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 Taking an Official Position on the National Park Service’s Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study (No Budget Impact) (Community Development Director Alkire).
(Estimated Time: 30 Min.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction on taking an official position on the National Park Service’s (NPS) Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2026, the City Council requested a future agenda item for staff to provide a comprehensive report evaluating whether the City should take a position on the NPS’s effort to establish a new unit in the National Park System (System) for the Los Angeles coastal area, including portions of Manhattan Beach.
National Park Service
The NPS is a bureau within the Department of the Interior that manages more than 400 park units that comprise the System aimed to preserve natural and cultural resources for enjoyment, education, and inspiration for current and future generations. There are over 20 different unit designations that include, but are not limited to, national parks, monuments, trails, historical and cultural sites, recreational areas, national seashores, lakeshores, preserves, and rivers. The distinction between the various units is based on natural values and historical importance. For instance, a national park contains a variety of resources and encompasses large land or water areas to help provide adequate protection of the resources; a national seashore focuses on the preservation of natural values while at the same time providing water-oriented recreation; and national recreation areas were originally units surrounding reservoirs impounded by dams built by other federal agencies that have grown to encompass other lands and waters set aside for recreational use. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and a number of historic trails are NPS units known in and around the Los Angeles region. On a national scale, there are 88 ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes parks, 10 of which are located within California.
In February 2026, NPS launched a special resource study (Study) of the Los Angeles coastal area to analyze its potential inclusion as a new unit in the System per Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act (2023) Section 634. The Study boundary consists of the coastline (from mean high tide line to 200 feet inland) and adjacent areas to the Santa Monica Bay from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach, including the areas in and around Ballona Creek, Baldwin Hills, and the San Pedro section of the City of Los Angeles, excluding the Port of Los Angeles north of Crescent Avenue (See Attachment 2). The purpose of the Study is to determine whether any resources in the study area meet the criteria for inclusion in the System. The Study’s findings and any recommendations will be submitted to Congress for its consideration for further action. At this time, it is unknown which unit designation would be recommended for this study area, if any.
NPS sought public input on the Study between February and May 2026 to incorporate feedback into the evaluation process. On April 6, 2026, the City submitted comments online as found in Attachment 1, noting that:
1) No foreseen need exists for NPS to serve in a management capacity unless financial resources are available to support the City’s coastline, which is currently managed and maintained by the City, Los Angeles County, and the California Coastal Commission. (The coastal area ownership and management in Manhattan Beach is split among different agencies. The pier and adjacent parking lots are owned by the State and managed by the City, and the beach itself is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors.)
2) Oversight by the NPS would add an additional layer of bureaucracy for projects in the Coastal Zone.
Additionally, the City requested an opportunity to review preliminary recommendations from NPS prior to completing the Study for review by Congress.
DISCUSSION:
Selection Criteria and Process
To be considered as a new unit in the System, a resource identified in the study area must meet all four of the following criteria:
1. National significance
Contains nationally significant natural and/or cultural resources.
2. Suitability
Represents a natural or cultural resource that is not already adequately represented in the System or is not comparably represented and protected for public enjoyment by another land-managing entity.
3. Feasibility
Must be 1) of sufficient size and appropriate configuration to ensure long-term protection of the resources and visitor enjoyment; and 2) capable of efficient administration by the NPS at a reasonable cost. Important feasibility factors include land ownership, acquisition costs, maintenance costs, access, threats to the resource, and staff or development requirements.
4. Direct NPS management
Requires direct NPS management that is clearly superior to other management approaches.
If a resource meets the criteria for national significance and suitability, NPS evaluates the potential for visitor enjoyment and analyzes the feasibility and appropriateness of different management options compared to existing management. The Study findings and any recommendations are anticipated to be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior in early 2027, then transmitted to Congress who may or may not act on the recommendations. At that time, the Study will become available for public review. However, the timeline for when the Study will be transmitted to Congress is unknown, as it often takes months or longer. It should be noted that new units can be established only by an act of Congress or a presidential proclamation.
Impacts of Inclusion as a New Unit
Based on discussions with NPS, no changes are expected to the existing regulations and the Coastal Act implementation, including no additional permit requirements for future projects in the Coastal Zone. In addition, land acquisition is not anticipated, as the NPS prefers to seek partnership structures to enhance management of the resource, unless Congress authorizes acquisition for willing sellers. In such case, local ordinances would no longer apply to the resource area.
If the City’s coastline becomes part of a new unit, it would provide enhanced opportunities for branding, visibility, partnerships, and educational programming, as well as the potential to access NPS funds and expertise, should they be available. Conversely, there would be much more coordination required to manage resources with limited NPS funds and staffing, which would also entail more time and complexity. Additionally, the City may not have the same level of authority to directly influence decisions affecting our beaches.
It is important to note that NPS administers several outlets that provide funding and technical expertise to local agencies without being a unit in the System. For example, the Land and Water Conservation Fund provides matching grants to finance local parks, which the City received in 1976 to further develop Polliwog Park; and the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program provides technical assistance in planning and designing locally led conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
Study Status
During the public engagement process, NPS received equally divided feedback on the Study with one-third interested in being considered for inclusion (e.g., Fish and Wildlife, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach); another one-third against being considered (e.g., Santa Monica); and the last third who took a neutral stance.
Currently, NPS is drafting the Study by analyzing information gathered thus far through research and public comments from various property owners and agencies. While the official public commenting period ended in May 2026, any additional public input will be accepted until the end of July 2026, with particular interest in feedback on how a potential resource relates to the four criteria noted above. Hence, if the City Council wishes to take any formal position for the NPS to consider in their Study, it is prudent to submit those comments by the end of this month.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the four selection criteria and the current state of effective management, it appears the City’s coastline is not likely to be recommended for inclusion as a new unit in the System and comments were submitted to NPS in April to that effect. Because there are alternative paths to receive technical and financial assistance from NPS through various programs, if needed, staff does not recommend any changes to the previously submitted comments.
Options:
1) If Council is satisfied with the comments already submitted by the City during the NPS public engagement period (Attachment 1), then no further direction to staff is required.
2) If the City Council desires to provide additional input on the matter and take an official position, direction detailing this additional input is needed and the City Manager would need to be authorized to prepare and submit it on the City Council's behalf by the end of July for consideration in the Study.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that discussing the matter to take an official position 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. City’s Submitted Comments to NPS (April 6, 2026)
2. Special Resource Study Boundary
3. PowerPoint Presentation