December 12th, 2022
Dear Santa Monica City Staff and Council,
I now know of several Santa Monica businesses that intend to get rid of their parklets due to the City’s onerous ‘personal guarantee’ that’s currently being asked for parklet spaces.
We’ve been told: “The guaranty serves to demonstrate a commitment by the business that the business will comply with all of the license obligations and ensure that the City can hold an individual responsible should the business cease to exist, the business refuses to meet its license obligations, or the business’ insurance carrier refuses to cover a claim in connection with the business operations on the public-right-of-way.” This is simply too much to ask, and too big a risk for many. Nobody signs personal guarantees in the restaurant business. Parklet operators are already required to have insurance that meets City standards. If a business goes bankrupt or does not pay the rent, The City can use the sizeable deposit it requires to get rid of the parklet. Simple.
Santa Monica needs to decide if it is willing to lose the one good thing to come out of Covid (Parklets) because of an unreasonable bit of red tape.
Please get rid of the personal guarantee requirement so Santa Monica can keep as many parklets as possible.
Sincerely,
Hunter G. Hall
Executive Director
Main Street Business Improvement Association
314.323.4663
[email protected]
Item 1.A
12/13/22
1 of 1 Item 1.A
12/13/22