HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-071 - Business Recovery Patio Program for 2020REPORT TO:Special Council
DATE OF MEETING:Monday, June 8,2020
SUBMITTED BY:Cory Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development,
519-741-2200 ext. 7065
PREPARED BY:Cory Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development,
519-741-2200 ext. 7065
WARD (S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:June 4, 2020
REPORT NO.:DSD-20-071
SUBJECT:Business Recovery Patio Program for 2020
_________________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following fees, within the
balance of 2020:
a)
b);and,
c)
BACKGROUND:
In response to the COVID-19, the Province limited restaurant operations to take-out, delivery
and curbside service only. As the Province reopens the economy, it is anticipated that once
dining services are permitted, physical distancing measures will still be required. As a result,
restaurants will be required to reduce their interior seating capacity.
REPORT:
In order to support the viability of restaurants by enabling increased seating capacity, the City
will be launching a streamlined patio program. Presently, a streamlined process, including
design requirements, is already in place for patios on City sidewalks Downtown. This process
will be applied to other locations, such as Belmont Village.
Staff will be launching a similar program for patios on private property. The program will include
a single-point-of-contact to offer a concierge-style service to businesses, to minimize the efforts
required by both restaurant owners and staff/review agencies. Included in this program will be
a set of design requirements for new and expanded patios, which will align with any Provincial
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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standards for physical distancing as well as standard
Manual.
To create or expand a patio, certainapprovals are requiredincludingan encroachment
agreement where the patiois on City-lands. Given the extensive impact to the restaurant
industry, as a result of pandemic response measures, and to ensure City fees and process are
not an impediment to restaurants returning to operation, staff recommend waiving the fees
associated with these approvals.
Regional Coordination
The Region and area municipalities are working collaboratively to develop consistent
approaches to enabling outdoor patios. As the City of Kitchener has a long history of supporting
municipalities to adapt to their own circumstances. Other municipalities haveindicated an
intention to also waive fees for associated approvals.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
relief and support programs to businesses, better enables our business community to weather
the impacts of COVID-19 and prepare for the reopening of the economy.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In a normal year, the City collects a minimal amount of patio fees, typically less than $4,000
per year. While it is anticipated that a larger number of new patios will be applied for, based
on feedback from businesses, even minor fees could be an impediment to reopening their
business.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM This report has been posted to the
council / committee meeting.
CONSULT The financial relief measures contained in this report are in response to feedback
received through BESTWR and the Small Business Recovery Outreach Program. Local
organizations, including BIAs and the Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation, have
encouraged municipalities to reduce red tape and fees for patio expansions. Similar feedback
has been given by Restaurant Canada, the national association for the food industry.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, GM of Development Services
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