Santa Monica Business COVID Recovery Survey #2

August 2021 Business Follow-Up Survey

Goal: To understand the immediate needs of our business owners in order to help guide the on-going efforts of the City of Santa Monica's Economic Recovery Team so that city staff and our local business partners can help support you!

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* 1. Type of Business?

Arts, culture, museums, theaters

Auto dealer

Bars/restaurants

Childcare

Construction, development, permitting, real estate

Financial services/banking

Health care

Hospitality, hotels, tourism

Media/entertainment

Non-profit or education

Professional services

Retail

Technology

Other

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* 2. Size of Business

Sole Proprietor (no employees)

2-20 employees

21-50 employees

51-100 employees

Over 100 employees

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* 3. Area of town (if you have more than one business, please check all that apply):

Santa Monica Pier/Ocean Avenue

Downtown Santa Monica/3rd Street Promenade

Ocean Park Blvd/Airport

Main Street

Mid-City

Montana Ave.

Pico Blvd.

Wilshire Blvd.

Other

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* 4. Years in town?

Less than 1 year

1-3 years

4-10 years

Over 10 years

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* 5. Now that California has reopened with removal of most COVID-19 restrictions, what is your biggest cause of stress right now? (Select all that apply)

I am not sure how I will cover my 2021 expenses.

I am not sure how I will pay back any deferred rent I still owe my landlord.

I am worried about being evicted.

I am having challenges in hiring/rehiring employees.

Supply chain disruptions are hurting my business.

I continue to be anxious about COVID and my/my employees’ health and safety.

Safety issues or perceptions of safety are impacting my business operations.

Cleanliness of public spaces near my business.

I am worried about future closedowns due to COVID Delta variant.

I have permanently closed my Santa Monica business.

I am planning to close within the next six months.

The need to continue to make significant changes to my business operations in order to be resilient and survive COVID.

None.

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* 6. What significant changes have you made to make your business more resilient? (Select all that apply)

Reduced hours of operation

Increased pricing

Reduced staffing

Increased use of technology to support my operations (e.g. website, online ordering, electronic payment, digital platform)

Revamped operational model

Downsized space

Expanded space (e.g. added new outdoor dining)

Increased my business savings

No significant changes

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What resiliency measures do you plan on keeping in place in 2021 and beyond?

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* 8. Are these changes temporary or do you plan to keep them in place permanently?

Changes will remain in place for now

Changes are permanent

Not sure

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* 9. As California re-opens, what approach is your business taking to bring employees back to work?

My employees will work from the office/in-person full time

My employees will have the option to work fully from home

A hybrid model of in-person and remote work

We do not yet have a detailed plan/TBD

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* 10. Are you back to full operations now?

Yes

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* 11. If not, when do you plan to operate at full capacity and/or bring back employees in-person?

3-6 months

6-12 months

Don’t know

Never

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* 12. Are you hiring new employees at this time?

Yes

Maybe/ as-needed

Not at this time, but will staff up as my business rebounds

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* 13. Have you submitted any job openings to the City’s Local Hire Jobs Board?

Yes

Not yet, but please send more information

Not hiring at this time

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* 14. If yes, have you successfully hired new employees as a result of the Hire Local jobs board?

Yes

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* 15. What other hiring platform or methods do you use to recruit employees?

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* 16. Would you be willing to prioritize employment of Santa Monica residents?

Yes

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* 17. What skill gaps or work development needs do you have or foresee?

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* 18. I am aware that the Santa Monica Commercial Eviction Moratorium requires any deferred rent to be paid in full by September 30, 2021 (unless I have negotiated another repayment plan with my landlord).

Yes

Not sure (For more info, please visit: santamonica.gov/coronavirus-eviction-moratorium#commercialtenantfaqs)

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* 19. I am aware of the free landlord/tenant mediation support provided by Pepperdine University’s Strauss Institute (a partnership with the City of Santa Monica). (select all that apply)

Yes

I already use or plan to use this mediation service

I am not, but please send me more information

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* 20. I am aware that the City has extended the fee waivers for outdoor dining (sidewalk, parklet, Third Street Promenade, Main St Al Fresco) thru Dec. 31. 2021.

Yes

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* 21. I am aware that I can submit a reduction request for late payment penalties assessed on my business license and/or I can request a payment plan for the taxes, assessments and fees due.

Yes

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* 22. I am aware of the City’s Health Ambassador program whereby City staff provide COVID-19 safety information and review business compliance with the latest Health Officer Order.

Yes

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* 23. I am aware of the biweekly business emails with ongoing health, safety and economic recovery information.

Yes

No (Please note: If you would like to be added to the City's biweekly biz email, please include your email below or you can directly register here: https://smgov.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe)

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* 24. I am aware of the City’s free Buy Local Santa Monica marketing campaign.

Yes

Not yet, but I'm interested in more information (Here's the link so you can join today! www.BuyLocalSantaMonica.com)

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* 25. Additional business support needed (please check all that apply):

Access to capital

Support identifying Federal, State, County and local grants and loans

Support in applying for grants and loans

City Permits + Zoning guidance for tenant improvements/remodeling/relocating

Marketing support to help attract new customers

Tech support to help with website/social media

Guidance in applying for and operating outdoor dining/parklets

Disaster Recovery Preparedness

Crime Prevention Support

Green Business Certification/ helping make my business more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable (www.smgbc.org)

Trash/Recycling/Composting Service Changes for my business (e.g. arranging more frequent trash collections, trash storage, or complying with state laws AB 1826 and/or SB 1383)

GoSAMO Employee Commuting Support

Safe re-opening best practices/guidance - keeping my business/employees/customers safe during COVID

De-escalation techniques (e.g. tips to handling angry customers or employees)

Customer service and hospitality

Other (please specify)

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* 26. If the City of Santa Monica was to offer online trainings, what topics would you be most interested in learning about:

Permitting requirements for outdoor dining and additional code compliance

Cal-OSHA updates: COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (post-June 15 re-opening),

Cal-OSHA requirements: Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)

Developing employees into better brand ambassadors for your business and Santa Monica

Identifying and assessing City and regional resources for businesses

Other (please specify)

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* 27. Please sign me up for ongoing emails:

Name

Company

Email Address