TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Masa Alkire, Community Development Director
Britny Coker-Moen, Environmental Programs Administrator
SUBJECT:Title
Receive and File Mid-Year Report from Marine Mammal Care Center (No Budget Impact) (Community Development Director Alkire).
RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this report.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
At the May 20, 2025, meeting, City Council directed the staff to enter into an agreement with Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles (MMCC), where the City would pay the MMCC $50,000 for their services for one year, with two optional one-year extensions. The agreement requires MMCC to provide mid-year and year-end reports on services provided to the City.
DISCUSSION:
As required by the agreement (Attachment 1), MMCC has provided the City with a mid-year report (Attachment 2). MMCC reported on the following activities between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025:
Marine Mammal Response and Rescue
• 31 responses to marine mammal strandings are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area.
• Of 234 total hours of proactive patrol and monitoring, 35 hours occurred in the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area.
Marine Mammal Reporting Hotline
• 1009 total calls were made to the MMCC Hotline (1-800-39-WHALE). This included an estimated 151 calls (15%) attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area.
Marine Mammal Rehabilitation
• Of 63 total animal rescues, six pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and three marine birds are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area.
Public Engagement and Education
• Hosted a booth at the Hometown Fair.
• Welcomed an estimated 160 visitors from Manhattan Beach at MMCC visitor center.
• 441 hours of volunteer service at MMCC attributed to Manhattan Beach residents.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
This item was identified on the City Council meeting agenda for April 21, 2026, which was posted in accordance with applicable law.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Marine Mammal Care Center Agreement
2. Marine Mammal Care Center Mid-Year Report