Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Business Relief topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City Council passes package of small‑business relief measures including sidewalk cafe fee waiver and delivery‑fee cap
Summary
The City Council approved several measures to aid small businesses, including a waiver of sidewalk‑cafe fees through Feb. 28, 2021, a cap on delivery platform fees and a temporary suspension of personal‑liability lease clauses, the speaker’s office said.
Patrice Commerford of the City Council speaker’s office said the council passed a package of bills aimed at small‑business relief, enacted while federal relief remained pending.
Commerford said the package includes a waiver of sidewalk‑cafe fees through Feb. 28, 2021; a bill capping fees that delivery platforms such as Grubhub may charge restaurants; and a measure to temporarily suspend personal‑liability lease clauses so that business owners’ personal assets are not at risk while pandemic‑related nonpayment disputes are resolved.
The speaker’s office said the measures are intended as near‑term support for small retailers and restaurants while more comprehensive federal assistance is uncertain. Elected and agency staff in the meeting noted other complementary steps such as refunding consent fees and extended renewal windows for sidewalk cafes described by the Department of Consumer Affairs earlier in the session.
Ending: City Council and the speaker’s office encouraged small businesses and community partners to check council and city websites for details and implementation guidance and to contact council offices for assistance navigating changes.
