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REMARKS
Final remarks on program improvements and need for increased participation
1:16:34
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68 sec
Industry representatives provide final remarks on the improvements made to the outdoor dining program and emphasize the need for increased participation. They address previous concerns and highlight the positive changes implemented.
- The majority of applications are for sidewalk cafes, which have not traditionally been associated with sanitation issues
- New rules address neighborhood complaints about roadway dining structures
- Improvements include new flooring requirements, adjusted closing hours, and noise restrictions
- Representatives stress the need to make the application process more appealing to encourage more businesses to participate
- The panel's testimony is acknowledged as informative by Council Member Brooks-Powers
Rob Bookman
1:16:34
And to reiterate on the rats and the cleanliness issue, as Robert said, the overwhelming majority of applications are sidewalk cafes.
1:16:43
Always has been and still are.
1:16:45
That's never been an issue for sidewalk cafes.
1:16:47
It's tables and chairs on the sidewalk.
1:16:49
I I think the new rules address the few neighborhood complaints that there were concerning roadway.
1:16:57
Understand that nobody, excluding us, expected some of those structures to be up for as many years as they were.
1:17:03
So they weren't built, you know, necessarily, you know, to last.
1:17:06
So that's resolved now.
1:17:08
They're all gone.
1:17:09
The new flooring requirement will take care of that.
1:17:11
The new closing hours take care of that.
1:17:14
Noise, no TVs or or music or speakers allowed outdoors.
1:17:18
So I think the legitimate concerns, the journey emergency for roadway have been resolved, and and now we just need to to make the process more appealing so that more businesses will apply for it.
Chi A. Ossé
1:17:31
Thank you.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:17:38
Thank you to the panel for your testimony.
1:17:41
It was definitely informative.