TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Restaurant Retention Strategy and provide input and policy direction to staff on economic relief strategies for independent, full-service restaurants, with an emphasis on equity, designed to improve the economic survival of restaurants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic across Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On August 18, 2020, the City Council directed the City Manager to work with the Financial Management Department to waive user fees and charges for the most vulnerable Long Beach, independent, full-service restaurants, with an emphasis on equity, from March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021; and, requested the Director of Economic Development and other appropriate departments to develop a Long Beach Restaurant Retention Plan, designed to improve the economic survival of restaurants across Long Beach impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since that time, the City Council approved a series of individual recommendations from the City Manager to assist small businesses impacted by the COIVD-19 pandemic including the extension of the eviction moratorium, implementation of an outdoor dining program, and a series small business grant programs funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Specifically related to the above action, on November 17, 2020, the City Council approved a recommendation to allow payment deferral of business license taxes and fees until March 31, 2021; and, approved a recommendation to provide grants to businesses to offset business license taxes and fees for those businesses closed or materially restricted and impacted for an extended period of time due to Health Orders restrictions with an estimated and maximum cost of $1.3 million plus administrative costs of $75,000.
Economic Development and Finance Committee
The purpose of the Economic Development and Finance Committee (Committee) is to review and recommend policies to the City Council for the g...
Click here for full text