Part of what gives Long Beach a small town feeling are the community-led events that residents have come to love and expect.
Events like the Zaferia Happy Sundays festival, Bixby Knolls’ County Fair, Taste of Downtown, the Wrigley River Run and dozens more help create a sense of community throughout the city, but for the organizations that run these events, the City’s red tape can be expensive and exhausting.
Long Beach City Council appointed the City Manager’s Office and the Special Events Department to find ways to minimize the bureaucracy of throwing these events at Tuesday’s meeting. Their focus will be on events hosted by Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Business Improvement Associations and local restaurants.
“Our Business Improvement Districts are partners to us and they are boots on the ground in our business communities gathering information, encouraging people to be a part of our community and it really brings life to our business corridors,” said Councilmember Kristina Duggan. “They drive foot traffic, support local businesses and really enhance that sense of community. We want our local BIDs focused on building up our local communities [and] our economy, not spending their time working on permits.”
A BID is an organization made up of local businesses and residents with the goal to beautify an area of the city and host events that increase foot traffic. Long Beach has multiple BIDs such as the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, Uptown Property and Business Owner’s Association, Fourth Street Business Improvement Association and more.
To host a community event, Councilmember Megan Kerr said these organizations have to apply for special permits with details like attendance and location, and often have to fulfill more requirements with the Health Department and Special Events Department.
For smaller and newly established BIDs like the Zaferia Business Association, which is run by an eight-person team, these processes can prove taxing.
“Navigating the current permitting process has become increasingly difficult for our small team,” said Marissa Pfeifer, executive director of the Zaferia Business Association. “The complexity, the time and the cost has made it harder for us to fulfill our mission and discouraged us from hosting more things like open markets and closed streets events and things that really drive foot traffic into our district.”
According to Long Beach’s State of BIDs report, these organizations generated $16 million in tax revenue in 2019, roughly 23% of the city’s total sales tax revenue.
Multiple members of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLBA) also spoke at the meeting about the challenges they face trying to host their slew of events for the downtown community. DTLBA member Alexandra Escobar said they are considering downsizing certain events due to the cost of permits, which would result in less foot traffic for businesses and less economic benefits for their community.
“It’s not about permits, it’s about momentum, and without quick improvements or immediate collaboration we risk missing out on the upcoming summer season of events,” Escobar said.
The city already has a streamlined process for BIDs hosting regularly recurring events that do not include major street closures or alcohol services. For these events, such as First Fridays, Fourth Fridays, Second Saturdays and similarly scheduled events, BIDs can apply for a $451 permit that covers six events.
However, to have alcohol or street closures, organizations are required to complete other health processes and pay additional fees.
Councilmember Megan Kerr, who introduced the item, pitched ideas such as pre-approved templates for permits, direct coordination between BIDs and City departments to speed up the process, permit tracking and blanket permits for BIDs and businesses in good standing. The City will also explore an easier process for events made in partnership with BIDs and restaurants with valid health permits.
The City Manager’s Office will return to the city council with ideas to simplify BIDs and restaurants hosting events within 90 days.