Manhattan Beach edition Issue #2 · September 11, 2026

Manhattan BeachIntel

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. About 4 minutes.

What Matters This Week

Correction: the business license reform did not go to the ballot
Why some residents saw ballot-measure announcements anyway
Council race is set: four candidates for two seats

Correction

Business license reform: what actually happened August 4

In our last issue, we reported that City Council voted to place a business license tax reform measure on the November 3 ballot. That was incorrect, and we've corrected the published story. Here's what the record actually shows.

At the August 4 meeting, Council had ballot measure text ready to approve. But after roughly two hours of staff presentation and public comment — nearly all of it opposed, including the South Bay Association of Realtors (who argued the measure could run afoul of AB 5's treatment of real estate agents) and the California Grocers Association — it became clear the measure lacked the four of five Council votes needed to advance. Rather than force a vote, Council reached consensus to shelve it and directed staff to scope out a longer process instead. Mayor Franklin floated a task force or commission spending roughly two years building a version with broader support.

There will be no business license measure on the November 3 ballot.

Source: City Council — August 4, 2026 (Granicus transcript, clip 5284); corroborated by Easy Reader & Peninsula Magazine and MB News

City Council

Why some residents saw a ballot announcement that wasn't real

Per MB News' reporting, some residents may have seen printed announcements of a business license ballot measure election in local papers even after Council decided not to proceed. Those announcements were filed before the August 4 meeting, ahead of a legal deadline that only applies if Council approves sending a measure to voters — so they went to print on schedule regardless of what Council actually decided that night. If you saw one of those announcements, it was premature, not a sign the measure is back on.

Source: MB News, August 19, 2026

City Council

Council race is set: four candidates, two seats

Candidate filing for Manhattan Beach's November 3 ballot closed August 12, and the field is now final. Councilmember Amy Howorth is running for re-election. She's joined by three challengers: former councilmembers Richard Montgomery (who served 2005–2013 and 2017–2023) and Mark Burton (who served 2013–2017 and has run several times since), and Joseph Ungoco, who has served two terms on the Planning Commission.

Councilmember David Lesser pulled nomination papers but did not file — confirming he will not seek re-election after three terms. His decision opened one of the two seats now in play.

Source: Manhattan Beach City Clerk — Qualified City Council Candidates, November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election

Upcoming dates

Upcoming Dates

Tue, Sep 15 · 4:00 PM: City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting
Tue, Sep 15 · 6:00 PM: City Council Regular Meeting

One thing to watch

What's next

Whether Council actually stands up the task force Mayor Franklin floated for business license reform — and who gets appointed to it.

The Council race heading into November: four candidates for two seats, with two former councilmembers making comeback attempts against a sitting incumbent.