But councilmembers emphasized that the dining decks were not designed or built to be permanent additions to the city. 

"When we did the deal with every single restaurant, it included the word 'temporary,' said Mayor Pro Tem Richard Montgomery. "That temporary part is over. We’re not kicking the can down the road anymore. It’s time." 

Adding that he wanted to move forward on a permanent outdoor dining plan, he said, "Let's do the right thing, but do it the right way."

Mayor Steve Napolitano added that he didn't necessarily see the future outdoor dining plan being a "one for one replacement" for what is out there now.

There are many different ways to re-imagine how the streets and sidewalks can be used, he said. For example, removing "impediments" such as parking meters (and replacing them with pay stations) would create more room on the sidewalks. 

Napolitano also rejected the notion that the city should ignore state and local requirements.

"We’re not an island. We’re not our own nation. We have to work within the confines of the rules and regulations that apply to us," he said. "We’re going to do that as best we can, as fast we can, but there’s always been a time when these decks were going to come down."

Restaurants have faced the challenge of an ever-changing set of policies and regulations throughout the pandemic.

MB News has had regular and ongoing coverage of the issue. A timeline of developments in outdoor dining deck discussion is as follows:

• May 25, 2020: Manhattan Beach City Council holds a rare and last-minute holiday meeting in which they approved a letter to the county urging officials to allow restaurants to re-open.
  

• June 9, 2020: The Manhattan Beach City Council votes to approve temporary dining decks in the public right-of-way.

• July 4, 2020: City Council vote to expand opportunities for restaurants to apply for outdoor dining deck permits.

• August 4, 2020: City Council agrees to extend operating hours for restaurants until 11:00 p.m.

• November 24, 2021: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors suspends in-person dining during the winter COVID surge.
  

• January 29, 2021: Outdoor dining re-opens after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

• February 16, 2021: City Council agrees to extend the closure of Manhattan Ave. for outdoor dining.

• February 23, 2021: Manhattan Ave. re-opens to vehicular traffic.

• March 15, 2021: Indoor dining re-opens of indoor dining to 25 percent capacity.

• March 16, 2021: City Council agrees to expand outdoor dining opportunities, including spaces on Manhattan Beach Blvd. west of Ocean Ave.

• May 18, 2021: City Council agrees to extend temporary outdoor dining decks through Labor Day.

• June 15, 2021: City Council agrees to allow an extension of outdoor dining decks on Manhattan Beach Blvd. west of Ocean Ave.

• July 6, 2021: City Council agrees to waive outdoor usage fees for the public right-of-way through Labor Day.

• August 24, 2021: City Council agrees to extend the temporary dining decks until January 3.

• September 21, 2021: City Council votes to begin charging $1 per square foot for use of the public right-of-way.

• October 5, 2021: City Council agrees to scale back dining decks to allow retailers to reclaim access to their storefronts.
  

• December 7, 2021: City Council reaffirms a decision to close of temporary dining decks by January 3.

• December 21, 2021: City Council votes to allow temporary dining decks to continue past January 3.

• March 1, 2022: City Council agrees to waive fees for outdoor dining decks.
  

• May 24, 2022: City Council agrees not to hire a consultant on outdoor dining until it is able to hire a senior planner.
  

• September 20, 2022: City Council agrees to continue waiver of maximum dining occupancy limits.