TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to study and make recommendations on guidelines that further support street performing in premium areas/zones such as BIDs within the city and return and present recommendations at a future council meeting in approximately 120 days. Factors that the report should consider include:
• Review whether the city can provide Long Beach BIDs with the
option to implement these guidelines within their assessment
area.
• Request the City Manager to work with the Long Beach Council
of Business Associations and the Long Beach Music Council to
solicit input.
• If the City cannot delegate power to BIDs, consider other
areas/zones within the City; looking at impact on surrounding
residences and businesses.
• Consider spatial arrangement of street performing within the
areas/zones (i.e. feet away from the entrance of businesses,
etc.).
• Look at volume (sound level) considerations of street
performing.
• Consider times for the street performing.
• Review potential monitoring and compliance processes.
• Create consistency in code by removing LMBC 14.14.055
which says that a permit is required to perform in the public
right-of-way when no such permit exists.
DISCUSSION
Street performing is a placemaking asset that contributes to the economic vitality of business corridors, however there is currently a lack of clarity in the code, which leads to inconsistent enforcement and discourages people from performing. According to LBMC 14.14.055, a permit is required to perform in the public right-of-way, however no such permit exists.
The purpose of this study is to create clear guidelines in order to encourage street performing in a way that enhances our various business districts. Our goal is for performers to be able to exercise their First Amendment rights, while being cognizant of Long Beach's mixed-use residential nature (where it exists) and ensuring a positive environment for residents, businesses, and performers alike.
Cities such as Santa Monica and San Diego have successfully accommodated street performing through identifying premium zones such as Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade and designating them as street performing locations where they implement guidelines to both encourage arid manage this activity.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Fiscal Impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT