(3:30 p.m.) During the December 6 Long Beach City Council meeting, there was considerable discussion regarding avoiding placing important issues on the agenda prior to the holidays. Yet, looking at the December 20th agenda, councilmembers are expected to discuss the following items, all of which impact the business community:

 

1. Drafting an ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene (a Styrofoam-like plastic) and other polystyrene disposable food service containers within the city, but exempting the school district. (Proposed by Lena Gonzalez, Jeannine Pearce, Roberto Uranga) Click here for more detailed information

 

2. Requesting city auditor to conduct an audit reviewing internal controls of how funds are handled and spent by property and business improvement districts and areas, and compliance with city agreements. (Al Austin, Suzie Price, Daryl Supernaw) Click here for more detailed information

 

3. Directing staff, economic development commission and the planning commission to review uses that require conditional use permits (CUP), making the CUP process more cost effective, streamlining the CUP public noticing process, expediting CUP modifications for existing businesses and simplifying the CUP process for existing businesses opening another location. (Jeannine Pearce, Lena Gonzalez, Al Austin) Click here for more detailed information

 

4. Directing the city manager to create a percent for the arts program that would include a 1% assessment on all capital construction projects exceeding $100,000. Click here for more detailed information.