Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
REMARKS
Introduction of legislation to establish permanent outdoor dining program
0:35:02
ยท
173 sec
Speaker Adams introduces legislation (Introduction 31-C) to establish a permanent outdoor dining program in New York City.
- Allows sidewalk cafes to operate year-round and roadway cafes for 8 months (April-November)
- Makes participation more affordable for restaurants compared to pre-pandemic programs
- Reduces bureaucratic barriers and approval timelines
- Expands eligibility to more neighborhoods and restaurants
- Provides a transition period for restaurants to apply for new licenses
Adrienne Adams
0:35:02
Finally, the council will vote on introduction 31 C sponsored by Consumer and Worker Protection Committee Chair Council Member Marjorie Velasquez, will establish a permanent outdoor dining program.
0:35:15
After an extensive progress of engagement with many thoughtful conversations with the various stakeholders, we are voting to create a newly revised permanent outdoor dining program that will continue to serve our restaurants, residents, and visitors.
0:35:31
During the COVID nineteen pandemic, outdoor dining became a lifeline for small businesses and New Yorkers seeking socialization and normalcy through a temporary program that expanded the opportunity beyond limited capacity primarily in Manhattan.
0:35:46
This legislation incorporates lessons learned from this temporary program by making increased accessibility and inclusivity to outdoor dining permanent while addressing concerns to strike the right balance for restaurants, neighborhoods, and all New Yorkers.
0:36:06
This legislation makes it possible for many restaurants to participate, eases the bureaucratic barriers, and makes the cost of participation affordable while focusing on regulations to enhance orderliness and uniformity missing from the temporary program.
0:36:23
This permanent program under local law will serve and support our neighborhoods, restaurants, residents, and city for years to come.
0:36:31
Introduction 31 c will allow sidewalk cafes to operate year round and for the first time permanently allow roadway cafes to operate most of the year, specifically the warmer eight months of April through November.
0:36:46
Excuse me.
0:36:47
Makes the costs for restaurants to participate in the outdoor dining program more affordable and lower compared to the pre pandemic outdoor dining licensing and revocable consent process.
0:36:59
Reduce the required processes and timeliness for restaurants to receive approval from the city agencies and entities.
0:37:06
In conjunction with zoning changes approved by the council in 2022, permit more neighborhoods and restaurants within them to be eligible for participation in outdoor dining than the previous pre pandemic sidewalk cafe program, and provide time for restaurants to transition allowing them to continue their outdoor dining operations even after this local law takes effect as long as they apply for a license and submit a petition for revocable consent on or before the date set forth by the Department of Transportation which cannot be less than three months after the rules go into effect.
0:37:41
We thank our staff members particularly Rachel Cordero, David Seitzer, Sarah Swain, and Natalie Meltzer.
0:37:50
Thank you very much for your attention.
0:37:52
Now, I turn it back into the hands of our majority leader.