Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: February 26, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: David Sanchez, Community Development Director Subject: An Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Camarillo, California to Extend a Moratorium on the Issuance of Any New Permit, License, Approval, or Entitlement Pertaining to the Retail Sale of Beer and Wine for Off-site Consumption
BACKGROUND
The proposed Urgency Ordinance extends the previous Urgency Ordinance No. 2028 that the City Council passed on January 22, 2025, which established a 45-day moratorium on the issuance of any new permit, license, approval, or entitlement pertaining to the retail sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption city-wide. This extension will impose a 10- month, 15-day moratorium city-wide.
The last major change to the Camarillo Municipal Code (CMC) related to off-sales of alcohol was Ordinance 1029, passed in July 2008. Ordinance 1029 established a requirement for a Conditional Use Permit for the off-sale of beer, wine, and spirits.
Recently, there has been an increase in applications for off-site alcohol sales in the City.
Given the recent increase in applications and the City’s last assessment of the potential impacts of off-site alcohol sales on public health, safety, and welfare 17 years ago, the City has determined that a review is needed. The additional time provided by this Ordinance will allow the City to study and prepare potential updates to the Code without having to consider proposals that may conflict with or frustrate the contemplated revisions.
DISCUSSION
Public Hearing Notice
A Notice of Public Hearing has been advertised for the City Council Meeting of February 26, 2025, posted at Camarillo City Hall, as well as on the City’s website
Off-Sales Moratorium
February 26, 2025
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(www.cityofcamarillo.org) and an advertisement published in a newspaper of general circulation for the area (Camarillo Acorn).
Status of Study and Report
Government Code section 65858(d) requires that “[t]en days prior to the expiration of that interim ordinance or any extension, the legislative body shall issue a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the condition which led to the adoption of the ordinance.” The following describes those measures.
Since the adoption of Ordinance No. 2028, City staff has been reviewing California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulations that apply to the off-sale of alcohol, as well as the limits these rules place on local control. Staff has also started looking at how other cities in California—similar in size, demographics, and local context to Camarillo—have dealt with issues related to off-sale alcohol.
Staff has begun analyzing the issue, researching, and developing local standards.
However, more time is needed to determine the extent to which additional regulatory controls must be added to the CMC and prepare the necessary amendments. Once the research is complete, staff will present the proposed code changes to the Economic Development and Land Use Committee for feedback. Ultimately, the changes will be brought to the City Council for consideration. To allow enough time for the research and evaluation, staff recommends extending Ordinance No. 2028 for up to 10 months and 15 days, as allowed by Government Code section 65858.
During this temporary pause, no new permits, licenses, or approvals for businesses that sell beer and wine for off-site consumption will be issued anywhere in the City.
If the recommended extension is approved, the moratorium will end on January 21, 2026.
For the extension to pass, a four-fifths supermajority vote is required. If needed, the moratorium can be extended for up to another year with a four-fifths supermajority vote at a publicly noticed hearing.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no budget impact as a result of this action.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
City staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that the proposed Urgency Ordinance is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed Urgency Ordinance to impose a 10-month, 15-day moratorium on the issuance of any permits or other approvals for the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption city-wide may have a significant effect on the environment, Off-Sales Moratorium
February 26, 2025
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as it establishes administrative procedures and will not result in any development or changes to the physical environment.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find the proposed Urgency Ordinance is not subject to CEQA review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed Urgency Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment.
2. Adopt an Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Camarillo, California to extend a moratorium on the issuance of any new permit, license, approval, or entitlement pertaining to the retail sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption.
3. Receive and issue this report pursuant to Government Code section 65858(d).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Urgency Ordinance
2. City Council Agenda Report, January 22, 2025
3. City Council Urgency Ordinance 2028
4. Public Hearing Notice
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None