VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
A small business owner contacted Supervisor Anderson’s office when he realized that San Diego City and San Diego County amusement device ordinances differed in their restrictions, limiting the ability of small businesses in unincorporated County areas to operate in the same manner as small businesses in the City. To correct this, Supervisor Anderson and Vice Chair Vargas introduced a board letter that advocated for repealing the outdated County regulatory code provisions relating to amusement devices, like arcade games. This repeal will now allow all small businesses to expand their customer base and workforce, reduce an unnecessary regulatory burden, and grant the same business opportunities to unincorporated areas that are available to those in incorporated areas.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated many businesses throughout the San Diego region. In 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved $47.5 million to launch the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program. The County was able to fund 7,668 out of the 8,834 applications received. This board letter committed a minimum of an additional $30 million to fund a third round of the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program to assist businesses and established a temporary COVID-19 Paid Family Sick Leave Policy for County employees. 

VOTES: 3-0 (PASS)
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a board letter put forth by Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas. This is the first step which will begin the process of establishing “MEHKOs”, or microenterprise home kitchen operations, in San Diego County. County staff will return to the Board of Supervisors in 120 days with a recommended ordinance for adoption. During this 120 day period, County staff will be soliciting public input to help shape the ordinance.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

Although there are over 118,735 off-highway motor vehicles registered in San Diego County, the County has never submitted a grant application to the State’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division seeking funding to investigate the feasibility of siting an OHV park in San Diego County. This board letter directs staff to submit an application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s 2021 Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. If awarded funds, the County will use them for planning activities to identify and establish an off-highway motor vehicle park in the County of San Diego.

WITHDRAWN, STATE MANDATE RESCINDED PRIOR TO BOARD MEETING
San Diego is home to over 150 independent craft breweries and serves as the birthplace for a number of the industry’s most respected brands. Craft beer manufacturers contribute over $1.2 billion annually to the local economy and are responsible for nearly $5 million in philanthropic donations. This board letter directed County staff to advocate on behalf of the craft beer industry to eliminate a state requirement that beer manufacturers offer patrons sit-down dining as a condition of serving customers on-site during the COVID-19 pandemic.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The County took several actions to provide relief to small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the deferral of various fees to County departments. In addition, the Board of Supervisors directed County departments to postpone planned fee increases during the pandemic, and to cover budget shortfalls using reserves and other funding sources. This board letter directs County staff to consider using federal stimulus funds - instead of imposing fee increases on the business community - to cover Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget shortfalls for several County departments. It also directs staff to extend the option for businesses to defer until September 30, 2021, the payment of fees for the deferral programs that expired on March 31, 2021.