To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A WATERFRONT EDUCATION FACILITY AND PROGRAMMING CONCEPT TITLED OCEAN ENCOUNTER
APPROVAL OF THE CONCEPT AND DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PREPARE DRAFT PLANS, AGREEMENTS, AND OTHER APPLICABLE FACILITY IMPLEMENTATION DOCUMENTS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Redondo Beach is in the process of completing a master plan for the City's waterfront public amenities. The City has contracted with a consultant team, SWA, to assess current conditions, perform community outreach, and collaborate with a Working Committee, comprised of community stakeholders, to develop a draft plan for review by the Harbor Commission and City Council. SWA has completed the public outreach phase of this effort. One idea that has received universal support, from both the community and Working Committee, is the installation of an interactive educational facility on the site located west of Seaside Lagoon, currently occupied by Joe's Crab Shack. The site is city-owned and the existing tenant is on a month-to-month lease.
A unique and timely waterfront education center concept that would fit well at the Joe's Crab Shack site has been developed by a team of scientists in the marine biology, agriculture, aquaculture, medical and technological fields, lead by Thomas Grimm. The concept, titled "Ocean Encounter", which includes a preliminary design for a new technologically advanced and interactive education facility and a number of exciting and contemporary education and ocean restoration programs, was presented to the Harbor Commission in April and received unanimous support.
The Ocean Encounter concept is also supported by private philanthropists (who have expressed interest in funding the project), the UC medical education community (which would like to assist in the development of education curriculum and research and ocean restoration effo...
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