TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Linda Robb, Management Analyst
Jan Buike, Recreation Manager
Eilen Stewart, Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT:Title
Approval of Annual Commission Work Plans for the Cultural Arts Commission, Library Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Annual Commission Work Plans for the Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Commission, and Cultural Arts Commission.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications with the Commission work plan items.
BACKGROUND:
The Commission Handbook includes a work plan process for each commission. During the annual joint meeting with City Council and the Cultural Arts, Library, and Parks and Recreation Commission, potential work plan items are discussed.
DISCUSSION:
Cultural Arts Commission Work Plan
The Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) discussed and approved the following items, which are continued from last year’s work plan for City Council’s consideration:
• Sculpture Garden Program: A program to place temporary loaned sculptures throughout the City on a two-year rotation cycle.
• Strand Alcove Bench Program: This program is currently on hold and is proposed to be included in the City Donation Program, which is being updated by the Parks & Recreation Commission.
• Community Arts Grant Program: An annual program to award monetary grants to individuals and groups in Manhattan Beach to provide art and cultural services, experiences, and projects.
• Public Art Conservation Assessment: Staff will be conducting an assessment to document the location and condition and work with the Commission on potential actions required for each public work of art owned by the City of Manhattan Beach.
• City Hall Lobby Public Art Project: The former lobby art has been decommissioned. Artists submitted proposals and designs for their art piece to be displayed in the lobby area. The Art in Public Places Commission met and is recommending two pieces be reviewed and discussed by the CAC. Recommendations will be made to City Council in 2020.
• Murals in Manhattan Beach: A program to place murals on City owned buildings and other prominent structures within Manhattan Beach. Five were approved by City Council and three murals have been completed. The remainder of the murals will be completed in 2020. Additional potential murals and locations will be reviewed by the CAC and recommendations will be made to City Council in 2020.
• AC Conner Exhibition: A mini exhibition has been framed and installed in City Hall. To feature Manhattan Beaches history, a more thorough exploration into the art of AC Conner and other Manhattan Beach icons will take place at the Manhattan Beach Art Center in 2021.
• Light Gate Glass Replacement: The glass was replaced.
• Utility Box Beautification Project: A project to install decorative artwork on Utility Boxes throughout the City. This project is currently in progress and will be completed in March 2020.
The above named projects are in various stages of completion. Consequently, the CAC requests three additional items be added to the work plan:
1. Develop and propose a plan to increase the visibility of the Manhattan Beach Art Center.
2. Examine and establish an overarching plan to promote the Arts in the City of Manhattan Beach.
3. Explore opportunities for performing arts in Manhattan Beach and at MBAC.
Library Commission Work Plan
The Library Commission proposes the following projects for City Council consideration. These are continued from last year’s work plan:
• To attend, support, and offer community outreach for Library activities including the annual Birthday Celebration of the Library in May.
• Library Meet & Greet: This is currently scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
• Library Summer Reading Program Outstanding Readers: An annual event that invites six outstanding readers from the Library’s Summer Reading Program to be recognized by the Library Commission.
• Library Supper Club (previously Library Lunch Club): The Commission is hoping to make this an annual event held on a weekday evening with speakers of interest to community members, arranged in conjunction with the Library. The next Library Supper Club will be held on June 12, 2019, with Jan Dennis as the planned speaker.
• Manhattan Beach Writer Awards: An annual event that would allow the Library Commission to recognize select writers, journalists, bloggers, etc., including both school-age and adult writers in the community. Criteria and details are still being discussed. The event is projected to occur in 2021.
• East Manhattan Beach Library Service: The idea of an eastside study place during the school year, during after school hours, has also come up in discussions. Commissioners are in touch with school district personnel and will wait on City Council’s direction once the survey is completed. The Commission is working on a survey to assess the needs of East Manhattan Beach residents. The survey will be hosted on “Open City Hall,” an online portal available on the City website to provide feedback to various topics.
• Local Happenings: Events hosted by the Library Commission, such as Blind Date with a Book, Valentine’s Day at the Library, and Book and Cooks, the Library’s fifth anniversary celebration to take place in May 2020. The Library Commission currently has placed the Books and Cooks event on hold, as it will be coordinated by the LA County and Friends of the Library.
Parks and Recreation Commission Work Plan
The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed and approved the following items for City Council’s consideration:
• Salute to the Troops Concert in the Park: Established in 2015 by the Parks and Recreation Commission to salute veterans and active duty military personnel and the families who support them.
• Commissioners attend and support Parks and Recreation Department activities and events, acting as ambassadors of the department.
• Park Master Plan: An Ad-Hoc Committee was selected and has been working with staff to facilitate community outreach and input, develop survey, encourage resident engagement, assessment of parks and facilities, review current and past City plans.
• Senior/Scout House: Continue role in supporting and providing outreach, with updates provided through the liaison to the Senior Advisory Committee.
• Donation Policy: The Commission Ad-Hoc Committee is in the process of developing a comprehensive policy and donation program options.
• Pickle ball and NFC Fitness Court: Receive updates and make recommendations to City Council as needed.
• Polliwog Park Play Equipment and Surfacing Project: The commission helped to facilitate public input and make final recommendations for playground equipment and surfacing. A playground design was chosen in May 2019 and the project is currently in the design and request for proposals phase, with expected completion of construction in September 2021.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Annual Commission Work Plans for the Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Commission, and Cultural Arts Commission.