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DATE: May 26, 2020 <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br />FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator <br />SUBJECT: Flexibility for Local Businesses During Local Emergency for COVID-19 <br />Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: <br />N/A N/A N/A <br />Council Should Consider <br />The Council may discuss and provide direction to staff regarding any additional flexibility they <br />would like to allow businesses during the COVID-19 related local emergency. A draft resolution <br />has been prepared should Council want to act tonight, however, Council could also defer action <br />to its special meeting on May 28, 2020. <br />Background <br />By the Governor’s Executive Order, bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation <br />were ordered closed on March 17, 2020. Since the Governor’s order in March, a gradual <br />loosening of the restrictions have taken place. During his May 20, 2020 press conference, <br />Governor Walz did encourage cities to work with their local businesses on how they can assist in <br />re-opening while complying with his directives. The question most frequently brought up is how <br />this will impact restaurants and bars. As of June 1st, restaurants and bars are allowed to offer <br />outdoor dining under certain conditions, to include but not limited to, (a) no more than four <br />persons, or six if a family unit, at a table, (b) reservations are required, (c) masks or shields must <br />be worn by staff, (d) and no more than fifty persons. The City Council may want to temporarily <br />give staff the discretion to administratively review business requests to utilize additional space <br />outside of their building that they would not normally be allowed to use without a variance or <br />otherwise prohibited by City Code. Upon initial review of City Code, flexibility would be <br />needed under section 1325 Subd. 6 J regarding Site Furnishing and Seating Areas; also, <br />flexibility may be needed if businesses will fall below their parking requirements outlined by <br />applicable uses and/or development agreements. Additional uses requested by businesses could <br />include outdoor seating, pick up or drive up service, or other customer service areas. Should the <br />City Council decide to move this forward, below are options to consider: <br />NEW BUSINESS – 10C <br />MEMORANDUM