[BradyLS]

Does that mean every event has to get a full environmental impact report? No, but it means that the city has to undertake the burden and applicants have to undertake the cost” of a lower-level CEQA analysis, Howard said.

There's the answer. "Have your event. But you're going to pay out the nose for the study we do on it." Just government making sure they get a thick slice of the money pie.

[ArmstedFragg]

CEQA analyses are generally done by environmental consultants. Government pays for them, private enterprise does them.