City Works To Improve Restaurant Seating Capacity

Cafe Seating ($620 permit)

As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening our restaurants and taking them down. The Council and Mayor are doing something about it by improving seating capacity.  Sara Pyle, Planning and Community Manager, gave an exhaustive presentation to Council to this endeavor as outlined below.

Off street "cafe seating" is available to all restaurants and non-eateries (dentists, salons, etc.) with a $620 permit.

191 spaces are available on the street. A minimum of 34 on street parking spaces are available by permit ($1000,)  There is a two stall maximum for on street parking. Four stalls/block maximum for on street parking. Elevated barriers are required. 

DOWNTOWN PARK:  Tables and seating will be provided to support take out.  

In addition, 5-10 parks have been identified to provide space for 10-20 businesses.  Some business examples  are:  fitness, small kids camps, music and art instruction, photography, coffee stands with bistro outside.  

Opportunities for improved seating capacity are expected in 1-2 weeks.  Staff is expedizing.

City-run activities:  art walks, live music, food drive, mask sewing,

The Opportunity Building has an abundance of parking; it was suggested the lot could be used for take out and art.

Councilmembers Kritzer, Carson and Forsythe had questions about the permit costs.  Ms. Kritzer suggested scholarships for strapped businesses. Sara recommended One Redmond for support. Mr. Carson was "shaking his head" over the permit costs saying some are barely getting by.  

In light of our dire economic situation I think $1000 and $620 (cafe seating) permits are unsettling, if not outrageous. 

-- Bob Yoder, opinion. 
   Internet photo