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Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM – 1D <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: December 21, 2020 <br /> <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br /> Dave Perrault, City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Mike Mrosla, Community Development Manager/City Planner <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Twin Cities North Chamber COVID19 Business Assistance Programs <br /> <br /> Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: <br /> NA NA NA <br /> <br />Council shall consider <br /> <br />The Council shall consider recommendations from Twin Cities North Chamber on how cities can <br />assist business that have been impacted by COVID19. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />At its November 23, 2020 Economic Development Authority meeting the Commissioners <br />recommended staff review Twin Cities North Chamber suggestions on how cities can assist <br />businesses impacted by COVID19. According to the Chamber, cities are offering the following <br />assistance to businesses: <br /> <br />1. Liquor license refunds, rebates or deferral of fees until sometime in 2021. <br />2. Deferment or forgiveness of 2021 business related licenses and fees. The Chamber <br />recommends this especially for hospitality uses that have been directly impacted by the <br />Executive Orders. <br />3. Temporary signage flexibility. <br />4. Expanded hours of operation. <br />5. Zoning flexibility to allow certain uses to operate outdoors adjacent to their location. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />The City of Arden Hills has previously approved a similar assistance program as recommended by <br />Twin Cities North Chamber. At its May 26, 2020 meeting the City Council approved a prorated <br />refund of on-sale liquor license fees to businesses affected by Executive Orders. Nine (9) <br />businesses received a refund of their 2020 on-sale liquor license fees. Upon review of other cities <br />the majority have not made a determination on 2021 on-sale liquor licenses fees. However, <br />municipalities are discussing potentially deferring on-sale liquor licenses fees and other