Mayor Pro Tem Mark Burton became the new mayor of Manhattan Beach Tuesday night during the council’s regular reorganization. He laid out an ambitious plan for the next nine-and-a-half months in front of a crowd that included at least six former mayors of the city.
Outgoing Mayor Wayne Powell passed the torch after receiving a standing ovation and making a speech that grew emotional at times.
Powell highlighted achievements during his term, such as the completion of the new library, the Urban Land Institute panel that made recommendations for the future of downtown, and the beginning of improvements at the long-vacant Rite Aid site at the corner of Sepulveda and Manhattan Beach boulevards.
“It seems like every time I’m mayor, I have a community crusade,” said Powell, who served as mayor once before. “The first time, it was ‘Save Our Sand,’” his efforts to stop sand being exported from the city’s beach.
“This time around, it was the Rite Aid blight,” he said. “I want to thank the media, which put a lot of pressure on them to remediate the site. They still have a long ways to go.”
Coming to the end of his remarks, Powell concluded, “I leave the city in good hands, just like I received it.”
Burton, a retired senior assistant city attorney for Los Angeles, said that while the city was in a period of stability, it was a time to take it to the next level.
“I offer three goals to enhance today or protect tomorrow,” he said.
The first was to “Make Manhattan Beach the safest beach city in California.”
To that end, he suggested having security cameras at entrance and exit points of the city.
”They’re a great tool to prevent and solve crimes,” he said.
He also suggested that the police use foot patrols to prevent crime and to learn more about the community.
Second, he wanted to continue the city’s economic growth. Included in that was revitalizing the Manhattan Village shopping center, whose plans for an update were approved by the council last year but are the subject of two lawsuits. A five-star hotel and slowing down traffic on Highway 1 to promote shopping were also mentioned.
Finally, he wanted to “Make Manhattan Beach the best customer service city in California.”
“Yes, we give good service now,” he said. “Let’s give great service.”
His goal, he said, was to “have people look 30 years from now and say, ‘That city council took responsibility.’” ER
