TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions on the application of EHT QMLB, LLC, dba Queen Mary, at 1126 Queens Highway, for Entertainment with Dancing for on-ship events only. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) requires an application be filed and a hearing be held before the City Council whenever this type of activity is requested and before an entertainment permit (Permit) is granted or denied.
The LBMC also requires the City Council to approve the issuance of the Permit if they find that: the issuance of the Permit at the proposed location is consistent with federal, state and local laws, rules, and regulations; it will not constitute an undue burden on the neighborhood; the applicant(s) or responsible persons have not been convicted of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or felony offense within the past five years; and, neither the applicant(s) nor any responsible persons have a history of committing significant violations of the City code and have not provided false or misleading information on their application.
The City Council has the authority to approve the following options: (1) grant the Permit, with or without conditions; or (2) deny the Permit on the application. Once the Permit is granted, pursuant to LBMC 5.72.120.5, the Permit will be subject to an administrative review by the Financial Management Department every two years. This review process will consist of a multi-department analysis to determine compliance and identify if issues exist. This provision does not affect the City’s ability to modify, revoke, or suspend a permit at any time.
Attached for your review is the application from EHT QMLB, LLC, dba Queen Mary. This application is for on-ship entertainment only, and does not include entertainment in the Dome or the publicly-owned Events Park, which require a Special Events Permit from the Office of Special Events and Filming.
City departments have conducted their investigations in accordance with the LBMC. Attached are the departmental investigative reports, history, entertainment permit application, and floor plan.
The following summarizes departmental findings:
• The Police Department recommends the permit for entertainment with dancing be approved, subject to conditions.
• The Fire Department finds the building/location meets department requirements for the proposed use.
• The Health and Human Services Department finds the building/location meets department requirements for the proposed use, subject to conditions.
• The Development Services Department finds the building/location meets department requirements for the proposed use.
The Financial Management Department, Business Services Bureau, has thoroughly reviewed all submitted department documents and correspondence, and recommends the permit for entertainment with dancing be approved, subject to conditions (attached).
In the event that any of the recommended conditions are in conflict with other permits or licenses, the permittee must adhere to the strictest of the applicable conditions. This location has been licensed as a Hotel since February 1993. The Queen Mary is owned by the City of Long Beach and is currently leased to Urban Commons Queensway, LLC (Urban Commons). The entertainment permit previously held by Urban Commons was withdrawn, and a new permit application was submitted in May 2019 under the related entity EHT QMLB, LLC, a new limited liability company composed of the same members as Urban Commons. Although the entity holding the entertainment permit was changed, the Queen Mary will continue to be leased by Urban Commons.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on December 30, 2019.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The hearing date of January 21, 2020, has been posted on the business location, with the applicant and property owners within 300 feet notified by mail.
FISCAL IMPACT
The following fees were collected with the application: Building Review $22.45 and Zoning Review $33.00 (Development Services), Police Investigation $1,359.00 (Police Department), Mailing List $90.00 and Temporary Entertainment Permit $415.00 (Financial Management Department).
The following fees will be collected if the application is approved: Business License Annual Tax $379.07, Employee Rate $19.68 per employee, and Annual Entertainment Regulatory Fee $1,162.00 (Financial Management Department).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN GROSS
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
ACTING CITY MANAGER