That project was approved for a budget of $15,000, on a vote of 3-2. Councilmembers Joe Franklin and Suzanne Hadley voted "no." 

For the crosswalk within Polliwog, the Cultural Arts Commission had actually recommended a design that would cover a diagonal crosswalk connecting Polliwog Park and the Manhattan Beach Middle School. 

However, Hadley announced that she was "adamantly" opposed to placing a rainbow crosswalk at that location outside the middle school. Middle school students range in age from 10 to 14 years old, she said, and adults are responsible for teaching those children "age appropriate information."

"The rainbow flag is a symbol of LGBTQ social movements...This is a flag with a sexual message," she said, adding that if the school district felt that it was appropriate, that it would be a project that they, not the city, should take on. 

Franklin agreed, adding, "We should respect that not every parent is going to be comfortable with this for their young children."

But Mayor Pro Tem Steve Napolitano said that its significance would be in the eye of the beholder. "Rainbows are nice, and people can read into it what they want. To some it may be sexual, to some it may be religious, to some it’s just a bunch of pretty colors."

Councilmembers nevertheless agreed to accept the gazebo rainbow design rather than the pathway at the middle school. 

Original Peck Ave. Proposal Rejected Due to Traffic Concerns

Dating back to last year, the original proposal was to create a rainbow crosswalk at Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Peck Ave. However, councilmembers agreed that the crosswalk in that location would be distracting and potentially dangerous for pedestrians and traffic. 

As a compromise, in October, members agreed to create a crosswalk at the Strand and Manhattan Beach Blvd, a pedestrian-centric location, as well as one within Polliwog Park.