Cultural Arts Commission picks five utility-box designs, recommends locations to City Council

The Redondo Beach Cultural Arts Commission voted to recommend five utility-box wrap designs to the City Council and agreed on proposed locations for each design.

Commissioners considered 20 artist submissions and first applied an eligibility screen against the program's criteria — including the “moving car” test (simple, bold colors, no text), limited use of dark colors to avoid overheating, family-friendly imagery and respect for living and deceased persons — before ranking remaining entries. Gary (staff) summarized the criteria during the presentation: “The installed wrap will enliven the area and transform the street…The design passes the moving car test…[and] showcases one or more of Redondo Beach’s cultural diversity, historic heritage or popular activities.”

During eligibility screening the commission removed designs it judged too complex for passing the moving-car test or that did not follow submission templates; commissioners cited examples they said were “too dark,” overly busy or not composed to wrap multi‑sided boxes. After commissioners assigned point scores to remaining designs, the group moved to recommend the five top-ranked designs — numbered in the staff packet as 1, 4, 6, 7 and 10 — to the City Council.

The commission then assigned recommended installation locations so that the package would cover all five council districts: design 1 for Avenue I and Catalina (District 1); design 4 for Harbor and Redondo (District 2); design 6 for Prospect and Burrill (District 3); design 10 for Artesia and Rindge (small box, District 4); and design 7 for Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Dow (District 5). Commissioners said district coverage helped ensure every area would receive artwork and that some placements were chosen for visibility near schools or gateways.

A motion to recommend the five designs and the proposed locations to City Council passed unanimously. The commission asked staff to forward the package to council for approval. Commissioners noted that City Council commonly reviews both designs and locations together, and that council approval may require revisions; commissioners agreed they preferred to supply suggested locations now so the council would see the full package.

Staff told commissioners that if Council requests changes the commission could adjust selections or locations later. Commissioners also discussed practical limits such as Caltrans-owned boxes and the technical constraints of vinyl wraps (for example, which designs are better suited for smaller rectangular boxes).