Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record and adopt resolution directing the further implementation of the Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (ANAO).  (Citywide)
Next item 13. Report from Development Services recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record and adopt a resolution directing the further implementation of the alcohol nuisance of Abatement Ordinance citywide. Okay. Conservative staff. Yes, we can have a quick report by Linda Tatum. Good afternoon, Mayor Garcia and members of the Council. This item is a city council authorization for staff to continue the implementation of the alcohol, a nuisance abatement ordinance that the City Council adopted in August of 2013. The initial implementation of this ordinance targeted the eighth and the ninth Council districts north of the Alamo Boulevard, and staff essentially worked very directly with the business and the property owners to implement some of the requirements of the ordinance to achieve cleaner, safer and more esthetic business operations. Each of the 26 businesses in this initial implementation phase have been have met all of the requirements of the ordinances regulations, and these are detailed in the staff report. For example, enhanced lighting and surveillance systems have improved safety and security in and around these businesses. And also the removal of the exterior payphones have decreased the amount of loitering and reduced other unlawful activity around these businesses. So essentially, given the effectiveness of the ordinance in its initial implementation, staff is now requesting the approval of the recommended resolution to expand the implementation of this ordinance citywide. New areas of the city to be addressed will be done on a based upon the number of existing businesses, type 21 businesses with type 21 licenses that don't have a copy. And of course, based on staff availability, in conclusion, I'd like to recommend that the City Council receive the supporting documentation into the record and adopt a resolution directing the further implementation of the Alcohol, Nuisance and Abatement Ordinance citywide. Okay. Thank you. Councilor Austin. Yes. I want to just just commend staff for the implementation of this alcohol nuisance abatement order. It has been very successful in the North Long Beach communities. We have turned around a number of very, I would say, blighted liquor stores that are now in compliance. I was happy to talk to Cocoa Sponsor this item with then Councilmember Steve Neill. I know for a fact that Councilmember Richardson, in his role as a chief of staff for the members, still, Neal, worked very hard on this as well. This has been a huge success for North Long Beach and deserves to be expanded outside of the pilot area. So I support this and would ask for your full support as well. Thank you, Councilmember Austin Councilmember Councilwoman Gonzalez. I wanted to say thank you and know I have. It's been a long time coming for city wide because I know I've bothered many of you for a lot of the different areas we have in the First District, particularly some. I'm glad to see that this is citywide and that we've made a step in the right direction for this. I see here the addresses. Is there a way to get the actual the business names on here? I don't I just see addresses for the locations in each district. Yes, we can get business names. Okay. Wonderful. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you, Councilwoman. Council member Urunga. Thank you very much, Mayor Little. I too am very pleased to see that here is an opportunity where we have a pilot program to go out and do its job and come back with a positive recommendation as we knew we wanted to have. It's wonderful. I want to thank staff for due diligence on getting this to us. You know, I received a number of calls even in my district about some of our blatant extortion. So I'm looking forward to having this go citywide. I think it's going to be a boon for our neighborhoods and for our district. Thank you very much. Councilwoman Mongo. Yes, I am excited that we have a pilot program that's going citywide. I do have a specific question outside of some of the grocery stores in the city and occasionally the liquor stores. It has become even more prevalent that people who don't live in the area are charging their cell phones on the outdoor outlets. So as people are receiving their free cell phones and shying away from the use of the payphones, the outdoor outlets have become a new loitering area. Is there a possibility of discussing some options for having those locked on a regular basis? I know the grocery stores don't mind individuals using their electricity because it's a small amount of money. But in terms of the customers, they're not always as thrilled about people standing outside waiting for their cell phones to charge when they're walking in and out of our grocery stores. Yes, we can certainly look at that. I'd appreciate something in a two from four about what our options are. And maybe we'll bring a motion. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilmember Richardson. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So I think this is this is a good moment. As you know, this is some history for North Long Beach. And folks have been on council for a while, have known or have paid attention. The council for a while have known how much work has gone into this. I actually remember the first conversation. It was actually a conversation with Mike Mayes and myself when we were brainstorming what to do around liquor stores. It was back when Councilmember Neil and Councilmember Gavlak were on the council and it and a concept came out to to to take this concept from Oakland carpe diem to proved that they had tried and maybe didn't get it right and try it out here. You know, took some time to work on it. And then later on, Councilmember Austin came on the council and he joined in support. And I'm happy that and now that Councilmember Neil's moved on, this pilot has proven successful and I'm very proud. This is a very proud moment for us to take it from concept. Test it now. We have a proof of that concept, a proof of this policy. And now we're going to expand it citywide with demonstrated with results that we can demonstrate of how to really effect meaningful systems, change to create a meaningful impact in the lives of our residents. So this is a good moment, and I look forward to seeing what the impact is going to be when we go citywide and and the residents north Long Beach, who have done done tremendous work, focused group surveys, sort of paying attention to those those liquor stores, those residents have really done a great job it moving this along. So so thank you. Congratulations to the city staff and to everyone involved. Councilman Andrews. Thank you, vice mayor. You know, I'm definitely in favor of this. I call it, you know, ordinance, because I would like to see this ordinance take effect in my district as soon as possible because we're truly in dire need of this implement happening as quick as possible. And thank you again for bringing support to the diocese. Thank you, Councilman. Councilmember Your Honor. Yeah. Just a brief follow up on Councilmember Andrew's question at the end. What's the timeline on full implementation of this program? The essentially, it took approximately 15 months for the for the implementation of the first two districts in the pilot program. But we learned a lot of important lessons. And I think going forward, we can certainly be a lot more efficient. So I would I would guesstimate roughly 8 to 12 months to do the next two districts roughly. But we can certainly come back. We'll certainly make every effort to make it as quick, quick as possible. Is that? Is that to your satisfaction? No. Would you like to. Right now. Okay. Okay. Councilwoman Gonzales. I just remembered my question. I'm sorry. Are we including in this? It says the last bullet point. The business does not result in any adverse effects, jeopardize or endanger the health, peace or safety of persons residing, visiting or working in the surrounding area. Is that does that relate to police calls for service or are we including that in this or how is that relatable to that, if any? It's police calls and calls for service as well as code enforcement. Any code enforcement calls. Okay. And is there a particular threshold or are we just. Well, we generally look at all of those, but we don't have a particular threshold, but we just notice that those numbers have been reduced. Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. And I also wanted to add my gratitude for staff to staff for keeping this program moving forward. It's been some time, and I think it might come as a surprise to a lot of us that District two has a great deal of liquor stores without cups and maybe even the greatest number, which surprised me when we found out. So our residents are anxiously awaiting the expansion of this ordinance, and I hope our liquor store owners do take advantage of the commercial improvement rebate program. Funding to rebrand themselves with whether it's new paint or new signage, would certainly be a better part of the neighborhood and a good neighbor. So thank you to staff. I, I personally appreciate this. Good job, everyone. With that, is there any member of the public that wish to address Council on item 13? Please come forward. Good evening once again. My name is Tony Esparza. My address is on file with the city clerk's office. I'm also in favor of this recommendation. There's a proliferation of liquor stores in my neighborhood. It seems like every corner now around my house, there's a liquor store. And I'm all for business being business friendly. But at what point? Is a business. You know, not something for the neighborhood, because, for instance, my local liquor store on Long Beach Boulevard, just north of Market, they discovered some gambling machines that they were doing illegal stuff there. I mean, at what point is. Licensing or permitting, come in and say, hey, you know what? We're not going to renew your license. I mean, there's there's got to be a line somewhere where we're business friendly. But to a point where it doesn't disturb the community. As far as, you know, having one on every corner doesn't make any sense. I mean, I'm all for it if it's like a full service. Store. Or a restaurant. I mean, we need more of those because we only have one store in Long Beach Boulevard. Otherwise I've got to drive to Vons and Bigsby knows. But I'm in favor of this. And thank you for staff for putting it together. Finally. Thank you. Thank you. Seeing no other speakers members cast your vote. Mungo. Motion carries nine zero. Item 14 Report from Development Services and Public Works. Recommendation to execute the Artesia Boulevard Study Implementation Agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments for an amount not to exceed $36,890. District nine.