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
Proposal From The South Bay Boardriders Club to Donate a Catalina Classic Commemorative Statue (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
A) DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 21-0106
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction on the proposal from the South Bay Boardriders Club to donate a Catalina Classic commemorative statue.
If approved, authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Bay Boardriders Club.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The initial costs associated with the project will be paid for by the South Bay Boardriders Club. These costs include: sculpture fabrication, site preparation, installation including concrete work and electrical, permit, and plan check fees, totaling $300,000.
The City would cover the ongoing maintenance costs for the monument at approximately $2,400 per year. Maintenance may include general cleaning, pressure washing, or graffiti removal.
BACKGROUND:
In 1955, the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce created and conducted the first Manhattan Beach International Paddleboard Race. The 32-mile marathon started at Isthmus Cove on Catalina Island and finished on the south side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. The Chamber’s goal was to bring positive attention to our growing beach community.
The race was discontinued in 1961 and brought back in 1982. The race has been held consecutively since 1982 with the help of consistent and committed volunteers. The Catalina Classic is the oldest and most celebrated endurance paddleboard race in the world. This historic 32-mile marathon attracts paddlers from all over the world and is known as the “Grand-Daddy of all paddleboard races.” Artist Chris Barela (‘77 Mira Costa Graduate) is being retained to fabricate the sculpture.
On July 11, 2018, a proposal was made to gift a statue to the City of Manhattan Beach in honor of the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. At the October 15, 2018, Cultural Arts Commission meeting, members of the South Bay Boardriders Club (SBBC) presented a comprehensive proposal to locate a sculpture commemorating the beginning of the sport of paddleboarding in Manhattan Beach, and its premier event, the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. City Council approved the sculpture in concept at the December 18, 2018, meeting.
The initial proposed statue design consisted of a male figure knee-paddling on a 12 foot paddleboard. Following discussions with previous cultural arts staff and paddlers, the sculpture was revised several times, ultimately including three figures (one female and two male), as well as a larger concrete plaza incorporating stairs from the Strand walking path, leading to the south end of the parking lot, as well as improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
On December 15, 2020, in order to assist in funding this larger scope of work, the SBBC asked City Council to purchase the sculpture at the cost of $350,000 through the Public Arts Trust Fund, while they agreed to pay for the concrete work, and some plaza improvements. Three versions of the installation, varying in size, were presented. City Council directed the SBBC to work with City staff to reduce the scope of work and overall cost. Additionally, Council directed staff to notice the surrounding neighborhood, as well as present the revised designs to the Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) and the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC).
On September 13, 2021, the APPC met with the SBBC to discuss this project. The APPC was generally in favor of the project, however expressed concerns about the large scope of the proposal, financial request from the City, ongoing maintenance commitment, blocking of public views, the need to relocate palm trees, and the small number of community members involved in and interested in the Catalina Classic. Based on feedback from the APPC, the SBBC amended their proposal to address a number of these concerns, including a smaller overall footprint and fully funding all project costs.
On September 20, 2021, the SBBC presented the scaled down design option to the CAC who unanimously approved the project, however, echoed the concerns of the APPC, including the ongoing maintenance costs and public opinion regarding the views.
DISCUSSION:
Staff worked with the SBBC to establish an MOU, outlining responsibilities of the City and SBBC. Highlights of the MOU are listed below:
MOU
The SBBC, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. The SBBC is proposing to raise funds for and install a life-size bronze statue honoring the Catalina Classic paddleboard race. Once completed, the statue would be dedicated to the City as a public art feature.
SBBC has estimated that the cost of the Project will be $300,000. The SBBC will continue its fundraising efforts beginning on the effective date of the MOU and will complete the fundraising within 48 months. Construction and installation shall begin no sooner than SBBC certification, and City verification, that SBBC has raised sufficient funds equal to the project costs. Additionally, SBBC will obtain approvals from County, State, and Coastal Commission, as well as all necessary City permits. SBBC is required to submit for approval of a Coastal Development Permit from the Planning Division, and will have to pay associated fees. Final approval of the project will be pending the Coastal Development Permit, which is appealable to the Coastal Commission.
SBBC has engaged the services of Michael Lee Architects, and will engage other design professionals as needed to prepare all necessary project plans. SBBC has selected, and shall engage the services of, Chris Barela (Sculptor) to do all work associated with creating and installing the statue. SBBC shall engage the services of a licensed general contractor to install the statue, including the concrete pedestal, electrical, and plaque.
Upon completion of the sculpture installation the SBBC will transfer the title to the statute to the City of Manhattan Beach, including a release from the sculptor of all rights, title to, and interest in the statute.
SBBC shall be responsible for the cost of updating the statue plaque with the names of the most current winners on an annual basis. SBBC may honor the financial contributors to this Project by having permanent plaques, tiles, bricks or other building material affixed on or near the Sculpture or in locations approved by the City, listing the names of the contributors who wish to be so honored.
Final Design Proposal
The final proposed design consists of a round pedestal, 30 inches tall on the back edge and two to three inches tall on the front edge, on which are three realistic human figures in swimming wear:
1. A man standing erect with a 16 foot paddleboard behind his back;
2. A woman laying prone on a 12 foot paddleboard with one leg bent at the knee in a realistic paddling position; and
3. A man on a paddleboard in a kneeling crouched, active paddling position, both hands down.
The sculpture will be situated directly in the sand, just south of the south pier parking lot. Accompanying the sculpture will be an informational plaque designed to be congruent with the City’s wayfinding style guide, listing the winners of the race as well as the donors contributing to the statue financially. As the Catalina Classic event continues, new winners’ names will continuously be added to this plaque. Both statue and plaque will be lit with low light level LED lighting.
In order to install the sculpture in this location, one palm tree will need to be relocated slightly south of its current location.
To comply with ADA parameters, the handicapped parking spot will be relocated from the north end of the parking lot, to the south end, closest to the sculpture and plaque. No parking spaces will be eliminated. The sculpture design has been approved by the City’s Risk Manager and conforms to ADA requirements.
While the proposed location is near several large scale events (including the Manhattan Beach Open), the sculpture does not interfere with event staging, loading zones, emergency and other vehicle access, and other special event needs. Because the sculpture is located directly in the sand, there is no concern over possible skateboarding damage.
SBBC has put in every effort to address all concerns, ideas, and objections to this project in this, their final proposal. They have conducted public outreach and received input from APPC, Cultural Arts Commission, neighbors, residents and direction from City Council.
The SBBC is submitting this final design for Council consideration.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
This item was discussed at the February 26, 2018, October 15, 2018, and September 20, 2021, Cultural Arts Commission meetings; the September 13, 2021, APPC meeting; and the December 18, 2018, and December 15, 2020, City Council meetings.
Staff sent out the attached public notice post cards to home owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed site, asking for a survey to be filled out online. Twenty-seven people responded, with 70% in support of the project and 30% opposed.
The SBBC conducted additional public outreach, including knocking on doors to discuss the project with neighbors near the site, and placing advertisements in the Easy Reader and Beach Reporter.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City Council’s discussion regarding the donation of a Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race Bronze Sculpture is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity (the discussion) is not subject to CEQA and no environmental review is necessary.
However, future approvals for installation of the sculpture (i.e. consideration of a Coastal Development Permit) would be subject to environmental review. Depending on the final design of the proposed structure, staff anticipates that the project could qualify for a Class 3 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the CEQA Guidelines.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 21-0106
2. MOU - South Bay Boardriders Club
3. Catalina Classic Statue Drawing and Plan
4. Catalina Classic Budget
5. Survey Postcard and Results
6. PowerPoint Presentation