CPC-2018-4660-CA Restaurant Beverage ProgramCitywide Draft Code Amendment

November 2, 2018

BACKGROUND

• Initiated by City Council Motion

• Directed City Planning to create a streamlined process for select restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages

• Current Conditional Use Permit process for any business selling alcohol– 6+ months processing time– $12,500+ permit fees

• Same process required for restaurants, nightclubs, bars, & liquor stores

• Ordinance levels playing field for all restaurateurs– Challenge for independent restaurants to stay in

business while waiting for alcohol license

• Reduces – Cost– Delay– Uncertainty

• Encourage local restaurants to be able to operate and provide services to the community

BACKGROUND

• City of Los Angeles does not authorize sale of alcohol– Only allows businesses to pursue a permit from

Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)

• City of Los Angeles enforces land use matters– Easier to enforce with standardized conditions

• ABC enforces matters related to sale of alcohol

BACKGROUND

• Administrative Review– Specific Plan requirements for a Conditional Use

Permit (CUB) will supersede

• Action includes over 30 standards, guaranteed by recorded covenant– Standards include conditions typically imposed by

CUB

• Bars, nightclubs, & liquor stores are NOTeligible– All ineligible operations still require CUB

RESTAURANT BEVERAGE PROGRAM

• StandardsMust be a restaurant with seating, kitchen,

full menu

Food service must be offered while open

Restaurant cannot be only for takeout or delivery

Cannot have a drive-through

RESTAURANT BEVERAGE PROGRAM

• Standards Daily hours limited to 7AM – 11PM

No live entertainment (incl. dancing, karaoke, or DJ)

No outdoor music/TVs; only ambient indoor music

Other requirements regularly imposed on CUBs (e.g., STAR training, camera surveillance, graffiti removal)

RESTAURANT BEVERAGE PROGRAM

• Standards Neighborhood Council and Council Office

notification within 14 days of administrative clearance

Notification will contain covenanted standards & Department of Building and Safety contact information to report code violations

RESTAURANT BEVERAGE PROGRAM

• Enrollment in the Monitoring Verification Inspection Program required– Two City-initiated inspections

• Department of Building and Safety Code Enforcement

• Police Department

ENFORCEMENT

• Department of Building and Safety issues Order to Comply when in violation of standards

• Three levels of enforcement:– Operator given opportunity to comply

– Operate may seek Conditional Use Permit

– Refusal to comply will result in criminal proceeding, City Attorney involvement

ENFORCEMENT

X?

• California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the sale of alcohol

• ABC has their own process for issuing licenses– ABC public hearing and investigation may be

required

– Corrective actions could include license suspension

ENFORCEMENT

TIMELINE

LADOT

PLUM and Ad Hoc Jobs

Committee

• March 21, 2018• Report-back was

submitted

Council directed DCP to draft ordinance

• August 14, 2018

Draft Ordinance Released

• October 17, 2018• Draft Ordinance, FAQ,

and Hearing Notice available on planning.lacity.org

Staff Level Hearing

• December 5, 2018• 10:00 AM at City Hall,

Room 1060

City Planning Commission

• Tentatively scheduled for April, 2019

NEW HEARING ADDED• January 31, 2019

• 6:30 PM at Braude Building, 1st Floor

thank you

Please submit comments by February 15, 2019

esther.ahn@lacity.org

More information:planning.lacity.org

/Planning4LA

@Planning4LA