Council directs staff to streamline event permitting for business improvement districts

The Long Beach City Council on April 8 directed the City Manager to collaborate with the Health and Human Services Department, business licensing and other departments to develop a streamlined event-permitting process for established business improvement districts and business improvement associations and to report back within 90 days.

The resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Megan Kerr, aims to reduce application complexity and staff time for frequent, small-scale and recurring events organized through BIDs so local businesses can host more community-oriented programming without starting each permit from scratch.

"If businesses within BIDs could track their permit or potentially even receive direct feedback on what additional information was needed, it could reduce the back and forth inefficiencies," said Councilwoman Megan Kerr, who moved the item. Kerr said staff should explore pre-approval templates, BID coordination as a liaison role, online applications and possible annual blanket permits for businesses in good standing.

Council Member Christina Duggan, who seconded the motion, said the change is intended to let BID staff focus on event programming rather than paperwork. "We want our BIDs focused on building up our local communities, our economy, and not spending their time working on the permits," Duggan said.

Council members asked staff to consider pilot programs and whether some recurring events could be covered by a single permit or an annual special-event permit. Council Member Joni Briggsotti urged the inclusion of technical assistance and public outreach to help small operators use any new system.

Several BID representatives and event organizers addressed the council during public comment, urging faster action. Alexandra Escobar, a member of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance events committee, asked the council to consider a faster pilot timeline because summer events begin soon; she said the alliance's events calendar produces about $1.1 million in economic return and that permitting delays risk downsizing or canceling summer programming. "We're not asking for corners to be cut. We're asking for a smarter, more collaborative approach," Escobar said.

Marissa Pfeiffer, executive director of the Zephyrh Business Improvement District, described how complexity and cost in permitting limit smaller BID teams and discourage closed-street markets and other events that drive foot traffic. Austin Metoyer, president and CEO of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, urged reduced fees where appropriate, expanded use of existing BID permit fee allowances and street-closure waivers for districts.

City Manager Tom Modica cautioned staff capacity could limit how fast the department can produce a finished proposal. Modica noted the same team is working on food-truck regulation, in-house kitchen (MECO) policy work and street vendor compliance. "In 90 days, we'll have a good framework and be able to do a lot of research," Modica said, adding the team would attempt to identify which steps reduce city staff workload and therefore costs.

The council and BID leaders discussed whether a 60-day or faster pilot was feasible. Kerr and others asked staff to prioritize well-established recurring events for quicker implementation so summer programming could proceed.

The council voted to approve the motion, directing the City Manager to return with recommendations within 90 days and to include options that could reduce staff workload, improve timelines and consider pilot programs or annual permits where appropriate. The motion carried.