TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Alexandria Latragna, Communications & Civic Engagement Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Preparation and Participation Strategies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympics Games (No Budget Impact) (City Manager Mirzakhanian).
(Estimated Time: 1 hr.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council review this report and provide direction on how the City should prepare for increased visitor volumes, participate in upcoming major global events in the Los Angeles region, and prepare for the heightened need for protection of residents and visitors during these events.
Specifically, staff seeks direction on:
1. Initiating a comprehensive emergency preparedness assessment, focusing on capability gaps, enhanced interagency coordination protocols, and updated evacuation and traffic management procedures. Additionally, staff recommends exploring supplemental safety providers, hiring an outside public safety and emergency preparedness consultant to perform necessary assessment, exploring regional coordination mechanisms and communication systems to ensure optimal public safety during the anticipated increase in visitor volume.
2. Exploring modifications to Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Section (MBMC) 4.88 - Transient Uses Including Short-Term Rentals to allow the rental or lease of a single-family dwelling unit or multi-family dwelling unit for a period of less than 30 days outside of the Coastal Zone.
3. Exploring modifications to MBMC Section 10.56.060 - New Year's Eve hours for certain commercial businesses to allow a similar limited modification of the hours of operation for certain commercial businesses, such as eating and drinking establishments and visitor accommodations with use permits and other discretionary zoning approvals during major events in the Los Angeles region.
4. The level of community programming and cultural events the City Council wishes to pursue.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action. However, depending on the direction of the City Council, there could be costs associated with performing a public safety and emergency preparedness assessment in the context of the global events in the region; hosting a live site cultural exchange; or public art installations. Any funding for art installations could come from the Public Art Trust Fund (PATF).
BACKGROUND:
The Los Angeles region is preparing to host two major international sporting events that will bring unprecedented numbers of visitors to the greater Los Angeles area. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place during the summer of 2026. Following this, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in the summer of 2028.
Games by the Numbers
The following data illustrates the scale and potential impact of these events:
FIFA World Cup 2026
* Los Angeles hosting eight matches
* U.S. Men's National Team opening match: June 12, 2026
* Approximately 1.5 billion viewers for final match
* 5 billion fans across all media platforms
* Global live audience of 175 million viewers
* 5 million tickets to be sold for 2026 World Cup
Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028
* 10-15 million tickets to be sold across 800+ ticketed events
* 3 million unique attendees expected
* 65,000 volunteers and employees
* 80 days of games operations across 80+ competition and non-competition venues
* 1.2 million peak day spectator trips
* 50,000 key constituents (athletes, officials, media, etc.)
* $18 billion projected economic output
* 5 billion viewers from around the world
* 1 million room nights contracted by LA28
* Olympics: Impact equivalent to seven Super Bowls per day for 16 consecutive days
* Paralympics: Impact equivalent to two Super Bowls per day for 12 consecutive days
The City of Manhattan Beach hosts thousands of visitors each day and is expected to be visited by additional visitors during both the FIFA World Cup as well as the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. It is recommended that the City strategically prepare for the influx of tourism in the area through increased public safety measures and provide opportunities for residents and businesses to celebrate the games.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has identified several areas, through coordination with our Olympics/FIFA World Cup Subcommittee, that warrant Council discussion and direction to ensure Manhattan Beach can protect our residents and visitors during the anticipated influx while celebrating these historic events.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Considerations:
The anticipated surge of visitors during FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will require comprehensive emergency preparedness planning to ensure the safety and security of both residents and visitors. For this reason, staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to explore consultant options for conducting a thorough assessment of current emergency response capabilities and communication systems to identify potential gaps during peak visitor periods, as well as enhanced safety solutions such as public safety consultants or CSC services and return with recommendations.
Enriched coordination will be necessary with federal agencies, regional emergency management agencies, and global event security operations to establish unified command protocols and integrated communication networks. While existing mutual aid agreements are in place, consideration should be given to activating enhanced regional coordination mechanisms and establishing additional emergency communication systems to ensure rapid response capabilities during the Games period.
The City should evaluate and update current emergency evacuation procedures and traffic management plans to accommodate increased pedestrian and vehicular congestion, particularly around beach areas and major access points.
Policy Considerations:
Short-Term Rentals:
Regulations in Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Section 4.88 prohibit the rental or lease of a single-family dwelling unit or multi-family dwelling unit for a period of less than 30 days if the residential property is outside of the Coastal Zone. During international events, such as FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there may be a number of residents outside of the Coastal Zone who may seek to rent out their properties to visitors for less than 30 days.
Short-term rental operators are required to obtain a business license and collect the City's 14% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from visitors. The current base tax for a business license is $303.28 plus an additional one-time $73 Zoning Business Review, which are both subject to Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases for 2026. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City had 175 licensed short-term rentals that generated approximately $1.5 million in TOT revenue.
Increased Business License Tax and Transient Occupancy Tax revenues may help fund City services needed to manage event-related impacts such as public safety, sanitation, and traffic management.
Staff seeks direction on whether temporary modifications to existing policies should be explored to accommodate the unique circumstances of the global events, while also maintaining neighborhood character and addressing potential impacts on housing availability, enforcement of our municipal code, and community safety.
Use Permits:
Staff requests City Council guidance on whether to explore amendments to current Use Permits tied to establishments in order to temporarily facilitate event-related activities. Specifically, temporarily amending conditions in the Use Permit to potentially allow extended business hours or special events that may go beyond the approved operational parameters. These temporary modifications would allow local businesses to capitalize on increased tourism while ensuring appropriate oversight and mitigation of potential adverse impacts to the surrounding community. Current MBMC Section 10.56.060 specifies that certain commercial businesses with Use Permits or other discretionary zoning entitlements that limit the hours of operation may operate for extended hours for New Year's Eve. A similar exception could be explored with necessary parameters for purposes of the upcoming major events in the Los Angeles region. For example, if a Use Permit condition restricts an establishment from operating beyond 10:00 PM, such condition may be temporarily modified to allow extended hours during certain limited, specified major events.
Cultural Exchange and Fan Experience Opportunities:
Manhattan Beach's rich Olympic and volleyball heritage positions the City uniquely to celebrate and participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a landmark of beach volleyball and home to numerous Olympic athletes, Manhattan Beach has profound connections to international sporting excellence that span decades. This legacy, combined with our world-renowned beaches and iconic pier, creates natural opportunities to showcase our community's sporting heritage while engaging with visiting teams, athletes, and spectators. The following initiatives would allow Manhattan Beach to leverage its unique position in the global sports landscape while creating memorable experiences for both residents and visitors.
Team Engagement:
Manhattan Beach's renowned beaches and volleyball courts present opportunities for pre-Olympic training partnerships:
* Meet and greet events connecting with existing youth volleyball camps and clubs
* Community events featuring international teams or athletes
* Educational programs highlighting Manhattan Beach's connection to volleyball history
Staff recommends conducting outreach to Olympic teams and organizations regarding cultural exchanges or other community engagement events.
Art and Cultural Installations:
Several initiatives could showcase the City's heritage in volleyball, the Olympics, and sporting excellence through art.
* The Manhattan Beach Pier, adjacent to the existing Volleyball Walk of Fame, presents a prime location for Olympic-themed art installations that would serve as a source of community pride and cultural exchange (see mock-up in attached PowerPoint presentation).
* The City could explore hosting live-site viewing areas in the City in coordination with LA28 and FIFA World Cup. These viewing areas could be activated for limited periods during the broadcast of specific high-profile FIFA World Cup and Olympic events. These temporary community viewing experiences would be strategically hosted in large outdoor areas, with the beach area at the Manhattan Beach Pier serving as a potential location. These strategic events would allow our public safety agencies to more efficiently respond and conduct crowd control. The City would be responsible for all costs associated with the production of this event, however, private sponsorships could be explored if so directed.
* The City could explore opportunities to participate in or host segments of the Olympic torch relay route, potentially incorporating Manhattan Beach's iconic pier and beachfront areas as memorable stops that celebrate our community's Olympic heritage.
Staff recommends engaging the Cultural Arts Commission to provide creative recommendations to the City Council through the establishment of a subcommittee to explore public art opportunities.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Comprehensive public engagement remains essential to ensure stakeholders are well-informed and have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the planning process. The Olympic/FIFA World Cup Subcommittee has established ongoing dialogue with key business organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, North Manhattan Beach Business and Professionals Association, and the Downtown Business and Professionals Association, to address event-related impacts and opportunities. If so directed, staff will continue to develop a multi-faceted outreach strategy that encompasses town hall meetings, a dedicated informational website with comprehensive FAQs, and strategic social media communications for real-time updates.
Potential Outreach Options with Residents:
To ensure meaningful community involvement, the City should prioritize resident consultation before developing any policy frameworks related to temporary rentals during the Olympic Games. This process would begin with resident surveys to gauge interest in hosting visitors and identify potential policy needs across different neighborhoods, providing valuable baseline data on community capacity and concerns. Following this initial phase, the City would host community listening sessions to understand resident expectations regarding temporary rentals and facilitate open dialogue about associated opportunities and challenges.
ATTACHMENT:
1. PowerPoint Presentation