[OMS_MANAGERS] Fwd: Temporary Amendment of Outdoor Space Restrictions

[Dave Rucklos]

Hi all,

See my email to OLCC commissioners below.  Feel free to personalize and
pass on the same if you embrace the concept.

Dave

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dave Rucklos <dave at downtownmcminnville.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 10:58 AM
Subject: Temporary Amendment of Outdoor Space Restrictions
To: <Paul.Rosenbaum at oregon.gov>, <jencurrin500 at gmail.com>, <
kiauna.floyd at gmail.com>, <meharpersr at comcast.net>, <
matthew.maletis at oregon.gov>, <hugh.palcic at oregon.gov>, <
marvin.revoal at oregon.gov>


Dear Commissioners,

My name is Dave Rucklos and I recently took over as director of the
McMinnville Downtown Association.  I reached out this past week to Rich
Evans, Sr. Director of Licensing and Compliance, concerning relaxation of
temporary outdoor permit requirements.  Mr. Evans indicated my request
would be forwarded to decision makers.

I wanted to make sure you as commissioners are included in this request.
McMinnville's
downtown food and beverage industry is at serious risk.  With recent state
restrictions we are essentially closed down.  Although we foresee we will
be able to reopen with guidelines in place that require social distancing
and protective gear, we need help to accommodate such .

Assuming restaurants will be mandated or asked to provide at minimum six
feet of space between tables, this will limit capacity and may challenge an
establishment in its efforts to be profitable.  Would the commission be
willing to consider letting restaurants arrange tables on the public street
out front of their establishment and serve alcohol in a designated area?

I envision roping off an area in-line with the restaurant's
exterior storefront and no further than the center-line of the street with
signage indicating alcohol is not allowed beyond the roped area. Entrance
and exit to the defined area would be adjacent to the business's physical
entry point.  Conditions could be confined to specific days and hours (for
instance Friday and Saturday evenings form 6 pm to 10 pm).  This
would increase restaurant table count and allow them to capture more
customers on traditionally busy nights.  The program is obviously dependent
upon weather but would be immensely helpful during the summer months.

I realize this would likely require a temporary special permit that exceeds
an "event" timetable, but the impact of granting such a request would
greatly assist all of our downtown food and beverage establishments.

I would greatly appreciate your consideration of this idea.  We must be
creative in our plans going forward, and flexible in how we approach
existing rules and regulations.  I hope you can see the logic and need of
this request.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Dave Rucklos
Executive Director
McMinnville Downtown Association


-- 
Dave Rucklos
Executive Director
McMinnville Downtown Association
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