plan based on the City Council-selected design theme. On October 15, 2015, SPD summarized the City’s existing signage program and presented three design themes for consideration for a new wayfinding signage program.
On October 3, 2017, SPD re-summarized the City’s existing signage program and presented three design themes for City Council consideration for the wayfinding signage program. At that time the City Council selected the “Beach Classic” design theme for background imagery for the Master Plan. Following the selection of the Beach Classic design theme by City Council, SPD continued work on the Master Plan including an extensive public outreach program.
On June 5, 2018, staff presented the Master Plan and prototype to City Council for consideration of final approval. City Council directed staff to make minor revisions to the Master Plan and deferred its approval pending an update to the City logo, a separate effort undertaken during that time.
On November 19, 2019, City Council approved the Master Plan and appropriated funds for a Phase I Project.
On February 26, 2020, a design services agreement was executed with SPD for the implementation of Phase I. Subsequently, SPD completed preparation of a set of Phase I Plans and Specifications for implementation of the designated portion of the Master Plan with one noted change that the Pedestrian Direction Freestanding Sign Type B05 was not included.
In October 2022, staff initiated a consultant review of the constructability of the Phase I Project. The constructability review of the Phase I Project has been substantially completed and the findings are discussed herein as a status report.
DISCUSSION:
Revisions to the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan 2019
The Master Plan dated September 2019 (attached) provides a “blueprint” for the style, colors, fonts and materials to be used for the consistent communication of City information. In subsequent reviews of the Master Plan, it has been determined that there are revisions needed to match the City’s Brand Guidelines and Standards. These items are listed below to document the change in the Master Plan for future reference.
Font:
The City’s selected font, in both the Master Plan (Page 18) and the Brand Guidelines, is the Spartan MB font family. The Spartan MB font family serves the City well for most applications and is recommended to remain the primary font used for the stated purposes. However, for street name signs this font, especially for longer street names, this font does not fit on the standard sign sizes without substantial street name abbreviations. The street name signs are A03 Street Identity Overhead (Page 22 of the Master Plan) and A04 Street Identity Post Mounted (Page 23 of the Master Plan). For this specific use only, it is recommended the Futura PT Cond Medium or Future PT Cond Font Family be added to the Master Plan to allow for full street name depictions. The Street Signs Design Update attachment to this report includes an example of this font. Overhead street signs located at intersections on major streets will be internally illuminated. Street signs for smaller streets will be reflective aluminum board without lighting.
Symbol:
The symbol for the Pier in the Master Plan (Page 18) does not match the City Mark on the City Logo. Therefore, it is recommended the Pier Symbol be replaced with the City Mark as designated on the Brand Guidelines.
B05 Pedestrian Direction Freestanding:
The Pedestrian Direction Freestanding in the Master Plan (Page 28 of the Master Plan) depicts an area map and key locations such as shopping, beach, and library. It is recommended that the sign be eliminated from the Program in the areas of the Downtown Manhattan Beach Retail and Shopping District and the North Manhattan Beach Retail and Shopping District in favor of new business directories being considered in these areas by the Downtown Business + Professional Association and the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District.
A03 Street Identity Overhead:
The Street Identity Overhead in the Master Plan (Page 22) depicts a single sided street overhead sign. It is recommended that the sign be two sided to clearly show the street name on both sides of the sign.
A04 Street Identity Post Mounted:
The Street Identity Post Mounted in the Master Plan (Page 23) depicts a graphics on one side only. It is recommended that the sign be two sided to clearly show the street name on both sides of the sign.
Wayfinding Phase 1 Project
Staff has completed, with the assistance of a consultant Project Manager, a constructability review of the subject Plans and Specifications. The purpose of this review was to perform a quality control check of the documents in preparation for seeking future City Council approval of the Plans and Specifications and authorization to advertise the project for Bids. This review has recommended several clarifications to the documents to fulfill the intent of the project, correct the siting of some signage relative to changed field conditions, improve the signage details and visibility, and document a few sign additions and deletions that were not addressed in the original set of Plans, but were otherwise located in the field. Staff is currently reviewing these specific recommendations.
It is noted the wayfinding signage consists of two distinct sign types based upon their usage intent. There are “A” Type Signs and “B” Type Signs as depicted on the attached Sign Type plans. The A Type Signs are those that are parking lot identity and information specific. The B Type Signs are those that are off site direction/points of interest specific. Many of the proposed signs replace existing signage, one for one, although there is a net total reduction of 20 signs throughout the community due to the removal of duplicate or obsolete signs in this Phase I Project. There are 51 new A Type Signs being installed with 80 proposed sign removals. There are 56 new B Type Signs being installed with 37 proposed sign removals.
The constructability review of the Phase I plans identified that modifications of signage on the City’s Parking Structures (Civic Center, Metlox, Lot 2, Lot 3 and Lot 4) for the A Type Signs will require a structural analysis, which may change the viability of the proposed sign locations. Additionally, designs for the foundation for the A05 pylon signs, one A12 sign and the new retail and shopping districts directory signs will be needed. The structural analysis and designs will require submission to the City’s Building and Safety Division for plan check. The constructability review further identified that the installation of most of the B Type Signs will also require a structural analysis to confirm whether or not the new load generated by the signs, most likely wind induced load, on existing poles and posts, and their foundations, creates an acceptable condition or not, as further discussed below.
Specifically, the B01 signs, which are most typically installed on existing streetlight poles in this Project, are oversized signs (seven feet tall by three feet three inches wide) for visibility purposes and are both much larger than typical regulatory sign sizes and mounted at a greater height than typical signs. These installations pose a concern suggesting the need for a structural analysis. If the analysis of the streetlight poles relative to the B01 signs identifies the existing poles are inadequate for the loads generated by these signs, consideration will have to be given to the following actions: 1) replace or install new poles that have adequate foundations necessary for these sign type loadings; 2) reduce the size of the signs; or 3) delete these signs.
The B06 signs, which are to be installed on City traffic signals, are generally not of concern given the sign size and the modern traffic signal poles in place at all locations, except for the intersection of Highland Avenue at 45th Street (the access to the El Porto Parking Lot). Until this latter traffic signal is replaced, the new signage cannot be added to this location.
Additionally, staff is in discussion with the Downtown Business + Professional Association and North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District on the design and locations of new business directories. It is intended that the directories will be incorporated into the structural analysis/design and construction of the Wayfinding Phase I Project.
The procurement of a consultant for structural analysis and design services is in progress. Once this work is complete, the Wayfinding Phase I Project will return to the City Council for approval to proceed with bidding and construction in Fall 2023.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Extensive public outreach, consisting of online surveys, email surveys, community member interviews, multiple City Council meeting agenda items, multiple Commission meetings and Business Community meetings were held spanning June 2015 to May 2018, leading to the approval of the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan.
Public outreach related to the proposed business directories was conducted through “look and see” events in conjunction with the Downtown Business + Professional Association on July 11, 2023 and the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District on July 15, 2023. The events were noticed through the City’s social media and postcards.
Targeted outreach will occur before the start of construction for residents and businesses located near and/or adjacent to construction activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
For the revisions to the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan, the City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary at this time.
For the Wayfinding Phase I Project, when staff returns to City Council to seek approval of a set of Plans and Specifications and authorization to advertise a project for bids, a project specific Environmental Review will be presented. In addition, an internal review is in process to identify and address any wayfinding signage installations that may require a Coastal Development Permit.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Brand Guidelines
2. Manhattan Beach Street Signs
3. City of Manhattan Beach Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan (2019)
4. Business District Directories
5. PowerPoint Presentation