IAP2 USA (Emerging) Los Angeles Chapter: Civic Engagement in Manhattan Beach

How Manhattan Beach Made Civic Engagement Work - Online and In Real Life

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The City of Manhattan Beach has worked through several civic engagement initiatives over the years in an effort to reach a broad audience of participants. From the Open City Hall feature which has garnered over 3,000 online interactions, to more traditional opportunities to contribute, such as town hall meetings and service on committees and boards, the City of Manhattan Beach is actively seeking involvement and input from the community on a broad range of issues.

Our gathering in September will be hosted and presented by staff of the City of Manhattan Beach who are implementing public engagement skills and tools to fulfill the City’s first pillar in their Strategic Plan: Strong Governance that Values Meaningful Resident Engagement.

Five speakers will highlight the City’s successes engaging the public through the popular citizen-based Environmental Task Force and the City’s exploration into digital civic engagement, as well as the challenges faced when trying to reach a broader audience on large citywide initiatives such as the Downtown Specific Plan and the operating budget.

• Social Media Efforts: Jessica Vincent, Parks & Recreation
• Budget Outreach: Libby Bretthauer, Finance
• ULI and the Downtown Specific Plan: Nhung Madrid, Community Development
• Open City Hall: Kendra Davis, City Manager’s Office
• Environmental Stewardship: Sona Coffee, Environmental Programs

DETAILED PARKING INFORMATION

Parking may be a little tricky in the area, fortunately there are several lots, and a link to the parking map for the visual.

• The upper level Civic Center lot (open parking lot behind City Hall and the Library) has 2-hour free parking. It is a busy lot, so no guarantees on a space there. You can enter the parking lot off of 15th St.
• The lower level Civic Center lot is metered, and is only available to the public after 3pm. So please note that people should not waste their time looking for parking there.
• There are 4 metered parking lots in the immediate vicinity of the Library. 2 of them have longer term parking and are just across the street from the Library, entrance on Morningside.
• Lot 2 and Lot 6 are 2-hour parking across the street; Lot 3 and Lot M are long-term metered parking.
• There are also a few free street parking spaces on 15th street, and a few metered parking spaces on Highland Ave, just in front of the Library. But street parking is limited and fills up quickly.

Here’s the parking map for a view of where the parking lots are located. The Library is next to City Hall, on Highland in between 13th and 15th streets.

For the room location, we’ll be in the Library’s main Meeting Room, which is on the lower level in the southeast corner of the building. Please enter through the main doors and walk through the library you get to the meeting room. If you do enter from the back of the Library, just be sure to knock on the glass doors loudly so someone will let you in.