Cultural Arts Commission recommends $25,000 from public-art fund for LGBTQIA+ sculpture; urges reallocation of transit-center mural funds

The Redondo Beach Cultural Arts Commission on July 23 voted on a package of recommendations for City Council on how to use unallocated and stalled public-art funds.

The commission recommended that the council use up to $25,000 from the John Parsons Public Art Fund to commission a permanent LGBTQIA+ sculpture at the North Branch Library and asked that the commission transmit a letter of support to the council. Commissioners voted in favor by voice vote; the meeting transcript records the motion and the subsequent “Aye. Motion carries.” response.

Commissioners also voted to recommend transferring funds that were previously appropriated for a mural at the Transit Center to Lilienthal Park because public-works staff had determined the Transit Center walls selected for the mural are unsuitable and would risk water damage to artwork. The transcript records the commission’s motion to recommend reallocating that funding, followed by a voice vote in which commissioners approved the recommendation.

In discussion commissioners and speakers clarified the fund balances and constraints. Staff reported approximately $74,272 remained unallocated in the John Parsons Public Art Fund before the meeting and noted two adjustments: utility-box wrap costs expected to total about $12,500 and a likely return of roughly $18,000 to the fund because the Skate Waves project came in under budget. Staff said the fund is also subject to a 5% maintenance reserve requirement; after those items are reconciled staff estimated roughly $76,000–$80,000 of unencumbered funds may be available. Those figures came from staff remarks during the meeting.

The commission also voted to recommend the city develop a virtual public-art map or a broader cultural-arts app and to request city involvement rather than using the John Parsons fund as the sole source for such a broader app. Commissioners agreed to ask staff for a determination about whether the public-art ordinance allows use of John Parsons funds for a virtual map; staff said they would verify.

Additionally, the commission voted to request involvement in decisions about the historic Veterans Park library (sometimes discussed as a possible community art center) and the use of that venue for arts and cultural events. Commissioners asked that a single letter capturing the commission’s recommendations (sculpture allocation, transit-center reallocation, virtual map support and request for involvement with the historic library) be transmitted to the City Council.

Public commenters raised related priorities. Joan Irvine, representing Keep the Esplanade Beautiful, urged the commission to restart a previously proposed Esplanade project funded at $100,000 from the John Parsons fund and to issue a city request for proposals so the project could be complete before the 2028 Olympics. Rick McClellan and other speakers urged the commission to support a public-art map and offered to help gather data.

Procedural notes: commissioners made and seconded the motions on the floor; each motion was approved by a voice vote recorded in the meeting transcript as “Aye. Motion carries.” The transcript does not include a roll-call vote tally attached to these specific motions. Commissioners discussed but did not set an exact dollar figure for Lilienthal Park reallocation at the meeting; that recommendation asks the council to reallocate transit-center mural funds to Lilienthal Park, with staff to confirm final amounts.

What happens next: The commission will transmit a letter of support and recommendation to the City Council and asked staff to confirm legal and procedural questions about permitting the John Parsons fund to be used for digital/virtual projects. Council action is required to move or reassign any budgeted funds.