Manhattan Beach advances housing code compliance ordinance
The City Council unanimously introduced Ordinance 26-00009, a package of housing code updates tied to state law, Local Coastal Program rules, and the city’s certified housing element.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — introduce ordinance amending municipal code and, cultural arts commission — art experience, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Council members said the changes were aimed at keeping Manhattan Beach in line with state housing rules and avoiding decertification, lost permitting authority, and litigation.
A housing law tune-up reached the council dais this week. At Manhattan Beach City Hall, the City Council held a public hearing and unanimously introduced Ordinance 26-00009, updating the Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program to carry out five sixth-cycle housing element programs plus a set of technical cleanups. Staff said the package follows commitments the city made in its housing element, adopted in September 2022 and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development in July 2023.
The changes touch several parts of local housing law. Staff said the ordinance updates accessory dwelling unit rules to match recent state law and comments from the state on the city’s April 2025 ADU ordinance. It would treat manufactured homes like conventional single-family homes where single-family housing is allowed, remove a certificate of compatibility requirement from that section, and add rules for mobile home parks. It would also tighten rules on adjacent lots in common ownership to prevent a loss of housing capacity, shift reasonable accommodation decisions to the Community Development Director with objective criteria, and make supportive housing, low barrier navigation centers, emergency shelters, and some residential care facilities easier to permit where state law requires.
Council questions centered on how the net-loss rules would affect owners of adjacent lots and how supportive housing definitions would apply. Two residents urged caution, asking the city to preserve as much local control as possible and to review zoning and supportive housing language closely. Council members said the amendments were meant to keep Manhattan Beach compliant with state mandates. The ordinance was introduced; later adoption would bring the code into line with those requirements.
Cultural Arts Commission — Art Experience Seat No. 1 (Incumbent: Carol Patterson) — Reappointment
The council filled one seat with a familiar name. It reappointed Carol Patterson to Cultural Arts Commission Art Experience Seat No. 1 after considering her application alongside another nominee whose name was unclear in the meeting record.
Council members spoke favorably about Patterson during the discussion. One councilmember said they would switch their vote to support her, pointing to her spirit and work ethic. David Lesser said the applicant pool was strong and remarked that there may have been about 20 applicants with solid credentials.
The vote keeps Patterson in the Art Experience seat rather than bringing in a new commissioner. The discussion was brief, but it showed two things at once: a competitive pool and a council majority that wanted continuity on the commission.
Residents praise mayor, question city spending
Public comment ranged from mayoral congratulations to warnings about city spending, sanitation rates, and housing policy. Speakers praised David Lesser, welcomed the incoming mayor, urged scrutiny of a proposed rate increase, and asked the council to consider a future housing task force.
Residents raised city spending, sanitation rates, housing, and AI ideas in a broad public comment roundup.
Council adopts five-year capital improvement plan
The council adopted the FY 2027–2031 capital improvement program after reviewing financing options tied to the Senior Scout House. The plan covers 107 projects totaling about $177 million, with revisions affecting Senior Scout House funding, pier work, and parking lot projects.
This sets which major city projects move forward and how debt or other funds may be used.
Council adopts FY 2027 operating budget
The council approved the FY 2027 operating budget after a public hearing on falling general fund reserves and other fiscal pressure. Members directed low- and medium-impact cost containment steps, approved staffing changes and new positions, set the GANN limit, and adopted the amended budget.
The budget determines service levels, hiring, and how the city responds to a tighter fiscal outlook.
City approves World Cup security package
The council approved more than $2.89 million in grant funding for 2026 FIFA World Cup security costs and a $200,000 sole-source barrier rental. It also approved banner locations for World Cup promotion, including discussion of how those displays would overlap with America’s 250th anniversary flags.
Residents will see event-related spending, street security measures, and banners ahead of the 2026 tournament.
- Manhattan Beach City Council. Residents and community members urged action on Scout House/Joslyn Community Center funding, raised concerns about City spending growth and staffing, discussed charter city and zoning rights, advocated housing element amendments and AI use, and opposed high-rise development and traffic impacts, including on Sepulveda Boulevard and Second Street.
- Manhattan Beach City Council. Residents and community members offered praise for the outgoing Mayor and incoming Mayor, raised concerns about City spending and budget growth, urged use of AI and more creative housing strategies, asked the City’s sanitation board representative to scrutinize a rate increase, and supported adding a housing task force item to a future agenda.
- Manhattan Beach City Council. Council requested a future staff report on options and Brown Act considerations for moving public comment to occur before consent calendar approval, responding to earlier public comment about the issue.
- Manhattan Beach City Council. A longtime resident raised concerns about the City’s fiscal condition, stating expenditures are exceeding revenues and questioning when Council was informed. The speaker urged cost containment, suggested a hiring/promotion freeze, and recommended a task force to examine the situation.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
MANHATTAN BEACH had 151 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCESchool leaders outline district funding challenges and local support. MBEF Executive Director Hillary May explained state school funding rules, local fundraising, and MBEF’s planned $7.6 million grant for the coming year. MBUSD Board President Tina Shapouri said the district remains low-funded statewide and is facing a budget crisis and possible pink slips, while urging advocacy and local support.
- GOVERNANCECity Manager Talin Mirzakanyan: Moving Business Forward Manhattan Beach. City Manager Talin Mirzakanyan outlined City initiatives to support businesses, including acquisition of the former US Bank building at 400 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Project Pulse community engagement for redevelopment and parking, parking management strategies, a Circuit microtransit pilot, business license tax modernization, updated rules for portable signs and outdoor displays, and the MBATS traffic signal and fiber network project.
- GOVERNANCEMayor Steve Leser State of the City Address. Mayor Leser highlighted Manhattan Beach’s strengths, budget overview, AAA bond rating, public safety investments and crime reductions, emergency preparedness actions, upcoming e-bike and safety proposals, fiscal and infrastructure challenges, state housing mandate impacts, downtown redevelopment engagement, and environmental initiatives including a $30 million stormwater project.
- GOVERNANCEAnnual storm drain service fee for FY 2026-2027. The Council held a public hearing and adopted Resolution 26-0056 ordering storm drain fees collected for FY 2026-2027. Staff reported estimated FY 2027 storm drain assessments of 2.4 million and a CPI adjustment adding an additional 27.5,000, with parcel data to be submitted to the County for property tax bills.
- GOVERNANCEAnnual levy and collection of street lighting and landscaping district maintenance assessments for FY 2026-2027. The Council held a public hearing and adopted Resolution 26-000057 providing for the annual levy and collection of street lighting and landscaping district maintenance assessments for FY 2026-2027. Staff reported assessments are based on 1996 land use and that the fund projects a deficit of for FY 2027, with increases requiring a Proposition 218 vote.
- GOVERNANCECouncil updates e-bike rules and adopts bicycle ordinance. Council first approved on first reading an ordinance addressing electric motorized bicycles, including dangerous riding definitions and a juvenile diversion program. It later adopted on second reading the broader municipal code changes relating to bicycles, including e-bikes.
- GOVERNANCECouncil advances short-term rental nuisance enforcement changes. Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance amending code section on transient uses and nuisance violations, with staff saying the regular ordinance would return in two weeks. It also adopted an urgency ordinance making related changes immediately.
- GOVERNANCEAdoption of 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The Council held a public hearing and adopted Resolutions 26-0064 and 26-0065 approving the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Staff and a consultant summarized demand projections, supply reliability (imported, groundwater, recycled), and drought response stages. Council discussed multifamily demand assumptions and Colorado River risks.
- GOVERNANCEOpening Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items) — City Staffing/Labor Analysis and Senior Scout House Support. Multiple speakers addressed non-agenda items, including a resident’s labor productivity analysis of City staffing and several speakers urging continued funding and support for the Senior Scout House project, including concerns about project costs and prior funding changes.
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