New Bike Racks
By the time the Leadership Manhattan Beach (LMB) class of 2011 graduates, residents will have more places to park their bikes around town. Four of five City Council members Tuesday unanimously approved the class’ annual project to install new bike racks around the city. Mayor Richard Montgomery was absent from the meeting.
The class plans to raise money to install at least three bike racks at sites including the El Porto parking lot, the pier, Polliwog Park, City Hall, the 13th Street Tuesday Farmers Market and the 12th Street parking structure.
“We want to get people out of their cars to minimize carbon emissions,” Councilmember Wayne Powell said.
The city has fewer than 20 bike racks, many of which are in need of replacement, according to LMB class member Josh Sribour, leading to sidewalks often cluttered with bikes.
Council members said they wanted the racks to be placed in highly visible areas. LMB will raise all the money required for the project and will consult with city staff about the racks’ installation. Councilmember Mitch Ward said he imagined the city would take over funding additional racks down the road.
Chevron representative Jill Brunkhardt promised that the company would make the class’ first donation toward the project.
The council praised the project as eco-friendly and in keeping with a bike movement going on in the South Bay with organizations like the South Bay Bike Coalition and Vitality City project.
“This is another example of Leadership Manhattan Beach having its finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the city,” Councilmember Portia Cohen said.
Parking Meter Grace
New parking meters on Parkview Avenue and Village Drive are up and running. A two-week grace period, during which time no citations will be written for cars parked in front of the new meters, began last Friday. Beginning Saturday, Feb. 19, the Police Department will issue “no-fine warnings” to vehicles parked in stalls with expired meters. Active parking enforcement will start on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Book Readings
Pages: A Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave., tonight hosts a business workshop by M.H. Nicholas, business attorney and author of I Come First: How the Individual Ego Rules Every Business Decision. The workshop is designed to help individuals and businesses survive and succeed and will also address how to overcome political games and unfair tactics in the workplace.
The workshop begins at 7 p.m. and proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to support the Children’s Defense Fund, a non-profit child advocacy organization.
For more information, visit pagesabookstore.com.
The Kids Book Club Ministry of American Martyrs hosts a reading by Manhattan Beach author Dennis Komick of his book, Brodie and the Yeti, at American Martyrs Church, B & B Room, Thursday, Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Kids Book Club asks attendees to bring a lightly used book to donate. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Catherine Cobb at 310-418-1051. ER
