Manhattan Beach's flat-fee business tax, unchanged for more than 50 years, could land on the November ballot after the City Council votes Tuesday, August 4. The same meeting will introduce new rules governing public parking pads citywide.

The council will consider Resolution Nos. 26-0087 and 26-0088 on Tuesday, August 4, which would formally place a Business License Tax overhaul on the Tuesday, November 3 General Municipal Election ballot. Separately, the council will introduce Ordinance No. 26-0010, rewriting the city's rules on public parking pads after months of commission review dating to December 2025.

Business License Tax heads to voters

The tax measure would replace Manhattan Beach's flat-fee business license system with a gross-receipts model. The current tax brings in roughly $6 million a year, about 5 percent of General Fund revenue, according to The MB News.

The council voted 5-0 on July 21 to direct staff to draft the ballot resolutions. At a May 12 budget study session, Councilmember Nina Trieu Tarnay moved to proceed with a rate of $2.60 per thousand dollars of gross receipts, capped at $100,000 per business. Councilmember Amy Thomas Howorth seconded. HDL Companies Operations Director Eric Meyers presented the tax modernization plan at that session.

If the council adopts both resolutions Tuesday, voters will see the measure on the Tuesday, November 3 ballot. The council will also select a ballot letter designation at the same meeting.

Parking pad ordinance draws public interest

The second major item is the introduction of Ordinance No. 26-0010, which would amend Chapters 9.72 and 14.40 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code to redefine and regulate public parking pads, the concrete or paved areas between sidewalks and curbs that many residents use for vehicle parking.

Community Development Director Masa Alkire is sponsoring the ordinance, which staff estimates will take 90 minutes of council discussion. The city's Parking and Public Improvements Commission approved the draft ordinance on June 25 after more than a dozen residents spoke on the item. Commissioner Kampe made the motion; Commissioner Tokashiki seconded.

Tuesday's action is an introduction only. A second reading and adoption would follow at a later meeting.

The consent calendar includes a $322,893 construction contract with UBD, Inc. to demolish the racquetball building at Marine Avenue Park, plus a $12,500 appropriation from the Capital Improvements Program fund. The council will also consider a $986,797 amendment to its landscaping services agreement with Merchants Landscape Services Inc. and a $73,415 engineering support amendment with DKS Associates for the city's Advanced Traffic Signal System Project.

How to weigh in

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, in City Council Chambers at 1400 Highland Avenue and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 160 132 1409). Written comments must be submitted by noon August 4 through manhattanbeach.gov/ecomment or by email to [email protected]. The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18.