The Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee voted to advance a one‑year Lincoln Road outdoor dining concession abatement program. The proposed program includes: a 100% fee abatement for the first three months of operation for any new outdoor dining establishment on Lincoln Road, and a 50% reduction in outdoor concession fees for the October 2025–March 2026 billing period (the city bills outdoor concession fees in six‑month cycles).

Staff told the committee that an initial citywide 50% three‑month abatement was estimated to reduce general‑fund revenues by roughly $250,000 annually; Lincoln Road comprises a fraction of that figure and staff committed to provide a precise Lincoln Road‑only estimate. Committee members framed the measure as a temporary, targeted tool to help legacy businesses and new openings through a slow tourism cycle while the city builds toward the convention center hotel and broader economic development strategies.

Committee members also noted existing small‑business grant programs and asked staff to coordinate the abatement with other assistance offerings. The motion will return to the full commission with a recommendation and the estimated fiscal impact on the General Fund for consideration during the FY26 process.

Ending: Committee members described the abatement as a one‑year bridge; staff will present precise revenue impacts and implementation procedures for commission action.