Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Director, Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
AMZ
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Authorizing Outdoor Dining in the Village of Oak Park in 2022 and Waiving Associated Permit Fees for Both On-Sidewalk and On-Street Dining
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Overview
Overview
As a part of the Village's ongoing support of Oak Park restaurants as they recover from the COVID-19 emergency, the Ordinance provides for a continuation of the waiver, began in 2020, of required on-sidewalk outdoor dining permit fees for the 2022 season and also allows, where applicable and allowable, for restaurants free utilization of adjacent on-street public parking spaces to continue the Covid-19 related expansion of outdoor dining in Oak Park.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
The outdoor dining season in Oak Park runs approximately 35 weeks, or 244 days, from April 1st to November 30th. Permit fees for outdoor dining were waived in both 2020 and 2021, for both on-sidewalk and on-street dining. The last year that the Village has data available for a complete season of outdoor dining permit revenue is 2019. During that year, 47 businesses were permitted for outdoor dining and the total amount of Village permit fees collected was $8,654.51.
By ordinance, outdoor dining permit fees include a $50.00 base fee, and then .50 cents is charged per the square footage utilized by each business. For reference, almost half of the permits issued in 2019 totaled $130.00 or less. This system results in restaurants that utilize the greatest amount of public property paying the largest permit fee and those restaurants with limited frontage, who utilize less square footage of sidewalk, paying less.
In terms of traditional outdoor dining that has occurred on public sidewalks, permit fees have not increased since 2019. Using totals from that year as a guide, staff would expect the waiver of outdoor dining on-sidewalk permit fees in 2022 would r...
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