Manhattan Beach Intel · SBI

The five-ish things worth knowing about Manhattan Beach this week.

Independent, source-backed reporting on the decisions shaping daily life in Manhattan Beach.

City Council meets September 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM — see what's on the agenda →

Issue #5 · October 23, 2026 · 5 minutes

What Matters This Week

  • Officer alleges retaliation, low morale, unfilled positions at MBPD
  • Geese management plan: 4-1, Franklin no — power washing, RFP, temporary fence
  • Clean Power Alliance solar + battery at public safety building: 4-1, Franklin no
  • Alcove Beach Cities gets $130K for construction cost overruns: 5-0
  • Refuse ordinance updated for first time since 1967: 5-0 (first reading)
  • Zoning text amendments adopted on consent: 5-0

Public Safety

Police officer alleges retaliation, low morale at MBPD

Officer Daniel Brandt — speaking as an individual, not as president of the Manhattan Beach Police Officers Association — testified that department morale is at the lowest he has personally experienced and detailed a string of concerns: organizational gaps during the World Cup operation this past summer, seven officer positions Council funded more than 3.5 years ago for Bicycle Patrol and the Crime Impact Team that he says remain unfilled, and recruits reluctant to recommend the department to others because of their experiences with leadership.

Brandt said he has a pending retaliation complaint against the chief filed July 2. He also said he learned the chief tested for the Newport Beach chief position around January 2025, which he says has raised officer concerns about her long-term commitment to the department.

The testimony came amid broader public concern following a fatal four-vehicle crash on October 9 that killed Mira Costa High graduate Danielle Antich, critically injured her brother Michael, and injured one MBPD officer. Several business owners also called for a return of foot and bicycle patrols downtown. Resident Alan Kirshenbaum told the council he believed Mayor Franklin had publicly called the city manager and police chief's notification response a 'lapse of judgment' — Kirshenbaum called on the council to censure the mayor for what he characterized as publicly criticizing city employees.

Watch Officer Brandt's testimony

YouTube — starts at 21:54 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (MacWhisper transcript of Granicus recording)

Parks

Geese management plan — 4-1; Mayor Franklin voting no

Council voted 4-1 to direct staff on three fronts for Canada goose management at Pollywog Park: (1) increase pressure washing to additional days per week, at up to $25,000–$30,000 more annually; (2) issue a request for proposals for a comprehensive multi-year goose management plan (staff estimated $50,000 for plan development, though the final RFP could come in lower — with $250,000–$350,000 estimated to implement once a plan is selected); and (3) explore a temporary fence around the pond, with cost estimates and renderings brought back to council before any cost is incurred.

A plan, if developed, would include surveillance, hazing and deterrents — lasers, acoustic systems, predator decoys — egg addling to suppress reproduction, canine hazing, and habitat modification. Staff said the geese shifted from seasonal migrants to a resident breeding population because of the park's abundant food source: residents feeding them plus the grass itself.

Mayor Franklin voted no. Before the vote he said he preferred incremental steps — citations for residents feeding the birds, continued cleaning — before committing to the full plan price tag. Mayor Pro Tem Tarnay moved the item; Councilmember Lesser seconded.

Watch the vote

YouTube — roll call at 2:52:51 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (roll call confirmed in Granicus transcript)

City Council

Clean Power Alliance solar + battery at police/fire building — 4-1; Franklin no

Council voted 4-1 to direct staff to submit the Police and Fire Public Safety Building as a candidate site for the Clean Power Alliance's Power Ready program, which would install rooftop solar and a 75-kilowatt battery storage system at no upfront or ongoing cost to the city over a 20-year term. If CPA's board selects the site, staff and CPA would return to council in summer 2027 with a full proposal and lease agreement.

The system would provide a minimum four hours of backup power for the emergency operations center and public safety functions during grid outages. CPA, a nonprofit joint-powers authority serving 38 communities, guarantees the city's electricity bill will not increase. Staff estimated the equivalent standalone project would cost approximately $1 million.

Councilmember Lesser, who has served as the city's CPA delegate for four years, moved the item. Mayor Franklin voted no; his stated concern was the 20-year commitment before a full cost-benefit comparison against a city-owned solar installation on the same roof.

Watch the vote

YouTube — roll call at 3:41:40 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (roll call confirmed in Granicus transcript)

Public Health

Alcove Beach Cities gets $130,000 for construction cost overruns — 5-0

Council voted unanimously to allocate $130,000 — a not-to-exceed amount from existing opioid settlement funds — toward construction cost overruns at the Alcove Beach Cities youth mental health facility. The project is a state-funded behavioral health infrastructure program build-out.

A youth advisor testified that more than 320 Manhattan Beach youth have enrolled in Alcove services; a written comment submitted by Lee Phillips cited BCHD's published figures showing 294 Manhattan Beach enrollees as of June 30, 2026. The 9,400-square-foot facility was designed in part by youth advisors. Councilmember Howorth asked staff to ensure ongoing vetting of how funds are actually spent. Mayor Pro Tem Tarnay moved the item; Mayor Franklin seconded.

Watch the vote

YouTube — roll call at 1:12:17 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (roll call confirmed in Granicus transcript)

City Council

Refuse ordinance updated for first time since 1967 — 5-0 (first reading)

Council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance 26-0013 on first reading, a comprehensive rewrite of the city's refuse enclosure regulations that haven't been substantially updated since 1967. The update was originally directed only at downtown and North End businesses, but staff expanded the proposal to apply citywide.

The new code separates single-family, multifamily, and commercial categories; limits enclosure reviews to new construction and specific tenant improvements (change of use, alcohol license changes, fire sprinkler triggers); and creates a shared enclosure operating agreement as an alternative compliance path. The city also directed staff to refund a deposit to Live Oak Tavern — which has been under a compliance agreement since June 2024 — upon adoption, because the property's situation would qualify under the new rules. A second reading and final adoption is expected at a future meeting.

Watch the vote

YouTube — roll call at 1:41:54 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (roll call confirmed in Granicus transcript)

Planning

Zoning text amendments adopted; Coastal Commission submittal authorized — 5-0

On consent, council adopted Ordinance No. 26-0012 on second reading, approving omnibus zone text amendments to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code and the Local Coastal Program. Council also adopted Resolution 26-0107 authorizing submittal of the ordinance to the California Coastal Commission. The item was introduced at the October 6 meeting.

Watch the vote

YouTube — consent calendar roll call at 46:54 → →

Source: City Council — October 20, 2026 (consent calendar roll call confirmed in Granicus transcript)

Upcoming dates

Upcoming Dates

Wed, Nov 4 · 5:00 PM
City Council Regular Meeting

Stories We're Following

What's next

Whether council or city management responds to Officer Brandt's public testimony — specifically on the seven unfilled positions he cited and the pending retaliation complaint.

The refuse ordinance second reading, and the Live Oak Tavern deposit refund that follows adoption.

CPA's Power Ready site selection process and whether the police/fire building advances to the full proposal stage by summer 2027.

Issue archive

Manhattan Beach briefings

Issue #5: A Manhattan Beach police officer told the council Tuesday that morale in the department is the lowest he's personally experienced, seven positions funded more than three years ago remain unfilled, and he has a pending retaliation complaint against the chief. On the action side: council voted 4-1 to advance a Canada goose management plan for Pollywog Park and 4-1 to submit the police and fire building as a candidate for a no-cost solar and battery program. Both votes saw Mayor Franklin in the minority.5 minutes →Issue #3: Manhattan Beach City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to extend the Wave Rider on-demand microtransit pilot for seven more months. Mayor Franklin and Councilmember Charelian voted no. The other three prevailed — but the debate made clear the program has a ceiling. Here's where things stand.4 minutes →Issue #2: Last issue, we reported that Council voted to send its business license tax overhaul to the November ballot. That was wrong — Council actually reached consensus not to proceed, after two hours of public comment made clear the measure didn't have the votes. We've corrected the record; here's what really happened, why some residents saw a premature ballot announcement anyway, and who's running for Manhattan Beach's two open Council seats now that filing has closed.4 minutes →Issue #1: Manhattan Beach's push to overhaul its decades-old business license tax collapsed at the August 4 City Council meeting — Council reached consensus not to send it to voters, opting instead to study the issue further over the next two years. It was one of the biggest debates at City Hall this summer. Plus: a Farmer's Market push for the north end, a Planning Commission variance that got real neighborhood scrutiny, and a seat opening up on the City Council.5 minutes →