by Garth Meyer
Should the city allow an electronic sign at the waterfront?
That was the question before the city council Tuesday night, Feb. 4, and it voted 5-0 to move ahead on the potential addition to the tall “Redondo Beach Waterfront” sign near Captain Kidd’s.
The previous city council voted to fund the sign three years ago, before city staff, in their work to make it happen, realized it violated city code.
As is, electronic displays are prohibited in Redondo Beach except for at RUHS and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
The waterfront sign would be a similar, readerboard-type – used to communicate information to the public and promote events.
An initial draft amendment prepared by city staff would allow these signs on all city property.
“The real focus is the waterfront sign,” said Marc Wiener, community development director.
The code change would permit electronic signs in about 50 locations city-wide, though no one spoke of doing this.
“Redondo Vegas, we’re not ready for that,” said City Councilman Scott Behrendt. “As I envision it, we’re not going to have these signs throughout the city.”
The Redondo Beach planning commission, in their November review of the potential city-wide code amendment, expressed “unanimous concern,” as described by Wiener, regarding potential effect on community character. The planners recommended that the amendment be limited to the Pier/waterfront area only.
“It’s not really an advertising billboard, but just letting people know what is there,” said Greg Kapovich, waterfront and community development director.
The intent would be a static, but programmable sign, he said.
Councilman Todd Loewenstein spoke of concern about a city-wide allowance too.
“It detracts from character and distracts drivers. It should be limited, to a case-by-case basis,” he said.
Mayor Jim Light called for the Harbor Commission to weigh in on the waterfront sign decision.
“Let’s limit it to the waterfront, I’m fine with that,” said Councilman Nils Nehrenheim of the potential amendment. “I’m fine with doing it on city property, see how it goes.”
Councilman Behrendt agreed with much of what had been said.
“Let’s do the sign in the harbor, then we can come back to (the other issues),” he said.
“I remember voting to fund this sign in probably my first budget on the council,” said fourth-year Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr.
“Let’s get it done,” said Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic, saying to then tighten the language against other locations.
Loewenstein made a motion to amend the code for one sign at the waterfront. Nehrenheim seconded it and a final discussion followed: who should be asked to concur? The planning commission or the harbor commission, or both?
“This would be the only design review in the harbor not done by the harbor commission,” Kapovich said.
“If the harbor commission wants to weigh in, they can speak (at the planning commission hearing). They can also appeal it,” Loewenstein said. “This is kind of a one-off.”
City Manager Mike Witzansky noted to the council that, “Staff has equal confidence in both commissions.”
It was not initially clear which it would go to, since the original code was written with only the high school and performing arts building in mind.
“Whatever commission has jurisdiction I think is the appropriate body,” Kaluderovich said.
“… What’s the appropriate body?” Nehrenheim said.
As the debate continued, Cheryl Park, assistant city attorney, surmised it would fall under the auspices of the Harbor Commission.
The city council’s vote Tuesday also included approval of four 55-inch kiosk screens for the Pier.
A subsequent public hearing is set for Feb. 18, for the council to field a proposed ordinance to establish the waterfront exception to the city rule.
UPDATE:
On the question of whether the waterfront sign would be limited to text, Development Director Wiener said Wednesday morning that is up in the air.
“We have not determined if the electronic sign would be limited to text messaging only,” he said. “The idea is that it would provide the city with a variety of options to communicate information about activities and events in the harbor.” ER