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 ...
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