To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: STEPHANIE MEYER, FINANCE DIRECTOR
TITLE
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APPROVE THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX WAIVER APPLICATION REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION FROM COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX RATES ESTABLISHED IN REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 6-1.22, AS PER SECTION 6-1.08 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, SUBMITTED BY IN-N-OUT BURGER FOR THE FUNDRAISING EVENT SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 17, 2026 AT SEASIDE LAGOON TO BENEFIT THE SLAVE 2 NOTHING FOUNDATION
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In-N-Out Burger (In-N-Out) has applied to have the business license tax waived for its Crusin’ 2 Freedom cruise, car show, and dinner event, which is held to raise funds for the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation. The event is scheduled to take place at Seaside Lagoon on January 17, 2026. In-N-Out will pay the City for all applicable facility rental costs.
BACKGROUND
All entities conducting business within the City of Redondo Beach are required to comply with Section 6-1 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code (RBMC) which establishes the process and fees associated with obtaining a Business License in the City of Redondo Beach.
Section 6-1.08(c) of the RBMC includes a means for entities to appeal to the City Council for a waiver exempting parties from payment of the appropriate tax when there is a community benefit. In the case of the Crusin’ 2 Freedom event, vendors participating in the event would be subject to a projected tax of $133 each, to procure the appropriate Business License. There are 17 entities named in the waiver application, including four food booth and three food truck vendors, from which the City would collect the required health permit documentation even if a waiver is granted.
Section 6-1.08(c) states, “Upon a written application to the Council, a person or organization may request an exemption from the business license requirements imposed by this chapter, and the Council may waive the provisions of this chapter if the Council finds and determines that the community benefit will be promoted by granting such an exemption.”
The attached Application for Waiver of Business License Tax submitted by Amanda Loukas, an In-N-Out employee, on December 23, 2025 requests a waiver for itself as the organizer and its participating vendors. In-N-Out organizes the fundraising event to benefit the Slave 2 Nothing foundation, created in 2016 to free people from being enslaved to any person or substance. All funds raised at the event will go to organizations that create, educate, and assist with solutions to eliminate human trafficking. The event will include a car cruise, car show, and dinner. In-N-Out is fully funding all other event costs, including a $44,810 Seaside Lagoon rental fee, which is not impacted by the requested Business License Tax Waiver.
COORDINATION
This item was prepared in coordination with the Community Services Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact depends on the total number of vendors participating in the event. In this instance, the total business license revenue that would go uncollected as a result of the waiver approval is estimated to be under $2,000. Separately, as a result of the event, the City will receive $44,810 in Seaside Lagoon rental fees.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Application - Waiver of Business License Tax - In-N-Out - Fundraising Event for Slave 2 Nothing Foundation, January 17, 2026