Manhattan Beach Mayor Offers Plan For Reopening Outdoor Dining

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Though the two Manhattan Beach City Council members on the city's Long Term Business Solutions Ad Hoc committee say they have no idea what will happen at today's meeting, Mayor Suzanne Hadley has a hope and an agenda.

The mayor, who said her "jaw dropped" when she learned that City Council's Long Term Business Solutions Ad Hoc committee members Steve Napolitano and Richard Montgomery sent word that outdoor dining decks in the city would be temporarily closed beginning last Sunday night, told Manhattan Beach Patch, "Joe [Franklin, a newly elected city council member] and I are hoping the subcommittee will change its mind and allow outdoor seating once again. Joe and I are suggesting adding robust enforcement of outdoor seating to curb standing, crowding and drinking. And we suggest adding contact tracing to City of MB efforts in order to aid our restaurants and retailers."

As for who would cover the costs for enforcement and contact tracing, she said, "I have no answers. I would be supportive of the city paying for enforcement but I'm not sure about contact tracing."

Napolitano and Montgomery did not reply to a request for comment on Mayor Hadley's comments, however, earlier, when asked what might go on at today's meeting said they did not know. Napolitano told Manhattan Beach Patch "... we'll see what comes from the discussion."

Today's meeting is expected to include Montgomery and Napolitano, city staff, Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kelly Stroman, Downtown Manhattan Beach Business + Professionals Association Executive Director Jill Lamkin, Senior General Manager Don Ziss from the Manhattan Village Shopping Center and the president of the Downtown Residents Association.

The Long Term Business Solutions Ad Hoc committee was created in July to address ongoing issues for businesses in the city, including those caused by the pandemic and restrictions on businesses. When restaurant owners told City Council in late November and early December that the new outdoor dining ban issued by Los Angeles County would strip them of the opportunity to make money during the holiday season. The ad hoc committee created a workaround, making the outdoor dining areas created by the restaurants when outdoor dining was allowed public "parklets" where the public could sit and eat after ordering their food to-go from nearby restaurants.

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