In an attempt to save Thunder Bay restaurants amid COVID-19, city council will hear about outdoor patios at Monday night’s meeting.
Jim Comuzzi is the head of the Waterfront Business Improvement Area, and says any patio area will have to ensure all physical distancing guidelines are met.
“Our coordinator has done an absolute bang up job. We’ve had communication with a number of city administrators, as well as the mayor. We have such a short patio season here in Thunder Bay,” points out the BIA head.
And, time is of the essence to help struggling restaurants, as he hopes the city will get the wheels rolling soon.
“We’re hoping it could be next weekend. We’re hoping if they have the meeting tonight it could be tomorrow. But we have to wait and see what they decide tonight,” added Comuzzi.
The Waterfront BIA chair adds the pop up patio idea implemented two years ago started up slow, but went well. He noted any current by-laws may need adjusting, as back then rules weren’t set, whereas now they are changing and evolving around the needs and infrastructure that is in place, as well as infrastructure not in place.
The Waterfront BIA is teaming up with the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Westfort, Fort William and Bay and Algoma BIAs to present this motion to city council.
