Temporary Outdoor Dining Coming To An End In Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Temporary outdoor dining in Manhattan Beach will soon come to an end, as the City Council unanimously voted last week to end the program and expedite planning for a permanent program.

The temporary program was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was tied to the expiration of California's State of Emergency, which ends on Feb. 28.

"The temporary program was developed in an expeditious manner for the health and safety of the community and to assist private enterprises during the pandemic,” said Mayor Steve Napolitano. "While the time has come to remove the temporary dining decks, it is also a time to reimagine the business districts and develop a well- orchestrated permanent outdoor dining program that enhances the community and meets the requirements set by the Coastal Commission.”

According to the city, the temporary program resulted in many challenges such as an impact in residential quality of life, increased congestion and traffic, additional sanitation and deferred street repairs and stormdrain keep up.

Councilmembers decided that 26 restaurants participating in the program would have until March 10 to remove their dining decks. The removal of the decks will open up 57 public parking spaces that were previously occupied by the temporary structures.

Though the temporary program is ending, city staff are working toward creating a potential permanent outdoor program officials said. The city is seeking community members and business owners who are interested in being part of the 15-member Long-Term Outdoor Dining Program Task Force.

"The Task Force will conduct extensive community outreach and study potential program impacts in an effort to develop comprehensive, well-balanced permanent outdoor dining solutions," city officials said.

Those who are interested in being a task force member can reach out to city staff at outdoordining@manhattanbeach.gov.