TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Eilen Stewart, Cultural Arts Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Community Mural Proposed by the Organization, TaskForce, in Partnership with LA vs Hate, a Coalition Led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, and Potential Location and Budget of $65,000 to $80,000 (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction on the concept, and location of a community mural proposed by the organization known as TaskForce on behalf of LA vs Hate.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
At the March 7, 2023, meeting, City Council directed the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) to develop a work plan of several items including Phase II of the Mural Program. Launched in 2018, Phase I of the Mural Program installed five artworks by four artists from California.
In response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase II, a proposal was submitted by TaskForce, a creative marketing agency for the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ LA vs Hate program. LA vs Hate is a non-profit organization focused on eradicating hate in Los Angeles County. TaskForce wrote in their RFP submission: “With the recent hate incidents in the City of Manhattan Beach, we would like to utilize our proposed mural as a means to bring the community together in solidarity.”
Led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, LA vs Hate partners with community partners from all five LA County Supervisorial Districts. Public art commissions have always been a stronghold of the LA vs Hate campaign strategy.
While the Cultural Arts Commission did not feel this concept was appropriate for the mural RFP, they were interested in the project and elected to add it to their work plan under the Proactive Art Initiatives item.
City Council briefly reviewed this item at their October 3, 2023 meeting and requested additional information along with other CAC Proactive Art Initiatives.
This item was brought forward by Councilmembers Amy Howorth and Steve Napolitano on November 7, 2023 and approved for discussion by City Council on November 21, 2023.
Previous community murals organized by TaskForce include the Walk with Me mural in El Monte, The Common Thread mural in Pico-Robertson honoring the Jewish community, and the Long Beach Embrace mural at Bixby Park in Long Beach, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community (see attached PowerPoint Presentation).
DISCUSSION:
At the October 6, 2022, meeting City Council approved a resolution adopting a definition of antisemitism and authorized staff to use City facilities and funds to support a community based leadership coalition (South Bay Community Coalition of Leaders Against Hate (SBCCAH)). The coalition was discussed by staff and Councilmember Stern and described as community leaders focused on providing educational and awareness programming, and working together to bring awareness of the hate taking root in the community. It was also described as eventually including neighboring jurisdictions.
In 2022, the SBCCLAH elected to create an MB vs Hate campaign and print 2500 lawn signs at a cost of roughly $19,000, which was shared with the Manhattan Beach School District (MBUSD contributing $8,000). Additionally, staff applied for and received a grant in the amount of $1,000, bringing the total City cost of these signs to just over $10,000. Approximately 2400 signs have been distributed at the time of this report.
While both the City of Manhattan Beach and the County of Los Angeles (the creator of LA vs Hate) are members of SBCCAH, the initiative to create, print, and distribute MB vs Hate signs was undertaken by SBCCAH separately from any LA vs Hate activities. The MB vs Hate campaign mirrored LA vs Hate in look and messaging, however the two are separate entities with independent operations.
TaskForce, on behalf of LA vs Hate, has proposed a community mural for Manhattan Beach with the following strategy (much of the following content has been taken verbatim from TaskForce’s proposal):
• Invite up to 150 high school students from the City of Manhattan Beach to participate in a three-step process:
o Human Relations Training
§ LA County Commission on Human Relations will provide 3 workshops for students on interpersonal and intergroup relations, the history and cultures of the South Bay, and practical wellness tools for stress and anxiety.
o Community mural envisioning workshop
§ The Future of Manhattan Beach in Solidarity Workshops will be facilitated in-person in Manhattan Beach Unified Schools. TaskForce will host 3 workshops with up to 50 students, who will be asked 3-5 questions that will form key concepts and metaphors for what they envision as an inclusive, diverse and hate-free future Manhattan Beach community.
o Community painting session
§ The participating students and stakeholders will be invited to one of three 2-hour community painting sessions guided by the artist and the mural development team. This painting session will happen 3-5 days before the mural dedication event. Depending on the production method and site specifications, the community painting sessions will either happen on the selected site of the mural or if painting on a mural cloth, may occur in a school location, such as a classroom (pending MBUSD approval).
• The training, workshop, and painting session will be centered around the mural concept of A vision for the future of Manhattan Beach in solidarity. This concept will be articulated through imagery of the communities’ visions for the future of a unified Manhattan Beach that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion of community members.
• In order to conduct these workshops, TaskForce will create promotional materials and other collateral and will need staff assistance to advertise and promote the workshops, distribute information to the public, utilize the City’s social media, newsletter, website, and other distribution channels as well as coordinate and secure meeting space.
• TaskForce, the creative marketing agency that has worked with LA County’s Commission on Human Relations on developing and sustaining the LA vs Hate program, has a database of hundreds of LA-based visual artists. TaskForce and the Commission on Human Relations will identify 3-5 visual artists (with a priority on South Bay-based artists) with experience creating community-informed, large-scale murals with impactful and uplifting imagery. This short list, including bios and past work examples, will be presented to the City Councilmembers, with a recommendation of the best artist for final approval.
• The artist will be mentored by TaskForce partners, MuralColors, during the design process, guiding their hand to strengthen their composition in both aesthetic and subject matter. This includes hands-on technical support and feedback throughout the design process. The artist will render a digital mural maquette to the dimensions of the selected wall.
• Community partners, stakeholders, and workshop attendees are invited to a facilitated Maquette presentation where the public, students and stakeholders receive a guided preview of the artwork from the artist and participate in a discussion to advance the mural design. The artist completes final revisions on the mural maquette based on the community feedback session, and the design is put forth for final approval by the City of Manhattan Beach.
• There are two options for the production and installation of the mural:
o Direct-to-wall mural production: The mural is produced in the traditional method, prepping the City-owned wall, painting directly on the wall with all the necessary materials and aerial work platforms (scaffolding/scissor lifts). The team will need to secure adequate storage for heavy equipment, paint and painting supplies, access to water and electricity for charging a scissor lift, and the ability to store a scissor lift near the wall location. Production time: two months
o Production on Mural Cloth: The mural is transferred and painted by the artist and team in MuralColors LA studio on Mural Cloth, an engineered outdoor-rated textile designed for mural production by MuralColors. Mural Cloth can be installed permanently at the mural site or relocated as needed, providing a pathway toward long-term conservation for the mural. MuralColors installs the mural at the selected mural site and final painting is done by the artist and community in the community painting sessions.
Production time: one month
● At the completion of either option, preservation and anti-graffiti coatings are applied for maintenance. A dedication panel is also installed with information about the mural and LA vs Hate resources.
● The mural is unveiled and dedicated during a public event organized by LA vs Hate and community partners, in which time TaskForce will invite community leaders, including Supervisor Holly Mitchell and the Mayor of the City of Manhattan Beach, to speak about the impact of standing in solidarity against hate and the power of the arts in building stronger and more resilient communities.
The unveiling event will also include at least 2 live performances by local performing artists and/or student groups, along with a local small business that will serve snacks and refreshments.
The original mural was proposed for the Pier Restroom building with a budget of $80,000. The Pier Restroom wall location was assigned to artist Charles Bragg at the City Council meeting on September 19, 2023. A new location will need to be chosen and a budget developed to move forward with the project. TaskForce anticipates the new budget to be within a range of $65,000 to $80,000, depending on the size and difficulty of location, the application method used, and the amount and type of public outreach via workshops.
TaskForce anticipates the entire project to be completed within seven to nine months. If produced in Mural Cloth, anticipated production time will be one month. If installed directly onto the wall, anticipated painting time will be two months. If approved in concept staff will return for allocation of funds from the Public Arts Trust Fund (PATF).
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
This proposal was discussed at the August 21, 2023 Cultural Arts Commission meeting and the October 3, 2023 City Council meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
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.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. TaskForce Proposal