Long Beach council directs staff to streamline event permits for business improvement districts

Councilmembers on Tuesday directed the city manager to collaborate with relevant departments to develop a streamlined event-permitting process for established Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and Business Improvement Associations (BIAs), and to report back within 90 days.

The motion, introduced by Councilmember Megan Kerr and seconded by Councilmember Christina Duggan, passed after council and public testimony highlighted recurring delays, unclear timelines and fees that BID leaders said impede recurring neighborhood events that generate foot traffic and small-business revenue.

The measure asks city departments including Health and Human Services, business licensing, special events and others to examine strategies such as pre‑approval templates for common event types, BID liaisons to assist with permit paperwork, online application tracking and the possibility of annual or blanket permits for qualifying businesses. Kerr said the goal is not to “cut corners” on public-safety requirements but to reduce redundancies and staff time so costs and delays shrink.

Why it matters: BID-organized events — from block parties and food festivals to recurring market series — are key drivers of foot traffic and local spending in commercial corridors. Several BID leaders told the council that the current permitting process can force them to downsize or cancel events, reducing economic returns for restaurants, retail and arts venues.

What council voted to do: The council approved the motion that staff prepare recommendations and return within 90 days. The instruction includes exploring models used by other cities, pilot programs, and ways to preserve necessary health and safety oversight while trimming procedural burden.

Public input: BID representatives and event organizers said the permitting burden is acute now that summer event season approaches. Austin Metoyer, president and CEO of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, told the council the city should “treat BIDs as trusted partners” and consider reduced fees where appropriate. Alexandra Escobar, an events committee member with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, asked the council to consider a faster pilot, saying the Taste of Downtown series—scheduled to start in 25 days—may be downsized because permits are costly and slow.

Staff timeline and constraints: City Manager Tom Modica and staff cautioned that department workloads are heavy and some fee decisions implicate the city’s cost-recovery policies. Modica said staff anticipates returning with a “good framework” in 90 days and that some well-established recurring events could be expedited in the interim.

Next steps and follow-up: The council’s motion requires staff to report back with options and recommended changes in 90 days. The council and BID leaders discussed piloting a faster process for a small set of recurring events while the broader review proceeds.

Quotes: “If businesses within BIDs could also track their permit or potentially even receive direct feedback on what additional information was needed, it could reduce the back and forth inefficiencies,” said Councilmember Megan Kerr.

Ending: Councilmembers from multiple districts endorsed the motion. Councilmembers and BID leaders said they will continue to coordinate with staff on immediate event permitting needs while awaiting the 90‑day report.