The city is moving forward with an initiative aimed at easing the financial burden COVID-19 has placed on eating and drinking establishments downtown.

The proposal to permit pop-up patios on sidewalks and a portion of city streets was presented to city council at its meeting Monday evening.

The intent is to have the Pop-up Patio Program in place for the summer season, with the city being in a position to begin accepting applications by May 26.

The administrative report presented to council says the pandemic has had a deep impact on local businesses.

Eating and drinking establishments have had to reduce seating capacity to meet physical distancing requirements, resulting in a significant loss of revenue, the report points out.

It also notes it’s not known when restaurants will be able to resume normal dine-in services.

“In addition to allowing restaurant operators to offset indoor seating restrictions by expanding capacity outdoors, the program aims to stimulate streetscapes, creating a more vibrant and enjoyable experience for people visiting and walking the downtown,” says the report.

“This report requests approval to implement a Pop-up Patio Program (sidewalk cafés and parking patios) commencing in the summer of 2021, as an emergency relief measure for eating and drinking establishments in response to reduced occupancy restrictions in the downtown area.”

Council is being asked to bring forward the bylaw required to support the program. The matter will be before council for a vote next Monday.

There are two options: apply the Pop-up Patio Program to the entire downtown area; or, restrict it to Main Street and Front Street.

Administration is recommending it apply to the entire downtown.

Pat Ross, the city’s manager of land and building services, told council there are several businesses in the downtown area that could take advantage of the patio program.

They are challenges, such as the weather, and patrons having to move inside on a moment’s notice, he said.

Ross said the program is designed for businesses with commercial space adjacent to the street. It does not include mobile food vendors.

Ross said businesses would be able to use on-street parking space but they would have to place a barrier around the patio – perhaps a three-foot wooden fence – to ensure there was no accidental mixing of patrons and traffic.

The patio would have to maintain a safe distance from the lane of traffic, he said.

Ross said it’s difficult to determine what the uptake in the program might be.

The administrative report says a soft opening of the public sidewalk café program in 2019 resulted in two permits being issued along with two in 2020.

The administrative report notes the territorial Motor Vehicles Act empowers municipalities with the authority to repurpose the use of all highways, sidewalks, and other public spaces.

Providing a sufficient area on the street would require three parking spaces per patio, says the report.

The business would have to pay $275 for a patio permit and the city would lose approximately $513 a month in revenue for each stall, or $1,539 per month for each pop-up patio. But not all streets have metered parking, the report points out.

It says businesses would have to maintain $5 million in liability insurance.

The administrative report says council could make the use of on-street parking stalls free, to encourage the development of on-street pop-up patios.

“Many jurisdictions provide incentives, including patio set-up grants and relief from application, permitting, and bagged parking meter fees and charges, either partially or in total.” the report says.

“Widespread evidence shows that providing applicants with relief from fees and charges during times of economic hardship, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, enhances economic stability and increases program uptake.”

The report notes the city can expect some pushback from residents opposed to the loss of parking spaces, and having to walk further, particularly in busy areas like Main Street.