TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to study and make recommendations that further support smaller, low-volume, and less-intrusive options for music venues and return and present recommendations at a future council meeting in 120 days. Report should consider a tiered approach to regulation of music venues and consider the following:
• Encouragement of smaller, low-volume, and less-intrusive
options for music venues.
• Look at volume (sound level) considerations.
• Look at number of people being entertained and/or size of
facility.
• Consider exemptions to what are currently restrictions based on
characteristics such as lack of alcohol, dancing, admission
charge, etc.
• Consider time periods for the entertainment.
• Review current definition of entertainment activity and fees.
• Review whether any options should not include fees or licensing.
• Review potential monitoring and compliance processes.
• Impact on existing entertainment permits.
• Impact on surrounding businesses or residences.
DISCUSSION
There are many smaller venues in Long Beach such as coffee shops, restaurants, and cafes that wish to host low-volume live music on a regular basis without having to obtain a costly Entertainment Permit or apply for an Occasional Event Permit (OEP).
Under the current definition, live musical performances are considered "Entertainment Activity" when "carried on by more than two (2) persons or whenever amplified." (LBMC 5.72.115) This definition groups almost all venues together, which means that a jazz trio at the smallest coffeehouse is subject to the same permitting rules/regulations as a rock club that serves alcohol to 100 people. Given that it costs over $1000 to secure an Entertainment Permit, the code discourages many business owners from adding low-volume live music for their customers.
The purpose is to review the definition of "Entertainment activity" in the code and explore a tiered approach to regulation as well as possible exemptions from this definition for less intrusive venues such as those that do not serve alcohol. Our goal is to encourage these type of events (assuming they do not disturb other business) by making the authorization and monitoring of such entertainment as simple as possible on either a one-time or an ongoing basis.
One way to distinguish among venue types is to define "Entertainment Activity" by decibel and crowd size and/or provide exemptions to less-intrusive venues, however other regulatory options may exist as well in order to achieve the same goal.
Amending our entertainment permitting process will provide more options for entrepreneurs and help drive Long Beach's creative economy, aligning with the "Quality of Life" objectives under the Long Beach Economic Blueprint.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Fiscal Impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
STACY MUNGO
COUNCILWOMAN, FIFTH DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
VICE MAYOR, NINTH DISTRICT