TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Masa Alkire, Community Development Director
Adam Finestone, Planning Manager
Jaehee Yoon, Senior Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 25-0013, Amending Sections of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code and the Manhattan Beach Local Coastal Program Related to the Long-Term Outdoor Dining Program Development (No Budget Impact) (Community Development Director Alkire).
A) ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 25-0013
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NOS. 25-0140 AND 25-0141
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt (1) Ordinance No. 25-0013, amending sections of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) and Manhattan Beach Local Coastal Program (MBLCP) related to the long-term outdoor dining program development; (2) Resolution No. 25-0140, authorizing staff to submit said ordinance to the California Coastal Commission to incorporate the amendments into the MBLCP; and (3) Resolution No. 25-0141, adopting the outdoor dining guidelines.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action. Staff will return to the City Council with a resolution to adopt the new fee structure, as below, after the MBLCP amendments are certified by the Coastal Commission.
|
Tier |
Monthly Fee/Square Foot |
Applicability |
|
1 |
$4.00 |
All businesses |
|
2 |
$4.50 |
With alcohol service OR located in Downtown |
|
3 |
$5.00 |
With alcohol service AND located in Downtown |
BACKGROUND:
On November 18, 2025, the City Council conducted a public hearing and introduced Ordinance No. 25-0013 related to the City’s long-term outdoor dining program development, which, if adopted, would amend the following chapters or sections in the MBMC and MBLCP:
• Sidewalk dining:
MBMC/MBLCP Chapter 7.36 (Private Use of the Public Right of Way)
• Private property outdoor dining:
MBMC Section 10.60.080/MBLCP Section A.60.080 (Outdoor facilities)
• Commercial vehicle loading:
MBMC Chapters 14.01 (Definitions) and 14.44 (Stopping for Loading or Unloading Only)
On that date, the City Council also:
• Adopted Resolution No. 25-0129, approving a Negative Declaration prepared for the project;
• Reviewed a draft resolution that would approve outdoor dining guidelines;
• Reviewed a draft resolution that would authorize submittal of Ordinance No. 25-0013 to the California Coastal Commission; and
• Provided direction on a preferred tiered sidewalk dining fee structure for use of the public right-of-way for outdoor dining purposes.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance No. 25-0013 will supplement and revise the aforementioned chapters and sections in the MBMC and MBLCP to reflect current operational standards that have since changed with COVID-19. In doing so, the City’s existing regulatory framework on outdoor dining would be modernized and would memorialize recommendations from the outdoor dining task force, the Parking and Public Improvements Commission, and the Planning Commission, that formed the basis of the ordinance.
In order to incorporate the aforementioned MBLCP chapter and sections into the MBLCP, the revisions must first be certified by the California Coastal Commission. Through adoption of Resolution No. 25-0140, the City Council would authorize staff to submit the revisions to the Coastal Commission as the first step in the certification process. Through adoption of Resolution No. 25-0141, outdoor dining guidelines would be approved by the City Council. Said guidelines would become applicable to areas outside of the Coastal Zone upon the effective date of Ordinance No. 25-0013. Guidelines for areas within the Coastal Zone would not be effective until the revisions to the MBLCP are certified by the Coastal Commission. Separate from the actions recommended above, City staff will return to the Council with a resolution to adopt the tiered sidewalk dining fee structure for use of the public right-of-way for outdoor dining purposes at a later date.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 25-0013 and associated Resolution Nos. 25-0140 and 25-0141.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed code amendments are subject to environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Based on the Negative Declaration prepared in accordance with Section 15070-15075 of the State CEQA Guidelines and adopted via Resolution No. 25-0129 at the November 18, 2025, meeting, the City Council determined that adoption of the proposed code amendments would not have a significant effect on the environment.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the proposed ordinance as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 25-0013
2. Resolution No. 25-0140 (Authorizing submittal to the California Coastal Commission)
3. Resolution No. 25-0141 (Outdoor Dining Guidelines)
4. City Council Staff Report (November 18, 2025) (Web-link Provided)