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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MAY 26, 2020 11 businesses on how they can assist in re-opening while complying with his directives. The question most frequently brought up is how this will impact restaurants and bars. As of June 1st, restaurants and bars are allowed to offer outdoor dining under certain conditions, to include but not limited to, (a) no more than four persons, or six if a family unit, at a table, (b) reservations are required, (c) masks or shields must be worn by staff, (d) and no more than fifty persons. The City Council may want to temporarily give staff the discretion to administratively review business requests to utilize additional space outside of their building that they would not normally be allowed to use without a variance or otherwise prohibited by City Code. Upon initial review of City Code, flexibility would be needed under section 1325 Subd. 6 J regarding Site Furnishing and Seating Areas; also, flexibility may be needed if businesses will fall below their parking requirements outlined by applicable uses and/or development agreements. Additional uses requested by businesses could include outdoor seating, pick up or drive up service, or other customer service areas. Should the City Council decide to move this forward there were several matters for the Council to consider. Staff commented further on these items and requested direction on how to proceed. Mayor Grant commented the City would not know how long this flexibility would last. He reported some restaurants in Arden Hills have outdoor seating and some do not. He anticipated the flexibility would last until it got cold this fall. Councilmember Holmes suggested the City pass the Resolution this evening in an effort to assist local businesses by June 1st. Councilmember Holden stated she would like to see businesses gaining written consent from property owners in order to have outdoor seating. She commented she did have concerns about electrical wires being placed outdoors to accommodate outdoor seating and feared this may be a hazard. Mayor Grant asked if the City Attorney had a chance to review this Resolution. City Attorney Jamnik reported he had reviewed the Resolution and noted it was consistent with Resolutions being approved by other municipalities in the State of Minnesota. Mayor Grant believed the City Council needed to support its local businesses. He appreciated the efforts of staff on this Resolution. He supported the Council taking action on this item tonight in order to support the City’s small businesses. Councilmember Scott asked if this Resolution fall in line with the governors executive orders in relation to churches. City Administrator Perrault stated he would have to investigate this further and could report back to the Council at the May 28th Special City Council meeting regarding this matter. Councilmember Holmes reported the May 20, 2020 press conference did not address places of worship. She noted this was done in another press conference.