You could see more patios outside local restaurants to allow for physical distancing during the pandemic.
City Council voted to look at expanding the Pop-up Patio pilot program, which began in 2018 and was extended to 2019 to allow more restaurants to take part. Current River Councillor Andrew Foulds suggests it should also include shops and other businesses.
“Is it possible for them to set up a kiosk outside, either daily, or temporarily, or maybe on the weekend, and create that kind of market atmosphere?” Foulds asks. He suggests businesses could also be required to submit a safety plan to ensure they are reducing the risk of spreading of COVID-19.
“It doesn’t matter what the businesses do, if it’s a patio, if people don’t feel safe going there, they’re not going to go. Part of our mandate, I think, is to help rebuild that confidence,” Foulds adds.
The discussion also touched on possibly closing certain streets to traffic, to allow businesses to take up more of the sidewalk or parking spaces. City Council heard that would need to be coordinated with Business Improvement Area organizations.
A report on the patio program is expected back in two weeks. Along with possibly expanding the program, it will also look at the results of the pilot over the past two years.
