TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
Kenneth Rosenfield, Consultant Project Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion of the City Identity Monument Design in the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan (Public Works Director Lee).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction on the A01 City Identity Monument design in the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications related to this report. The Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan informs future construction phases as defined in the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan.
BACKGROUND:
In 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.
In 2015, the firm of 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. SPD presented their initial report at the October 15, 2015, City Council meeting.
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. City Council selected the "Beach Classic" design theme for background imagery for the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan (Master Plan). Following that meeting, 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 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 July 18, 2023, City Council discussed the Master Plan and the Phase I Project. City Council provided direction on Master Plan updates regarding the Pier symbol, Blue Color designation, Font, and the addition of Business Directories. City Council further directed modifications to the Phase I Project; particularly that new signs be like for like as existing signage and no large monument type signs be included without further City Council review.
On October 17, 2023, City Council directed staff to revisit the street identity sign color within the Master Plan.
On March 19, 2024, City Council authorized the Phase I project be advertised for construction bids. City Council also directed staff to develop mock-ups of the street identification sign to reflect the shape of the City's existing street signs and provide color options.
On July 16, 2024, City Council awarded the construction contract for the Wayfinding Phase I Project, which is currently under construction. The Phase I Project is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.
On August 20, 2024, City Council was presented with multiple options for 1) the A01 City Identity Monument (pylon) relative to its height and shape, 2) the A04 Street Identity Post Mounted Sign as to shape, color and content, 3) the A05 Parking Identity Freestanding sign as to size and shape, and 4) the B01 Vehicle Direction (offsite) Sign relative to “like for like” sizing and messaging. City Council consensus included:
1) A01 Monument Signs: Do not utilize vertical monument signs and return at a future City Council meeting with an example similar to the City identity sign at the northwest corner of Artesia Boulevard and Aviation Boulevard, a horizontal sign.
2) A03 Street Identity Overhead Signs: Utilize illuminated double-sided white signs, with black Spartan MB font and the color logo and return at a future City Council meeting with an example with and without block numbers.
3) A04 Street Identity Post Mounted Sign: Utilize blue signs, with the full color logo without text, remove the wave that exists on current signs, keep “Manhattan Beach” to the right of the City logo, and include block numbers.
4) A05 Freestanding Parking Identity Sign: Return at a future City Council meeting with a mockup of the sign with a white background and provide other background color options.
5) B01 Vehicle Direction Sign: Return at a future City Council meeting with mockups of the sign with a white background and a larger parking symbol in the following sizes: 6’x3’-3” and 3’-6”x3’-3”. Abbreviated destination names on the smaller sign are acceptable.
On October 1, 2024, City Council directed that the Phase I Project signs have a white background instead of the driftwood design as specified in the “Beach Classic” design theme.
DISCUSSION:
This discussion focuses on the design concept of the A01 Identity Monument. The other open issues associated with the Master Plan will be brought back at future City Council meetings.
In accordance with City Council direction, a study of the A01 Identity Monument was prepared by SPD. The attached presentation addresses the City Council desire to study the design options of 1) a horizontal identity monument, 2) a boulder-based monument, and 3) a logo only based monument for use at major entry points into the City. The locations of the A01 Identity Monument, shown on the attached Location Map, include 11 potential monument locations, including the temporary vertical monument at Rosecrans Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard.
The existing horizontal monument sign on the wall in front of the business at 1727 Artesia Boulevard, at Aviation Boulevard, consists of the City logo and the letters that spell Manhattan Beach in one line. The City logo and letters combined extend for a length of almost 21 feet. This length of identity monument would be difficult replicate in size and place at all 11 identified locations due to space constraints. Therefore, SPD developed stacked options for this horizontal sign. The stacked options reduce the monument width, depending upon selection, ranging from five to nine feet and provide the opportunity to place this identity monument within the width of median islands or in the parkway area depending upon location.
The boulder monument options reflect the monuments currently located along Aviation Boulevard at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Marine Avenue. The boulder monument provides options of replication of the City logo mounted upon a boulder or a carved City logo as an inlay on the boulder. The size of this monument is approximately four feet in width and will fit within median islands or in the parkway area depending upon location.
The City logo standalone monument duplicates the full color logo or a monotone logo alternate. The size of this monument of approximately five and one-half feet in width will fit within median islands or in the parkway area of some locations.
Regardless of the City Council selection of the A01 Identity Monument type, site-specific conditions will govern the constructability and final location of this future branding element. Engineering design for the replacement of the City’s monument signs is currently programmed in the Five-Year CIP Plan to begin in Fiscal Year 2028.
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 accomplished 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 noticing of these events was through the City's social media channels and postcards.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed revisions to the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined 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.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Location Map
2. PowerPoint Presentation