SR 09-12-2017 7A
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: September 12, 2017
Agenda Item: 7.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, City Planning
Subject: Adoption of an Emergency Interim Ordinance to Authorize the Issuance of
Additional Temporary Use Permits for Temporary Sidewalk Sales Undertaken
in Conjunction with a City Public Street Event by Business Improvement
Districts and Areas and by Businesses Located within a Seven Hundred Fifty
Foot Radius of the City Event and Waiving the Filing Fee for Temporary Use
Permits that Will Be Exercised During the City Public Street Event by These
Entities
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Adopt the attached emergency interim ordinance authorizing the issuance of
additional Temporary Use Permits for temporary sidewalk sales undertaken in
conjunction with a City public street event by business improvement districts and
area and by businesses located within a 750-foot radius of the City event; and
2) Waive the filing fee for Temporary Use Permits that will be exercised in
conjunction with and contemporaneous with the City public street event by these
entities.
Executive Summary
On October 1, 2017, the City will celebrate its second Coast Festival – a City-produced
Open Streets event to celebrate mobility, culture, and sustainability. The City is working
closely with local businesses and neighborhood and community partners who have
expressed the desire to undertake activities such as sidewalk and food/beverage sales
in conjunction with the event.
The City’s Zoning Ordinance authorizes Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) for sidewalk
sales. However, sidewalk sales located on the public right of way are limited to two
events within any 12-month period, and Business Improvement Districts are limited to
two such events within any 12-month period. Certain Business Improvement Districts
will already reach this numerical limitation based on sidewalk sales events that have
already been undertaken or will be undertaken apart from this City event.
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In order to minimize the impacts that this public Coast event will have on businesses
located within or near the event and to enable these businesses to undertake activities
in conjunction with the event, it is necessary for the Council to enact this emergency
interim ordinance to expand the frequency that temporary use permits may be obtained
for sidewalk sales when these additional sales are undertaken in conjunction with a
City-produced public street event and to waive the filing fee for temporary use permits
sought in conjunction with this event.
Background
City Public Street Events are authorized pursuant to Administrative Instruction II-4-4 of
the City’s Community Events Law. The one-day Coast event will allow pedestrian and
bicycle access to streets free of automobiles with activity hubs along the route and will
extend approximately 2.5 miles encompassing portions of Main Street, Colorado
Avenue, Ocean Avenue, and the Third Street Promenade. The event will focus on
sustainable mobility while incorporating art, culture, and environmental learning
opportunities throughout.
The City is working closely with local businesses and neighborhood and community
partners to ensure favorable and mutually beneficial outcomes from the Coast event.
Businesses located along and close to the Coast event route depend on street access
and accessibility to public parking for their employees and customers. Businesses
located on the streets encompassed within this event or within close proximity to the
event have expressed concern about the impact the event will have on their businesses
given the significant reduction in automobile traffic that will be allowed and the fact that
certain streets and public parking lots in the area will become wholly inaccessible to
vehicles. These businesses have also expressed the desire to undertake activities such
as sidewalk and food/beverage sales in conjunction with the event.
The inaugural COAST Festival took place in 2016 with Council adopting a similar
emergency interim ordinance to the one proposed (Attachment B). Following the
COAST Festival, a survey was administered to all businesses along the COAST route
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and to those that participated in conjunction with the event. The overall feedback was
positive as the businesses appreciated the increased exposure during the event and
expressed their desire to participate in more events in the future.
Discussion
The City’s Zoning Ordinance authorizes Temporary Use Permits for sidewalk sales;
however, pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 9.31.370(B)(2)(d),
businesses are limited to four such events within any 12-month period, except sidewalk
sales located on the public right of way are limited to two events within any 12-month
period. The Zoning Ordinance also authorizes Business Improvements Districts and
Areas to undertake a maximum of two sidewalk sales located on the public right of way
within any 12-month period. In establishing these limitations, the City did not
contemplate this type of City-produced Coast event and its associated impacts and
opportunities for business participation. Certain Business Improvements Districts will
already reach this numerical limitation based on sidewalk sales events that have
already been undertaken or will be undertaken apart from this City event. The City’s
Zoning Ordinance also authorizes TUPs for fairs, festivals, or similar compatible
temporary uses.
In order to minimize the impacts that this Coast event will have on businesses located
within or near the event and to enable these businesses to undertake activities in
conjunction with the event, it is necessary for the Council to enact this emergency
interim ordinance to expand the frequency that TUPs may be obtained for sidewalk
sales when these additional sales are undertaken in conjunction with a City-produced
public street event and to waive the filing fee for TUPs sought in conjunction with this
event. The current filing fee for a TUP application is $1,508.79.
As proposed in the Interim Ordinance, the issuance of a TUP for a sidewalk sale by a
Business Improvement District or Area that is geographically located, in whole or in part,
within the parameters of a City Public Street Event authorized pursuant to
Administrative Instruction II-4-4 of the City’s Community Events Law or by any business
not within business improvement districts and areas but located within a 750 foot radius
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of the City Public Street Event and that will be exercised contemporaneous with and in
conjunction with the City Public Street Event would not count towards the TUP
numerical limitation established in SMMC Section 9.31.370(B)(2)(d). In addition, no
filing fee would be required for any TUP sought by a Business Improvement District or
Area that is geographically located within the parameters of a City Public Street Event
authorized pursuant to Administrative Instruction II-4-4 or by any business located within
business improvement districts and areas but located within a 750-foot radius of the City
Public Street Event and that will be exercised contemporaneous with and in conjunction
with the City Public Street Event. This Interim Ordinance will be effective immediately
and shall be of no further force or effect sixty days after its adoption, unless prior to that
date, after a public hearing, noticed pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section
9.37.050, the City Council, by majority vote, extends this interim ordinance
Adoption of the Emergency Interim Ordinance would minimize any potential adverse
impacts to businesses created by the Coast event and allow for increased community
and business participation in this unique, one-day event.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Tony Kim, Principal Planner
Approved
Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. Ordinance
B. April 26, 2016 Staff Report
REFERENCE:
ORDINANCE NO. 2554
(CCS)