Long Beach council OKs one‑year downtown entertainment‑zone pilot

Long Beach City Council on Tuesday directed the city manager to develop a one‑year entertainment‑zone pilot for the downtown dining and entertainment district, aiming to attract visitors, boost local businesses and test new public‑safety and permitting tools.

The pilot, approved after council discussion and public comment, asks staff to return to council with a management plan and any ordinance changes required under recent state law to permit regulated open‑container and designated event activity in defined downtown areas.

The vote comes amid a concerted push by downtown business groups and the council to revive foot traffic after pandemic losses. Mayor Rex Richardson said the pilot could help convert large special events into more consistent economic activity for restaurants and shops. "This could be a potentially a really strong thing to really help identify Long Beach as a sort of a tourism destination," he said during the discussion.

Council members described the pilot as a limited, event‑driven test that would require partnering with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, police, special events staff and the Downtown Long Beach businesses improvement district. Proponents emphasized narrow boundaries, security plans and evaluation metrics, such as measuring pedestrian foot traffic, vacancy rates, business revenue and resident complaints.

Austin Montoya, president and CEO of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, told council the pilot is a “strategic step forward” to keep visitors downtown longer during large regional events and to create repeat, smaller community activations. Sam Purzina, DTLBA board chair, and downtown business owners also spoke in support during public comment.

Council members asked staff to ensure public‑safety capacity, tight scope and clear metrics for success, and to return quickly so a summer test could be considered. Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, who authored the item, urged safeguards and a management plan; councilmember Joanie Ricks‑Ode proposed adding a requirement that staff return with an ordinance draft if the pilot warrants it.

The council passed the direction; staff will prepare detailed permitting steps, a management plan and an evaluation framework to return for the council’s review before any full‑scale implementation.

The council did not publish a detailed vote tally in the meeting minutes. The council motion passed and staff will report back with ordinance language and an implementation timeline.