<div dir="ltr">Hi all,<div><br></div><div>See my email to OLCC commissioners below. Feel free to personalize and pass on the same if you embrace the concept.</div><div><br></div><div>Dave</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Dave Rucklos</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:dave@downtownmcminnville.com">dave@downtownmcminnville.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 10:58 AM<br>Subject: Temporary Amendment of Outdoor Space Restrictions<br>To: <<a href="mailto:Paul.Rosenbaum@oregon.gov">Paul.Rosenbaum@oregon.gov</a>>, <<a href="mailto:jencurrin500@gmail.com">jencurrin500@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:kiauna.floyd@gmail.com">kiauna.floyd@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:meharpersr@comcast.net">meharpersr@comcast.net</a>>, <<a href="mailto:matthew.maletis@oregon.gov">matthew.maletis@oregon.gov</a>>, <<a href="mailto:hugh.palcic@oregon.gov">hugh.palcic@oregon.gov</a>>, <<a href="mailto:marvin.revoal@oregon.gov">marvin.revoal@oregon.gov</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Dear Commissioners,</font><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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, <span style="color:rgb(77,81,86)">Sr. Director of Licensing and Compliance, concerning relaxation of temporary outdoor permit requirements. Mr. Evans indicated my request would be forwarded to decision makers.</span></font></div><div><font color="#4d5156" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font color="#4d5156" face="verdana, sans-serif">I wanted to make sure you as commissioners are included in this request. McMinnville's </font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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 .<br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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? </font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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.</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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. </font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">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.</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Thank you in advance for your consideration.<font color="#4d5156"> <br clear="all"></font></font><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Dave Rucklos</font><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Executive Director</font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif">McMinnville Downtown Association</font></div></div></div></div></div>
</div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Dave Rucklos<div>Executive Director</div><div>McMinnville Downtown Association</div></div></div></div>