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Redondo Beach Council approves refreshed King Harbor sign, draws public outcry over historic artwork
Summary
After hours of testimony and more than 2,000 petition signatures against changing the artwork, the Redondo Beach City Council voted unanimously to adopt a refreshed gateway sign design and abbreviated lower‑panel wording, directing staff to attempt preservation of existing decorative elements for the city museum.
The Redondo Beach City Council on Tuesday approved a refreshed design for the King Harbor Gateway sign and authorized staff to begin procurement for sign fabrication and repairs.
The 4‑0 vote followed a lengthy presentation from staff and designer input recommending a heavier, more visible font (staff’s Option 2) and concise lower‑panel wording geared to drivers on Pacific Coast Highway. Jane Chung of the city manager’s office said staff recommended the design to ensure safety, durability and visibility, noting the sign structure and plastic panels are deteriorating and require maintenance or replacement.
Designer Jourdes, participating remotely, told the council that short, familiar words are easier to read at traffic speeds and recommended the lower sign wording that lists ‘Pier, Hotels, Restaurants, Seaside Lagoon, Fishing.’ “Simple and quick to read is going to be the best route to go,” Jourdes said.
The decision immediately drew sustained public comment. Residents and community members urged preservation of the original 1969 artwork and criticized replacing the hand‑painted graphic with the city logo. Several speakers said they had organized an online petition that they said had garnered more than 2,000 signatures opposing the redesign. “This is our iconic image of the city,” David Rosenfeld said. “I don’t think we should change it.”
Others—including harbor users and business stakeholders—supported updating the lower panel to better highlight current attractions and suggested language such as “watercraft rentals” or “pier, dining, fishing.” Mark Hansen, of King Harbor Boaters, urged including watercraft rentals to reflect non‑boat craft like SUPs and kayaks.
Council members acknowledged the strong public sentiment but said the structural condition of the sign made maintenance unavoidable. Mayor Light and other council members said repainting and replacing plastic panels would be required whether the graphic changed or not, and that the procurement step will let the city secure qualified manufacturers and painters. Councilmember Castle asked staff to preserve the existing center plastic medallions if feasible; the motion that passed included direction to attempt preservation and placement of removed historic elements in the city museum.
The council’s motion adopted staff’s Option 2 for the gateway arch and the recommended concise lower‑panel wording, and authorized staff to initiate bidding and contracting. The motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: Staff will solicit bids for sign fabrication, replacement of plastic panels and repainting of the support poles, with construction targeted to begin early 2026 and complete by mid‑2026, weather permitting. The council also asked staff to report back on options for historic recognition or preservation of the current artwork.
