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Council backs targeted restaurant relief, fee waivers and outreach to help small businesses
Summary
Council approved a package to stabilize West Hollywood restaurants and small businesses that includes targeted grants, potential fee waivers for permits and special events, and further study of longer-term relief options; staff will return with funding sources and midyear budget recommendations.
The West Hollywood City Council voted to advance a multi-part small-business support package aimed at stabilizing independent restaurants and other at-risk local businesses.
Staff proposed a tiered grant program (with a maximum program cap discussed at $250,000 in one iteration of the plan) targeted to non-hotel, independently operated restaurants, along with a suite of fee reductions or waivers for special-event permits, public-eating permits, parking and small-business licensing. The intent is to provide rapid, targeted assistance to enterprises that face high fixed costs such as rent, insurance and labor.
Economic development staff and business representatives said the restaurant sector operates on thin margins and faces compounding pressures — from rents and insurance to changing tourism patterns — and urged a pragmatic, administratively light program. Chamber of Commerce president Leonard Lanszi told the council the chamber “strongly support[s] this proposal” and offered to assist with outreach.
Councilmembers asked staff to return with additional options, including (1) whether a sales-tax rebate model could be used (staff explained rebates require complex administration and are typically tied to large development agreements), (2) whether grants should be repeated or one-time, and (3) how to prioritize businesses most in need. Staff said they will model options, evaluate fee-waiver mechanics and bring a fuller package to the midyear budget presentation.
Council also directed staff to explore ways to reduce permitting friction for nightlife and activations that can help businesses draw customers — for example, by reviewing zoning definitions that force some frequent activities to require special-event permits — and to evaluate expanding successful programs such as the WeHo Loves Locals gift-card program. The council approved the recommendations and asked that staff return with funding scenarios and implementation details.
