Meet Wayne Powell

By Wayne Powell

I Love Manhattan Beach!

I have lived in the area for over 40 years, the last 13 years as a Manhattan Beach resident. As a long-time community volunteer (13 years) and City Commissioner (9 years), I have devoted countless hours helping to protect Manhattan Beach's unique character and preserving and enhancing our very special quality of life (near and dear to my heart are our children and our seniors).

Many of the candidates say what they would like to do if elected. But if you want to know what I will do as your Councilmember, look at what I have done as a community volunteer and City Commissioner.

As a Planning Commissioner (Chairperson), I have worked hard to ensure managed "smart" growth (while respecting private property rights) and have been against potential over-development that creates undesirable traffic and parking problems. I have challenged large development that is out of scale/character with surrounding neighborhoods, potentially dwarfing neighboring homes, blocking off sunlight and airflow.

I served on our City's "Mansionization" Issues Committee that drafted a "Mansionization" ordinance approved by our City Council. This ordinance incentivizes the remodel of smaller homes as an alternative to demolishing and building out to the maximum lot coverage. It also increases open space and limits lot sizes by limiting lot mergers.

I have challenged over-ambitious commercial development and have imposed reasonable conditions of such use near surrounding residential neighborhoods. I have always worked for solutions that mutually benefit both our residents and our local businesses. I serve on the Landmarks Task Force Committee that is preserving historic properties and also on the Manhattan Beach Historical Society's Board of Directors.

I am the only Planning Commissioner from the South Bay to be elected and serve on the Executive Board of the American Planning Association (Los Angeles Section). I had the privilege of being appointed one of 14 California delegates to the American Planning Association's 100th National Planning Convention. I participated in the drafting of their Policy Guide on Planning & Climate Change and their Policy White Paper on Transportation Priorities in the U.S. (official pronouncements for certified land-use planning professionals).

As a former Parking and Public Improvements Commissioner, I helped develop comprehensive programs to reduce traffic on our busiest streets and in our neighborhoods. I have worked hard to reduce cut-through traffic and speeding in our residential neighborhoods. I have worked equally hard to alleviate parking shortages citywide and have reviewed several of our city's capital improvement projects.

As a former Cultural Arts Commissioner, I have helped to develop and expand our city's visual arts, performing arts and arts education programs that enrich our lives. Our residents enjoy our summer Concerts in the Park series (at Polliwog Park), the fall/spring Concert & Art Series (at Metlox Town Square) and the year-round Art Exhibitions (at the Creative Arts Center), all of which are free. We have so many wonderful arts education programs (for all ages) presented year-round (painting, sculpture, ceramics, dance, music, theater, poetry, bus trips/excursions, exhibitions, concerts, kids' art camps, pee-wee picasso, tunes & tales, children's art zone, just to name a few).

For the last 4 years, I have been the Manhattan Beach Arts Festival Emcee & Stage Manager (I have been a volunteer for the Arts Festival for over a dozen years). It is wonderful seeing all of the "hands-on" participatory art-making, musical performances and dance instruction for the entire family (tots, youth, teens, adults and seniors). I have also been a Concert in the Park Emcee for each of the last 4 years.

I have been a strong supporter of our Police and Fire Departments. I am a graduate of, and serve on the Manhattan Beach Fire Department's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Board of Directors. The CERT team assists our first responders during a major disaster (earthquake, fire, flood or terrorist act) and assists/educates our community on disaster preparedness. I am a graduate of the Manhattan Beach Community Police Academy and a long-time Manhattan Beach Police Department Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. Neighborhood watch is the "eyes and ears" that report suspicious activity to, and communicates information from our Police Department to ensure the safety of our community.

I have been a strong supporter of our youth and education programs. As a Cultural Arts Commissioner/Chair, I worked very hard for arts education programs for our youth. I serve on the Manhattan Beach Coordinating Council Board of Directors which recognizes Manhattan Beach "Students of the Month" for their academic excellence and awards generous scholarships (from private donations) to outstanding Mira Costa High School seniors. I serve on the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, which works with our School District Representatives, Teachers, PTA's, the Education Foundation and other organizations for our schools' academic excellence. But of all of my education volunteer activities, one of my favorites has been serving ice cream to the Pennekamp Elementary School Students and seeing all of the smiling faces! I am very proud to be an Eagle Scout (Boy Scout's highest honor) and a member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

I have been a strong supporter of our seniors and I am a volunteer at our city's Older Adults programs. I am an active member (the youngest at 55) and volunteer of the Manhattan Beach Senior Citizen's Clubs. Recently, I helped distribute 72-hour Emergency Survival Kits (and discussed disaster preparedness) to residents of the Manhattan Seniors Villas.

I am a graduate and active volunteer of Leadership Manhattan Beach (Class of 2005), a nine-month program that develops community leaders and performs projects of substantial benefit to our community. My class' project was a documentary DVD ("Bridging the Generations") which featured distinguished Manhattan Beach seniors describing our city's history and was filmed/edited by Mira Costa High School media arts students.

For several years, I have been a community volunteer for Earth Day events, Pet Appreciation Day, the annual Hometown Fair (including the 10K Run), the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden, and many Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks & Recreation Department events. I have written over 20 articles (all gratis) in the Manhattan Beach Sun newspaper about the wonderful people, organizations and events that improve our qualify of life and make Manhattan Beach the community we all love.

I am running for City Council to represent and serve our community. I have always been a dedicated community leader, not a politician. With your vote, I pledge to deliver excellent public service and ensure that the decisions we make today serve us well into our future.