Permanent Outdoor Parklets Not Added To Manhattan Beach Work Plan

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The Manhattan Beach City Council opted not to add permanent outdoor dining parklets to the Work Plan of the Parking and Public Improvements Commission during a joint meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 20. For now, the idea for permanent outdoor dining parklets remains but will be addressed down the road. Not a single council member voiced a desire to add it to the existing Work Plan Wednesday. They did, however, note the concept is in play, thanks in part to the temporary outdoor dining parklets the city allowed restaurants to create in the public-right-of-way during the pandemic.

When contacted by Manhattan Beach Patch just prior to the meeting Wednesday, George Gabriel, senior management analyst for the city, said, "This item is being brought forth as a Work Plan item for the Parking and Public Improvement Commission. Items on commission Work Plans typically get approved for discussion purposes at Joint City Council meetings in order to authorize staff to explore the idea and expend staff time.

He elaborated, "During the Work Plan effort, there are likely to be public engagement/outreach opportunities. Thereafter, items come back to the City Council for final approval, which will allow for public comment."

On Wednesday night, Manhattan Beach resident Suzanne Lerner addressed city council on the topic, saying she is opposed to parklets as a permanent feature. "I supported the parklets, of course, as a temporary solution for all the businesses. I'm shopping and eating there all the time. I want to make sure that we support them [Manhattan Beach businesses] in their struggles to stay alive.

"However, I really believe they were all doing quite well before the pandemic and I don't see how we can justify why we need these permanent patios. We have a lot of small retailers who depend on local traffic and parking. What about our struggling small retailers? More than one of them has shared with me they're worried the patios will become permanent." She noted that small retailers and nearby residents count on having parking spaces available in front of shops Downtown.

"And I just feel like you are listening to a few voices instead of the majority. I really think you ought to drop the idea. If we want to consider it, why don't we do it together as a community after the pandemic is over? More residents can be involved. I just feel like we need to be accountable and equitable for everybody in this town. We are talking about the large businesses and small businesses and the residents."

The idea to offer to include the formal launching of exploring permanent outdoor dining parklets came from the PPIC at their December 3rd meeting. City staffer Erik Zandvliet, a traffic engineer, said the idea of permanent parklets "is supported by the Downtown Specific Plan" and that it could be its own entity or added to the beautification projects underway for Downtown Manhattan Beach and North Manhattan Beach. He noted that neither he nor the PPIC had a formal presentation on the subject at this point.

Mayor Pro Tem Hildy Stern wanted to know if while looking into the idea of permanent outdoor dining parklets there has been any discussion of expanding the use of sidewalks." The city's current outdoor dining program allows for sidewalk dining. Council member Steve Napolitano said there are "lots of moving parts to it. I don't see any harm in talking about it." Council member Richard Montgomery, who now serves on the Long Term Business Solutions ad hoc city council committee with Napolitano, said the city council should take a "wait and see what happens" approach, noting the pandemic is not over and "we've got a long ways to go."

Manhattan Beach resident Don McPherson also phoned in with his opposition to the permanent outdoor dining parklets.

Carrie Tai, community development director for the city, noted that once Los Angeles County allows any amount of indoor dining, the temporary outdoor dining parklets are slated to be allowed to continue for 90 days. She said indoor dining is bound to be phased in and percentages [25% capacity, 50%, etc.] so outdoor dining would enable restaurants to serve a greater number of people for 90 days.