Manhattan Beach City Council advances public safety solar proposal
A no-cost program could put solar panels and battery storage at the building housing the city’s emergency operations center.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — clean power alliance power ready program, public comment (non-agenda) — construction impacts,, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
If the site is selected, the city could gain backup power during outages without paying to install or maintain the system.
Solar panels could give the city’s emergency operations center backup power. The Manhattan Beach City Council directed staff to keep pursuing a proposed solar and battery installation at the public safety building that houses the center. The city would pay no upfront cost under the Clean Power Alliance program, staff said, and no additional cost over its estimated 20-year life. The motion passed with the mayor voting no.
The battery would store power from the panels during the day and reserve some for outages. At other times, it could supply power during peak evening hours. A Clean Power Alliance representative said solar generation could recharge the battery after backup power is used, allowing it to help during a multi-day outage. Staff cited an estimate of about $40,000 in utility bill savings. The representative put the upfront cost of pursuing the project independently at $867,000.
The proposal is still a nomination, not an installation agreement. If the Clean Power Alliance board selects the site, staff said an agreement and site lease would return to the Manhattan Beach City Council, likely next year. A full project proposal could follow in summer 2027. Staff said this would be the city’s first municipal solar and battery system if it goes ahead. An earlier candidate site at the Joslyn Community Center did not advance because a carport would affect parking and rooftop installation faced roof and equipment obstacles.
Public Comment (Non-Agenda) — Construction Impacts, Crime Notifications/Police Presence, EV Charging Costs, and Police Department Morale/Leadership
Speakers at the Manhattan Beach City Council’s non-agenda comment period asked for quicker crime alerts and more visible patrols downtown. Several referred to a recent robbery involving a gun. A business owner said alerts sometimes reached businesses 48 hours later and asked for bicycle patrols. A downtown business group reported that 105 of 240 registered businesses responded to its survey; 69% said they felt safe during the day, while 44% felt somewhat safe at night and 23% felt safe.
Other speakers raised concerns about construction trucks blocking a neighborhood street and washing out concrete there. One resident said they had called parking enforcement four times before contacting police and code enforcement. Another objected to free electricity at public EV chargers and asked the city to charge users the cost of the power.
An officer who identified himself as the Police Officers Association president spoke in his individual capacity about planning, staffing and morale at the Manhattan Beach Police Department. He said commitments to add bicycle patrol officers and a crime impact team remained unfulfilled. Another commenter questioned the lack of foot patrols downtown. These were public comments, not findings or actions by the Manhattan Beach City Council.
City Council advances changes to refuse enclosure rules
The Manhattan Beach City Council voted 5-0 to introduce changes to garbage and refuse rules, including more flexible requirements for enclosures and new triggers for reviewing them. The proposal would allow shared enclosure agreements; the council directed staff to refund a tavern’s deposit if the ordinance is adopted.
Businesses making improvements could have more ways to meet enclosure rules without building separate facilities.
City Council seeks geese management proposals
The Manhattan Beach City Council directed staff to seek proposals for a multi-year Canada geese management plan at Polliwog Park. Staff will return with cost estimates for additional power washing and possible temporary fencing; the mayor voted no.
Park users could see more cleaning while the city weighs longer-term ways to manage geese.
City Council hears housing task force plans
The Manhattan Beach City Council heard that staff plans to recruit residents for a task force to help with the next housing planning cycle. Applications are scheduled for November 9 through December 1, when staff expects to ask the council to select members.
Residents will have an opportunity to help staff work through the city’s next housing planning process.
City Council hears request on air-conditioning rules
The Manhattan Beach City Council heard a request from two councilmembers to discuss possible changes to rules for installing air-conditioning units. The available account records the request’s introduction but no further discussion or vote.
Homeowners considering air-conditioning installations can watch for a future discussion, but the council has not changed the rules.
- Manhattan Beach City Council. Residents and stakeholders raised concerns about construction truck activity and enforcement, recent armed robbery communications and downtown police presence, EV charging subsidies, and police department morale and leadership issues. Speakers requested improved alerts, more foot/bike patrols, and clearer fiscal and operational accountability.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
MANHATTAN BEACH had 11 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEAppropriation of $130,000 Opioid Settlement Funds Allocation for Coasts/Beach Cities (The Cove) Construction. The City Council approved a $130,000 allocation tied to opioid settlement funds for construction-related costs for The Cove youth mental health facility, with staff explaining strict eligibility, reimbursement mechanics, and annual state reporting. The resolution passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCECouncilmember Announcements — Community Events and Clarifications. A councilmember highlighted the Skechers Friendship Walk and the Pumpkin Race, asked staff to clarify a pool contract cost question, and clarified that EV charging at public chargers is not free. Another councilmember congratulated a Pumpkin Race winner.
- GOVERNANCEAcceptance of July and August Financial Reports (Including Insurance Fund Discussion). The City Council discussed the timing of financial reporting and insurance fund spending patterns, then accepted the financial report and demands. Staff explained early-year premium payments and a 10% increase in insurance premiums. The item passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCECeremonial Calendar. The City Council noted there were no items on the ceremonial calendar.
- GOVERNANCECouncil Work Plan Update/Process Discussion. The City Council discussed the importance of the council work plan as a reflection of council and community priorities and emphasized making it realistic and achievable. The item was approved unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEFuture Agenda Items / Council Discussion of Employee Breakfast Budget Item. During future agenda items, the Mayor raised a concern about whether an employee breakfast had been eliminated as part of budget cuts, then retracted the concern after staff indicated it was not eliminated and would be addressed in the first quarter budget update.
- GOVERNANCEClosed Session Report Out. The City Attorney reported that the City Council met in closed session to discuss three items listed on the 4:30 p.m. agenda and provided direction on items one and two.
- GOVERNANCEConsent Calendar Approval (All Items Except Pulled Items 2, 3, and 6). The City Council approved the consent calendar excluding items 2, 3, and 6, which were pulled for separate discussion. The approval passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCECity Council Requests and Reports (Including AB 1234 Reports). The agenda section for City Council requests and reports, including AB 1234 reports, was called. No specific AB 1234 report details were stated in the transcript.
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