Former Hermosa Beach Mayor Chuck Sheldon and his wife Missy have committed to donate $500,000 to fund the design and installation of a new digital monument sign at the Community Center and potentially additional gateway signage throughout the city.

The City Council will consider accepting the donation at their December 9 meeting.

Speaking to The Hermosa Review this week, Chuck Sheldon said :

"Hermosa should be known around the world as a welcoming community. Signage can display that welcome on all the entrances to Hermosa, especially the main entrance at Pier and PCH.  Missy and I believe that a high-class quality sign can represent the welcoming spirit of Hermosa."

History of Community Investment

The Sheldons are long-time supporters of philanthropic initiatives throughout the city. Chuck founded the Murals Project in late 2009 after he and a group of friends toured the murals of Santa Paula and 29 Palms in California.

Sheldon gathered close friends and neighbors, formed The Hermosa Beach Murals Project and began planning Hermosa's first mural.

A Storied Business and Civic Life

Early in his career, Chuck worked for IBM in sales and marketing management across various locations, while Missy taught elementary school as they moved from city to city. They chose to settle in Hermosa Beach in 1978, where they raised their two sons.

Sheldon quickly established himself as a civic leader. He won a seat on City Council in 1987 and served as mayor in 1990 and 1991. He coached youth sports, started the Youth Basketball Program, and served on the Planning Commission. Missy became active in educational and community activities and operated a real estate brokerage.

In recognition of their community service, Chuck and Missy were named Hermosa Beach Man and Woman of the Year in 1996—the first couple to be honored in this way.

Sheldon founded Strand Computer Resale (later renamed Network Hardware Resale, and subsequently Curvature) in 1986. After leaving mayoral office, he shifted his full attention to the company, then a semi-dormant reseller of used computer hardware. He refocused it on network equipment, and over the following three decades (together with his two sons) it grew into a leading player in the IT equipment and services sector.

Chuck and Missy have also provided support to UC Santa Barbara for years, with Chuck specifically devoting attention to the New Venture Program in the Department of Technology Management. Both are passionate about the power of innovation and entrepreneurship, aiming to inspire students to gain business experience through access to practical education.

The Sheldons have also been deeply involved in the Santa Barbara community and have been active in supporting professional theater, seeking solutions to homelessness, and supporting the Food Bank, among other organizations.

Digital Sign at Community Center

The primary focus of the funds will be a new digital monument sign located in front of the Community Center near Pier Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway. The sign will be installed either where the previous sign stood or as close to that location as possible, subject to approvals from Caltrans, the Planning Commission, and City Council.

A commemorative plaque recognizing the Sheldons' contribution will be installed at the base of the digital sign.

Any remaining funds after the digital sign project may be directed toward updating or replacing existing gateway monument signs at various city entry points, or installing new signage at additional locations.

Long-Awaited Project Now Funded

According to the staff report from Administrative Services Director Brandon Walker, this project has been on the city's Capital Improvement Program list for several years and has been a priority for both City Council and the community. Until now, it remained largely unfunded aside from a $50,000 contribution from the Chamber of Commerce that dates back as far as 2014.

With the Sheldons' gift filling the major funding gap, staff will explore with the Chamber the possibility of reallocating its contribution to another community project.

City to Manage Design and Installation

The city will oversee all procurement, design, permitting, and installation of the signage, with opportunities for donor input on design. Final approval will come from City Council and other regulatory bodies, including Caltrans and the Planning Commission.

No additional General Fund appropriation is required, and ongoing maintenance costs are expected to be absorbed within existing Public Works operational budgets.