COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chenin Dow, Community Development Director
DATE: July 7, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Public Convenience or Necessity Determination for a Type 20 Alcohol Beverage Control License for Super Canasta at 2011 South Miller Street
Description:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution approving a Public Convenience or Necessity Determination for a Type 20 Alcohol Beverage Control License for S uper Canasta at 2011 South Miller Street.
Environmental Notice: The Project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution approving a determination of public convenience or necessity for the issuance of a Type 20 (Off -Sale Beer and Wine) alcohol beverage control license for Super Canasta located at 2011 South Miller Street, Santa Maria, California.
BACKGROUND:
Super Canasta is a local family-owned full-service neighborhood market. The market will operate in a 2,400 square foot tenant space (previously occupied by Caring Hands Pet Clinic) located at 2011 South Miller Street. Super Canasta will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will offer fresh produce, a butcher shop and general grocery store items. Building permits (tenant improvement) were submitted on May 19, 2026 , and are currently under review.
Super Canasta is requesting a Type 20 license from t he California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to offer the sale of beer and wine to customers for offsite consumption.
DISCUSSION:
Super Canasta proposes offering beer and wine sales alongside their existing selection of typical food and beverage products sold at a grocery store as a convenience for their customers. The percentage of the store’s floor area dedicated to beer and wine sales, display, and storage would be no more than five percent of the store’s building area, with beer and wine being displayed in seven refrigerator doors and additional stock stored in 2 the walk-in refrigerator (Attachment C – Floor Plan). The ability for customers to purchase beer and wine along with other groceries would make Super Canasta a full -service neighborhood market, increasing convenience for the customer and avoiding a separate trip to a liquor store or separate market to purchase beer and wine.
State Law
Section 23958.4(b)(2) of the California Business and Professions Code provides the City Council with some authority and responsibility regarding the issuance of certain types of alcoholic beverage licenses where there is a request for a new license in an area with:
1. Undue Concentration of Licenses:
An area of “undue concentration” of off -sale retail ABC licenses exists where the ratio of off-sale retail licenses to population (people residing) within a census tract in which the applicant premises are located exceeds the ratio of off -sale retail licenses to the population in the county. This property is located in Census Tract
21.03 which encompasses the area north of Betteravia Road, south of Stowell Road, west of Bradley Road and east of Broadway. The east, west and south boundaries (Bradley Road, Br oadway and Betteravia Road) of Tract 21.03 are major commercial corridors which result in an undue concentration designation for the area. ABC reports there are eight off -sale licenses, but the tract is limited to four licenses based on the population. Thi s Type 20 license will increase the number of licenses within the Census Tract to nine.
2. Undue Concentration of Crime:
State law defines an area of “undue concentration” of crime as a reporting district with annual reported crimes 20 percent over the juri sdiction’s average. This property is in Police Beat 020, which had 645 reported crimes in 2025, compared to the City average rate per reporting district of 338. Therefore, this proposal is in a district with an undue concentration of crime.
ABC typically denies a license request for a location with either an undue concentration of licenses or an undue concentration of crime unless the City Council makes a finding that the license will serve the public convenience or necessity.
Applicant’s Justification
Super Canasta estimates that alcoholic beverage sales will account for only a small portion (five to seven percent) of the overall sales revenues at the store. The applicant has indicated that they understand and take seriously the responsibility that comes with selling alcoholic beverages regarding the maintenance of a safe environment for customers, employees and the surrounding community. Towards this end, each cashier will be properly trained in responsible alcoholic beverage sales practices.
The mandatory training will be in compliance with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) policies. The training program focuses on cashier responsibilities including, but not limited to, requiring a valid government issued photo ID for any customer who appears to be under the age of 40, prohibiting alcohol sales to 3 obviously intoxicated people, and being alert to adults purchasing alcohol for minors waiting outside the market.
With this understanding, and with the seven percent maxi mum floor area limitation dedicated to beer and wine sales and display, the Planning Division and Police Department have no opposition to the Super Canasta’s Type 20 PCN request.
Council Policy
Previous City Council policy has been for all applications to be placed on the consent calendar with a staff recommendation that the City Council make a determination of public convenience. The City Council retains the option to remove the application from the consent calendar to consider another action or request additional information. If the City Council requests information to be prepared for consideration, the agenda item would be continued to a future meeting.
Alternative(s)
The City Council could det ermine that public convenience or necessity is not served by this request. ABC would then not issue the new Type 20 license.
Environmental Review
The project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption (Section 15301) as the project is located within an existing structure involving negligible or no expansion of former use.
None of the exceptions to the Class 1 Categorical Exemption that are listed in Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines apply. No further environmental review is required.
Fiscal Considerations
Approval of the ABC License would have nominal sales tax impact. The Police Department did not raise any concern regarding the potential for increased calls for service at the location.
Impact on the Community
A finding of public convenienc e, thus allowing the issuance of the ABC License, would provide a higher degree of convenience for residents of Santa Maria, allowing shoppers to also purchase beer and wine at Super Canasta.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
B. Vicinity Map
C. Floor Plan
D. Employee Alcohol Training Document