The Santa Monica City Council is easing back into their regularly scheduled meetings with a light agenda on Sept. 12.
Council’s only discussion item for the night is an exemption to rules governing sidewalk sales to facilitate the upcoming Coast festival.
Santa Monica will host its open streets festival, Coast, on October 1 and City Hall is being asked to modify its rules regarding sidewalk to allow local businesses to capitalize on the surge in foot traffic.
Individual businesses and Business Improvement Districts are limited to two sidewalk sales within any 12-month period. Some BIDs will have reached that limit prior to Coast and staff are asking for a temporary exemption to the rules to maximize the effectiveness of Coast.
“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,” said the staff report.
According to the report, the two-event limit was put in place before events like Coast were conceived and when a City sponsored event effectively cuts off their traditional customer base Staff said it’s reasonable to expand the sidewalk sale limit.
“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,” said the report. “These businesses have also expressed the desire to undertake activities such as sidewalk and food/beverage sales in conjunction with the event.”
Council waived the limit for the first Coast event last year.
Council will close the night with several appointments to local commissions.
There is one seat available on the Architectural Review Board. Incumbent Patrick Tighe has applied for reappointment. Abraham Cohen and Peter Michael Mitsakos have also applied for the position.
There are two seats available on the Disabilities Commission (one position must be filled by a person with a self-identified disability). Dee Cappelli, Lauri Ringer and Bruce Warx have applied for the positions.
One seat is open on the Personnel Board. Incumbent Bud Pell is requesting a third term on the Personell Board and has no challengers.
Council will also be asked to accept the resignation of Anthony Perez from the Social Services Commission and advertise the vacancy.
Council meets on Sept. 12 in City Hall, 1685 Main St. Closed session begins at 5:30 p.m.
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