Recommendation to direct staff to work with City Attorney and the Planning Commission to review the implementation of the recently adopted Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing ordinance and provide a written report on the progress of permitting breweries and brew pubs under the terms of the ordinance.  The report should also consider adding language to LBMC Section 21.45.114 to provide staff the ability to recommend waivers of special development standards based on findings.
Okay. Motion carries. I will be able. We'll be back to discuss that. Let me go ahead and take item 21. We take a couple of items before we do the budget. So we're going to take item 21, please, Madam Kirk. Communication from Mayor Garcia, Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilmember Pearce. Recommendation to direct staff to work with the city attorney and the Planning Commission to review the implementation of the recently adopted Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing Ordinance and provide a written report on the progress of permitting breweries and brewpubs under the terms of the ordinance. Thank you. Back. Back when I was on the City Council, I had authored legislation to facilitate the opening of craft breweries of brewpubs of that type of establishment in the city and that kind of grow the local beer economy, which has been doing so well in other parts of of the country and in California since since then and because of efforts of our incredible staff and really the the groups like the Deal IPA and groups like the the Belmont Shore Residents Business Association and others, we've seen a dramatic increase of these establishments. We want to continue to to promote more. There's some coming, exciting things happening in North Long Beach, as you probably heard, with some of these some of these as well. And so this is a request that we work with through staff. Staff wants the ability to kind of look at the ordinance and even make it even better. So we continue to recruit these fine establishments and support their work throughout the city of Long Beach. And so this is the it gives the ability to staff to do that. And one, I also think Councilmember Gonzalez and Councilman Pearce fought so that we can take a look at tweaking this and making it even stronger. Councilwoman Gonzales. Yes. Agreed on all levels. I know there's been an increased interest in breweries coming to the downtown area and just in in general and in the city. And so it's exciting to know that this investment will will continue to grow. Is there a quick staff report on this? I know we're looking will be coming back in 90 days, but I'd like to know if there's more information we can hear. Certainly. We can have our development services director, Amy Bodak respond to that. Mayor, members of the city council. Thank you. As mayor said, this is an item that was new to planning when we brought this forward a year ago. And we do have a number of applicants that are in process and we have discovered that we'd like to be a little bit more flexible than we currently are. And so this would allow us to take a second look at some of the restrictions and requirements that are in place to make sure that they they still meet the intent and spirit of what the original ordinance was meant to do. Okay. Great. And the timeline right now we have is 90 days. Is that possible? Is it possible to speed up that process or are we looking. You're going to do the best we can to to meet that deadline. Okay. Wonderful. Thank you very much, sir. And I imagine that the the the brewpubs that are out there that are trying to go through the process currently will be aware that we're trying to work out any other issues in the future. We actually have two in process that are already cleared through the ordinance and we have another one that we're working on right now. So we we do think that we'll make those folks aware of it as well. Thank you, Councilman Pierce. Yes. I want to thank the mayor and Councilmember Gonzalez for bringing this issue forward. I think we've seen a lot of great development happen in our downtowns and in our business corridors and seeing something like this where we can be a little bit more flexible. And we can also make sure that we're engaging our local business owners and people that are a part. We have a local brewers organization here that has over 100 local homebrewers that are the ones that are starting to open up some of these brewpubs. And so a great opportunity to support local businesses and thriving. Really looking forward to your report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor Richardson. Thank you, Mayor Garcia. I want to I want to just ask a question. Do we have any distilleries in Long Beach? And do we have an ordinance that that talks about the distilleries. The alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing Ordinance actually covers distilleries as well. That's why we specifically did not distinguish between beer versus any other kind of alcohol. So we do have the opportunity to bring a distillery in. To my knowledge, we do not have one in the city right now. So I needed to hear. Thank you. Councilmember Herring. Maybe not now, but one is coming. And I totally support this ordinance that we have some that are looking at the distilleries and manufacturers in the seventh District to hopefully support this item. Thank you. And Councilman Andrews. Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor. I like also thank our two woman, Gonzalez. And I am here because the fact that, you know, alcohol beverage manufacturers are becoming a booming industry in what is. I'd like to congratulate all of those who are being to bring this issue up for discussion and special consideration. You know, but I know realize in this state that there's a current bill advocating for alcohol consumption and at least in places such as beauty barbershops. And it goes to show that the change is happening, as is happening in society. So we're certainly moving along with charters that I, you know, hope that we can review a newly adopt ordinance and we'll look in special use it, such as warehousing and beer distribution. And I want to thank both of you guys again for bringing this issue to the diocese. Great. Thank you. Any public comment on this? I actually know. Is there any public comment on this. Ah, this ordinance saying non members please go and cast your vote. Motion carries. Okay. Thank you. We are going to hear now. On second. Item number 13.