Brazilian Day dilemma — More than 30,000 people cheered hundreds of feather-bedecked dancers parading down Garnet for last year’s initial Brazilian Day. Organizers were expecting 50,000 this year, but crowds were lighter. Why? Working with PB’s Special Events Committee, they had switched from Saturday to a Sunday to alleviate business owners’ concerns. Here’s a suggestion: Hold the festive event and its colorful parade down by the beach — on a Saturday. Visitors can join in and Garnet won’t be crunched by a street closure on its busiest day. PB’s Special Events — After reeling from the effects of 150,000 people overwhelming PB for that final Block Party in 2005, Councilman Kevin Faulconer helped form the PB Special Events Committee. Any event hosted on PB’s streets is now guided by two members each from Discover PB, the PB Town Council and the PB Planning Group, plus three at-large. While I monitored the group for a year, committee members spent much time writing bylaws, policies and procedures. I was often the only visitor; with just nine members, lack of a quorum occasionally impeded progress. I hear meetings attract more people these days. Who guides PB’s alcohol licenses? — Right now, the PB Planning Group is required to review off-site alcohol sales. For bars and restaurants, Councilman Faulconer favors forming a PB Alcohol License Advisory Board to review new, transferred or modified licenses. S.D. Police Department, the city and ABC all want “community input.” Why do we need a watchdog committee? Remember when The Cantina on Felspar struggled to get a beer and wine license? It’s a terrific local restaurant and deserved community support. Restaurants — and licenses — change. Some bars acquire their license from the previous tenant — and then expand. Should the Advisory Board be independent, like the Special Events Committee? Or should it be a subcommittee of the PB Planning Group? It IS a land use issue, directly affecting nearby neighbors over parking, noise, trash, etc. Some considerations: • Choose a majority of Planning Group members, who are selected by census tract; plus two each from the PB Town Council, Discover PB and the Hospitality Task Force. • Respect and apply the PB Community Plan. • Observe the Brown Act (public notification). Most important, let’s do what’s best for PB.