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Q&A
Council Member Narcisse questions DOT officials on outdoor dining program details
2:12:36
·
4 min
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse engages in a Q&A session with DOT officials, primarily First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione, about various aspects of the outdoor dining program. The discussion covers topics such as road paving coordination, fee calculations, liquor liability insurance requirements, and the impact of daylighting on corner restaurants.
- Narcisse expresses concerns about fee flexibility and the potential hardships faced by restaurant owners.
- DOT officials explain their policies on road paving coordination, fee structures, and insurance requirements.
- The conversation highlights the challenges of balancing program standardization with individual restaurant needs.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:12:36
Thank you chair.
2:12:38
And one of my concern was the fees, but you answered that.
2:12:42
I think council member Bruce are talking about the cleaning.
2:12:47
How is the pavement?
2:12:49
What's the coordination you do when the roadway is outside and then you have to pave the road?
Margaret Forgione
2:12:54
Okay, so when we're coming along to pave the road, we inform the restaurant of when we're going to be there to mill the road usually, and then come back and pave it.
2:13:05
So we know it is a disruption for the restaurant, and that is difficult, but that is also why we designed the setups to be movable.
2:13:12
So we have the restaurant move them.
2:13:16
If they choose to in between milling and paving, they can set up again.
2:13:20
We recommend that they probably don't, but they can choose to if they like to, and we'll try to keep that disturbance to a minimum for them.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:13:28
Okay, now I'm gonna go back for the fees because some restaurant when the way you calculating it, do you leave room or way of wiggle room for the restaurant owners because sometimes you can calculate it something that's what it's supposed to be and something happened where it's not meeting him.
2:13:48
Do you do a review with the restaurant owners to see where they're at?
Margaret Forgione
2:13:52
So to see we don't do reviews but councilmember you're saying if something happens with the restaurant in particular?
Mercedes Narcisse
2:13:59
They're not making it because you can make that calculation, that's all great, but if it's not happening for that restaurant, do you give them a chance to come back you can recalculate it with you know We don't We
Margaret Forgione
2:14:14
don't those rates.
2:14:17
They're standard and that's
Lacey Tauber
2:14:18
it?
2:14:19
Yes.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:14:19
Okay.
2:14:20
That can be a problem.
2:14:23
The liquor license.
2:14:24
Ahead.
Michelle Craven
2:14:25
Would just say if we've approved a certain size setup and the restaurant finds that that's not feasible for some reason long term, they could come back to us, we could amend their agreement and then change the rates.
2:14:35
But I think it would it would require some they would have to come to us certainly so we would know about it, otherwise we would never know.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:14:41
Yeah.
2:14:41
I just want the open conversation because while we trying to do the right thing which I'm very optimistic.
2:14:48
I know that you're trying your very best to do the right way.
2:14:51
So when you have list when you're listening to the owners because as a business person myself sometimes you hit some difficult time and challenging time.
2:15:00
You can say that would be a hundred and four and then that hundred and four can drop down to 50 for whole three six months or so.
2:15:08
So I want that open conversation where people can maintain their businesses.
2:15:16
So I thank you for that.
2:15:19
The restaurant are required to obtain additional liquor liability insurance, right, for their liquor dining.
2:15:25
Even they already have it for their indoor right.
2:15:29
For many small restaurants this is a hard hit can be hit hard for them right.
2:15:35
Is the requirement for this insurance set by DOT or the state liquor authority or someone else?
2:15:43
Why is the requirement in place?
2:15:47
Because I have some restaurant in my district right now going through a tough time.
2:15:52
I'm not gonna put the name out there, but can you answer that question for me?
Margaret Forgione
2:15:56
I'm sorry to hear that.
2:15:57
So the million dollars is standard for the city and it is set by us, and we know that you know establishments serving liquor, it seems like a wise thing to have that coverage outside as well.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:16:10
Okay.
2:16:11
Is there room again because that's what they asked me.
2:16:14
Can they have because they feel like they're binding by this rule and they cannot sustain?
2:16:19
Are you open for conversation if they have difficulty?
Margaret Forgione
2:16:22
So I don't think we're open to like a one off conversation but I think in general In general?
2:16:27
Every aspect of the program we're more than willing to discuss it.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:16:30
Yes.
2:16:30
Okay.
2:16:32
Daylight.
2:16:33
Daylighting.
2:16:34
How does DOT expect roadway cafe design to be impacted specifically for a restaurant in the corner?
2:16:43
Will that further reduce the space of restaurant?
2:16:47
We're talking about the 20 feet.
2:16:49
Can you highlight that for me?
Margaret Forgione
2:16:51
Right.
2:16:52
So we don't allow restaurants to set up in no standing anytime areas, and daylighting is a no standing anytime area.
2:17:00
So yes, that could impact restaurants who are at corners.
Kevin Mulligan
2:17:03
Okay.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:17:04
So thank you for your time, and thank you chair.
Margaret Forgione
2:17:07
Gotta run.
Julie Menin
2:17:07
Thank you so much council member Restner, followed by council member Lewis.