TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Rachel Johnson, Chief of Police
Matt Sabosky, Police Lieutenant
Andy Abreu, Police Sergeant
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Collaboration Agreement Between the Manhattan Beach Police Department and the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch (No Budget Impact) (Police Chief Johnson).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-0111
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-0111 approving the Collaboration Agreement (“Agreement”) between the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) and the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch (MBNW) and provide support for its implementation and ongoing administration. Staff also requests that the City Council offer direction on any additional actions or next steps, if necessary.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Approximately fifty percent (50%) of the MBPD Neighborhood Watch Liaison’s time is dedicated to administrative functions in support of MBNW. This effort is supplemented by the Community Affairs Sergeant and other Police Department personnel, with all associated personnel costs absorbed within the Department’s existing operating budget. Program funding is generated through auctions of surplus equipment facilitated by City-authorized vendors. Additionally, the Liaison coordinates the use of City facilities for MBNW trainings and community events, ensuring that space is reserved without incurring additional cost to the organization or the City.
In the event that City Council provides new direction, fiscal implications would have to be reconsidered accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
The MBNW program was developed in 1980 by residents passionate about reducing crime and increasing the quality of life for residents. Since its genesis, Neighborhood Watch has grown from its "extra eyes and ears" approach toward crime prevention to a much more proactive, community-oriented endeavor. It provides a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement, and citizens to safeguard their communities.
The MBNW divides the City into eleven areas, with each area having a designated Area Coordinator who oversees the block captains within their area. There are approximately 400 block captains in the City. Neighborhood Watch has an Executive Committee including a Director, Assistant Director, Area Coordinator Chair, Data Manager, Treasurer, Secretary, City Council Liaison, and a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, who assists with Map Your Neighborhood (MYN).
The MYN program, coordinated by the Manhattan Beach Fire Department (MBFD) through its Emergency Preparedness Administrator, has developed into a structured and active community preparedness initiative. The five-member MYN Steering Committee, which includes representatives from both CERT and MBNW, meets monthly with the MBFD liaison to coordinate training and outreach. Over the past year, the Committee has focused on organizing its structure, recruiting trainers (primarily from Neighborhood Watch block captains and CERT volunteers), and delivering in-home MYN presentations to strengthen neighborhood-level disaster readiness. In July 2025 alone, approximately 30 community members participated in in-home MYN trainings, a notable accomplishment that reflects growing engagement.
In contrast to CERT, which is a 501(c)(3) organization, MBNW is not a 501(c)(3) organization or LLC. MBNW is guided by bylaws. They are a separate entity from the Police Department, and they work in partnership with the Police Department. To support the partnership between MBNW and the Police Department, regular meetings with the Neighborhood Watch Director are scheduled through the Community Affairs Office to plan and address any concerns.
The Police Department assigns a staff liaison to MBNW, who attends Neighborhood Watch Executive Committee Meetings and takes notes (the Liaison is not a member of the Executive Committee). The liaison solicits interest in the MBNW program by signing up block captains and facilitating the purchase of stickers, signs, pencils, other promotional items, neighborhood watch-branded flashlights, and safety items. The Liaison position is currently assigned to the Community Affairs Office Assistant; however, the Community Affairs Officer and the Community Affairs Sergeant also collaborate with MBNW throughout the year by scheduling and holding meetings with the Neighborhood Watch Director to discuss Neighborhood Watch concerns, in addition to meeting with community members throughout the year.
At the November 6, 2024, City Council Meeting, the City Council discussed the importance of formalizing an agreement between the MBPD and MBNW. Although MBPD and MBNW have maintained a collaborative and effective working relationship for over 45 years, no formal agreement has been established during that time. Formalizing this partnership would help clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations, and ensure continuity and transparency in ongoing community safety efforts.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Agreement formalizes the longstanding collaboration between the MBPD and the MBNW program to enhance public safety, strengthen community partnerships, and support proactive crime prevention efforts. By leveraging the resources and expertise of MBPD alongside the vigilance and engagement of community members, the Agreement aims to foster a safer and more resilient Manhattan Beach.
The Agreement defines the key objectives of the partnership, outlines the scope of collaboration, and delineates the roles and responsibilities of each party (see Attachment 2). It memorializes our mutual commitment to timely and consistent communication, provision of administrative support, coordination of crime prevention efforts, and dissemination of crime data to the community.
It also identifies expected outcomes related to crime prevention, public education, and community engagement. Importantly, this Agreement is built upon more than 45 years of cooperative efforts between MBPD and MBNW, reflecting a shared and steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of Manhattan Beach residents. This includes memorializing our commitment to providing community members with the tools and training necessary to effectively observe and report suspicious activities, deterring and reducing crime through increased community surveillance and awareness, and continuing to improve communication and trust between residents and law enforcement.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The MBPD met with the Director and Assistant Director of MBNW on five occasions to discuss and develop this Agreement and to collaborate on terms.
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 approved the Agreement as to form.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 25-0111
2. Agreement Between MBPD and MBNW