Politics & Government
City Waives $14,000 for Pumpkin Race
City Council votes to waive $14,000 in fees so that the World Famous Pumpkin Race can live on in 2011. A public centennial parade meeting, work on The Strand, mayor's moai and other city council news.
The World Famous Pumpkin Race came out a winner Tuesday night, more than a month before its Oct. 30 date for downtown Manhattan Beach.
Event organizers, who were asking the city to waive $14,000 in fees to keep the event alive for 2011, got their wish, as the City Council voted unanimously to waive the fees.
”We are not out of the woods yet, financially, but things are looking up,” said Mayor Nick Tell, during the council's discussion before the vote. He supported making the Pumpkin Race a priority.
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Council members agreed that the event is a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration for all ages that has become a “signature event” for Manhattan Beach, gaining recognition throughout the state. Nearly $350,000 was raised for education last year with the addition of the morning Pier to Pier race.
“It is not something we want to lose,” said Councilwoman Amy Howorth, with Councilman Richard Montgomery agreeing.
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Councilman David Lesser hesitantly voted with the other four council members to waive the fees, but asked that a concerted effort be made to find more sponsors.
When the Pumpkin Race first switched from a neighborhood event to a city event in 2007, the city supported it by picking up the tab for city fees, about $13,000. It did so again in 2008, until the economic down turn hit in 2009, when the city cut back on support for public events.
In 2009 and 2010, event organizers carried on with the help of Skechers and other sponsors. This year, organizers asked for the city’s co-sponsorship in the form of waiving the $14,000 in city fees.
A Centennial parade meeting
A public meeting to make plans for the city's centennial parade on May 19, 2012, will be held on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Police/Fire building conference room at 400/420 15th Street near city hall. Jan Dennis, former mayor and chair of the centennial parade committee, said that 15 entries are already in, and she wants ideas and suggestions from all. Said Dennis, “No refreshments, though. It’s one hour and we’re out.”
No license yet
Councilman Wayne Powell asked that more research be done regarding the issue of a full alcohol license being requested by Speedi-Mart at 975 Aviation Boulevard. The business has a license to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption and would like to expand to full alcohol sales [by adding distilled spirits] for off-site consumption. The issue will be put on a future city council agenda.
Closures on The Strand
Bikers and walkers, beware. Sections of The Strand will be closed this fall, beginning Sept. 27 or 28 to repair asphalt and replace damaged concrete. The bulk of the work will be done between 45thand 36th streets, followed by a section from 36th Street to Marine Avenue, followed by Marine to Manhattan Beach Boulevard, and finally, MB Boulevard to the southern border with Hermosa Beach. The Los Angeles County project, costing $400,000, is expected to be completed by the end of November. Ocean Avenue will be the detour.
Walk with the mayor
Mayor Nick Tell invites all residents to come walk and talk with him at his Walking Moai, 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, the mornings before Council meetings. Walks will start at Peet’s Coffee and go north or south or wherever, combining exercise and a chance to exchange ideas on the city.
