Emergency order passes in Salinas paving the way for outdoor dining

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) UPDATE 7/16/20: The City of Salinas has announced it will defer fees for outdoor dining, allowing restaurants to set up shop outdoors.

Prior to this order, restaurants were required to obtain a permit from the city to allow for outdoor dining, however those fees are now deferred until October 1.

"Salinas businesses, including restaurants, have been severely impacted by closures caused by the continued spread of COVID-19," says Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz. "Deferring the payment of permit fees is one way the city can help local businesses."

ORIGINAL STORY:

Salinas City Councilmember Scott Davis is pushing to allow outdoor sidewalk dining in Salinas following Governor Newsom's announcement that the state is shutting down indoor operations for restaurants.

Restaurants are struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic.

Davis said this will help them survive the crisis.

In a Facebook post, he said City of Salinas staff are putting a plan together to make this official soon.

While other downtown businesses have closed their doors, the family-owned restaurant is doing everything it can to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Closing down wasn’t really an option for us because we have a lot of people working with us, especially in the kitchen, who depend on us staying open. They depend on us for a check to keep going,” Part-Owner/Manager Adilenny Alvarez said.

She said customers like the concept, and even though they also offer takeout, the reservations keep coming in.

“I feel like people to some extent are enjoying the fact that they can do some outdoor dining rather than doing to go or just staying home,” Alvarez said.

She said they were able to get a permit from the city and the process wasn’t that difficult.

The city hopes to work with more businesses and expedite the process to turn sidewalks into dining areas within one to three days.

It’s a plan Davis and the interim mayor hope to make easier for more businesses across Salinas to obtain.

“We need to find a creative way to allow our restaurants and small businesses to adapt and be successful without putting undue roadblocks in front of them,” Davis said.

City staff said “Temporary Use of Land” and sidewalk permits typically costs about $175 to $300 dollars, depending on whether the business is located on public or private property. During the pandemic that fee would be deferred so businesses wouldn’t have to pay for now, likely not until October.

Health and safety rules still apply outdoors. And the sidewalks will need to have room for people to get by.

“This doesn’t supersede any state or local health officer order. Social distancing will still apply, just like it would indoors, except, now, with open air space,” Davis said.

While Azteca is making it work, other downtown businesses have shut their doors or say the construction makes it difficult to have room for the plan.
I’m told the city is looking into allowing for parking spaces to be utilized in some areas, but the plan won’t work for everyone.

Councilmember Davis said the city is also looking into outdoor services for other business industries like barber shops and hair and nail salons who also want to continue serving customers.